Discovery Island and River Country?

[Teachr4Disney]

Hi everyone!

I don't usually post this kind of thread but I recently saw a news report about these guys who went behind the scenes at WDW and into restricted areas without permission. They showed the deserted Discovery Island and River Country. Seeing these deserted places actually made me a little sad.

So, it made me start to wonder....why doesn't Disney do anything with these places? I could think of lots of wonderful things that could be done with these areas. I'm wondering what my Disney friends think about it?

 

[unkadug]

Both places have very limited capacity compared to their successors. Also, money required to bring them up to standards has been deemed as not a wise investment of assets.

 

[Teachr4Disney]

Just seems like such a waste when mega $ is put into things like the new FL expansion into doing something with these places. Guess I'd just have to be behind the scenes crunching the numbers I suppose.

 

[menamechris]

Falling attendance and lack of profit were a factor in them closing to begin with. Disney seems fine just letting them rot away. Unfortunately, due to limited space in both areas - they run a fine line of not being able to handle being "too popular", but needing to make enough money to be able to justify being open, as well...

 

[pumpkin7]

Purely down to money.
It's why they've never bothered disconnecting the speakers in River Country from the main music loop in Fort Wilderness. It would cost money, and having them on isn't a big issue for Disney. It costs more to take them out than to leave the music playing.
Stupid really.
Though there was a rumor not long ago that River Country was being turned into some DVC site I believe. Not sure whether it will ever happen. Perhaps they are just waiting for it all to decay and fall into the lagoon and be eaten by the bacteria that allegedly closed it in the first place. Saves them paying to have it all removed!

 

[GeneralKnowledge]

Just seems like such a waste when mega $ is put into things like the new FL expansion into doing something with these places. Guess I'd just have to be behind the scenes crunching the numbers I suppose.

They dump tons of money into the FLE because people will pay to go see it. They wont dump money into Discovery Island because no one will pay to go see it, simple as that. River Country has other associated issues, but it's a similar premise.

 

[matt9112]

dumb question why not clear land now? just not needed at the moment?

 

[Goofyernmost]

Lot's of misinformation there. River country was closed because of cross contamination with Bay Lake. The algae in that water, as in any tropical climate stagnant water, can be very toxic and the cost of containment would be enormous. Couple that with limited crowd ability and there is no longer a reasonable way to maintain it. As far as why they haven't done anything with it. The obvious answer is because they don't have anything that they want to do with it, for now, and since it's closed, no one should be seeing it. It's the same answer as in one's own home. The living area is neat as a pin, but open up some closet doors and one will find a mess.

I'm not sure that the music that is being heard is in the closed area itself or because it's close to areas actually still being used and that it is coming from there, but if it is, I'm sure it's because there aren't separate switches for each speaker so one or two might still be getting the feed. I really shouldn't matter because, well, no one is supposed to be there to hear it. "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a noise?"

Discovery Island just goes back to nature. Everything that was there is now in DAK so it only seems right that it become nature again. Not everything and every place needs to be developed. Ask any environmentalist. I'm sure they will back that up.

 

[Teachr4Disney]

Thanks for the thoughts. I know everything comes down to $$$. That's the way this country (and most of the world) works. I was just thinking that Discovery Island could become something maybe pirates themed with a separate ticket for it. If it was themed and planned good enough (and we all know Disney can do it right) then I think people would pay to go. Oh well.....maybe they'll do something with it in the future. I agree that not every area needs to be developed but I guess I just like the idea of even more magic in The World!

 

[wolf359]

Discovery Island just goes back to nature. Everything that was there is now in DAK so it only seems right that it become nature again. Not everything and every place needs to be developed.

I totally agree.

 

[bethymouse]

I just think it's a shame that it sits there and rots. They should at least clear the "mess" so that the natural environment can be used again. There is no reason to see abandoned floats and chairs and such! Those things will never "rot" naturally.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Discovery Island just goes back to nature. Everything that was there is now in DAK

Much, but not quite everything!

 

[AndyS2992]

Thanks for the thoughts. I know everything comes down to $$$. That's the way this country (and most of the world) works. I was just thinking that Discovery Island could become something maybe pirates themed with a separate ticket for it. If it was themed and planned good enough (and we all know Disney can do it right) then I think people would pay to go. Oh well.....maybe they'll do something with it in the future. I agree that not every area needs to be developed but I guess I just like the idea of even more magic in The World!

Don't think so. The whole pirate hype is dying down in my opinion so would not be a wise investment. I wouldn't pay to see it.

It would be wiser to just do a 'Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island' thing and even then that isn't popular at Disneyland either .

 

[DisneyBeatles]

Here are some really interesting insights into the now abandoned River Country and Discovery Island.




http://shaneperez.blogspot.com/2009/12/discovery-island.html

 

[rufio]

Here are some really interesting insights into the now abandoned River Country and Discovery Island.

http://shaneperez.blogspot.com/2009/12/discovery-island.html

 

[Goofyernmost]

Much, but not quite everything!

Yea, nice parrots!

 

[FettFan]

Eh. Good luck with Disney banning them, as Disney "bans" seem to be ultimately unenforceable.

Leonard Kinsey's Dark Side of Disney (horrible book full of horrible ideas, btw. The last two chapters are the only ones worth reading) goes into a bit of detail on how Disney "bans" someone through a cautionary tale of his friend who was banned for trying to sneak into Epcot Center....they get the offender's name and address, and if that person attempts to book a resort vacation, they are denied and told not to be on the property.
The guy in question visited the parks repeatedly afterwards with paid admission....no mention of his ban was made until he attempted to book a resort room for his honeymoon. So he just had his fiancee book under her name instead.

No such safeguards if someone buys a ticket with cash; as far as I know, the fingerprint scanners only work to match the person with the ticket.

 

[rufio]

Eh. Good luck with Disney banning them, as Disney "bans" seem to be ultimately unenforceable.

Leonard Kinsey's Dark Side of Disney (horrible book full of horrible ideas, btw. The last two chapters are the only ones worth reading) goes into a bit of detail on how Disney "bans" someone through a cautionary tale of his friend who was banned for trying to sneak into Epcot Center....they get the offender's name and address, and if that person attempts to book a resort vacation, they are denied and told not to be on the property.
The guy in question visited the parks repeatedly afterwards with paid admission....no mention of his ban was made until he attempted to book a resort room for his honeymoon. So he just had his fiancee book under her name instead.

No such safeguards if someone buys a ticket with cash; as far as I know, the fingerprint scanners only work to match the person with the ticket.

That's interesting. I don't think he should be banned anyway. I'm just jealous that he got to do it first! Also, I don't want to go swimming in that...