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River Country
I know that River Country has been closed for years but wasn't it used at one time as a kind of water park just for the people staying at the campgrounds? It's such a waste that they don't do something with it.
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Yes it was used as a water park for those on the disney resort... You're right that its a shame that they cant do anything with it but given how dangerous their pond water is it would cost too much to treat it to make it swimmable again
92 Fort Wilderness.
96 Disney Institute
2000 Off site
2009 all star movies.
2011 Port Orleans FQ
2013 Port Orleans FQ
2016 ??
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It was located at the campground but its use was not restricted to those staying at Fort Wilderness. It came before Disney's current water parks and was quite a lot of fun. There were two pools as I remember it. One was a regular pool, I believe; the other used the same water as the lake beyond. The area was compact - no lazy river like the current water parks and much smaller but rather cozy. I'm not sure if Disney will do anything with the space at some point but, for now, it just sits and continues to deteriorate.
Linda aka: Faline
INTERCOT Staff: Vacation Planning,Trip Reports and Disney Camping
[email protected]
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You should check it out on Google maps! It looks pretty spooky. There are a few YouTube videos of it too.
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I'm glad I got the chance to visit when I did -a LOONG time ago! It was a lot of fun and I thought way ahead of its time.
Hi Neighbor! Have a 'Gansett.
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I visited when I was a kid, fun time. They had some slides and activities. You can still see the slides if you look on Google Earth, and also youtube, as mentioned. They had a boat launch to take resort guests over from the Contemporary, where I was staying at the time.
Sherri
Next: Aulani Celebration 10/2018 (50th)
Past Stays: Contemporary, GF, Poly, BC, POP, POR, Dolphin, AKL Kidani, BLT
1990 August Honeymoon- GF
Delighted Disney Return Guest since 1981, DVC (BLT) since 2014
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We managed one visit to River Country before it closed - January of 1998. Most of the water was open to the bay and was a bit natural - murky and chilly, in January. One pool was heated and filtered - much better swimming experience.
What I have heard was that with the opening of Typhoon Lagoon and then Blizzard Beach, and the better (warmer and prettier water) experiences there, River Country was underutilized and not economically viable to continue operating.
I have yet to understand how the bay had unhealthy water and yet folks were tubing and water skiing in it.
It is sad that River Country just sits there. Especially when, for many years, Fort Wilderness had plain pools.
Jan
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Originally Posted by Janmac
We managed one visit to River Country before it closed - January of 1998. Most of the water was open to the bay and was a bit natural - murky and chilly, in January. One pool was heated and filtered - much better swimming experience.
What I have heard was that with the opening of Typhoon Lagoon and then Blizzard Beach, and the better (warmer and prettier water) experiences there, River Country was underutilized and not economically viable to continue operating.
I have yet to understand how the bay had unhealthy water and yet folks were tubing and water skiing in it.
It is sad that River Country just sits there. Especially when, for many years, Fort Wilderness had plain pools.
Jan
If i remember correctly there was also a health reason that arose around the same time... an amoeba that is found in stagnant lakes and ponds in florida was starting to explode in population. it wasnt as bad before but when it started to affect the young thats when they realized that it was unsafe to keep the natural part of the water park open...
92 Fort Wilderness.
96 Disney Institute
2000 Off site
2009 all star movies.
2011 Port Orleans FQ
2013 Port Orleans FQ
2016 ??
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Originally Posted by Capt_redshirt
If i remember correctly there was also a health reason that arose around the same time... an amoeba that is found in stagnant lakes and ponds in florida was starting to explode in population. it wasnt as bad before but when it started to affect the young thats when they realized that it was unsafe to keep the natural part of the water park open...
Yes... When entered through the nose it is lethal -people die every year from this. The amoeba live in the mud and when the bottom is disturbed they become active in the water and it becomes a risk -at least this is how I understand it(which isn't very scientific).
Hi Neighbor! Have a 'Gansett.
