Jim's idea/news is impossible. Financially and practically. Spoke to someone who's worked in the construction industry around the parks for years (and confirmed what he said with a few others). In brief...
- "The amount of work that would need to go into it, to drain (and likely fill in ROA), Disney might literally have to bet the house on it."
- With their current construction practices, anywhere from $10-20 billion in costs, and several years of work.
- Any draining and refill of the river, due to how the water system is set up, would require the long-term closure of TBA, Pirates, and Jungle Cruise. Plus the obvious permanent loss of the river attractions. At minimum.
- And that is if you don't touch the utilidoors, which absolutely would need work because of such an effort. Not even counting the certain temporary need to relocate/replace the capabilities of the cardboard balers, a welding shop, and several other bits of the utilidoors along that section.
- HM, Big Thunder, CBJ, Tiki, and Aladdin, possibly Hall of Presidents, would all likely follow in terms of temporary closures because of the infrastructure efforts needed above and below - although this is not 100% certain (if they don't touch belowground, they can likely skip this step and make it a far less impactful closure set, even if this means future issues).
Disney cannot afford it. They cannot afford it financially, nor can they afford to lose 3 E-tickets at mimimum, and several others potentially, plus multiple dining and shopping venues, for a half-decade or more. It would possibly require one of the largest logistical efforts Disney's delt with in decades, and potentially close down half the bloody park to do so. Nobody would pay to go to MK when they cannot ride 3 major rides, let alone half the rides in the park if that's needed... That's before the land(s) get(s) built!
