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Permanently closed after eight years, widely reported as too intense for the family-friendly Magic Kingdom; the building was reused for Stitch's Great Escape! (opened November 16, 2004).
Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes
Former Ride · the memorial record
⚰ Permanently closed · Oct 12, 2003operated 10 years · 1993–2003
Also known as Alien Encounter.
This ride is gone, but its history stays documented — the full lifetime log is below.
Ride history
the lifetime record- 2003
- 1995
Officially opened as part of the New Tomorrowland renovation, using binaural sound, over-the-shoulder restraints, and total darkness in a theater-in-the-round.
Tracked byTheme Park Patch Notes -
Pulled from previews by order of CEO Michael Eisner, who felt it was not intense enough; Disney spent an additional roughly $10 million reworking the pre-shows and main show to a darker, more consistent tone.
comedic preview version→darker, retooled showTracked byTheme Park Patch Notes - 1994
Opened for previews on the site of the former Mission to Mars, but immediately drew criticism over its tone and comedic elements.
- 1993
Announced as the replacement for Mission to Mars, developed by Walt Disney Imagineering with George Lucas/Lucasfilm after an earlier Alien-film-based concept ('Nostromo', using the R-rated franchise's Xenomorph) was dropped in favor of an original story and the fictional X-S Tech company.
Questions & answers
When did The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter open?
Per the documented record, The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter at Magic Kingdom opened on Jun 20, 1995.
When did The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter last close for refurbishment?
The most recent closure/refurbishment documented for The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter is dated Oct 12, 2003: Permanently closed after eight years, widely reported as too intense for the family-friendly Magic Kingdom; the building was reused for Stitch's Great Escape! (opened November 16, 2004).
What changed recently on The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter?
The latest documented change (documented Oct 12, 2003): Permanently closed after eight years, widely reported as too intense for the family-friendly Magic Kingdom; the building was reused for Stitch's Great Escape! (opened November 16, 2004).
How many changes are on record for The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter?
5 documented changes, dating back to 1993 — the fan-kept ride changelog nobody else keeps.
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