River Country is Not opening in 2002

[Smee]

My guess is River Country won't reopen in it's present configuation because it just doesn't make enough money. And I believe it would be too large an expense to operate as a swimming area for FW.

Somewhere I'm sure there is a financial analysis done by some WDW beancounter that proves turnstile counts just were not covering operating expenses and making the contribution to the bottom line Disney expects. It isn't the water quality, it's the quantity of paying guests in the water.

When it opened, RC was a breakthrough in public swimming. One of the the first real Waterparks. Since then waterparks have boomed and we are no longer impressed with RC.

I like the place, not the mob scene as at TL and BB. But the numbers rule and changes must be made if RC will ever reopen.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

River Country was the FIRST themed Waterpark in the World (I think). It was years ahead of its time, and now it may be gone. Hopefully though we will see it again.

As for Disney mentioning it in brochures, of course they won't if it is not open. People would be asking about it (first timers and such) and it wouldn't look good if they said it has been closed all year. But I would advise mentioning it to GR CM when you are there and see what they have to say.

 

[ToTBellHop]

but Michael Eisner himself referred to Disney World as including "four Theme Parks and two Water Parks". I don't honestly think the natural water area will ever reopen. If they opened it as a themed pool for Fort Wilderness, it could just have the heated pool, rip out the turn-styles and any food places. Rip out the lockers (keep the changing rooms and bathrooms of course), build a pool-side bar, and have the heated pool stay open--I just don't see Disney keeping that water open w/ the trouble it takes to clean it...and I don't see them moving the tube slides b/c it costs too much to run those (in terms of Cast Members) to have the area free to Resort Guests.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I still think that it will open in 2003...just instinct...

 

[ToTBellHop]

okay...good enough

 

[djmatthews]

prberk wrote:

It seems like Disney is slowly closing off all of the quieter, or calmer getaways on property and only concentrating on the big, loud crowd-pleasers.

There was a mention that the Disney Institute Villas/Bungalows.... whats happening there?

There is also a mention of Discovery Island. This closed in 1998 after AK opened. Reasons are obvious.

As for RC, it's a great shame. How far is RC from FW, would it be feasable to turn RC into a swimming area for FW guests?

 

[tenchu]

I think river countries biggest problem was that it didn't have a big draw. I'm sure i would love river country, but when I'm in Florida, time is at such a premium i don't have time to go there, as opposed to BB or TL.

 

[Al]

Originally posted by tenchu
I think river countries biggest problem was that it didn't have a big draw. I'm sure i would love river country, but when I'm in Florida, time is at such a premium i don't have time to go there, as opposed to BB or TL.

i agree. out of all the 3 times ive been to wdw, we havent been. Next trip we hope to - if its still open!!! fingers crossed!

 

[Thespis]

There was a mention that the Disney Institute Villas/Bungalows.... whats happening there?

I know that the townhomes are being either remodeled or torn down and will be added as a DVC resort. I don't know about the Treehouses...

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

I went on my very first visit pre BB and it was great for my young tribe. Now there older they want serious slide action and weve never been back. Shame really as it was a more relaxed atmosphere. (boring?)

 

[Sean23]

I have been going to RC since it first opened in 1976. When TL and BB fill to capacity in the peek times I will go over to RC. I have seen the sign up out where you park for RC that RC is filled to capacity. I could not see them just opening up for fort wilderness why not charge $16 a person and make some money. I don't want it to close but know it will if it already has not. They need to add another waterpark if RC is going to be closed.

 

[Smee]

Agreed, investment in another major waterpark is money well spent and a sure fire profit maker. The water parks draw big on the local population as well as the vacationers. Loosing RC will just put that much more pressure on TL and BB. We too have been turned away at the entrance of TL and BB.

 

[Strawberryblond]

I will miss RC if they don't reopen it, so relaxing. Different feel from the other parks (which I really love BTW) I would have stayed all day but others in my party were ready to go, go, go..... the kids rode the pony on the way out and I think it was time well spent (the bus part suck though). Wasn't an old fashioned swimmin hole Walt's idea? Makes me alittle sad to think of his "babies" being closed and replaced.

 

[djmatthews]

A morning at RC and afternoon at DI..... its a shame that it'll never be like that again.

 

[cbjlshaw]

You may be right!

Originally posted by Samwayla
I wish they would turn it into Fort Wilderness's Swimming area. That would be so cool. Even though it is unlikely, It's something to hope for. Fort Wilderness may have 2 pools already but they don't have any with slides I don't think and Fort Wilderness is so big they should turn River Country into an additional swiming area for Fort Wilderness guests. I really don't think it will ever open back up as a water park. I mean look at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. River country just doesn't compare to these two. And I'm not saying I don't like River Country, It's just that, through the eyes of Disney it's just not worth keeping it up and running any more. They probably just make alot more with Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach and now the people who would normally go to RC will now go to BB or TL, Which would make them even more money. Well that's kind of what I think.

I was at WDW in February and we went on the Wagon ride offered at FW. My family was the only one's on the ride this night and we had a really good conversation with our "guide." In the course of our conversation he told me that River Country was scheduled to be the new swimming area for FW. Our guide stated that he had been employed with WDW for along time. So maybe, just maybe your wish could come true.:sohappy: