Rivers of America Rehab Winter/Spring 2010

[TP2000]

Al Lutz put this blurb up on the front page of Miceage.com on Friday evening;

"Editor's Note 5/1: Posted 4/30: The big Rivers of America rehab is running behind schedule and the water won't be returning until next week now. It's not certain that visitors will be able to see all of the new show elements along the snazzy new river via canoe or Columbia by next weekend, and the Mark Twain is even further behind schedule. It will be worth the wait though, as the additions and changes are rather well done. - Al Lutz"

 

[sponono88]

The refilling process has now begun, and RoA is expected to reopen on Saturday

a few pictures from Dateline Disneyland

 

[TP2000]

Hey, those Indian scouts are new!

They will probably startle folks paddling along the banks in a canoe! :lol:

 

[sponono88]

from Al's update:

Tony wanted to take advantage of all of that operating capacity at Disneyland, while trying to break up the monotony of the River experience by creating different zones that pay homage to four great American rivers; the Rio Grande, the Columbia, the Potomac and the Mississippi.

Perhaps the most noticeable will be the new pine trees, tumbling streams and wildlife along the Columbia River section that runs from the Hungry Bear Restaurant to the canoe rapids, as it now does look more like Oregon than Ohio. A close second would be the red rocks and dry vegetation, with new mountain lions hiding in the shrubs, now representing the Rio Grande section towards the end of the cruise. However, the Potomac and Mississippi sections really just blend together with all the previously existing flora and fauna. What’s noticeable here is that this is the first time Disney has tried to segment the theme of the Rivers of America into specific geographic areas, and it works pretty well.

water flowing into the RoA

picture by Mac_Daddy

 

[sponono88]

Mac Daddy has more pictures from today! The water dye hasn't been added yet btw.

A temporary construction bridge

really looking forward to seeing how this all turns out I love this area of the park.

 

[TP2000]

Mac Daddy has more pictures from today! The water dye hasn't been added yet btw.

Those are some of the weirdest Disneyland pictures I've ever seen. It just looks so bizarre with the clear water, and makes you realize how shallow it really is! So weird looking.

I can't wait to see the new animatronics and the new Colubmbia River, Rio Grande River, Potomac River sections they've landscaped and decorated. Disneyland is so lucky to have the Columbia, Canoes, and Mark Twain running to experience this big chunk of the park.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Nicole220]

The water is so clean! :lol:

 

[sponono88]

A great new article that details the major work that was done and all the new additions, including live ponies, hundreds of new trees and shrubs, a brand new track for the riverboats, and much more:

For the first time, the body of water around Tom Sawyer Island will have distinct sections designed to look like four U.S. river regions: the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Potomac and the Rio Grande.

And with the rivers, visitors for the first time will see new creatures, plant life and scenes when the Rivers of America re-opens Saturday. Read details about each of the Disneyland river regions.

Crews are finishing up a four-month rehabilitation project mostly done while the Rivers of America was drained; this week, the Rivers was being re-filled.

After the river was drained in January, Disney crews:
- Installed a new 2,500-foot track for the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Sailing Ship - Columbia for the first time since the park opened in 1955.
- Built a corral for two live ponies. (It is the first time live animals are long the banks).
- Planted 4,000 new shrubs and 130 new trees that look like the river regions.
- Added 10 new figures and repainted about 16 old ones, either plants or animals.
- Posted Mike Fink’s Keel Boat in front of the cabin.
- Put in a new paddle wheel on the Mark Twain Riverboat.
- Replaced nine of the 11 docks.

New scenes include: deer drinking from a creek, Indian braves on Tom Sawyer Island, raccoons spied by a skunk, mountain lions hiding in the grass and an osprey on top of the winch beam close to the riverboat dock. Some old animals, including a group of moose, were repositioned in new scenes.

Disney attraction creators, called Imagineers, consulted original sketches from Walt Disney collaborators Marc Davis and Sam McKim for the river to come up with new ideas. Some scenes, including the raccoons, were from those old plans.

The previously burning cabin got a new theme: Mike Fink, Davy Crockett’s rival and later friend, is the new resident. His keel boat, the Gullywhumper from the previous Disneyland ride, was placed in front of the cabin. Visitors will hear Crockett and Fink arguing from the boats.

“We had the Gullywhumper available, and we had the story,” Irvine said. “We kind of like to go back to our history.”

for the full article, click here: http://ocresort.freedomblogging.com/2010/05/06/behind-the-scenes-look-at-disneylands-new-river/43239/

 

[SeaCastle]

I've been following this project since it was announced and I got more and more excited as the completion grew closer. The rivers look great now. It'll be interesting to hear the new narration of the riverboat.

 

[sponono88]

^ so far it looks like Tony Baxter and his team did a great job!