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Originally Posted by faline
It was located at the campground but its use was not restricted to those staying at Fort Wilderness. It came before Disney's current water parks and was quite a lot of fun. There were two pools as I remember it. One was a regular pool, I believe; the other used the same water as the lake beyond. The area was compact - no lazy river like the current water parks and much smaller but rather cozy. I'm not sure if Disney will do anything with the space at some point but, for now, it just sits and continues to deteriorate.
There was only 1 pool. It was nice, with 2 slides that dropped about 10 feet into the water.
There was a splash area called Tom Sawyer's Swimmin' Hole. The rest was an inlet off of Bay. Lake, where all the other water slides and beach was located. It had a large area for families, and a smaller area for the little ones.
The best ride was the inner tube ride. It was extremely long, and an absolute blast.
It was a great water park.
First Trip ¨¨*:•
Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground - June, 1974
Last Trip ¨¨*:•
Port Orleans/Saratoga Springs - March, 2017
Next Trip ¨¨*:•
Bay Lake Tower - March, 2018
And about 40 more in between....
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It has been sitting there so long, I always wonder why they haven't dismantled it and cleaned up the area. It's so unlike Disney to let it just fall apart and leave it there.
Speaking of River Country.....they did the same thing to Discovery Island....now that would be a great place to film a horror movie.
Rita (aka NJGIRL)
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I would also suggest that people don't go into that area. It's gate is locked (not very good) and is trashed and looks unsafe. Also, looking through a few you tubes on Disney I have learned that Disney has been Banning People for LIFE that trespass into areas that are backstage or locked up. It's not worth it.
Rita (aka NJGIRL)
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Originally Posted by disneykidsince1970
My "safety" and my "acceptable behavior" meters were different then.
So True.
Rita (aka NJGIRL)
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river country
Wasn't there also a petting zoo before you got to the water? We really were excited to go there in the day.
Justice11
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Originally Posted by mickeywdw1254
You should check it out on Google maps! It looks pretty spooky. There are a few YouTube videos of it too.
Yes! I was watching YouTube videos recently of what it looks like now - creepy how they just abandoned the park and didn't formally "demolish" it.
Jason aka EpcotFan182
DVC Member
"If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It"
Coronado Springs: '99
Boardwalk Villas: '02, '04, '06, '15
Grand Floridian: '03
Villas @ Wilderness Lodge: '05, '07
Bay Lake Tower: '10, '13
Polynesian: '11
Villas @ Grand Floridian: '14, '16
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I used to work in that Region at the resorts and a lot of the cast members, myself including, would wish they'd open it back up. Backstage in the offices there's still lots of stuff left on the walls from those days. I've had small peaks of the park from walking thru cast member areas, but a good way to see it is also to rent a Pontoon from WL or FW and take a slow motor by. I used to take people by it on the fireworks cruises that I would drive.
AJ (A.K.A. Figaro)
Former Walt Disney World Resort Cast Member
“I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse.” - Walt Disney
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Stayed at FW in 2000 and we were able to go and enjoy one last time before it was closed.
As for why it closed I researched it a few years back as it made no sense in the manner of how WDW went about closing it down. It was literally was open one day and closed the next. What I read which lends credibility to a post above with the amoeba concern, is that the state of Florida passed a water quality law directed at water parks and being that the water supply for River Country was Bay Lake it would never meet the new state standards. So when the law came in to effect the park closed.
Personally I think this is why our immune systems are so compromised these days everything around us is Pasteurized, Homogenized and Disinfected WAY TOO MUCH. We need to get a little more DIRT in our lives to keep us healthy!
Feb 2020 - FWC
Jul 2019 - Poly
2018 - WL - CL
2017 - FWC
2016 - WL
2012 - WL - CL
2010 - WL
2009 - WL
2007 - WL
2003 - WL
2001 - FWC
1974, 77, 83 & 1995 - Off site
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