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disney_fan_2000
03-31-2007, 10:09 PM
I happened to stumble across some pictures on the internet, of the closed, and falling apart, River Country. It would appear that security is rather laxed in this area, and amazing that someone was actually able to get into River Country to take these pictures. I was wondering as to the possibility of someone actually getting on Discovery Island and taking pictures. Does the dock still exist? Is it possible for someone in a water mouse to get close to the dock so that a passenger could get onto the dock and head to the shore? What would Disney security do?? I think it would be neat to see what the inside of teh island looks like now, after so many years of being closed? Also, what would the possibility be of running into trouble (ie. aligators?) who may have taken up residence on the island.

Just something to think about... any ideas?

Paul :mickey:

goofiecrazy
03-31-2007, 10:30 PM
Having been to both,river country as a kid since thats the only water park at the time and discovery island in the late 90s.I cant believe that Disney has let these 2 parks get so run down and not think of something to do with them yet.Maybe in the future they will find a place in the world for them.It would be a shame to just them sit there with no future.

MartyS
03-31-2007, 11:02 PM
We were riding the boat, a couple of weeks ago, from Ft. Wilderness to MK and I asked the deck hand about that same thing. Don't know if he was telling me the truth or not, but he said the island is over run with monkeys. I watched very closely every time we went by, but never saw a single monkey, lots of buzzards, but NO monkeys. The life guard type boat guys seemed to be watching the island pretty closely.

Speedy1998
03-31-2007, 11:20 PM
I cant believe that Disney has let these 2 parks get so run down and not think of something to do with them yet..

What is the point of doing maintenance if you do not plan on reopening the facility? Even if there is a possibility of opening it as something else in 20 years, it seems like alot of maintenance cost for something that they will probably have to demolish anyway when they redevelop the land.

Pirate Granny
04-01-2007, 12:20 AM
We took a firework's cruise and left from Wilderness Lodge in 2004...when we asked about River Country...we were told that the water from the man made lake had leaked into the pool area and it was contaiminated. There are no plans to update or use River Country...not sure why they just don't fill in the pools and make it a nice park area...and I agree with the alligator comment...there were two laying in the sun by the docks at Wilderness Lodge two years ago..if Discovery island has been vacant for five years, i bet there are all kinds of animals (native to Florida) which have found a peaceful home in the midst of all kinds of people in their original habitats.

We're off to Disney in 18 more days...Can't wait...:cloud9:

mickey&missy
04-01-2007, 03:58 PM
We went past River Country numerous times on our past trip. We stayed at WL and when taking the boat from WL to MK either coming or going you go past. It looks very run down. Its actually kinda of freaky looking.

I'm sure you could get pretty close in a water mouse but, I'm not sure if you could get close enough to get on the dock, which I'm almost positive is there. I think the dock is lite at night too. I think someone would probably notice you at the dock, one of the drivers on the many the shuttle boats in Bay Lake or someone on the docks were you rent a boat at WL. I am wondering though if someone who knew were it was could have kind of sneaked there from FW. You could probably have your run of the place.

Speedy1998
04-01-2007, 10:03 PM
We took a firework's cruise and left from Wilderness Lodge in 2004...when we asked about River Country...we were told that the water from the man made lake had leaked into the pool area and it was contaiminated. :


Maybe I am remebering this wrong, but it seems to me that the water used in most of River Country was water that was pumped right out of the lake.

mickey&missy
04-02-2007, 07:39 AM
Maybe I am remebering this wrong, but it seems to me that the water used in most of River Country was water that was pumped right out of the lake.

I believe your correct and I believe that's the reason they closed it. The water was pumped directly from Bay Lake and that water was is not safe to swim in.

kakn7294
04-02-2007, 09:00 AM
We were riding the boat, a couple of weeks ago, from Ft. Wilderness to MK and I asked the deck hand about that same thing. Don't know if he was telling me the truth or not, but he said the island is over run with monkeys. I watched very closely every time we went by, but never saw a single monkey, lots of buzzards, but NO monkeys. The life guard type boat guys seemed to be watching the island pretty closely.
Maybe the alligators ate all of the monkeys!:D

Maybe I am remebering this wrong, but it seems to me that the water used in most of River Country was water that was pumped right out of the lake.
This is what I always thought too (although I had never been to River Country - DH has though). I was under the impression that the water of Bay Lake (and other Disney waterways) is not safe due to a bacteria that lives in the water and sometimes grows to toxic levels in the more stagnant areas.

garymacd
04-02-2007, 11:48 AM
I was told by a cast member a couple years ago that Discovery Island was being used as a place to house animals and birds that could not be returned to the wild due to injuries. Don't know how true that is, but, hey, good speculation.

