River Country

[SandrA9810]

I know there's been several topics about it, but none answered any of my questions.
1. Is it true that you can have it exclusivly opened for you... like if you were to have a big party there? I heard that MTV had a couple music awards there, and they opened it specifically for them.
2. Is it true that they might open it for Fort Wilderness guest... as part of thier pool? I know they got two pools, but they really are small, and there's nothing fun, like a slide or waterfall. The only interesting thing is the little playground next to the big one.

[FrozenTundra]

River Country is DEAD. It can't be reopened for a special event because it is an unsafe eyesore. NOBODY can use it at all.

As for your 2nd question, many have expressed the opinion that FW needs a themed pool ( other then WL and CS ) and refurbing RC would solve that problem. No one knows if it will happen and I don't recall any teaser info from Disney that would give hope to this happening.

[SandrA9810]

See here in waltdatedworld's site, it says "River Country is still in place but is only available for private parties and conventions, not for regular guests. Even then, it is rarely used. There have been rumors that it may reopen someday exclusively for Fort Wilderness guests."

BTW, a lot of disney forum sites like to use this layout... such as disneycentral and talkdisney.

[SandrA9810]

I don't see why they can't just allow people to use the one heated/chlorinated pool for FW guest, close off the other water sections, and let people lounge on the beach, sun bathing. That is until they figure out what to do with the rest.
And they're cracking down big time on pool hopping. And you realize how many people are in those two little pools at FW? There's no room to do anything but pretty much stand in the water to stay cool. And there aren't any sections for the little one. Just a rope seperating the deep end at 5ft.

It's hard sifting through sites of information, just cause there aren't any dates.

[FrozenTundra]

They need to update their site because RC hasn't been open in almost 10 years. It is decaying at this very moment.

[SandrA9810]

only about 6 years, it closed in fall of 1999. And apparently it's taken them 5 years to make offical announcements about it. But they're so vauge, it's hard to tell what will come of it. And then there's what CM's hear, and pass a long to guest. Who knows where they got thier info from.

[FrozenTundra]

I'm not certain SandrA, but I think the guests staying at FW are allowed to use the pools at WL and CR. They even operate that little shuttle boat that runs a WL-CR-FW loop.

I know when we check-in at WL, our activity flyer invites us to visit FW at nite for a campfire & movie. I think I've read where the FW flyer states they can use the pools a WL and CR, but I could be wrong. I've never seen a CM check resort ID's at WL.

[SandrA9810]

I've never seen them check ID's, but Kari signed a waiver when she checked in that should would not pool hop. I don't know if it said anything about being able to use Wilderness Lodge pool, but I'm sure they wouldn't allow you to use the Contemporary pool.
The activities at Fort Wilderness are open to all guest of Disney, including the campfire/movie, ranch, petting zoo, wagon rides, horse back riding. And the boat loop takes you to the Magic Kingdom, then there's also a boat that goes to the Grand Floridian and Poly to the Magic Kingdom. It's just one of the many ways of Disney Transportation.
I don't think they allow guest staying at the Boardwalk, go to the Yacht and Beach club resort pools, and those are connected by boat also.

[FrozenTundra]

SandrA, there are two boats that operate the Bay Lake loop. The larger boat does WL,FW and MK - it skips CR because those guests can use the mono or simply walk in.

The other boat - the cool looking smaller one, only does the 3 resort loop.

I know of no boat that connects Bay Lake resorts with 7SL ones.... maybe it's something they operate in the busy summer months.

I've also never seen a waiver one would sign agreeing not to pool hop.

[SandrA9810]

Well Kari signed it when she checked in, back in July. Unfortunatly though, I didn't see it, I was over at the kennel getting Kiani checked in.
But in one of those little pamphlets they give out, it stated again that there is no pool hopping allowed.

[sotoalf]

I'm not certain SandrA, but I think the guests staying at FW are allowed to use the pools at WL and CR. They even operate that little shuttle boat that runs a WL-CR-FW loop.

I know when we check-in at WL, our activity flyer invites us to visit FW at nite for a campfire & movie. I think I've read where the FW flyer states they can use the pools a WL and CR, but I could be wrong. I've never seen a CM check resort ID's at WL.


