Abandoned Disney Attractions You Never Knew Existed

TrendingApril 13, 2023

The Mike Fink Keel Boats

The Mike Fink Keel Boats were a beloved attraction that once navigated the Rivers of America at multiple Disney Parks. Based on the popular 1955 Davy Crockett miniseries, Disney named these small boats after Mike Fink, the “King of the River.” Guests could sit on benches inside the cabin or on the roof while enjoying a free-floating ride around Tom Sawyer Island.

Unfortunately, in 1997, a boat at the Disneyland location capsized, leaving passengers with minor injuries. The vessel was decommissioned following an inspection, and none appeared in the subsequent operating season. However, those at the Magic Kingdom ran until 2001.

Disneyland’s Flying Saucers Ride

Flying Saucers was an exciting amusement ride at Disneyland that operated from 1961 to 1966. Guests rode personal flying saucers on a cushion of air, bumping into each other like bumper cars and feeling like futuristic aliens. The guests’ weight controlled the saucers as they leaned in different directions to move around the field.

But the ride was expensive to maintain and could only accommodate a few riders, which resulted in its closure. However, a similar ride called Luigi’s Flying Tires opened in 2012 at Disney California Adventure, themed to Luigi’s Casa Della Tires shop from the Disney·Pixar film “Cars.”

River Country: Disney World’s First Water Park

Many Disney parks fans might be surprised to learn this. But there was once a water park in Walt Disney World that the company completely abandoned in 2005. River Country, as the attraction was called, was located on the shores of Bay Lake and was the first of its kind, themed as a rustic, old-fashioned swimming hole.

However, it was closed indefinitely in 2001, and four years later, Disney announced that it would remain that way permanently. During the park’s functional days, there had been deadly amoeba infections, often believed to be the reason for its closure. Whatever the reason, it’s been rotting and abandoned for years.