Tick-Tock
04-02-2007, 03:07 PM
I was told by a cast member a couple years ago that Discovery Island was being used as a place to house animals and birds that could not be returned to the wild due to injuries. Don't know how true that is, but, hey, good speculation.

I don't think that's true, at least not now. I understand that they used to house some animals there, but they moved all of them to AK when it opened. But maybe that's not correct either...

Edited to add:

When we rented a Sea Raycer, I saw quite a few security boats out on the water. I think if you tried to land at River Country or Discovery Island, security would be there very quickly.

GrumpyFan
04-02-2007, 05:47 PM
Discovery Island is HEAVILY inhabited by LOTS of birds, think Alfred Hitchcock :eek: . So, I wouldn't advise trying to go on there.

TinyDancer
04-04-2007, 10:52 AM
Well... I heard that they never shut the electricity off to Discovery Island and so the fans still rotate, the refridgerators are still cold, etc. Kinda reminds me of Jurassic Park 2, lol.

disney_fan_2000
04-06-2007, 10:25 AM
All some great ideas. I doubt about the monkeys myself.. unless they were left there by disney, how would they get there?? And I don't think disney would have just randomly left a bunch of moneys running around the island. In pictures I've seen since the park closed, it looks like the screen/net that enclosed the esuary (spelling???) is still intact. While it might not be a brilliant idea to try to get on the island, still... if for no other reason then to be in a part of the park that is no longer used, it would be cool. As for River Country, here's a link to the pics of the closed park:
{link removed per terms of service}
It's sad to see this place left to fall apart. There's so many old trails in thia area, who knows where you'll go or what you'll run into.
:mickey:

bouncer
04-06-2007, 10:47 AM
While at Mickey's Backyard BBQ a few weeks ago I wondered if it was possible to "wander" around River Country a bit. I never visited RC while it was open and have only been to Fort Wilderness to go to the BBQ 2 times now. Since the BBQ uses the same area what is the likelyhood of getting to look around a bit without being told to get out?

disney_fan_2000
04-06-2007, 09:52 PM
From what I've read on other BBs and websites, security around RC is rather laxed. As from the pictures I found on the internet, whoever took them was pretty much able to waltz right through. I wouldn't want to be hanging out there at night... you might run into some unfriendly animals, and security might think you're trying to vandelize something. But during the day, what's the worst that would happen?? Security would probably escort you out of the area.... if they were even paying attention.
:mickey:
P.S. I wonder if Main Street Jim would know anything about this area?

ayeckley
05-03-2007, 01:07 PM
Security would probably escort you out of the area.... if they were even paying attention.

Out of the area, and off the property. Possibly right to the sheriff's office.

However, you can see quite a fair amount from the public areas, either by walking up to the old entrance gate or via SeaRaycer. The best pictures can be had via the aerial (Arial?) photography available online.

As far as Discovery Island goes, there does seem to be at least some sort of activity there, although most of it has obviously fallen into disrepair. In my experience, there is frequently a service boat docked there (at the old guest dock). What I'd really like to see happen is for them to restore and reopen the swamp walk area between FW and RC, but it's probably no longer cost-effective to repair the existing walk.

2Epcot
05-03-2007, 01:22 PM
Someone mentioned this a while back, but I liked the idea. Making Discovery Island another resort location ... possibly for honeymooners who have their weddings as WDW, or for other special occasions like that. I never visited River Country, but I do remember going to Discovery Island before the Animal Kingdom opened.

emmatink
05-03-2007, 05:45 PM
I think that Elvis is still alive and I "heard" that he purchased this place for his own personal hideaway and stays there on a regular basis! That's why the fans still run and the electricity is still on and the monkeys are running wild! Elvis loved monkies, and who knows maybe his whole collection of animals from graceland is there with him!:secret:

Actually Google earth did have this to say about Discovery Island


Discovery Island, also known as "Bay Lake's Tropical Island Paradise," is an 11½-acre island in Bay Lake at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. It opened as "Treasure Island" on April 8, 1974, and was a place to observe wildlife. It was closed to the public on April 8, 1999, but continued to operate until July 9 1999, at which point all of its animals had been relocated to new homes at Disney's Animal Kingdom (which retained the Discovery Island name in the hub area formerly called Safari Village) and other zoos. After its closing, Disney considered teaming up with the makers of the MYST video game to create a cutting-edge interactive experience to be called "Myst Island". Guests to the island would explore unusual locations and unravel a mystery about the island's previous inhabitants. This unusual attraction never got beyond the concept stage. The island was the habitat of the last remaining dusky seaside sparrow before it died in 1987 (See: [1]). The species was officially declared extinct in 1990. As of 2007, the island remains closed to the public.