Rivers of America (plus Railroad & Dioramas) Re-Imagineered 2017

[Californian Elitist]

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed them too. But in the 21st century it was all looking very dated and tired. And overgrown.

So much of the original Walt-era plotline and story arc for that entire northern half of the river got removed and butchered and cheaped out and turned off. The Unfriendly Indian Village that looked down on the Burning Cabin, with the Settler dead on the ground with an arrow in his chest. Talk about DRAMA!

But that was followed by the Friendly Indian Chief and his Friendly Indian Village, which meant it all turned out okay. (Except for that dead guy we just passed.)

From the 1960's into the 80's there were far more animatronics along there, including a balancing mountain goats, a walking bear, charging elk, etc.

The Scratching Bear stopped working sometime during the Cynthia Harriss era and was never replaced, shortly after they ripped out Cascade Peak and Twin Sister Falls in 1998. They replaced it with a mound of dirt.

But over the last 25 years all of that stuff was allowed to be removed and demolished and turned off and overgrown. It was cheaper than maintaining it and rebuilding it.

I just think this revamped and rerouted section of the Rivers of America circa 2017 will be far more engaging and... I guess the word I'm looking for is Imagineered.

I actually don't mind the changes. I think it's going to look beautiful. What I don't like is the fact that they took out part of the river for SWL. That's my only objection. I had no issues with the river before, but I'm looking forward to the additions, as long as SWL stays out of sight.

 

[Kman101]

Can't wait to see the finished project. Sounds like it won't be so bad

 

[D.Silentu]

TP200, I'd like to give an additional mention to the beaver pond that was near the 'scratching bear,' a favorite of mine. The attempt to liven up the rivers in 2010 was so meager(dare I say lawn ornaments?) that I am encouraged by all they are doing now.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Well, I tried and failed to get good photos of the DLRR construction. Yeah, that's right. I walked from The Haunted Mansion into Critter Country. I felt like a pilgrim in an unholy land. I can't figure where your lady vlogger has been filming this stuff from. If it's strictly from outside the park, she has equipment that would make George Lucas pee himself. From inside the park, the only vantage point I could find to photograph beyond the boundaries of the walls was at the entrance to the Hungry Bear, which is remarkably awkward ("What's he taking pictures of?") and only offers a glimpse. I didn't have a tripod and they turned out like crap. What these do show you is Star Wars construction looming in the background, rising above the frontier. The park was too crowded to even take these, but that didn't stop me.

 

[LieutLaww]

Most if not all of the DL videos that look into the SWL construction are from the parking structure opposite ( not sure of it's name Mickey something perhaps ?)

 

[NobodyElse]

Well, I tried and failed to get good photos of the DLRR construction. Yeah, that's right. I walked from The Haunted Mansion into Critter Country. I felt like a pilgrim in an unholy land. I can't figure where your lady vlogger has been filming this stuff from. If it's strictly from outside the park, she has equipment that would make George Lucas pee himself. From inside the park, the only vantage point I could find to photograph beyond the boundaries of the walls was at the entrance to the Hungry Bear, which is remarkably awkward ("What's he taking pictures of?") and only offers a glimpse. I didn't have a tripod and they turned out like crap. What these do show you is Star Wars construction looming in the background, rising above the frontier. The park was too crowded to even take these, but that didn't stop me.

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I applaud you for trying, and admitting it's not as easy as it looks.

 

[drizgirl]

Well, I tried and failed to get good photos of the DLRR construction. Yeah, that's right. I walked from The Haunted Mansion into Critter Country. I felt like a pilgrim in an unholy land. I can't figure where your lady vlogger has been filming this stuff from. If it's strictly from outside the park, she has equipment that would make George Lucas pee himself. From inside the park, the only vantage point I could find to photograph beyond the boundaries of the walls was at the entrance to the Hungry Bear, which is remarkably awkward ("What's he taking pictures of?") and only offers a glimpse. I didn't have a tripod and they turned out like crap. What these do show you is Star Wars construction looming in the background, rising above the frontier. The park was too crowded to even take these, but that didn't stop me.

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I haven't watched the videos so no idea where it's coming from.

Have you tried seeing if there's any view from up in the Tarzan treehouse?

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I'll try that next time, but I think views that way are kind of limited.

Most if not all of the DL videos that look into the SWL construction are from the parking structure opposite ( not sure of it's name Mickey something perhaps ?)

I guess so, but the vlogger posted in here managed to shoot the top of the Haunted Mansion from somewhere on the parking garage, which I thought was a fantastic image. Unfortunately, I failed miserably to photograph it. No matter where I stood, I couldn't see the cupola.

 

[britain]

I'll try that next time, but I think views that way are kind of limited.



I guess so, but the vlogger posted in here managed to shoot the top of the Haunted Mansion from somewhere on the parking garage, which I thought was a fantastic image. Unfortunately, I failed miserably to photograph it. No matter where I stood, I couldn't see the cupola.

Are you sure you're not mistaking the cupola at the top of the hungry bear with the haunted mansion?

 

[oo_nrb]

Just wanted to throw this out there for anyone who wasn't at the park, but the Sailing Ship Columbia successfully made its first few complete voyages around the new Rivers of America today

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Wow!

 

[Disney Analyst]

Apparently Cast Members have been invited to the grand re-opening of the Big Thunder Trail for June 8th, before park opens. I assume that means the trail is open to the public that day.

 

[TP2000]

Apparently Cast Members have been invited to the grand re-opening of the Big Thunder Trail for June 8th, before park opens. I assume that means the trail is open to the public that day.

They have a grand re-opening for that? How funny.

And yet, a few hours later YouTube will be flooded with walk-thru videos, we'll post them here and talk about it. What a funny hobby we all have!

 

[Disney Analyst]

She's back!!





So, is it assumed that Mickey and Friends will be visible until the show building for Alcatraz is finished with rockwork? Or are they going to plant taller trees? It used to be completely blocked by trees before right? Is that no longer possible because the trees are much further forward than before?

 

[NobodyElse]

She's back!!





So, is it assumed that Mickey and Friends will be visible until the show building for Alcatraz is finished with rockwork? Or are they going to plant taller trees? It used to be completely blocked by trees before right? Is that no longer possible because the trees are much further forward than before?

Certainly, the Star Wars buildings (and their associated rock-work) will help buffer the outside world. There may also be more trees to be planted.

Side note: Assuming the before and after trees were the same size, moving them forward should actually block more of the objects in the distance. (Think about how you can block out the moon with your thumb.)

 

[Disney Analyst]

Certainly, the Star Wars buildings (and their associated rock-work) will help buffer the outside world. There may also be more trees to be planted.

Side note: Assuming the before and after trees were the same size, moving them forward should actually block more of the objects in the distance. (Think about how you can block out the moon with your thumb.)

True. I wonder if the new berm they built behind the rock work is smaller.

 

[ctrlaltdel]

I'm pretty sure that the rock work in SWL is supposed to blend in to the new ROA rockwork on the river. Looks like we'll see rockwork above the trees, at least enough to block out Mickey & Friends.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I'm pretty sure that the rock work in SWL is supposed to blend in to the new ROA rockwork on the river. Looks like we'll see rockwork above the trees, at least enough to block out Mickey & Friends.

It has to be be the only way... unless they plant some huge trees and soon. Guess we will see Mickey and friends for a while... should make fantasmic interesting.

 

[Travel Junkie]

the rumor is Big Thunder Trail opens up tomorrow.

 

[Emmanuel]

Mark Twain Riverboat was testing today earlier going around the river.