Abandoned River Country

[MinnieM123]

Abandoned areas may appeal to some people, who like to explore. However, my concern for them would be about the possibility of snakes and gators over there. That would certainly be enough to scare me away!

 

[raven]

So it is Disneys fault people do not want to follow rules?

It's closed. It doesn't matter why, how much somebody liked it as a child, or left to rot.

Stay away, it's that simple.

Yeah, because that always works.

God: "Hey Eve, stay away from that tree, will you?"
Eve: "Yeah Okay, no problem."

 

[NelsonRD]

And yet people still spent enough time on the island to record a lengthy video of their visit. So yes, there is more that could be done....

And your supposed "issue" of speeding isn't even worth discussing, considering it falls outside the area of trespassing. But you stay classy.....

And all these videos you reference are done by people who know what they are doing is wrong. So, by blaming Disney you are actually promoting this behavior, opposed to punishing it.

When we were kids, I was always taught to learn by your mistakes. But, if your eyes, people don't ever make mistakes, nothing is ever their fault. I guess this is why we see people repeating crimes over and over, its not their fault to learn a lesson from.

 

[wm49rs]

And all these videos you reference are done by people who know what they are doing is wrong. So, by blaming Disney you are actually promoting this behavior, opposed to punishing it.

When we were kids, I was always taught to learn by your mistakes. But, if your eyes, people don't ever make mistakes, nothing is ever their fault. I guess this is why we see people repeating crimes over and over, its not their fault to learn a lesson from.

You really don't get it, do you? Contrary to your need to defend TWDC at all costs, no one is actually blaming them. But we are saying that by not doing more to eradicate River Country, TWDC is tempting fate, regardless of anything else. If that's too much to accept or understand, I'm sure you can find a way to get over it. But as a business entity TWDC would be liable should anyone get hurt exploring the remains of River Country.....

 

[NelsonRD]

You really don't get it, do you? Contrary to your need to defend TWDC at all costs, no one is actually blaming them. But we are saying that by not doing more to eradicate River Country, TWDC is tempting fate, regardless of anything else. If that's too much to accept or understand, I'm sure you can find a way to get over it. But as a business entity TWDC would be liable should anyone get hurt exploring the remains of River Country.....

What is there not to get? Personal Responsibility? That I don't think a sarcophagus is needed around it?
I am not actually defending Disney more than this culture that people think rules don't apply to them. And, after the fact, always seem to find a way to blame somebody else for their actions.

River country is closed, and if somebody goes in there and gets hurt, my first response is, "Should not have been in there.", not Disney didn't act like my mommy and daddy and protect me enough from myself.

 

[Bairstow]

If they're not going to use it, Disney really needs to demolish the park.
Keeping it standing and not staffing proper guards on the site, which they clearly do not, invites eventual liability.

Plus, it's just a bad reflection on the company's sloppiness that they've left the thing standing and abandoned for so long.

 

[wm49rs]

What is there not to get? Personal Responsibility? That I don't think a sarcophagus is needed around it?
I am not actually defending Disney more than this culture that people think rules don't apply to them. And, after the fact, always seem to find a way to blame somebody else for their actions.

River country is closed, and if somebody goes in there and gets hurt, my first response is, "Should not have been in there.", not Disney didn't act like my mommy and daddy and protect me enough from myself.

Well, it just too bad that if someone goes there because River Country is still standing, TWDC would be liable should they be injured. And no amount of non-sequitur arguments, snide commentary, or pixie dust will change that basic fact. And that's not derision towards TWDC....

 

[JoeCamel]

Don't really have to "break in" anymore. You can just walk around the gate I've heard. Not sure why Disney isn't patrolling this area much.

I find it interesting that in the videos the paths are traveled enough to keep the mold and plants from taking over. Must have enough traffic to wear it off.

 

[Victor Kelly]

Remote controlled drones..........just saying.

 

[Jahona]

Remote controlled drones..........just saying.

Restricted airspace. It is illegal to fly, including drones, within a certain radius of Magic Kingdom.

