5 Disney Theme Parks and Attractions that Were Never Built

Walt Disney was always planning and thinking of new ways to entertain the public. And even after Walt's death, the company he left behind continues to dream up new theme parks and attractions. However, not all of those ideas make it to become real theme parks or attractions. In fact, most of the ideas wind up in the graveyard of Disney theme parks and attractions that were never built. Here are five Disney theme parks and attractions that never saw the light of day.

Disney's America
This history-based Disney theme park was to be built in Haymarket, Virginia. With 8 themed area that included Native American Village, President's Square (complete with Walt Disney World's Hall of Presidents), and Ellis Island, Disney's America was going to showcase the complete American experience from the founding of our country to the mid 20th century.
The project was well in to the planning stages when it was blocked by historical preservation groups who opposed a large-scale development in and around historical sites where famous Civil War battles took place.

WestCOT
Planned as an Epcot style park for the west coast, WestCOT was to be built on the area that was the Disneyland parking lot and is now Disney's California Adventure. With guests visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando for several days - or even a week, Michael Eisner wanted to keep guests at Disneyland for more than one day. The answer was to build a second park and he challenged the Imagineers to "wow" him. The result was a three billion dollar park, WestCOT. However, following the dismal financial performance of the opening of EuroDisney (now Disneyland Paris), Michael Eisner was weary of investing such a large sum of money. Instead he had plans drawn up for a less-expensive option for a second park, and Disney's California Adventure was born.

Port Disney
Planned for Long Beach, California, Port Disney was first proposed in 1990, but soon was cancelled after the financial drain on the company because of EuroDisney's financial woes. Port Disney would have included a theme park based on Tokyo Disneyland's DisneySeaPark, hotels, a shopping and entertainment district as well as a cruise port to serve as the west coast home for Disney Cruise Lines.

Dark Kingdom
Proposed as a new theme park for the Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, the theme was to be based on the Disney Villains. It was to a reverse of the Magic Kingdom as it would be the Disney Villains who would be in charge. The park's centerpiece was to be Malificent's castle and the park would have included rides based on Captain Hook, Ursula, and other villains.

Mineral King Ski Resort
To be located in the Sequoia National Park, this was one of the last projects that Walt Disney worked on before his death. The resort was going to be an Alpine themed resort complete with hotels, ski runs, and the Country Bear Jamboree (which was revived and moved to Disneyland and Walt Disney World). This project faded away after the death of Walt Disney and was never built.