We’ve already seen a ton of BIG changes in Disney World in 2024, but more change is on the way. And this one will be CONTROVERSIAL!
Main Street, U.S.A.
Although the multi-year massive EPCOT transformation is complete (and the construction walls are FINALLY down), there’s still a lot in store for Disney World. Magic Kingdom is going through a LOT of change: not only is there a big Magic Kingdom expansion in the works, but Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens on June 28th and Country Bear Jamboree reopens with a brand new show on July 17th. But that’s not all — another big change is coming to Magic Kingdom soon.
First, let’s talk about a classic Disney World attraction. We’re going to mosey on over to Frontierland in Magic Kingdom and have some Wild West fun at Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade. If you were ever a kid in Disney World, we bet you’ve spent some time shooting at targets here (yep, we’re bringing back the nostalgia).
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
We’re just going to warn you now: you’ll want to be saying goodbye to the Shootin’ Arcade soon. Why? Because we have confirmed it will be closing sometime later this year. For good. As in permanently. 😭 Yep, Disney is closing the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade to make room for something new: a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member lounge.
No more shootin’
Now, this is probably great news for DVC members who would love to have a nice place to relax and enjoy some complimentary drinks and snacks in the middle of the chaos that is Magic Kingdom. And that’s great! But many folks will be a little sad that an opening day attraction is being shuttered.
Change is part of the original concept of Disney parks — so we’ll adapt! And we have to admit that a Frontierland-themed DVC lounge could be a lot of fun!
DVC Member Lounge at EPCOT
This will be the third DVC lounge in Disney World, which include a DVC lounge in EPCOT at the Imagination Pavilion and Top of the World — A Villains Lair (which is probably the most WICKED lounge EVER) at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Disney has not yet announced an opening date for the new lounge, but the company has confirmed that Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade’s last day will be June 23rd.
Of course, we’ll be keeping an eye out for more details, so you’ll want to stay tuned to DFB for more. We also learned that DVC members will be getting more details soon, too.
Looking for more details about being a DVC member? We’ve got all the details right here so you can decide if it’s right for you.
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Why don’t they leave it, and make room in the coming new section, beyond big Thunder? That would make more sense.
Not happy!!!! I understand that DVC members pay a lot for their membership and the amenities, but they get enough amenities without needing special spots in ALL of the parks that are off limits to the rest of us (AP here)! There are plenty of buildings within the MK that are empty spaces that could be used in lieu of taking away something with entertainment value!!!!
I’ve never once gone to the shootin arcade and I can see why it’s a thing of the past I just wish it was being replaced by something everyone could use or be more inclusive like DVC, pass holders and Disney Visa.
Could use a cooling lounge for everyone or perhaps a new quick service spot. A marketplace with deli sandwiches, cold deli salads and grab and go items.
Bob, stop taking away things that people love. The *new* Communicore is trash. You removed the beautiful fountains and now you want to remove the shooting gallery meant to keep kids engaged and create long-lasting memories in Disney World. Bad decision after bad decision is destroying the parks that made Disney Orlando great. The only good option will be Tokyo Disney for the Disney fans who truly appreciate Walt’s vision.
I agree with Jessica’s and Rachel’s ideas toward the new space.
The well to do wins again. This is why I will never sign up for Disney snob club. Can I? Yes I could, but will never do so. I like old Disney, not kiss my butt Disney. It is all going to hell in a hand basket and the rest of us old timers just have to do without. Crybabies-R-Us get what they want and us old timers have to do without our memories. It is plan SAD!!!
Very mixed feelings about a lot of things with this. My son LOVED the shootin’ arcade when he was younger, but he has not cared about visiting it for many years. Although, I think that is more about the fact that so much of the equipment/attraction didn’t work, and it was a little heartbreaking. It would have been nice if they had replaced it with something with a similar entertainment value and wider audience. I agree with others who have said that it’s good that DVC are getting something for (ALL) the money that they pay, but I also agree with what about something for AP, Disney Visa, and I’ll throw in D23 Gold! For those of us with just about everything but DVC, it’s a little off putting (especially if we have fond memories of what is vanishing). I have to admit, all the new DVC lounges make the prospect of DVC a *little* more enticing, but it still isn’t the right answer for us. We love table service (and slower times of the year) anyway, so we probably wouldn’t get much use out of the lounges in the parks. Overall, it does seem like one more way that Disney is not interested in appealing to the ‘average,’ generational, or non-DVC customer. As others have also said, the lounge could have gone somewhere else.
