Never Built America Dark Ride: Epcot Center's Cancelled Attractions Part 33

Epcot Center's Cancelled Attractions

The American Adventure is one of the most elaborate stage shows Disney has ever designed. Featuring a cast entirely of animatronics, it tells the story of America from before its founding to the present day successes of the country. But this was not always the plan for the main attraction of the America Pavilion at Epcot Center.

Welcome to Epcot Center's Cancelled Attractions, where we explore the never built concepts that were planned for Epcot Center, but never actually opened in the parks. Today we are exploring the original plan for the America Pavilion in World Showcase. Be sure to check out the rest of the series here.

The American Adventure currently sits at the center of the World Showcase, providing the visual draw or "weenie" of the land. But this was not its original position.

Originally this pavilion was supposed to be located at the entrance to World Showcase. In this version, it would not have been given an elaborate facade, but honestly have looked quite similar to the currently planned festival center. A circular building with the main attraction located on the second floor, allowing for a pathway beneath it.

The attraction was not the show we ended up getting, however, but a comical themed dark ride through the cultural history of America. This version of the attraction was designed by Imagineer Marc Davis who also designed another comical patriotic-themed attraction, America Sings.

The ride eventually shifted to a more serious tone as it moved to its eventual home at the center of the World Showcase, although it would remain a dark ride, even featuring the two eventual narrators Mark Twain and Ben Franklin.

Eventually, it shifted towards the show that it would eventually become, taking on the tone of the more serious version of the dark ride.

This attraction exists in a mostly unaltered state to this day, with only minor changes to its finale to keep up with the times.

This never built ride naturally evolved into the attraction we know and love today. As the host pavilion, it would not make sense for them to have anything short of an impressive show full of grandeur and patriotism. These kinds of changes happen in development, with blue sky ideas almost never resembling the final product.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out the rest of this series here. Also, be sure to come back next week as we explore the never built Epcot Venezuela Pavilion.