The most terrifying attraction to ever be constructed at the Disney Parks, and perhaps the most controversial, was the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. Replacing Mission to Mars at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Alien Encounter had a soft opening in December 1994 and officially opened in June 1995. For the next 8 years, Alien Encounter grew a cult following with many Disney fans, especially those who loved sci-fi horror, but its terrifying and violent sequences targeting a more mature audience was inevitably not the right fit for Tomorrowland. Inevitably, the attraction closed in 2003 and was replaced by Stitch's Great Escape, which in many ways was simply a [very] toned down, kid-friendly version of the attraction. In today's episode we'll explore the history of Disney's Alien Encounter, including how George Lucas was brought to the table to consult on the project. We'll also discuss some of the details of the attraction for those who were not able to experience it, and I'll take you with me for a truly terrifying visit back to the Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center for this X-S Tech demonstration. Were you able to experience Alien Encounter? Had this attraction been built in another park, do you think it would have surpassed its 8-year lifespan? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerNews Facebook Group (ImagiNation): https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/ Share your feedback via voicemail: 516-406-8376 Be sure to check out our sponsor WDW Magazine, the premier magazine focused on Walt Disney World, available in print or digital. Disney news and travel tips: Be sure to visit our Disney news partner, The Kingdom Insider: Website: https://thekingdominsider.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/KingdomInsider Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekingdominsider/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tkidisneynews YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfNy6LP8uPSjsktoPBr5JTQ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TKIDisneyNews/ Vacation Planning: Planning a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, or another Disney destination? Visit our trusted partner, Academy Travel:  Walt Disney World: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/waltdisney/IP Disneyland: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/disneyland/IP Disney Cruise Line: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/disneycruise/IP Aulani: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/Aulani/IP Adventures by Disney: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/DisneyAdventure/IP How to Support the Show Share the podcast with your friends Rate and review on iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-imagineerpodcasts-podcast/id1244558092 Join the Imagineer Society - https://www.patreon.com/imagineerpodcast Purchase merchandise - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/imagineer-podcast?ref_id=8929 Download Imagineer Tours - http://imagineertours.com  Special thanks to our Imagineer Society "Hero" Members: Jesse Park Jessica Brand Enjoy the show!

The most terrifying attraction to ever be constructed at the Disney Parks, and perhaps the most controversial, was the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter. Replacing Mission to Mars at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Alien Encounter had a soft opening in December 1994 and officially opened in June 1995. For the next 8 years, Alien Encounter grew a cult following with many Disney fans, especially those who loved sci-fi horror, but its terrifying and violent sequences targeting a more mature audience was inevitably not the right fit for Tomorrowland. Inevitably, the attraction closed in 2003 and was replaced by Stitch's Great Escape, which in many ways was simply a [very] toned down, kid-friendly version of the attraction.

In today's episode we'll explore the history of Disney's Alien Encounter, including how George Lucas was brought to the table to consult on the project. We'll also discuss some of the details of the attraction for those who were not able to experience it, and I'll take you with me for a truly terrifying visit back to the Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center for this X-S Tech demonstration.

Were you able to experience Alien Encounter? Had this attraction been built in another park, do you think it would have surpassed its 8-year lifespan? Send me your feedback via email or through direct or public message at any of the following and [with your permission] I'll include your message in a future show:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ImagineerPodcast
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ImagineerPodcast
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/ImagineerNews
• Facebook Group (ImagiNation): https://www.facebook.com/groups/imagineerpodcast/
• Share your feedback via voicemail: 516-406-8376

Be sure to check out our sponsor magazine.com">WDW Magazine, the premier magazine focused on Walt Disney World, available in print or digital.

Disney news and travel tips: Be sure to visit our Disney news partner, The Kingdom Insider:

• Website: https://thekingdominsider.com
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/KingdomInsider
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekingdominsider/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tkidisneynews
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfNy6LP8uPSjsktoPBr5JTQ
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/TKIDisneyNews/

Vacation Planning: Planning a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, or another Disney destination? Visit our trusted partner, Academy Travel: 

• Walt Disney World: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/waltdisney/IP
• Disneyland: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/disneyland/IP
• Disney Cruise Line: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/disneycruise/IP
• Aulani: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/Aulani/IP
• Adventures by Disney: https://apps.itams.com/AcademyCRM/form/DisneyAdventure/IP

How to Support the Show

• Share the podcast with your friends
• Rate and review on iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-imagineerpodcasts-podcast/id1244558092
• Join the Imagineer Society - https://www.patreon.com/imagineerpodcast
• Purchase merchandise - https://www.teepublic.com/stores/imagineer-podcast?ref_id=8929
• Download Imagineer Tours - http://imagineertours.com 

Special thanks to our Imagineer Society "Hero" Members:

• Jesse Park
• Jessica Brand

Enjoy the show!