One of many reasons why I’m ditching my annual passes when they expire in June
I’d say we’d find this understandable IF…they build a new, bigger, and better Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade in the Beyond Big Thunder project!
I heard a theory being bounced around that the beyond Thunder Mountain was going to be a new Frontierland and current Frontier land was going to become a New Orleans Square type area (I’ll trow in possible Critter Country). This just move my tin foil hat a little more in that area until something official gets said.
Mot happy. Taking something away from everyone to make something for a few
To replace an iconic opening day attraction the whole family can enjoy with an elitist club room for the favored rich members is not a Walt Disney thing to do… if you want a private lounge build it off somewhere out of the way of regular attractions. Bad thinking… hope they don’t do it.
As DisneyWorld is now run by young corporate folks whose life experiences are contained in a cell phone and who don’t foot the bill for family vacations, throwing away an opening day attraction whose memories goes back further than they have been alive might seem ok. A DVC lounge need only be behind an attraction, like the Tropicana Lounge used to be behind Tiki Birds. What’s next kids? Replace Fort Wilderness with Fantasy Island? A park with no history has no future.
I’m a DVC member and while lounges are nice, I’m starting to wonder about the obsession with lounges. It seems that someone should just relax back at a resort rather than go to one of the parks if the lounge is such a draw. Park lounges are easy for Disney to do rather than come up with something actually imaginative.
While I can’t recall walking into the shooting gallery since the late 1970s, I’m a bit sad to see it go as it was an original and added some old fashioned ambiance to the area. It certainly isn’t as intriguing to kids today considering they can do everything online compared to decades ago when this stuff was entertaining. There once was a smaller shooting gallery in the arcade at the Contemporary where Steakhouse 71 is currently located (and The Wave prior to that) which brings back good memories. Looks like both will be gone now.
Wait… there was a shooting arcade there?
I’m wondering when they are going to have permanent lounges for passholders at every park.
We were in Magic Kingdom yesterday and while I was waiting for my spouse who was shopping in the adjacent pin trading store, i stood and watched families and couples trying their hand at the free shooting gallery, remembering when we did it early in our marriage. I thought to myself, I can’t believe they haven’t taken it away yet. I would bet they are removing it due to pressure because of mass shootings, which I can understand a little, but guns are a part of frontier history and wild West history and soon there will be nothing frontier left of frontier land. Add some new, but keep the old, perhaps with a few upgrades. The frontier land pin trading shop is pretty lame and like the placement of many Disney shops is mostly generic merchandise having nothing to do with the attraction or land or theme—that’s why I was watching the shooting gallery which was fun. There was another frontierland shop front nearby that was empty except for nothing but DVC info. Couldn’t they build up onto a 2nd story? We saw a lot of vacant mercantile this week. Disney is becoming more elitist catering to the wealthy or fiscally irresponsible. I would never own a timeshare or DVC. To each their own, but still sad to see an original go away. I’m surprised it wasn’t Swiss Family treehouse or there in frontierland- Tom Sawyer’s Island getting the axe. There is much to be said for nostalgia, vintage, history, etc. We refuse to pay extra for rides or be on phones or apps all day reserving. There is a need for attractions that don’t have 60-90 Minute waits or longer, or require passes, apps/smart phones or additional money. After 25 years of Disney together, now we go, as someone else mentioned….for the ambiance and the occasional ride. Not how we thought we’d spend our time at Disney now. RIP shootin’ gallery
I’m a DVC and AP. I am absolutely NOT in agreement with this move! Frontierland Shooting Gallery is an original!! I agree with the others, there are plenty, PLENTY of other spots for a DVC lounge! The place is never empty! It’s a great piece of entertainment for kids and adults who want to get away from lines, have a snack, and play!! Very, very DISAPPOINTED in this decision. Park executives are bound and determined to rid Walt Disney World parks of any trace of its origin! Sad, just so sad. At this point they should have just let Peltz on the board!
if you want to use the lounge, you can buy in. No one is stopping you. we are DVC and they have eliminated a LOT of the perk that used to come with membership. At first you got free annual passes for like 5 years. Then they took that away and gave us a very modest discount on annual passes and big time tickets. for the last 5 years there has been no ticket offer. for all the money we have paid out and continue to since you do have to pay dues every year whether you book in that year or not. and this can be hundreds of dollars mind you. so we pay full price for tickets like everyone else. we don’t get what we used to. a lounge is a nice thing, but they can change any benefit at any time. Close up the lounge and gone. no more perk. they tell you don’t buy in thinking about the perks, they won’t last. and for the $ the perks cost, Stockholders used to gt a lot of fancy recognition but that went away years ago. but if you want access, by in and you will gt in. it might be less expensive to just buy a bottle of water and a small sleeve of Oreos and sit in the quick serve for 10 minutes.
