While Walt Disney World’s four theme parks are often full of guests that make it feel like every inch of them is packed, the truth is that all of them have abandoned buildings right smack dab in the middle of their busiest areas.

From a long-abandoned EPCOT pavilion to the husk of a several-times-transformed opening year Magic Kingdom attraction, these structures have been sitting empty for years — sometimes decades. In fact, in my 30 years of visiting Disney World, most of them have been vacant much longer than they were filled.

Stitch’s Great Escape

The show building at the front of Tomorrowland that once held Stitch’s Great Escape has actually been home to three different attractions over the years. Mission to Mars, a clone of the Disneyland original, opened in the Tomorrowland space in December 1971 — just months after the Magic Kingdom opened — and operated until October 1993.

It was replaced by the beloved (and reviled) ExtraTERRORestial Alien Encounter from 1995 until 2003. The attraction was retooled into the much-bemoaned Stitch’s Great Escape in 2004, and remained in operation for the most part until 2018. The space has remained vacant, short of some limited meet & greets, since.

Wonders of Life

Wonders of Life opened to much fanfare at EPCOT in 1989. The pavilion, dedicated to health care, the human body, physical fitness, medicine and nutrition, was initially a hit thanks to the advanced-for-the-time simulator attraction Body Wars and the popular Cranium Command show. However. As EPCOT evolved with the additions of Test Track, Mission Space, and Soarin’ in the late 90s and early 2000s, its popularity sagged.

The pavilion closed in 2007, and for the next decade, it was used as a temporary Festival Center during the park’s annual events. In 2019, Disney announced plans to turn the space into the new Play! Pavilion, which would be themed to be an “interactive futuristic city where guests would be able to interact with a variety of Disney characters.” As with many projects during this period, work on the Play! Pavilion was paused. However, unlike much of the rest of EPCOT’s “reimagining”, work never resumed. In 2023, Disney confirmed that the space was being “reevaluated” and the former Wonders of Life has remained vacant since.

Tortuga Tavern

Currently, the Pirates of the Caribbean-themed Beak and Barrel is dominating the psyche of Magic Kingdom guests. Hence why many have almost forgotten that the park previously had another — much less intricately themed — pirate-themed eatery: Tortuga Tavern.

Originally 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 has simply stayed closed since, though the space is accessible.

Jellyrolls

Jellyrolls, a dueling piano bar, became a favorite for many guests thanks to its talented pianists, who would often engage in improvisational bits in the midst of performing the biggest songs of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and 00’s (which guests could specifically request using $1 and $5 bills). In addition, the 18+ club offered a full bar — including the nightly “Jellyroll of the Day” drink special — and popcorn to snack on.

Despite the bar’s cult favorite status, JellyRolls closed for good (on Disney World property) in April of 2025, joining other BoardWalk mainstays like the ESPN Club and Big River Grille & Brewing Works in the Disney history books. The site is currently empty.

Millennium Village

The centerpiece of the park’s Millennium Celebration, this purpose-built 60,000 square foot area housed exhibits – ranging from small presentations to elaborately themed environments, and even a virtual reality “ride” – showcasing countries that weren’t represented in World Showcase proper, including Brazil, Chile, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and others.

The Millennium Village opened in October of 1999 and became quite popular, so much so that many hoped the concept might become a permanent part of EPCOT after the celebrations ended. However, that wasn’t meant to be, as the village closed when the celebration ended in January of 2001. The structure is currently used during Food & Wine and other EPCOT festivals; however, for most of the year, it sits empty and vacant, taking up a potential World Showcase expansion pad.

These abandoned buildings are sitting right in the middle of some of Disney World’s busiest and crowded spots. Stay tuned to DFB for more on the fate of Disney’s abandoned buildings.

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Which of these abandoned spaces would you like to see transformed first? Let us know in the comments below.