Disney's River Country - The Forgotten Water Park

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Anyone remember Disney's River Country? It was open until a few years ago and just kinda went off into the sunset. Whatever happened to that place? Did it just fall into too much disrepair & was just abandoned? It wasn't replaced because I remember them having Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon & River Country all open at the same time, so I'm curious here. Also if anyone has some special memories, pictures etc of River Country, please contribute!

-- PMM

[Harrison Hightower III]

Well it was closed for not being that much of a crowd drawer. Turns out nobody wanted to go to a old fashioned swimming hole compared to SP and a tropical paradise half destroyed.

[DisneyParksFan]

I've seen pictures of it, and it looked terrible.

You can tell they forgot about it. Everything was falling apart and broke... it didn't look pretty


-mcieky2005

[Space_Mt.]

Several possible reasons for the park's closing have been suggested by fans. One is that there wasn't a need for this park due to the other two larger water parks on Disney property (which had more slides) and increased competition from other water parks in the area.

Another is that bacteria from Bay Lake was reportedly contaminating River Country's water. Yet another is that this water park's lake was unheated, and was very cold outside the summer months.

It was commented by a Disney employee that a contributing reason for the closing was new state rules concerning water parks. Pools and water activities must have their water originating from municipal water systems, not natural bodies of water.

[Harrison Hightower III]

Oh okay.


HHIII

[monorailred]

I have been to all three of them in my lifetime (although I was kinda small when I went to River Country). River Country, while neat, paled in comparison to Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon. That and the fact that you were swimming in green lake water. There was not as much to do and, if I was going to pay to use a water park, I would pay for more slides, wave pools, a lazy river, and CLEAN WATER!

[DisneyParksFan]

^^ Clean what would have been nice

You think that they could fix up the entire area (including the water slides and what not) and make it avaliable for "rent", like for family parties and picnics. That would be a cool experience I bet.


-mickey2005

[PeoplemoverMatt]

I would think the water there was green not because it was unhealthy (public wouldn't be allowed to be in it if so) but for a similar reason to why the water in the Jungle Cruise & Rivers of America is green. In River Country's case, I would think it's just a themeing thing since it's supposed to be 'an old-fashioned swimming hole'. The contrast though its unfavorably noticeable to the clear water in other water parks.

-- PMM

[monorailred]

Didn't mean not clean as in unhealthy....clean as in swimming pool/chlorine/don't feel the need (necessarily) to bathe after getting out clean. That and the water was murky - you could not see more than a foot in front of your face.....

[Kileli]

i remeber it. when i went to WDW i didnt hear anything talking about it, so i was wondering what had happened. i have a WDW explorer game for the computer from somewhere in the early 90's and it had the park in there. what is there now? just ruins?

[Space_Mt.]

The Park itself is still there. The entrance is just blocked off, and the slides are being overgrown with weeds, and are rusting.

[Harrison Hightower III]

Well if thats the case they should ethier fix it up or tear it down!!!


HHIII

[LoehnWolf]

What a shame, just like Discovery Island. So much wasted potential. I really hope that in time they reuse the property into something that everyone can enjoy. I was really hoping that with POTC doing so well they would bring back the idea of turning Discovery Island into a pirate island.

[Mr. EPCOT]

River Country closed around 1999, due to a variety of factors, including the aforementioned problems with being connected to Bay Lake. As I understand it, there was a law passed in Florida that forbids swimming in any natural body of water that is not replenished, via a spring, river, etc. There was no problem with the popularity of the park. however, once the other two water parks opened, there became a problem with the increased water park traffic overall at River Country due to the fact that it has no dedicated parking area. Guests have to park at the Fort Wilderness parking lot way on the other side of the campground, meaning they'd have to clog up the shuttles or walk all that way (phew!). There have been rumors of converting River Country into a dedicated ol'-fashioned swimmin' hole specifically for the Wilderness Region (Ft. Wilderness Campground and Wilderness Lodge Resort). This concept would be similar to the humongous Stormalong Bay pool/mini-water park at the Yacht & Beach Club, where you have to show your room key to obtain a wristband for usage of the pool area. Such a mega-pool is rumored for the new Disney Vacation Club tower at the Contemporary, as well.

[PeoplemoverMatt]

Some of these resorts are growing into their own small theme park. If they can grow large enough to swallow whole former water parks, how far away can we be to having something resembling MGM Grand Adventures attached to these resorts? Might end up being WDW's answer to a 5th gate.

DVC's going to take over the world.

Well, poor River Country. For being such a pioneer, that's a sad way to go out.

-- PMM