The Best (and Most Missed) Disney Attractions of Yesterday

My family's trip to Disney is months away, and I can't help getting excited about all the things I can't wait to do and the new attractions I'll be checking out, but I am feeling a little bit wistful about the rides and attractions that are no longer there. And no, I'm not specifically talking about Space Mountain and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (Gah! Curse my terrible timing!), but more of the things I loved as a kid that have been phased out to make way for splashier "improvements" and jazzier replacements.

My Top 5 Most Missed Former Disney Attractions:

1. Journey into Imagination with Figment, EPCOT - Yes, the ride still exists, but it's a shell of its former self. Gone is the cuteness, the song, the Dreamfinder - and instead we get Eric Idle and some skunk spray. Of course, the current version is the 3rd reinvention of this attraction - some of you may remember version 2, which had no Figment at all and was about as exciting as watching paint dry. In response to guest complaints, Disney combined versions 1 and 2 to give us the current, better-but-still-unsatisfying version.

2. Cranium Command, EPCOT - The preshow was always what made this for me - General Knowledge tells his young recruits they're about to embark on the most difficult mission imaginable - piloting the human brain. It was clever, funny, ("What are you doing now, Fuzzy? Taking a nap?!), and full of inside jokes. The show continued as you saw what happens inside a 12 year old's body on any given day. Although Cranium Command became dated very quickly (thanks to a cast of 80s stars), it was always one of my favorites. And when things get stressful, I find myself repeating "Keep your systems in check and your cranium under command!"

3. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Magic Kingdom - Yes, I understand Winnie the Pooh is a much more recognizable and kid-friendly character for a ride in Fantasyland. But Mr. Toad was way better. Period.

4. Backlot Tour, Disney MGM (Hollywood) Studios - Today, the Backlot Tour takes you through some Pearl Harbor effects before the tram ride, where you then empty into the AFI exhibit space. Originally, you started with the water tank (then touting Crimson Tide), then had (and I'm probably confusing the order here): the tram ride, a look at the Home Improvement sets, a peek at the animatronics and set pieces for 101 Dalmatians, then a glimpse into the TV studios, ending with the AFI exhibit space. The original version took about 2 hours to complete, which is too much time by Disney standards - if you keep attractions short, people have more time to eat, shop, and see other attractions. And while today's version is okay (if a little stale), the original Backlot Tour was in-depth, informative, and got this wee one interested in pursuing film as a career path.

5. The Living Seas, EPCOT - I have nothing against Nemo, and The Seas with Nemo & Friends is cute and all, but the original pavillion focused on what's actually the point of the whole thing - the fish. You learned, you explored, and you got to see marine life up close and personal. Fish and marine life are cool to begin with - they don't need a character tie-in to get kids interested. The updated pavillion is more about cute theme songs and fancy special effects (although Turtle Talk with Crush is fully awesome), and less about marine conservation. And while there's nothing explicitly wrong with the new version, the commercialization of my once-favorite pavillion just makes me sad.

Do you have any rides/attractions that make you yearn for simpler times? Share your thoughts below!