There's an Abandoned Island at Disney World — and It's Hidden in Plain Sight (2024)

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There's an Abandoned Island at Disney World — and It's Hidden in Plain Sight? ›

Located in Bay Lake near Magic Kingdom and several Disney hotels, Discovery Island was once a subtropical oasis that welcomed guests for 25 years before closing in the late '90s. Originally called Treasure Island, it opened on April 8, 1974, three years after Walt Disney World first welcomed visitors.

Between 1974 and 1999, it was an attraction open to guests, who could observe its many species of animals. Disney originally named it Treasure Island, and later renamed it Discovery Island. It currently sits abandoned, but can be seen by any watercraft in Bay Lake.

Disney Cruise Line is one of the first cruise lines to have its very own private island. Disney Castaway Cay is 1,000 acres of gorgeous views and houses more activities than you can check off of your list in one visit.

The abandoned island in Disney World is actually a reference to Discovery Island, which was a theme park attraction located on Bay Lake in Florida, United States. It opened in 1974 and closed in 1999.

Disney World once had a theme park on a private island called Discovery Island. It closed in 1999. Today, the abandoned park remains guarded and no one is allowed on. A few people have snuck on to capture video of the decaying park.

Hashima Island lies about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city of Nagasaki, in southern Japan. Coal was discovered in 1810, and the island was habited continuously from 1887, and abandoned in 1974. Arriving at Dolphin Pier, all that meets you is a concrete wasteland.

Castaway Cay has approximately 140 Disney Cruise Line permanent residents who keep the island running daily.

Can you stay on Disney's island? There aren't any hotels on the island, and guests are not allowed to stay overnight. Disney employees are another story—a reported 60 cast members (what Disney calls its employees) live on the island. Their homes are in the backstage areas that guests can't see, much less access.

Hidden deep beneath Florida's Walt Disney World lies a long, winding secret everyday parkgoers would never know existed. Built over 50 years ago in 1971 - and designed by Walt Disney himself - a nine-acre network of tunnels connects every single area in the park and is so large staff need golf carts to get around.

What Disney resort is closing? ›

– Disney announced earlier this year that the company would be closing its Star Wars-themed “Galactic Starcruiser” hotel, with its final voyage scheduled from Sept. 28-30.

The abandoned Orlando Sun Resort and Convention Center sits right outside the entrance to Walt Disney World Resort and the Disney-created Town of Celebration, less than a mile from my house. I pass by it every day and have been fascinated by it since moving here.

Discovery Island continued operating as one of Walt Disney World's offerings for exactly 25 years, before abruptly closing to the public on April 8, 1999.

The northern portion of Discovery Island, Chatham Island and some of the smaller islands nearby are First Nations Reserve lands. They are closed to the public and trespassing is not permitted.

River Country, located along the shores of Bay Lake and near Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, was themed as a rustic, old-fashioned swimming hole. Opening on June 20, 1976, the park closed indefinitely on November 2, 2001.

After dwindling attendance stemming from Western New York's rust belt economic decline, Fantasy Island, Inc. declared bankruptcy and the park did not operate for the 1982 season.

Hashima Island rises from the azure waters off Nagasaki City at the far western tip of Japan's main islands. It is often known as Gunkanjima, “Battleship Island,” because its rugged form resembles a Japanese battleship. The island was also featured in in the 2012 movie Skyfall.

Rather, the biggest reason for River Country's closure is that the park simply couldn't sustain demand next to its much larger siblings, especially in the midst of the massive travel slowdown following the attacks of 9/11. However, the park's closure isn't the end of its story.