This week’s SATURDAY SIX is our annual look at What We Lost From the Theme Park World this past year. Now, in the big picture of things, 2024 was a relatively “soft” year when it came to losing beloved attractions, but that could just be because 2025 is going to be a year that will break many of our hearts.

In fact, let’s take a quick look at those currently stuck in THEME PARK PURGATORY…

So with that in mind, let’s take a look back at some of the “bigger” losses the theme park world suffered this year, starting with…

# 6 – Test Track 2.0

Test Track is an enigma, wrapped in a riddle and surrounded by question marks. It is consistently one of the most popular attractions at EPCOT since its official opening in 1999, yet we are about see a third incarnation of the ride debut  in 2025. One thing that will definitely not be coming back in Test Track 3.0 is the much reviled large canopy that sits outside the entrance.

The changeover from the original Test Track to Test Track 2.0 included a Tron-like feel to the actual ride, and the addition of the complete waste of time in building your own car in the queue.

I say “waste of time” only because this build-a-car stuff could have been actually cool if it had any real impact on the ride or Disney used a 3-D printer to make a Hot Wheels like version of your car at the end of the attraction.

However, this time was just spent creating completely unrealistic vehicles that would fit into a mash-up of Hanna Barbara’s Wacky Races and Mad Max: Fury Road, which goes against the very thing (I assume) that Test Track is supposed to be getting across to guests (if you were Chevrolet or any actual car manufacturer sponsoring the ride, wouldn’t you want people to know what it’s actually like to design a vehicle and the elements you have to consider? Test Track 2.0 is just “wanna build a CyberTruck?!“)

I’d encourage you all to check out the Test Track 2.0 Farewell by Blog Mickey, that features some absolutely stunning photos of the attraction from the queue to exit.

There is no denying that the outdoor portion of Test Track 2.0 brought a lot of smiles to people’s faces. The sensation of speed as you whip around the track is fantastic, even though you are going less than 65mph, it “feels” much faster.

If you look closely at the picture above, you’ll see a particular piece of signage. This is just an amazing reference to Progress City, one of the original concepts for EPCOT. Lets hope that stays around for Test Track 3.0.

The Test Track Cone souvenir cup bears more than a little resemblance to the Cozy Cone version that made its debut with Cars Land back in 2012. However, the Test Track cone cups at WDW had more of a “Tron” feel and that made them inherently cooler.

The Final Day of Operation commemorative dog tag souvenir was actually great.

In this year’s 2024 Turkeys of the Year headline drawing by artist Brian Cooper, we saw the detail of a deceased small blue bird. The bird was referencing the “death” of DisTwitter, or at least the daily fun of scrolling throughTwitter as the social media site was rebranded to “X” and quickly became a toxic swamp filled with the absolute worst people you know being amplified, people acting in bad faith, and outright scam artists (not to mention the overwhelming amount of bots on the platform to help juice the numbers because so many people have left.)

ALL THAT SAID, as a social media site Twitter still has the largest amount of former and current members of Disney Imagineering and Universal Creative. Over the years that has allowed us the chance to get fascinating nuggets out of nowhere, like the following post made by a former Disney Imagineer…

While Mr. Mezzatesta gave no details of the “story that can not be told,” I will include this piece of art featuring GREAT MOMENTS IN THEME PARK HISTORY (CRUDELY DRAWN) that I did for a fundraiser back in 2018 (other drawings in that series including Jim Hill’s discovering Universal’s secret plans on the second floor of Lombard’s seafood, Val the Velociraptor, and one very influential member of theme park media being mad at Universal after buying HHN tickets from what turned out to be a scam website.)

What will Test Track 3.0 bring us? Disney has been light on the details, but we’ll find out soon enough as the attraction is set to reopen in Summer 2025.

# 5 – Talking Vol

I’ve gone on the record many times stating that Universal’s Volcano Bay is my favorite park in Florida, period. Keep in mind that is being said by someone who is NOT a “water park guy.” Volcano Bay just hits different in my book, and one of the neatest features of the entire park was hidden inside the caverns of the volcano…

…where guests could interact with Vol, the spirit of Krakatau!

On November 9th, Vol spoke his last words.

# 4 – Big River Grille & Brewing Works

Big River Grille & Brewing Works biggest problem was its location. Now, being located at the Disney Boardwalk would generally be considered one of the best places in Florida to have a restaurant, but you better bring your A game because you’re surrounded by some of the best dining in all of Walt Disney World (if not THE best.) With a rating of just 73% by TouringPlans users, the overall consensus for Big River was along the lines “just go somewhere else.”

While being mostly unremarkable, Big River did operate at the Boardwalk for over 25 years.

One interesting thing about Big River was that there were beers that were actually brewed on site.

The overall menu could be best described as something you would find at places like Chili’s or Applebees.

I personally don’t trust any restaurant that doesn’t offer French fries with their burgers, but that’s just me.

While the food options were just “okay,” the beer options at Big River were quite good.

However, Big River served its last beer flight on January 21st.

# 3 – Genie+

Heaven needed an upcharge.

Genie+ pretty much made its debut in the middle of the night and left just as ignominiously. You may remember back in October 2021 when Genie+ and Lightning Lane made their debut at Walt Disney World out of nowhere, with existing FastPass signage just taped over with new stickers.