The boat between WL-CR-FW is to connect the three Bay Lake resorts, not to transport pool hoppers (although no doubt this happens).

[FrozenTundra]

The boat between WL-CR-FW is to connect the three Bay Lake resorts, not to transport pool hoppers (although no doubt this happens).

I didn't mean to imply that the boat was intended for pool hopping, only that it was meant to transport guests between resorts for whatever reason was needed - visit a resort,eat a meal, shop, etc.

Over on the DVC board there has been several discussions about FW guest using WL and VWL pools. As I recall the general consensus was that FW guests are allowed to use WL but not VWL.

Guess in Dec I'll dig a little further into it when I'm at VWL.

[DVCDAVE]

I've been to FW and WL many times, and pool hopping is NOT allowed to WL from FW. Recently, at WL, they have started to crack down on this by asking for resort ID.

[FrozenTundra]

If that's the case Dave then they really need to put in a theme pool at FW because what they have isn't even up to AS standards.

[DVCDAVE]

I agree. I would love for RC to be refurbished as a themed pool for FW.

[dr2004]

If anyone wants to get a birdseye view of how River Country is rundown and unusable, rent a speedboat at Bay Lake and you can pull right up to it on the Lake. Its really surreal..like an abandoned ghost park

[mochabean]

Disneypix has recent pictures showing the disrepair.
http://www.disneypix.com/Recreation/River/2005a/River2005a.htm

[DVCDAVE]

Thanks for posting the pix link. While a crying shame, I wouldn't call it hoplessly beyond repair. I still think that the reason it is closed is due to high bacteria level from Bay Lake. The same reason the beaches are now closed. Remember when they had lounge charis by the beach, along witha a roped off wading area so the water mice wouldn't get too near the beach?

[FrozenTundra]

They still have the lounge chairs out on the beach and the last few trips down we've noticed increased wading in the lakes.

I think the opening of BB had more to due with the closing of RC then water bacteria. WDW had two top notch water parks with TL and BB. While RC may have been cool, it didn't compare to the other two parks.

[ryley26]

My db and i climbed under the ropes at the backyard barbeque that place is a wreck.I can't believe they could use it for anything.

[kedec]

Thank you for starting this post. We're staying at FW when we go in September 2006 and I've wondered if we could use the WL pool. I saw a map the other day they showed how the 2 resorts are connected by a path for bikes and such, which caused me to wonder about the pools. Pool hopping is such a hot topic around here, I've been afraid to ask. I know there is no clear answer (I'll probably ask when I get there), but atleast this is an honest and open discussion about River Country and the pool situation at FW without the name calling you see on other threads. :)

Thanks!

[DVCDAVE]

KEDEC, I assure you without a shadow of a doubt........there is NO pool hopping from FW to WL and any CM will confirm this during your check in. The resorts may be connected by a walkway, but that walkway is not there for poolhoping, it is there for walking, jogging, and bikes.

There has been a crowding problem since the DVC Villas were built at WL and opened in November 2000, so they now check resort passes.

Now, I must admit that I do only visit at peak times. They may not check resort passes during the slower seasons.

[kedec]

Thank you. I never said I would do it if it wasn't allowed, I was only wondering if it was allowed. So much for being able to ask a question without people getting snippy wth you. I guess my 10th post will be my last. I thought I could come to these boards for information, but I guess unless you are a Disney expert, you should expect to have people chew you out for looking for information.

[wtpclc]

kedec - I don't think anything was intended against you. It was just pointing out that this is not a grey area, it's not allowed. People still do it, though (again, not implying that you would).

I see you haven't posted much, don't let that keep you from posting. In genreal, most people here want to help. That's just a bad topic, as you already seem to know. Have a wonderful trip!

[FrozenTundra]

.... Relax, DAVE was not getting snippy with you,( Snippy doesn't post on this board very often anymore).

We stay at VWL every Dec. We have never seen a crowded pool or any CM's checking ID's. But similar to what Dave said, he's never visited off-season, I've never visited in-season.

I will say that it was a fairly common site to see guests getting on & off the Bay Lake Resort loop boat. Someone was definitely swimming somewhere they weren't staying.

My opinion is that a resort guest should in no way be inconvienced by a guest from another resort, but I see nothing wrong with FW guests using my pool if it's basically empty anyway. However, I'd also expect that FW guest to be courtious enough to leave if it started getting crowded.

