This is a list of publicly known Disney attractions that were never built; that is, rides, shows, and other Disney park attractions which never reached the final building stage. Some of them were fully designed and not built, often due to budget cuts. Others were concepts, sometimes with preliminary artwork. Some ideas were later reused in other attractions.
Theme parks Name Development years Description ReferenceWalt Disney's Riverfront Square1963–1965 A planned theme park in St. Louis, Missouri, which would have been the second Disney park after Disneyland. DisneySea 1990–1991 An oceanic theme park designed to be a part of Port Disney. WestCOT 1991–1995 A planned Disneyland clone of Walt Disney World's Epcot.Disney-MGM Studios Europe1992–1995 The original planned second theme park for Disneyland Paris, which evolved into Walt Disney Studios Park Disney's America 1993–1994, 1997 A patriotic park to be located in Haymarket, Virginia. The Walt Disney Company also planned to re-theme Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.
Properties Name Description Reference Mineral King Ski Resort A Disneyland-like ski resort in the Mineral King area of California. See "Disney Ski Resort proposal, and addition to national park" section under Mineral King entry. National Harbor resort hotel A 500-room hotel to be located in National Harbor, Maryland, intended as a national convention center and visitor area. Disney purchased 11 acres for the hotel for $11 million in May 2009, but cancelled the project in November 2011.
Resorts
Disneyland Name Description Reference Disneyland Resort Hotel A luxurious, 800-room complex that was to be constructed in the style of Coronado, California's Hotel del Coronado. It was inspired by Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Walt Disney World.
Walt Disney World Name Description ReferenceDisney's Asian Resort A Thai-themed resort to be located where Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is today.Disney's Venetian Resort An Italian-themed resort to be located between the Contemporary Resort and the Transportation and Ticket Center.Disney's Persian Resort An Iranian-themed resort to be located on Bay Lake north of the Contemporary Resort.Disney's Mediterranean Resort A Greek-themed resort to be located on the Seven Seas Lagoon.Disney's Pop Century Resort, Legendary Years sectionThe partially-constructed second half of the Pop Century Resort was abandoned following a drop in tourism due to the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Legendary Years section would have been themed to the 1900s through the 1940s. The completed structures and the land that Legendary Years would have occupied were instead turned into Disney's Art of Animation Resort.
Resort attractions Name Description ReferenceAdventure House A walkthrough at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground that would have ended with a children's playground.
Theme park lands Disneyland Name Development Years Description Reference Lilliputian Land 1953–1955 Intended to be located north of Tomorrowland and east of Fantasyland, Lilliputian Land would have been constructed on a greatly reduced scale of the fictional island from Guliver’s Travels. Mythica Unknown A land inspired by Greek and Roman myths and legends. Tomorrowland 2055 1993–1994 A planned update and makeover of Tomorrowland with an emphasis on extraterrestrial themes, abandoned due to budget cuts after the failure of Disneyland Paris. "Big Town USA" 1976–1984A New York-themed area where Mickey's Toontown now sits, which would have featured a big Broadway-style theater with daily live shows. This idea became the inspiration for the American Waterfront at Tokyo DisneySea. Edison Square 1955–1960 An electricity-themed land, modeled after a newly-electrified city from the 1900s, planned for construction in the current location of the Plaza Inn and Space Mountain. Hollywood Land 1996 A land with a 1930s-1940s theme, featuring rides adapted from the Dick Tracy and Who Framed Roger Rabbit films. A similar concept was later used for the Disney California Adventure, and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin rides can be found in Mickey's Toontown at Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland. Discovery Bay late 1970s Discovery Bay was designed as a tribute to Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. Elements of the plans were later used at Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea. Land of Legends late 1970s A land dedicated to American folklore, featuring attractions based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Ballad of Windwagon Smith; a Paul Bunyan restaurant; and Western River Expedition. Liberty Street 1955–1965 A land modeled after Philadelphia in 1776, featuring a small harbor. Was to have its entrance off Main Street to the left of the Disneyland Opera House. A similar land named Liberty Square was later built at the Magic Kingdom in Florida. Dumbo's Circus Land Unknown A sub-area of Fantasyland where Dumbo the Flying Elephant and the Casey Jr. Circus Train would have been relocated. The idea eventually inspired the Storybook Circus subarea of the Fantasyland expansion at the Magic Kingdom.
Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom Name Description ReferenceA Birthday Surprise for Princess Aurora Guests would craft birthday cards for Aurora at the cottage of her childhood home in a meet and greet attraction that was to be located in Fantasyland.Dreams Come True with Cinderella Guests would greet Cinderella at her stepmother's manor in Fantasyland where they would learn how to dance like a royal or protect the kingdom like a knight.Pixie Hollow Guests would enter the world of the Tinker Bell film series.Western River Expedition An area of the park themed after the Western Expansion of the United States. It was to be located in Frontierland, where Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (previously known as Splash Mountain) and where Big Thunder Mountain (in construction) currently sits.
Epcot Name Description Reference Costa Rica Pavilion A Costa Rican-themed area, featuring a large greenhouse filled with tropical plants and birds. Equatorial Africa Pavilion An area themed after the countries of Equatorial Africa, featuring a 60-foot treehouse and a live show called "Heartbeat of Africa". Iran Pavilion An Iranian-themed area, proposed during the planning of Epcot, featuring a dark ride exploring different parts of Persian history and a shopping area based on a bazaar. Scrapped after the Iranian Revolution. Israel Pavilion An Israeli-themed area, advertised on billboards when Epcot opened, designed to recreate ancient Jerusalem and featuring a courtyard stage and open-air restaurant. Remained unbuilt due to budget problems and security issues. Puerto Rico Pavilion A Puerto Rican-themed area which may have been planned for the projected "Phase II" expansion of Epcot. Soviet Union Pavilion A Russian-themed area planned for the projected "Phase II" expansion of Epcot. It would have been based on the Moscow Kremlin, and dominated by a replica of St. Basil's Cathedral. Scrapped after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Spain Pavilion A Spanish-themed area advertised on billboards circa 1986, with a design blending elements of Barcelona and Madrid, featuring a boat ride, a film on Spanish history, and a restaurant. Switzerland Pavilion A Swiss-themed area, intended to bring a Matterhorn Bobsleds-style ride to Epcot. United Arab Emirates PavilionA Middle Eastern-themed area, with a magic carpet ride attraction and a show featuring cultural and scientific achievements of the Middle East. Venezuela PavilionA Venezuelan-themed area, featuring a waterfall, a high-rise built into a cliff, and an aerial tram ride.
Disney's Hollywood Studios Name Development Years Description ReferenceMickey's MovielandLate 1980sA replica of Disney's original Hyperion Avenue Studio, with hands-on exhibits demonstrating classic movie production. Guests would be able to create Foley sound effects, or spin projectors to see classic Mickey drawings animated. Elements of this land were used in The Magic of Disney Animation and The Monster Sound Show, which later evolved into Sounds Dangerous!.Muppet Studios1989–1991A miniland in the Streets of America area dedicated to the Muppets. Only Muppet*Vision 3D was completed before plans were put on hold after the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson in 1990. Was to feature another attraction, The Great Muppet Movie Ride, and two restaurants: The Swedish Chef's Video Cooking School and The Great Gonzo's Pandemonium Pizza Parlor.Roger Rabbit's Hollywood1989–1992An extension of Sunset Boulevard based on the 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit, featuring a recreation of Maroon Studios located where Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is today, and three attractions: Toontown Trolley, Baby Herman's Runaway Baby Buggy, and Benny the Cab. Put on hold due to a legal dispute between Disney and Amblin Entertainment. The planned Red Car Trolley was built in Disney California Adventure, and Benny the Cab was adapted into Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Name Development Years Description ReferenceBeastly Kingdom 1998–2011 A "myths and legends"-themed land planned for Disney's Animal Kingdom. It was replaced by Camp Minnie-Mickey due to budget cuts after the failure of Disneyland Paris. Much of the land designated for use by Beastly Kingdom is now used for Pandora – The World of Avatar.
Hong Kong Disneyland Name Description Reference Frontierland A Wild West-themed land, combining features of Disneyland Paris' Frontierland and Disney California Adventure's Grizzly Peak. Planned to have been in the park on opening day. Toon Town A much more advanced version than Toon Towns in other Disney parks, featuring a roller coaster, an animatronic show, and character houses and meet-and-greets. May have inspired Toon Studio at Walt Disney Studios Park. Glacier Bay An ice-themed land intended to go behind Adventureland and next to Mystic Point; replaced by Toy Story Land. Pirate's Land A pirate-themed land.
Attractions
Disneyland