What was once a free option to Disney guests was now a pay-for-play “opportunity.” Thanks to a disney data breach earlier this year, we found out that “Genie+ at Walt Disney World generated over $724 million in pretax revenue between its October 2021 launch and June 2024.” That means between WDW and Disneyland (which adopted Genie+ later than WDW), the Disney Company has shaken well over a BILLION dollars from the pockets of their guests for something they used to get for free.  You would think with all that extra money the attractions would be looking and running better than ever, but I think we can all agree that’s not actually the case.

With that Billion dollar money grab not being large enough, Genie+ itself was kicked to the curb to make way for the still-an-upcharge Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

On July 24th, Genie+ nickel and dimed its last guest.

# 2 – Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade

Queue up the song “Another One Bites the Dust” from Queen as Disney closed an attraction to replace it with a lounge for Disney Vacation Club owners.

To be fair, it’s actually a little surprising that the Shootin’ Arcade lasted as long as it did, especially when you consider the great WDW Overnight Gun Purge back in February 2016, where pretty much every gun of ANY type was removed from the parks and sent directly to the Disney Outlet Stores.

Over the years, the rifles went from shooting lead pellets to much more economical infra-red lights.

The old west scenery with all the targets was downright gorgeous loaded with fantastic details. The shootin’ arcade was originally an upcharge attraction, with the most recent price being $1 for 35 shots. However, for the last several years the Shootin’ Arcade had been set to Free Play for all guests.

Did I personally enjoy the shootin’ arcade? Yes I did.

It’s not so much that the Shootin’ Arcade is a huge loss (the very fact that it became Free Play at the end was a red flag that its days were numbered in a world where even Genie+ didn’t bring in enough money) but it being replaced by a DVC lounge is pretty much a slap in the face to day guests at the world’s most popular theme park.

# 1 – Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy

You may be asking yourself, how can Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy at DHS be our #1 loss for 2024? It can’t be the “well, it might not be good but it’s good enough” façade.

The various cars from the Cars Universe located outside were pretty neat.

Inside the show building there was bench seating, with huge screens to look at.

Fan favorite Mater was onscreen for the pre-show, giving us a fun recap of the first Cars movie.

Later we get the pretty awesome reveal of a life size animatronic Lightning McQueen that looked fantastic. Even better, Owen Wilson – the voice of Lightning McQueen in the movies (but almost none of the side stuff) – did the actual voice for Lightning in the attraction.

Lightning explained that he started this academy to share his racing secrets with everyone. To do so, he and Cruz Ramirez developed a racing simulator they would use to show you exactly how to race.

But the demonstration goes awry (of course) and soon the dastardly Chick Hicks appeared, saying he hacked into the simulator to even the score with Lightning. They race, and of course, there’s a happy ending.

Lightning McQueen had his last race on October 7th, as the venue will be used for an upcoming Villain based stage show called “Unfairly Ever After.”

Okay, now we are finally at the real reason Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy will be missed. Because of THE SHIRT. That’s right, take a look at this shirt below. Don’t try to figure it out, it’s impossible. Just bask in the wonder of it all. A shirt like this makes you realize there is still beauty left in this world. The “Lightening” typo? Cherry on top of a unicorn sundae.

Honorable Mention – Country Bears Jamboree

Back in 2012, the Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland saw some pretty significant changes, including the loss of several songs as the overall show was shortened in length. However, many of the original songs were left in, including Henry and Wendell’s “Mama, Don’t Whip Little Buford,” Big Al’s “Blood On The Saddle,” and the Sun Bonnet Trio’s “All  The Guys Who Turn Me On Turn Me Down.” Like the rifles in the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade staying after the great WDW gun purge, its hard to believe songs like that could exist in the world we live in today where people live to complain about everything. They were from a different time and era.

In January, it closed again for a complete overhaul of the music. It reopened in July as the Country Bears Musical Jamboree and all the old songs were removed and replaced with stuff like “Kiss The Girl” from The Little Mermaid, “A Whole New World” from Aladdin, and “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” from Toy Story. Let the record show this is the most heartbreaking paragraph I’ve ever had to write in SATURDAY SIX  history and the “new and improved” Country Bears show is the McMurphy for my Chief as I recreate the ending to One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest.

Theme Park In Memoriam Plot

Ghosts of In Memoriam Past:

• • • 2023 (Harmonious, Splash Mountain, Starcruiser)
    • 2022 (KiteTails, Shrek 4D, Josh easyWDW)
    • 2021 (NBA Experience, SotMK, Must Do Disney)
    • 2020 (Rivers of Light, Primeval Whirl, The Void)
    • 2019 (Burudika, Mizner’s Lounge, IllumiNations)
    • 2018 (Emeril’s at CityWalk, Eighth Voyage of Sindbad, Richard Gerth)
    • 2017 (Dragon Challenge, Great Movie Ride, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Halloween Adventure)
    • 2016 (Osborne Lights, Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue, Lights, Motors, Action!)
    • 2015 (Twister…Ride It Out! Mulch, Sweat, and Shears, Disaster!)
    • 2014 (Camp Minnie-Mickey, The Giggle Gang, Push the Trashcan