Abandoned Disney

Ah, the Disney Vault! That magical, shimmering treasure chest where Disney keeps its animated classics safe, almost like a cartoon Scrooge McDuck hoarding his golden coins. If you grew up in the '80s, '90s, or early 2000s, you’re probably familiar with the routine: Disney dangles a beloved movie in front of you for a few months, and then—whoosh—it’s gone faster than you can say, “But I haven’t finished saving my allowance yet!” Let’s take a fun stroll down memory lane and dive into the history of Walt Disney Home Video and the famous Disney Vault. Spoiler alert: it’s packed with VHS tapes, family memories, and a marketing strategy so clever it could use a villainous laugh track! The Birth of Walt Disney Home Video: “Wait, You Mean We Can Sell the Same Movie Over and Over?” Once upon a time, in the late 1970s, Disney discovered that people might want to enjoy their movies at home. What a revelation, right? But here’s the funny part: Disney was a little scared of home video! They...

Ah, the Muppets at Disney—a love story that started with a rainbow connection and ended up tangled in the red tape of corporate bureaucracy. Let’s dive deeper into this tale of missed opportunities, half-baked promises, and the eternal question: " Why didn’t we get a Muppet-themed water slide shaped like Animal’s drum set? " Picture it: January 1990. Michael Eisner, Disney’s CEO and sweater enthusiast, takes the stage to announce what can only be described as the Muppet Renaissance. The crowd is buzzing, Kermit is nervously adjusting his collar, and Miss Piggy is already planning her diva demands for the contract negotiations. Eisner unveils a grand vision: a 3D film, a stage show, a parade, and a mysterious Disneyland attraction. The Muppets are coming to Disney parks, and the world is ready. Cue the confetti cannons and a chorus of Mahna Mahna . Fast forward a few years, and some of these promises actually materialized! MuppetVision 3D  opened at Disney-MGM Studios, and it ...

Ah, Liberty Street—the Disney dream that got lost in the bureaucratic Bermuda Triangle of Imagineering. Let’s dive deeper into this comedic tragedy, shall we? Because nothing says “American history” like a bunch of animatronic founding fathers and a guy in a mouse suit. So, it’s 1956, and Walt Disney is riding high on the success of Disneyland, which had just opened the year before. But Walt, being Walt, wasn’t the type to rest on his laurels. No, sir. He was already dreaming up new ways to make Americans feel patriotic while simultaneously selling them churros. Enter Liberty Street, a proposed extension of Main Street, U.S.A., where the stars and stripes would meet the magic of Disney. It was supposed to be a love letter to America, complete with cobblestone streets, gas lamps, and enough red, white, and blue to make Uncle Sam blush. Walt was so jazzed about this idea that he announced it in a press release and even sketched out the plans on his weekly TV show, *Disneyland*. Picture t...

Hello, fellow Disney lovers and curious explorers! Whether you’re a lifelong Disney fan, a theme park history buff, or just someone who loves uncovering forgotten stories, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to Abandoned Disney, a blog dedicated to diving deep into the abandoned, forgotten, and never-built attractions, rides, and movie concepts from Disney’s long and magical history. 🌟 Why This Blog? Disney is a place where imagination knows no limits—but not every dream makes it past the drawing board. Over the years, countless rides, parks, and films have been left behind. Some were almost completed before being abandoned, others were planned but never saw the light of day, and a few simply disappeared into history. What if Beastly Kingdom had been built at Animal Kingdom? What happened to Discovery Island? And what about the lost Disney animated movies that never made it to theaters? That’s what we’re here to explore! Every forgotten Disney story has a past, a mystery, and a ...

A few things about me to note, I am a Disney fan, like a lot of you. I grew up just as the Disney Renaissance was hitting the apex. Recently,  about a few years ago to be exact, I started getting fascinated with Disney's past because I found myself out of touch with the present. I think I fell out of love with Disney's current filmography around the time Frozen came out. Don't get me wrong; I don't hate Frozen, hearing Let It Go for the millionth time kinda killed the vibe for me. Anyways, I started doing research into some videos on YouTube about Disney's history and found myself watching videos by channels such as Yesterworld, Expedition Theme Parks,  Defunctland, and even AniMat. I wondered what else was out there to know, so I started doing my own research.  The blogs you'll find here will include what's available to the public and maybe a little speculation here and there, but I'll mostly stick to the facts. I'll also try to be as entertaining a...