- Mar 13, 2024
- 8,635
- 36
Changes have been a constant at Disney World for decades, with rides, attractions, restaurants, and even a whole water park closing over the decades. In the last few years alone, iconic attractions like Muppet*Vision 3D, Tom Sawyer Island, and The Rivers of America have all shuttered for good, with fans making one final visit while lamenting their loss in the buildup to their final day of operation. However, not every closed Disney location has gotten a grand send-off.
Tortuga Tavern
Instead, some – – ranging from merchandise locations to a decades-old show – – closed without warning and simply never reopened, changing the face of their respective Disney park with nothing but a whimper.
First opened in 1992, Voyage of The Little Mermaid was a major part of Hollywood Studios for nearly 30 years. The show featured an abridged version of the film’s story, utilizing a mix of live actors, puppets, special effects, and laser projections on the auditorium walls and ceilings to mimic being underwater.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
The show closed with the rest of Disney World at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, and simply never reopened. The venue sat closed for several years until it was revamped with a take on the material entitled The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, which opened in 2025. While the new show hits similar beats, many guests who grew up with the ’90s version still lament not having the ability to have seen the original version one last time.
The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure
Located in Adventureland, the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Tortuga Tavern first opened in 2011. The quick-service location offered a menu mainly consisting of Mexican food. The restaurant closed in the summer of 2024, initially for refurbishment, and then never returned. Of course, since then, Adventureland has gotten a new — and much more intricately themed — Pirates of the Caribbean-themed dining establishment in Beak and Barrel.
Tortuga Tavern blocked by shrubs
As a massive portion of Frontierland continues to transform into Piston Peak, elements of the land continue to change. This includes Big Al’s, the Country Bear Jamboree-themed merchandise, which once sat on the shores of the Rivers of America.
Big Al’s
The merchandise stand closed on May 11th. Disney never formally confirmed this location was closing permanently, and the fact that when we get the “someone ate the page” screen on the Disney World website for Big Al’s (AKA it has been scrubbed from Disney’s website) gives us a clue that it’s never coming back, at least not as Big Al’s.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Magical Guides-Big-Als-Shop-Frontierland-Magic-Kingdom-Photo-May-11-2026-10-00-34-AM-5712-x-4284-700x525.jpg
RIP Big Al’s!
Let’s wrap up with a return to Hollywood Studios. First opening in 2020, the Disney Jr. Play and Dance show was the then-latest incarnation of a child-friendly Disney Jr. show held in Hollywood Studios’ Animation Courtyard. The show ran until the spring of 2025, when it was “temporarily” replaced by Get Animated!, a show that was part of the Cool Kids Summer. Disney Jr. Play was supposed to reopen in September, but never did. It has since been replaced by Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! as part of the Animation Courtyard’s larger transformation into the Walt Disney Studios Lot.
Disney Jr. Play & Dance
Next time you’re at Disney World, remember to take in everything from shops to restaurants to rides and shows, as for some of them, you may never know when they’ll disappear without fanfare. Stay tuned to Magical Guides for more on Disney history.
Do you miss any of these Disney spaces? Let us know in the comments below.
Tortuga Tavern
Instead, some – – ranging from merchandise locations to a decades-old show – – closed without warning and simply never reopened, changing the face of their respective Disney park with nothing but a whimper.
The Voyage of the Little Mermaid
First opened in 1992, Voyage of The Little Mermaid was a major part of Hollywood Studios for nearly 30 years. The show featured an abridged version of the film’s story, utilizing a mix of live actors, puppets, special effects, and laser projections on the auditorium walls and ceilings to mimic being underwater.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
The show closed with the rest of Disney World at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, and simply never reopened. The venue sat closed for several years until it was revamped with a take on the material entitled The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, which opened in 2025. While the new show hits similar beats, many guests who grew up with the ’90s version still lament not having the ability to have seen the original version one last time.
The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure
Tortuga Tavern
Located in Adventureland, the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Tortuga Tavern first opened in 2011. The quick-service location offered a menu mainly consisting of Mexican food. The restaurant closed in the summer of 2024, initially for refurbishment, and then never returned. Of course, since then, Adventureland has gotten a new — and much more intricately themed — Pirates of the Caribbean-themed dining establishment in Beak and Barrel.
Tortuga Tavern blocked by shrubs
Big Al’s
As a massive portion of Frontierland continues to transform into Piston Peak, elements of the land continue to change. This includes Big Al’s, the Country Bear Jamboree-themed merchandise, which once sat on the shores of the Rivers of America.
Big Al’s
The merchandise stand closed on May 11th. Disney never formally confirmed this location was closing permanently, and the fact that when we get the “someone ate the page” screen on the Disney World website for Big Al’s (AKA it has been scrubbed from Disney’s website) gives us a clue that it’s never coming back, at least not as Big Al’s.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Magical Guides-Big-Als-Shop-Frontierland-Magic-Kingdom-Photo-May-11-2026-10-00-34-AM-5712-x-4284-700x525.jpg
RIP Big Al’s!
Disney Jr. Play and Dance
Let’s wrap up with a return to Hollywood Studios. First opening in 2020, the Disney Jr. Play and Dance show was the then-latest incarnation of a child-friendly Disney Jr. show held in Hollywood Studios’ Animation Courtyard. The show ran until the spring of 2025, when it was “temporarily” replaced by Get Animated!, a show that was part of the Cool Kids Summer. Disney Jr. Play was supposed to reopen in September, but never did. It has since been replaced by Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! as part of the Animation Courtyard’s larger transformation into the Walt Disney Studios Lot.
Disney Jr. Play & Dance
Next time you’re at Disney World, remember to take in everything from shops to restaurants to rides and shows, as for some of them, you may never know when they’ll disappear without fanfare. Stay tuned to Magical Guides for more on Disney history.
Join the Magical Guides Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
YOU CAN, TOO.
https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Magical Guides-Guide-Covers-Fan-11-11-24-2.png
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
GET YOUR GUIDE NOW
Do you miss any of these Disney spaces? Let us know in the comments below.
