Yesterday we learned about projects that Disney postponed at EPCOT, including Mary Poppins in the UK and a reworking of the World Celebration neighborhood.
Today, we learned about closures in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the Magic Kingdom.
Stitch’s Great Escape
Stitch’s Great Escape! opened in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom back in 2004. Based on the 2002 film Lilo & Stitch, the attraction was a less scary replacement for the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter.
In late 2016, Disney changed Stitch’s designation from an attraction that was operating daily to one operating seasonally, which is typically the kiss of death for an attraction.
The attraction actually came back briefly for the busy Christmas season of 2017, but that was the last time it operated.
Disney has now confirmed that Stitch has left the building, for good. This isn’t much of a surprise, but it is good to know that Stitch can finally rest in peace.
Rivers Of Light
Disney debuted Rivers of Light back in 2017. Like EPCOT’s Illuminations, it did not rely on Disney characters and intellectual property.
In 2019, Disney announced that it would add Disney characters to an updated copy of the show, called Rivers of Light: We Are One.
Now, Disney has confirmed that the show has closed permanently. Disney is not presenting any nighttime spectaculars now, but Rivers of Light is gone forever.
It seems likely that Disney will eventually use the infrastructure and amphitheater seating that they built for Rivers of Light, but it may be a while before that happens.
Primeval Whirl
Primeval Whirl initially closed for maintenance issues late in 2019, but moved from a refurbishment status to a seasonal status.
Now Disney has closed the attraction permanently.
Gone forever: Primeval Whirl, Rivers Of Light, Stitch’s Great Escape. Will you miss them?