5 Disney World Attractions Are Quietly Slipping Into MAJOR Trouble

Disney World has been on a significant upgrade streak. Everywhere you look, something is changing—new attractions, reimagined spaces, fresh technology, and even quiet tweaks that most guests only catch on a second or third visit. The resort feels like it’s constantly reinventing itself to keep pace with bigger crowds and rising expectations.

But with so much attention on what’s shiny and new, some longtime favorites are starting to feel like they’re getting left in the dust. The more updates appear across the parks, the easier it is to see which classics are struggling to keep up.

These five attractions still carry a ton of charm and nostalgia, but they’re also aging in ways that fans can’t ignore forever. They don’t need to disappear, and they don’t necessarily require giant overhauls, but they’re absolutely ready for some extra care to keep them from slipping further behind.

Mission: SPACE Is Stuck in Yesterday’s Idea of the Future

Start over in EPCOT with Mission: SPACE, a ride that once felt like the future of theme park thrills. When it first opened, the intense space training concept and high-powered simulator tech made it feel daring and cutting-edge. Now, that same experience feels harsher than impressive. The visuals appear tired, the movements come across as stiff instead of immersive, and even with two intensity settings, many guests step off feeling rattled rather than inspired.

The concept still fits EPCOT perfectly, which is what makes its current state so frustrating. As other attractions evolve, Mission: SPACE appears frozen in its original era, clinging to technology that no longer matches what guests expect. A smoother, more polished version could turn it back into a must-do instead of a “try once and move on” ride in EPCOT’s lineup.

Journey Into Imagination With Figment Feels Like a Placeholder

Stay in EPCOT, and you run into another fan favorite that doesn’t quite match the park around it anymore: Journey Into Imagination With Figment. Figment himself remains a star. Generations of guests adore the purple dragon and his playful energy. The problem is that his ride hasn’t grown with him. The attraction feels like it belongs to a different era of EPCOT entirely—charming, but clearly out of sync with the park’s newer, more modern offerings.

The sets look tired, the jokes don’t land quite as well as they once did, and the pacing feels off enough that some guests walk away thinking it plays more like a stand-in than a fully realized experience. That’s tough to swallow when Figment is still so popular in meet-and-greets and merchandise. This ride doesn’t need a total reinvention, but it does need a thoughtful refresh so Figment feels as imaginative as his park’s current direction.

Peter Pan’s Flight Can’t Rely on Nostalgia Forever

Over at Magic Kingdom, Peter Pan’s Flight still commands big wait times from the moment the park opens. Floating over London in a pirate ship is still incredibly charming, and the tiny vignettes below continue to pull in families eager to experience that classic story. However, the age of the ride continues to increase each year. By modern standards, the experience is relatively brief, and many of its effects come across as nostalgic rather than impressive.

When guests compare it to newer attractions packed with advanced projections, massive sets, and layered storytelling, Peter Pan’s Flight can feel like it’s coasting on its reputation. The affection for this ride is enormous—no one is asking for it to vanish. It just feels overdue for a tune-up that preserves the magic while providing guests with a smoother, more satisfying experience for those long waits.

Star Tours Delivers Fun and a Sore Neck

If you move over to the world of Star Wars, Star Tours still acts as a sentimental favorite for many fans. Long before Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened, this simulator gave guests one of the best ways to visit that galaxy far, far away. The rotating scenes and updated storylines help keep it relevant, but physically, the ride hasn’t held up as well. Guests often stumble off grinning—and reaching for their shoulders.

The motions are jerky, the bumps feel relentless, and compared to the smoother simulator tech available today, Star Tours can feel like a leftover from a rougher era. The potential remains, though. The universe it taps into deserves a version that feels less like a workout and more like the thrilling space mission fans imagine.

Space Mountain Still Thrills, But It Takes a Toll

Space Mountain might be one of Magic Kingdom’s most iconic attractions, and for good reason. The dark interior, recognizable structure, and energetic atmosphere make it a rite of passage for many guests. At the same time, the coaster’s age shows in a big way. Riders know they’re in for a rough experience with sharp transitions and sudden drops that do more than just surprise—they jolt.

Many guests now talk about it as a nostalgic tradition rather than a comfortable thrill ride, especially when they compare it to smoother coasters built in more recent years. The ride doesn’t need to lose its identity to improve. A few smarter transitions, updated effects, and subtle changes could help Space Mountain remain legendary without leaving guests feeling exhausted.

These Classics Need Care, Not Replacements

In the end, these attractions don’t need to vanish from Disney World’s story. Fans aren’t asking for all-new rides in their place—they’re asking for the classics to get the care they deserve.

With Disney World racing ahead into its next chapter, there’s room to keep beloved rides in the mix while bringing them up to modern standards. A bit of smoothing here, a few refreshed details there, and a stronger sense of storytelling could help each of these experiences feel like they genuinely belong in the resort’s future, not just its past.