River Country and DVC Rumor

[Darksin]

So on a few other forums I tend to haunt.. I've been hearing some rumors in regards to DVC putting up property near Fort Wilderness.. and then taking over the now abandoned River Country water park. Revamping it and then making it into a DVC only area, but considering the last time I "Saw" River Country it was in such bad repair (look at youtube for much more current views then mine in '05) I don't think it can be saved. Plus didn't it shut down due to somekind of issue with the FL Department of Fish and Wildlife having somekind of issue with it being lagoon water?

Anyone hear anything in regards to this?

[chartle]

It was big news a few months ago on Board x. There were plans submitted to some planning committee to move the buildings around the area.

One thing, don't get your hopes up that RC is coming back.

They are just using the land and at least as much as I saw the only thing that they may reuse is the name.

[kurtisnelson]

Anyone hear anything in regards to this?

Rumors pertaining to DVC Grand Floridian, River Country and Australia seem to be the current fun ones floating around the internet. I'll let someone else answer your actual question.

[Darksin]

Yeah I've seen various things but caught wind of it again recently from a friend who said they've spotted construction items parked outside of River Country. Which naturally made me curious :D:

[Bright Scouter]

So, I have always wondered what the reason(s) were that they closed RC. I hear brain eating amoebas. Were any reasonable explanations ever given to CMs? I would also think the liability from some things like the rope swing would have to be part of it.

[chartle]

So, I have always wondered what the reason(s) were that they closed RC. I hear brain eating amoebas. Were any reasonable explanations ever given to CMs? I would also think the liability from some things like the rope swing would have to be part of it.

This is my canned response I give on board x.

Here is my take on the closing of River Country coming from someone who
visited it first as a teenager and then as a parent of a 6 and 7 year old. I first wrote this over 10 years ago.

1. It used water from the lake. Unless they did some special coloring, it had the same brownish green color as Bay Lake. I heard they "treated it" and heated it a little in the fall and spring. The brown water also made it impossible to see the bottom.

2. It was hard to get to. From the old WDWIG.com web site:

*. By Car - Enter through the Magic Kingdom toll booths (stay to the
right as you approach them) and then follow the signs for River Country.
Buses take guests from the parking lot to the River Country entrance.

*. By Bus - Buses bound for Fort Wilderness depart from the Transportation & Ticket Center regularly throughout the day. These buses will drop guests off at the Pioneer Hall bus stop in Fort Wilderness. From here it is a short walk to the River Country entrance. After exiting the bus guests should follow the path to their left. The River Country entrance will be just after the Pioneer Hall Restaurant complex on the left.

*. By Boat - Guests who are at the Magic Kingdom or the Contemporary Resort can take motor launches directly to the Fort Wilderness docks. The entrance to River Country will be straight ahead and to your right.

3. It was small. If Typhoon Lagoon holds 20,000 (a pure guess) River Country could hold maybe 5,000 (another pure guess)

4. River Country was a first gen "themed" water park. I don't remember there being many water parks in the late 70's. The design would be considered an insurance nightmare today. I remember the main slides dumping you into 8 feet of water. Not just the shotgun slides but all the slides. You would have to go first and them wade in the water to catch your kid and push him to the side. At the main pool, they had rocks you could dive from. Yes at one point in the USA they would let you dive into a pool.
What were they thinking?

5. Also there is that brain eating Amoeba thing. (Yes it real, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naegleria_fowleri )

With the opening of the two other water parks I can see why it closed.

The rumors at the time of closing were that they were going to rebuild it as
a special pool for Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness guests.

Here is Deb's old web site
http://web.archive.org/web/199910100...com/faq_rc.htm

[Zazu]

Here's the most credible story *I've* heard about the closing of River Country:

The hills, slides, and other rockwork were all built with wood frames, and asbestos insulation. The wood had rotted to the point where it would have to be replaced, but the inclusion of asbestos means it would be very expensive. Add in the amoebae and the other two water parks, and it was a pretty easy economic decision to shut down.

Any re-use of the area will require the abatement of the asbestos, raizing the structures, then abating the bromine spills. Given that it's a whole lot easier to control the chemistry in a closed system, any new pools built I fully expect to be concrete-lined and on an independent water system.

I also think it's more likely that the area will get shops, restaurants, and perhaps a DVC campground than another water park, as TL & BB are handling the crowds pretty well as is.

But that's just the rumors I like and some semi-informed speculation -- we all know that Disney is capable of doing almost anything... or nothing.

[Cheshire Figment]

TL capacity is officially 9,500. However, last summer I heard an on the hour announcement of almost 9,800 in-park. At that time we were at a Stage 4 closing.

[chartle]

TL capacity is officially 9,500. However, last summer I heard an on the hour announcement of almost 9,800 in-park. At that time we were at a Stage 4 closing.

I'll update my post info then.

But if thats the case I would say RC capacity would have been no more than 2,000 if that.

When RC was built it was right in the middle of the World. Guests from the Poly or CR could take a boat and be right there.

RC is now in the far corner of the world and if you told people it was at the camp ground on property, they would say what camp ground.

[Darksin]

I just recall going there often as a kid and young teenager. We couldn't often afford the "expensive real water parks" before we started working so we'd go to River Country. Plus it was never crowded, there was never lines longer then maybe 5 people and back then kids weren't scared of lake water ;)

Although I do recall once when it was closed as was Typhoon for capacity limits, that same day was the first time I can recall having heard both MK and Epcot being at capacity too. Probably the only reason it stick out in my head too.

Considering when it was built I can fully believe the asbestos issue but with it rotting away so quickly now one would think they'd quickly wipe it from the face of the earth rather then wait for a hurricane to show up and create a problem. Granted, it is WDW which sometimes amazes me with what they can sweep under the proverbial rug and erase from the hive mind until some reminder shows up.