diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/reloader.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/reloader.rb
index b84410fc623d7..579b5d8a02ec4 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/reloader.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_dispatch/middleware/reloader.rb
@@ -25,26 +25,14 @@ class Reloader
 
     # Add a preparation callback. Preparation callbacks are run before each
     # request.
-    #
-    # If a symbol with a block is given, the symbol is used as an identifier.
-    # That allows to_prepare to be called again with the same identifier to
-    # replace the existing callback. Passing an identifier is a suggested
-    # practice if the code adding a preparation block may be reloaded.
     def self.to_prepare(*args, &block)
-      first_arg = args.first
-      if first_arg.is_a?(Symbol) && block_given?
-        remove_method :"__#{first_arg}" if method_defined?(:"__#{first_arg}")
-        define_method :"__#{first_arg}", &block
-        set_callback(:prepare, :"__#{first_arg}")
-      else
-        set_callback(:prepare, *args, &block)
-      end
+      set_callback(:prepare, *args, &block)
     end
 
     # Add a cleanup callback. Cleanup callbacks are run after each request is
     # complete (after #close is called on the response body).
-    def self.to_cleanup(&block)
-      set_callback(:cleanup, &block)
+    def self.to_cleanup(*args, &block)
+      set_callback(:cleanup, *args, &block)
     end
 
     def self.prepare!
@@ -55,11 +43,6 @@ def self.cleanup!
       new(nil).send(:_run_cleanup_callbacks)
     end
 
-    def self.reload!
-      prepare!
-      cleanup!
-    end
-
     def initialize(app)
       @app = app
     end
diff --git a/actionpack/test/dispatch/reloader_test.rb b/actionpack/test/dispatch/reloader_test.rb
index 58ef346b5c261..995b19030c33d 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/dispatch/reloader_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/dispatch/reloader_test.rb
@@ -20,16 +20,6 @@ def test_prepare_callbacks
     assert_equal 3, c
   end
 
-  def test_to_prepare_with_identifier_replaces
-    a = b = 0
-    Reloader.to_prepare(:unique_id) { |*args| a = b = 1 }
-    Reloader.to_prepare(:unique_id) { |*args| a = 2 }
-
-    call_and_return_body
-    assert_equal 2, a
-    assert_equal 0, b
-  end
-
   class MyBody < Array
     def initialize(&block)
       @on_close = block
@@ -50,7 +40,7 @@ def close
 
   def test_returned_body_object_always_responds_to_close
     body = call_and_return_body
-    assert body.respond_to?(:close)
+    assert_respond_to body, :close
   end
 
   def test_returned_body_object_behaves_like_underlying_object
@@ -83,10 +73,10 @@ def test_returned_body_object_responds_to_all_methods_supported_by_underlying_ob
     body = call_and_return_body do
       [200, { "Content-Type" => "text/html" }, MyBody.new]
     end
-    assert body.respond_to?(:size)
-    assert body.respond_to?(:each)
-    assert body.respond_to?(:foo)
-    assert body.respond_to?(:bar)
+    assert_respond_to body, :size
+    assert_respond_to body, :each
+    assert_respond_to body, :foo
+    assert_respond_to body, :bar
   end
 
   def test_cleanup_callbacks_are_called_when_body_is_closed
@@ -124,11 +114,6 @@ def test_manual_reloading
     Reloader.cleanup!
     assert !prepared
     assert cleaned
-
-    prepared = cleaned = false
-    Reloader.reload!
-    assert prepared
-    assert cleaned
   end
 
   private
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/railtie.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/railtie.rb
index 61fb0ae468aa7..2accf0a48f675 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/railtie.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/railtie.rb
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class Railtie < Rails::Railtie
       ActiveSupport.on_load(:active_record) do
         instantiate_observers
 
-        ActionDispatch::Reloader.to_prepare(:activerecord_instantiate_observers) do
+        ActionDispatch::Reloader.to_prepare do
           ActiveRecord::Base.instantiate_observers
         end
       end
diff --git a/railties/lib/rails/console/app.rb b/railties/lib/rails/console/app.rb
index 4a988efd82390..95c74baae2ce4 100644
--- a/railties/lib/rails/console/app.rb
+++ b/railties/lib/rails/console/app.rb
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ def new_session
 # reloads the environment
 def reload!(print=true)
   puts "Reloading..." if print
-  ActionDispatch::Reloader.reload!
+  ActionDispatch::Reloader.cleanup!
+  ActionDispatch::Reloader.prepare!
   true
 end
diff --git a/railties/test/application/console_test.rb b/railties/test/application/console_test.rb
index 5f84c2b9481ed..793e73556c1a8 100644
--- a/railties/test/application/console_test.rb
+++ b/railties/test/application/console_test.rb
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ def test_reload_should_fire_preparation_and_cleanup_callbacks
     a = b = c = nil
 
     # TODO: These should be defined on the initializer
-    ActionDispatch::Reloader.to_prepare { a = b = c = 1 }
-    ActionDispatch::Reloader.to_prepare { b = c = 2 }
-    ActionDispatch::Reloader.to_cleanup { c = 3 }
+    ActionDispatch::Reloader.to_cleanup { a = b = c = 1 }
+    ActionDispatch::Reloader.to_cleanup { b = c = 2 }
+    ActionDispatch::Reloader.to_prepare { c = 3 }
 
     # Hide Reloading... output
     silence_stream(STDOUT) { reload! }