No way would I ever buy DVC or any kind of timeshare.
Third lounge for DVC, meanwhile the AP still doesn’t have one permanent lounge? Why do I pay so much money to be an AP here every year? 🤷🏻♀️🤦♀️
I am a DVC member and I’d rather keep the shooting gallery. Its an opening day attraction and there are far too few of them left! If a DVC lounge is in MK’s future, I agree with the other comment that they can put it in the new expansion area behind BTMRR.
DVC people don’t need anything given to them. How about a place for everyone? And we don’t need any changes to Pecos Bills. It’s one of the few good quick service locations in Magic Kingdom. How about a vote for tradition for a change.
Once more Disney is catering to a few wealthy and privileged instead of middle class America as Walt wanted. It’s probably true that this attraction has seen its better days but they should put another attraction in for everyone to enjoy. There are lots of Disney movies they are ignoring that could present ideas for fun rides or areas. Though Disney didn’t create the Muppets, only bought them, one of the best times I had was watching their shows in Liberty Square. How about bringing them back!? ☺ How about something from Wish? Pocahontas? Original Disney princesses (I really miss being able to walk through Cinderella’s castle, see the mosaics, enjoy the coolness and shade!)? Giving DVC members their own private club just reinforces the notion that Disney values them more than the rest of us and that their status is more elite. I’m very unhappy to see wdw more and more do and build only for DVC members. They seem to be turning their backs on everything Walt animated and created that so many of us baby boomers grew up with and cherished. Disney is, and should be, timeless for all ages….
I’m a DVC member and while I like the idea of a lounge at Magic Kingdom, I’m puzzled by the location. Every time I go by the Shootin’ Arcade there are lots of people there. It’s too bad they decided to close that instead of creating a space in the upcoming expansion, or using a pace that’s already empty, like old Stitch attraction in Tomorrowland. Either of those would have made more sense without disappointing so many people.
Great idea!
We enjoyed the arcade and it fit the setting. It was a nice spot in the shade for everyone in MK.
This is great news. Every move Disney makes has been such a welcome improvement. Keep growing, keep it dynamic, always change. WE LOVE IT!
Another attraction closed and replace by nothing of consequence.. keeping the ride waiting longer and forcing people to buy Geniie+. I think I’ll go stay at a nicely themed hotel at Universal and get free “lightning lanes”.
Is anyone else really sick of DVC? Pretty much every magic sucking change seems to be related to DVC. Atrocious towers at the Polynesian, the muted experience at the Imagination pavilion, a million empty kiosks scattered throughout the parks, and a bunch of places that I can’t enjoy because I’m never going to spend that crazy money to join.
Not too bothered by it’s closing, but wish it was for something less crappy. Really don’t think another DVC longue is needed.
This is a bunch of Bull!!!! What’s next Cinderella castle DVC lounge.
I already posted but I had to add. The DVC Lounges in park are nothing to get excited about. Epcot lounge is just BLAHHHHHH! Free soda and a Oompa Loompa size Oreo bag?! 🤣🤣🤣I’ve gone one time and after that never again. I can get cooled down just as easy in a quick service. I am DVC and AP, and to be clear I don’t care about the perks, whatever those are, I bought it because it fit our family’s park life. I’ve never been one to buy something because of the ‘perks’. And if I pay for what I want I’m not going to complain about how much it costs! Why would I ? It was my choice! So those who buy DVC, don’t cry about little perks or it’s cost, good lord, get rid of it if it causes you that much grief!
Why do they need an exclusive lounge for DVC. More BS from the elite, The regular once every few years vacation guests are getting pushed closer and closer to never walking through the front gates.
I am a DVC member and have been for nearly 30 years. Back then it was affordable for many families. We bought quite a few points so that we could treat our extended families to a memorable vacation. Also with limited vacation time it was a great way to see everyone in one place. The points now cost more than three times what we paid for them in ‘95.
