Things That Did Happen That Weren't on the List
On the other hand, there were some projects that weren't announced at the start of 1990 that did come to pass. In 1991, Disney hyped up their block of afternoon television cartoon with the garish "Afternoon Avenue" overlay around It's A Small World. Talk about a show on the Rivers of American finally yielded to Fantasmic! In 1992, which had been called "Imagination" during planning. As I mentioned, Mickey's Toontown opened in 1993, Indiana Jones in 1995, the Festival Arena in 1996, and New Tomorrowland in 1998. Light Magic came and went in 1997. There were other smaller things, too, such as the Tahitian Terrace changing into Aladdin's Oasis, the shades-of-Afternoon Avenue Toy Story Funhouse in Tomorrowland, Tarzan's Treehouse, and for backstage concerns, the infamous Team Disney Anaheim building.

Why?
Clearly, though, the Disney Decade didn't turn out to be as bold for southern California as planned. In this case, there was any number of reasons why plans changed. As I mentioned already, the Henson deal fell apart. Dick Tracy didn't make enough at the box office to cover a movie that had been hyped so much. The economy stumbled. Thugs, hooligans, barbarians, and opportunists rioted in Los Angeles, as seen all over television. Disneyland Paris had financial trouble. Disney regularly ran into opposition to major new projects. Disney and Lucas can't agree on the details. Disney Stores chief Paul Pressler and his fellow retail experts took over control of the Resort. The Internet economy erupted and every company scrambled to get on board - location-based entertainment was in doubt as a result. Frank Wells died, Michael Eisner had a heart attack, Walt Disney Imagineering was overtaken by Disney Development Company (though the WDI name won out).

Other Examples
It's easy to use the Disney Decade as an example, due to the hype and the fact that the decade is over. But there have been plenty of other plans that haven't made it, both widely-known and little-known. _Disneyland: The Inside Story_ details the ill-fated Rock Candy Mountain. The Disney Gallery at Disneyland Park even featured "The Disneyland that Never Was". The New Tomorrowland had gone from "Tomorrowland 2055" to a Tomorrowland inspired by Montana, to "Imagination and Beyond". Many people still pine away (rightfully so) for Discovery Bay, originally planned for what is now occupied by the Festival Arena at Disneyland Park. In the mid 1980s, Disney announced plans for Burbank that look like some what ended up at Pleasure Island, and some allege it was a tactic against Universal Studios, which was planning a park for the Orlando area. Speaking of that, when that park did open in 1990, it was supposed to feature a Jaws attraction, but -plans changed- it had to be reworked and didn't open for another couple of years. So, Disney parks aren't the only place where this happens.

Plans Change, and That's Okay
Even though plans change, it is still good to have plans. I certainly don't fault Disney for making plans and then changing them. Someone who refuses to change their plan could be asking for trouble, the like college kid who sticks with a Chemical Engineering major even though she's great at Psychology and loves it.

I understand how easy it can be to get excited when first hearing about a new attraction. It sounds fantastic and you feel like it will be an eternity before it will be completed even if construction were to start the next day. Believe you me, I was ticked to see Tomorrowland 2055 die, but now Walt Disney World Resort doesn't even have Alien Encounter anymore. Remember - plans change. Don't get bitter when they do.

Instead, show up to the grand opening of the next attraction and get in line, celebrating an attraction that beat the odds and finally made it, like a couple you of people you introduced who ended up happily married. Celebrate the hard work, creativity, and leadership that brought the attraction about, smile. Maybe someday, you'll be taken that couple's kid on that new ride.