Disney Demolishes Magic Kingdom Attraction, Ends Beloved Free Perk Permanently

An iconic attraction comes to an end in Walt Disney World.

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While Magic Kingdom park is home to dozens of incredible rides and attractions, few experiences match the uniqueness and interactivity of Disney’s Frontierland Shootin’ Aracade.

This legendary piece of Magic Kingdom closed permanently earlier this year, and demolition is now beginning on the former attraction.

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While rides tend to be Disney’s bread and butter at its theme parks, there are plenty of other experiences guests can get their hands on that don’t require a seat belt or lap bar, and the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade was a perfect example.

Nestled on the side of Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom, this shooting arcade invited guests of all ages to test their shooting skills on a variety of targets. Guests could grab a hold of one of several faux rifles as they aimed toward a beautiful western backdrop.

While most guests could easily miss this attraction, the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade offered an authentic and immersive experience unlike any other at Walt Disney World.

In June 2024, Disney announced it would permanently close the arcade to make way for a new lounge designed for Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members. This announcement rubbed many guests and Disney World fans the wrong way, with the attraction being an opening-day experience for Magic Kingdom park.

Disney Demolishes Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade

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Walls quickly surrounded the arcade following its closure, with Disney now taking the next steps with the project. As shared by several social media reports, Frontierland Shootin’ Aracade is now being demolished at Magic Kingdom.

Twitter/X user Candace Jackson posted an update, sharing how sad they were about losing the attraction.

Now, no more. Sadly the Frontierland Shootin Arcade is heavily under demolition.  Just a part of our memories now.

Now, no more. Sadly the Frontierland Shootin Arcade is heavily under demolition. 😢 Just a part of our memories now. pic.twitter.com/5ObCta9LCE

— Candace Jackson (@CJackson63472) July 9, 2024

Popular Disney news source Disney Food Blog shared another update on Twitter/X, revealing the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade sign had been torn down.

The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade sign is GONE in Magic Kingdom!

The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade sign is GONE in Magic Kingdom! pic.twitter.com/ZW6vqAUSzw

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) July 9, 2024

The arcade’s closure marks a new chapter for Magic Kingdom, with several parts of Frontierland changing significantly over the last few months.

Earlier that year, Disney also closed its iconic Country Bear Jamboree attraction. Unlike the shooting arcade, Disney confirmed the Country Bears would return in a new, revamped version of their sing-along show. This new attraction, officially titled Country Bear Musical Jamboree, opens later this month.

Magic Kingdom’s newest thrill ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, officially opened on June 28 in Frontierland and has quickly become the park’s most popular and talked-about new attraction since.

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Part of what made the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade so unique was that guests could approach it and enjoy it at their own pace. The attraction was not particularly popular, meaning there was rarely ever a line to pick up a rifle.

The arcade was also one of the very few free experiences offered in Walt Disney World. Disney dropped the price to $0 sometime in 2021, allowing every single guest to test their shooting skills.

While not confirmed, it’s theorized that Disney decided to close the arcade due to its violent nature, encouraging guests to pick up authentic-looking rifles and take aim at targets.

An opening date for the new Frontierland DVC lounge has not been specified.

Will you miss Disney World’s shooting arcade?