The OCRegister article has additional info and descriptions for each of the four rivers:

Disneyland divided its Rivers of America into four U.S. river regions that each have unique plant life and creatures during a four-month upgrade to the waterway around Tom Sawyer Island.

Here are the key features in the Mississippi River area:

Where it is: The visible section of the Rivers of America from Frontierland and New Orleans Square. It runs roughly from the pump house and Mark Twain Riverboat dock, around the Fantasmic! staging area over to the Hungry Bear Restaurant.

Landscaping: A swampy region with blues and grays features weeping willows, Tolleson’s weeping juniper, azaleas and rhododendrons. The plants are mossy and droopy.

What’s new: The Mark Twain Riverboat is getting a new paddle wheel, which is 13 feet in diameter and 18 feet in length. A new hurricane deck and wheel house roof were added, as well as new flooring in the generator room.
A public-viewing deck was built along the outer bank of the river.

Here are the key features in the Columbia River area:

Where it is: The region starts along Critter Country by the Hungry Bear Restaurant where a big elk can be seen on the shoreline. The rivers goes around the bend past the cabin and animals drinking from a creek.

Landscaping: The river has a rich, wet look with evergreens, conifers and ferns. Painted rocks sit on the shoreline.

What’s new: The cabin, no longer burning, has a new resident: Mike Fink, Davy Crockett’s friend and rival. Mike Fink’s Keel Boat, the Gullywhumper, sits in front of the cabin. The keel boat was originally from the former Disneyland ride. The story comes from an episode of “Davy Crockett.”
New and old deer and elk figures drink from a river surrounded by ferns and flower patches.

Here are the key features in the Potomac River area:

Where it is: The region starts on the north side of the waterway by the American Indian chief and winds around past the Indian Village.

Landscaping: The trees will change colors based on the seasons. The liquid amber trees have gold, pink and a burgundy hues. Birch trees, wild flowers and daisies were planted in the transition zone into the Rio Grande.

What’s new: Two American Indian braves are scouting on Tom Sawyer Island across from the chief.
Two live ponies, including a mustang, will reside in a corral by the Indian Village.
Seven new teepees with new symbols were added to the village.

Here are the key features in the Rio Grande area:

Where it is: The Rio Grande begins on the northeast curve of the river near the Big Thunder area and winds around to the Mark Twain Riverboat dock. Birch trees and wild flowers are planted in the transition phase.

Landscaping: Pinon pines and shorter trees from the Sonoran Desert region mix with shrubs and manzanita grasses. Large, red-rock work, a painted bank and 35 tons of gravel are on the shore, as well as three dried cascades.

What’s new: The mother eagle and a nest, which used to be part of the burning cabin scene, was moved to the high trees in the transition area.
Two raccoons on a branch while a skunk approaches on the island.
Two new mountain lions lurk in the tall grasses on the outer shore.
A scene with five moose, which were previously used along the river, was set up on the island. Male moose don’t usually congregate, so Disney set up the moose with one male spying on another male with a female.
An osprey next to a nest sits on the winch beam.
The abandoned train was removed but the tracks remain.

 

[cdunbar]

Has it been refilled yet?

 

[sponono88]

Has it been refilled yet?

Yep, they started re-filling it last week. Mousetimes.com has new pictures in their update.. notice the green dye has already been added.

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

It all looks great. :sohappy:
We're looking forward to seeing it all in a couple of weeks.

 

[sponono88]

Pictures from MintCrocodile's update today.. Everything looks beautiful, so nice to see it full of water again

 

[sponono88]

The first pictures of the RoA updates/enhancements are coming in, these two pictures are by Ron_W.

one of the new live horses in the background:

 

[sponono88]

One of my favorite spots to explore - the crew quarters below deck in the Sailing Ship Columbia have been refreshed in the recent RoA refurb. MiceChat's In the Parks update has pictures:

 

[TP2000]

Aah, the Sailing Ship Columbia! Talk about a rare gem in Disneyland's crown! It's only found at Disneyland USA, and it's a wonderfully unique way to tour the Rivers of America.

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

We took a journey around the recently reopened ROA aboard the good ship Columbia. The refurbs and additions all looked great. We were a little disappointed that the live Indian ponies were not out in the corral. But, all in all everything was pretty impressive. The Columbia herself has never looked finer. Looking forward to the Mark Twain coming back soon. So glad that loving care and respect for tradition has returned to Walt's park.

 

[sponono88]

The Mark Twain riverboat is back up and running -- and it looks better than ever!

 

[TP2000]

Now that's a healthy and active river! Paddlewheelers, canoes, islands, etc.

Disneyland USA is blessed with a really great Rivers of America section with a whole lot of action going on, better than even Tokyo Disneyland, because in addition to rafts and canoes and the Mark Twain, Disneyland also has this beauty sailing around!...