Walt Disney World has been making cuts, delaying construction projects, and making health and safety changes around the parks recently.
Cinderella Castle
This week alone, Disney made an official statement that the Spaceship Earth renovation and the new Mary Poppins attraction are being postponed. We just learned three new attractions that will allegedly close permanently.
According to Reporter Scott Gustin, Animal Kingdom’s Rivers of Light water show, Primeval Whirl, and Stitch’s Great Escape at Magic Kingdom are permanently closed.
Disney confirms Primeval Whirl at Animal Kingdom, Stitch's Great Escape at Magic Kingdom and Rivers of Light at Animal Kingdom are permanently closed. pic.twitter.com/dapOGOlbWt
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) July 16, 2020
Stitch’s Great Escape has been temporarily closed for some time. The building was being used as a Stich meet n’ greet location prior to closing. Primeval Whirl has been operating as a seasonal attraction for some time. There is no further speculation about what the attractions or the venues might be used for in the future.
Stitch’s Great Escape
We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more information about any possible closures including these attractions. Be sure to follow along with us as we learn more!
Click here to learn more about the two EPCOT project cancellations!
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What do you think of the possible closures? Let us know in the comments!
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Noooo! We love Primeval Whirl!!
They should bring back Alien Encounter! 😁
Any reasoning given for the permanent closure of River of Lights? It was a beautiful show and I was anxious for my husband to see it in December. :'(
Ohh, I loved Rivers of Light! It was so beautiful! Glad I got to see it when I did!
I remember when the Stitch location premiered as the Rocket to the Moon attraction. Why not bring back some of the old attractions only updated to today’s technology. It could make sense as the US plans for a new round of Moon adventures in the not too distant future.
Is there any reason for closing Primeval Whirl or Rivers of Light?? Stitch’s Great Escape was awful anyway, so no loss there, but Primeval Whirl and Rivers of Light were both very enjoyable. What do you have in mind to replace them, Disney, for replace them you must!
Always sad to see a wheelchair accessible attraction close at Disney World, especially as none of the new attractions have been accessible, nor are any of the upcoming attractions.
Oh YES….Alien Encounter was the BEST…. I didn’t care for Stitch but I can see how Stitch was much more child friendly
We love Primeval Whirl! Won’t miss the other 2 at all, although I thought Stitch closed a year or 2 ago.
Loved Alien Encounter for teens and adults! But people would go in with small children and ignore the scary attraction warnings and then complain.
I agree with Michelle, bring back Alien Encounter, it was one of the best attractions at Magic Kingdom.
Definitely bring back Alien Encounter . It was a great ride 😊
Oh no! Primeval Whirl is one of my favorite rides, and I love Rivers of Light.
I wonder why these attractions are being closed down.
What was Animal Kingdom’s Rivers of Light? I don’t think I had ever seen that. Alien Encoutner should have never left. I still miss that ride. I
Why, oh why, Primeval Whirl!!!😢😢
Stitch’s great escape never was a patch the on Alien Encounter. Good riddance to be honest.
Bring back alien encounter!!! That was amazing 😉
I guest these rides are to small not a lot of space . New construction will take a lot more time hopefully!
@Michelle, Alien encounter would be great if the alien would practice CDC guidelines, I don’t want It breathing on my neck and spewing its alien covid droplets on me !…. Lol
So very disappointed that Rivers of light is closing. One of my favourite shows. How Disney reconsider!
We loved the Meet and Greet with Stitch. I knew it was doomed in our new covid world. Grateful for the times we got to enjoy Stitch, who was always wonderful.
Great sadness! I love Primeval Whirl. 😕
Why did they close River of Lights?
I think We all knew Stich was done. The animatronic is striped to the skeleton so that’s a pretty good indicator.
ROL canceled in AK? Just one more example of Disney Money Grubbing! More Cost for Less Return, My wife told me when I disclosed this news, We’ll, I guess we did our last Disney Vaca a year and a half ago…..I can’t argue her point……Sad!
Ouch, rivers of light closing. That is a lot of money wasted for an attraction that is sooooo new.
These two rides are to confined area 👍would not work with the Virus 6 ft. away from each other !These to needs to be re -magined or put other up dates rides in the area !
We are witnessing the slow death of Disney. Take all the restrictions, closures, cancellations, and delays, and you can come up with the only conclusion– Disney is running out of money. The latest cancellation of the Spaceship Earth refurb, the cancellation of the Mary Poppins area redesign, the cancellation of the Disney College Program and the cancellation of international CMs, the cancellation of two night time shows, reduced park hours, cancellation of backstage and other tours, etc. tell me that all these things are band-aids meant to slow the financial bleed.
Since March, Disney has taken out additional loans totalling up to $11 Billion. Before reopening. Each day the parks were closed, Disney was losing between $750 Million and $1 Billion. Even with the NBA money, operating at 30% capacity will not help Disney keep their heads above water.
If Disney maintains their almost religious zeal for supporting the C19 panic, and keeps all their restrictions in place, Disney will go under entirely.
Disney needs to do honest research and realize that C19 is now only as fatal as the normal seasonal flu, then re-open fully to pre-March conditions. There is no other financial option.
I heard somewhere that they want to replace Stitch’s Great Escape with a Wreck It Ralph themed attraction, but that very well could be my imagination or baseless gossip.
My reply is to NC dad- Amen.
I couldn’t have said it better.
With all the things that are being taken away and the mask requirement, we definitely won’t be going.
Apparently YOU’RE The only Ones that didn’t know they were closing, since they announced it about a Month ago, NOT THIS WEEK!
Virgil, thanks for writing! This post was from July when the announcement was made.
Wow, this is the most participation I have seen on this site in years by us loyal Disney enthusiasts. Primeval Whirl never fit the Disney image…. it was a carnival ride at best and was not right from the start. Stitch was a poor replacement for Alien encounter at best. I agree with the previous comment, improve the suction seats from the old “Flight to the Moon” from the 1970’s and improve the attraction to become “Flight to Mars” to keep instep with the future image of Tomorrowland. (Buy the way, it was never a ride, but an attraction”, As far as the “Rivers of Life” at the Animal Kingdome, I loved it, and am sad to see it go. It was very entertaining and family friendly. The Asian influence on the boats could go, but the lights, fountains and imagery on the trees was fascinating.
There have been rumblings that Stich was going to close for years. Yet somehow it keeps reopening. We will miss Primeval Whirl. Love the wild mouse coaster formal.
how much longer will Disney world b opened we don’t think it can survive too much longer with the way it’s going with this c19 they can’t keep going with this going on it will b a heartbreak if that happens we have been going there for over 40 years and have had so much fun with family and grew up with Disney always n our house and hearts we pray that it will survive and that people can still afford to go and have fun again n the happiest place on earth
Also Disney needs to b sure that ALL attractions r able to b viable to all that r n scooters and n wheel chairs and also while I am texting this park guest should b MORE POLITE to people that have to b n those scooters and wheel chairs just how u would feel if people were rude to u if u have to use them and my family has been victim to that
so b kind and considerate and b thankful that u don’t have to b n those situations because u don’t know when that can happen to u WE all want to enjoy Disney
We had to miss Disney this December it broke our Hearts to do that we hope that everyone that goes has a magical time it’s so much fun parks r beautiful and mickeys Xmas party is so much fun and so worth it to go to merry Xmas. To all and keep love n your hearts it is so important