 

[raven]

That airspace may have been decreased in the past few years as outside helicopter tours are very frequent around the parks now, especially during fireworks.

 

[Jahona]

... Last I looked at the FAA airspace charts it hadn't. They are either knowingly breaking it or skirting the boundary. Also disney itself flies low over the parks for executives. I don't remember if they own or charter their helicopters.

 

[Pluto15]

On that website they mention rumors about what will happen to it...does anybody know which rumors are out there?

It won't ever open again due to water contamination.

 

[Master Yoda]

I have a question. When my neighbors redid their house they tore down everything except one wall and the foundation and rebuilt everything, that way it was a remodel to the building department and not a new house even though for all intents and purposes it was a new house. If Disney decided to "remodel" river country the same way would the same rationale apply as far as permits, environmental impact, etc...? Could be a huge cost savings and might make the permit process quicker?

What you suggested is most likely the main reason why Disney leaves the place as is.

A "remodel" of a residential structure is much less expensive in terms of permitting costs, impact fees, etc than new construction. The remodel of a commercial structure is staggeringly less expensive (6 figures less is not uncommon) than building new.

You also have to save very little to classify as a remodel. I have seen Wal Mart size buildings save little more than an 8'x8' corner to meet the remodel classification. A simply utility building might be all that needed to be saved, but if they were to start demolition before final plans were filled, all bets are off.

Everything is so decayed it would cost as much to level the whole thing and build something new than to restore it. Also River Country was super well themed to be an old swimming hole, and modern Disney doesn't build original themed areas anymore, just branded ones, so you might for example have a Where's My Water Gator Park, but not one without a franchise attached to it.

The only way I can see swimming on that site coming back is if they build Fort Wilderness DVC and decide to build a pool for it, but it's far more likely the DVC would be on the River Country site I think.

Incidentally a good tip for anyone interested in abandoned Disney - rent a Sea Raycer boat from Fort Wilderness and you can go right up close to the lake side of River Country, and Discovery Island, including the shipwreck etc., so it's a great blast from the past.

See my post above.

The cost to level the place is irrelevant. The savings in having a job classified as a remodel under the eyes of the building department come from not having to pay certain taxes and fees.

If and when disney does decide to build there they will most likely demolish nearly all of it save something like a single building or even just the corner of one.

 

[FettFan]

You know, with the continuously growing number of guests into WDW, I don't understand why WDW wouldn't build a new River Country in that area as a bona fide water park. (i.e. actually having filtered, chlorinated water instead of relying on Bay Lake)

It would still be smaller than Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, but it would still be an improvement over the old micro-park.

 

[PEPPER2029]

What is kinda eerie is the bathrooms are still operating and perfectly clean. Plus when using them you hear the original music from the waterpark. This is why they keep the lights on i believe

 

[raven]

What is kinda eerie is the bathrooms are still operating and perfectly clean. Plus when using them you hear the original music from the waterpark. This is why they keep the lights on i believe

The bathrooms you are referring to are currently still open to guests that are behind Hoopty Doo. The fenceline was move to keep these restroom open in that area. Directly behind RC rocks is the CM parking for the campground, another reason to keep on the electricity. I don't believe the music is still on in the old RC. The video that shows that is many years old.

 

[PEPPER2029]

The bathrooms you are referring to are currently still open to guests that are behind Hoopty Doo. The fenceline was move to keep these restroom open in that area. Directly behind RC rocks is the CM parking for the campground, another reason to keep on the electricity. I don't believe the music is still on in the old RC. The video that shows that is many years old.

They really use them for mickey's back yard bar-b-que. I'll let you know in a few weeks when we go about the music.

 

[polynesiangirl]

I'm not even going to touch the whole "whose fault is it?" debate, but I will say that anyone traipsing around an unguarded, deep, disheveled, un-maintained swamp hole in Florida is a fool, regardless of why or how they're in there in the first place.

 

[raven]

So, guess we now have solid proof that Disney legal and HR interns are trolling this board. Heard through some friends that security has been tightened now around the area due to recent videos online and talks of entering this area recently. Gee, wonder what website they got that information from?