Today we are going to take another look at some ride-through POV looks at attractions that are “extinct” at Walt Disney World.

The Maelstrom

One of the attractions my kids still miss is the Maelstrom that was located in Norway where Frozen Ever After is today.  My family actually liked the Maelstrom more.

The attraction opened in 1988 and closed in 2014.

It had been there for years and if you rode it you probably remember the exodus through the theater at the end of the ride.

Here’s a video from Theme Park Review’s YouTube:

Fun fact. The Polar bear from the Maelstrom is located in  Central Shops. It can still be seen if you take the Backstage Magic tour. Which I find equally fascinating and freaky.

Next up is the Universe of Energy.

This is another attraction that’s been recently closed. It’s becoming the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind attraction at EPCOT.

If you have ever ridden the attraction you probably understand why it was closed. Honestly I’m surprised it was open for as long as it was. After you get past the dinosaur parts it just turned into a long documentary on energy.

The original attraction opened in 1982 and I remember the rotating TV like screens that would change. I found a video of it on the YouTube Channel Widen Your World.

Eventually it was updated in 1996 to Ellen’s Energy Adventure and they added Ellen Degeneres and Bill Nye.  It was finally closed in 2017 and has been transitioning into the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction since.

Widenyourworld also has a POV version of the original attraction!

Of course the final version was Ellen’s Energy Adventure.

This one is a great video from Attractions Magazine. It’s so well done!

El Rio de Tiempo

Many years ago the Mexico pavilion hosted the attraction El Rio de Tiempo (River of Time) that closed in 2007 and later became the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros.

Let’s take a look at the original version via this video from WDWNT on YouTube.

Millennium Village and Tapestry of Nations

Way back in 1999 EPCOT opened up the Millennium Village in the World Showcase. It was in that building tucked back in between Canada and the UK. It’s now called “World Showplace.”
The building housed exhibits and attractions from countries all around the globe.  It closed on January 1, 2001.

Think Innoventions but bigger and global.

Here’s a look from a video on the DisneyDreamsNet YouTube.

Another attraction during the event was the Tapestry of Nations.

It ran until 2001 when it was renamed the Tapestry of Dreams. The one thing I remembered about this one was the people on stilts and the tall puppet people.

Jeremy Trist on YouTube has posted this video of the parade:’

There’s a look at some long lost gems from EPCOT.

What do you think? Comment and let us know!

Sources: Theme Park Review, Widen Your World, Widen Your World, Attractions Magazine, WDWNT, DisneyDreamsNet, Jeremy Trist,

Photo Source: Eddison Esteban