I agree with many of the comments to put the lounge in another area, or a spot not being used. The Vilian’s Lair at the top of Bay Lake is great. A way to see the fireworks in MK without stepping in the park. Also enjoy a drink while there. And it doesn’t impact guests at the park.
WDW is becoming out of reach to many people which is incredibly sad. It is so commercialized and Disney has lost that magical touch that used to be present in the parks.
Most people need a lounge in the parks whether DVC or not, especially in the summer. There are so many DVC members now that one has to go on a waiting list to enter one. Didn’t even know there was a shooting gallery. I am sure that it’s non use is why they are doing away with it.
Disney, you have made so much money since the Pandemic and caused so much inconvenience ex. 1. The MAGICAL EXPRESS
2. THE GENIE PLUS
You have given back crumbs to the General Public and The Vacation Club Members. What you can do is
1. Return the Magical Express. I would be willing to pay for it.
2. Give everyone 3 rides a day with The Genie Plus, well in advance of arrival, just like we had with the Free Fast Pass. It would cost you NOTHING
I do not see the significance of a DVC lounge in Frontierland. A shooting arcade with a western theme is part of Frontierland. With three DVC connected to the monorail in the deluxe resorts I don’t see the need. Upgrading the park is one thing but hiw about a attraction for all park guests?
Just came back from a Disney trip. I was bored to death. The new Mickey ride in HS is all computer generated. I loved the old live action ride. The Imagination ride is one big flop from the beginning..no imagination at all. We ate at Space 220 and spent over $300 on a pre-fix lunch menu with drinks and tip and that was a big waste of money. The space view never rotates and you just see random floating things pass by. Unless you are sitting in the center section or just slightly off to each side the view is terrible. I suggest you get an 11:30 reservation to get good seating. We also ate at Rose & Crown which had a very limited menu. The service staff were phenomenal but the food was just ok. My kids got the poptart item and they threw it away it tasted so bad. The wait in the lines weren’t as bad as listed on the app thankfully. The Boardwalk is just that bored. No cool shops, two full service restaurants. No one hanging out there at night. The Disney Swan and Dolphin charging extra $ for more than two adults sharing a room. Absolutely a rip off. My daughter who just turned 18 cost more than $100 more on the room charge. It does say that on the website but give me a break. The snacks in that hotel and most of the other hotels are charging 300% over what they charge outside of the park. Epcot is only good during the food festival. Test track down. The new Communicore is just a big empty building. The show is just ok but the old center at least had some activities. To top it off as an annual passholder the discount barely worked anywhere anymore. This is the last year we will be getting annual passes. Disney is a disaster money grab.
Wow Stephanie! My young niece and nephews loved the new Mickey ride, and loved the Imagination ride. But then they are the targeted age for those rides. Hmmmm, maybe you missed that. We enjoyed our dinner and time at Space 220. Although we understood we were not actually in space and didn’t have expectations of how the view should be designed. Perhaps your expectations should have been forwarded to the designers pre build. I’ve never read or seen advertised that Boardwalk was supposed to be a miniature amusement park or version of Disney Springs. We enjoy the quiet peaceful nature of the Boardwalk. If you know you’re going to have to pay extra for an older child and choose to, why complain, just don’t go or there are much less expensive hotels around. We understand if we want to stay at a particular resort and we decide to pay the cost, then so be it. It’s kind of like hitting your own hand with a hammer on purpose and then complaining that you hit your hand. Odd. Test Track is down for refurbishment. It’s been noted for months and months. I’m not sure why your complaining about that. It’s kind of like buying a broken bike from someone and them telling you it’s broken and it’s not usable then you trying to ride it and complaining to the person they sold you a unusable bike. Odd. We’ve yet to find very many places that don’t take our AP’s. Odd. There is a saying ‘expect nothing, enjoy what is presented, contentment comes from those you are with”.
Must we remind Disney Execs that FRONTIERLAND was and IS an essential to the Magic Kingdom park and other Disney parks as it is one of the FOUR “lands” outlined in the original Disneyland Parks and Disneyland tv show that promoted the construction of the first park. We kids watched faithfully every Wednesday nights (yes, first on Wednesday) and FRONTIERLAND was quite often the subject of the week.
Remove FRONTIERLAND and you ruin the original Disney Parks concept.
So— DON’T.