[DVCDAVE]

Ahm....Excuse me if I sounded Snippy. I re-read my post, and I still can't see where it sounded Snippy. I was just stating the facts as I know them, or experienced them.

Ironically, many years ago the CMs used to tell you that by staying on site you were welcome to pool hop to any Disney resort. I don't know when they ended that perk, maybe someone can add.

[WDWHound]

Ahm....Excuse me if I sounded Snippy. I re-read my post, and I still can't see where it sounded Snippy. I was just stating the facts as I know them, or experienced them.

Ironically, many years ago the CMs used to tell you that by staying on site you were welcome to pool hop to any Disney resort. I don't know when they ended that perk, maybe someone can add.
I don't know when, but I do know why. When Stormalong Bay was built, it became a huge hit and many people pool hopped to it. It became so crowded that the guests of the Beach and Yaught clubs had a hard time getting to use it. It was soon after this that the new policy came into being.

[SandrA9810]

If anyone wants to get a birdseye view of how River Country is rundown and unusable, rent a speedboat at Bay Lake and you can pull right up to it on the Lake. Its really surreal..like an abandoned ghost park

That's one of the things I want to do. But we just haven't had that much money to do things like that. Although if we didn't spend money on two tickets for TL (only to get rained out) we could've done it.
Maybe next time... I know have a "bling bling" job according to Kari. So we can afford it.

I want to rent a boat to go around everything, including one to go see the tree houses and stuff.

[SandrA9810]

BTW, can you pull up to Discovery Island??
And how long before they yell at you to get away from it??

I think we might take a walk over to RC to see it, since we'll be staying at Fort Wilderness again.

[FrozenTundra]

You can get as close to DI as your propeller will let you, but you definitely can't beach it and walk around.

[Swazie]

I don't know what the reason was for the closing, but I can tell you that the one time we went to RC was in Oct. The kids had a great time. My son loved the activities (rope, rings, etc). Within 36 hrs I was in the emergency room unable to walk . . . I had at UT infection. I haven't had one of those since I was pregnant. Diagnoisis? Bacteria from the lake. I asked my DH 25 times why there were signs all over saying to stay out of the lagoon but it appeared the water in RC was right out of the lagoon. He told me this was "Disney Magic" and it must filtered somehow. We're still married . . . but I don't always believe him now.

I am a DVC member and have stayed at WL twice. Both times during off season. My one complaint? The pool is too small. I couldn't figure out where all the people came from, I didn't even consider they were pool hopping. If the construction rumors are true about CR being renovated for DVC . . . how about putting in a Storm Along Bay pool too? It would be the busiest DVC ever being by MK. :earseek:

[lauran cameron]

It's so eerie to see it in such dispair *chills* I'm going to have to make an adventure out of this one in going to see it in real life. :guilty:

Treehouse Villas would be an interesting adventure too.

...but only if these adventure are allowed of course :earboy2:

[A,M&Asmom]

Can I ask....what is Treehouse Villas???

[DVCDAVE]

They are room units that were available for booking, mounted up in Disney made trees, like tree houses. They are, or were located at the now defunct Disney Institute. They are actually still there, but no longer available for booking, and falling in to disrepair.

[Horace Horsecollar]

They are room units that were available for booking, mounted up in Disney made trees, like tree houses. They are, or were located at the now defunct Disney Institute. They are actually still there, but no longer available for booking, and falling in to disrepair.
They aren't really "mounted up in Disney made trees," but they are elevated, and they are amongst trees.

For pictures, see Treehouse Villas (http://www.mouseplanet.com/dtp/wdwguide/4_Accommodations/VDI_photo_tour_treehouse_villas.htm) at MousePlanet.

[lauran cameron]

those are some of my favourite pictures of the treehousvillas; from that site ^^^ :blush:

[dallastxcpa]

I have to say that I don't understand why Disney couldn't control the bacteria level in the water? I live in Texas and there is a water park called Schlitterbahn (awesome place) and most of their water slides feed right from the river (I believe the Guadalupe). So if they can do it for over 30 years and make a profit then why couldn't Disney keep River Country going? :confused3

[wtpclc]

It may just be that the river is clean on its own. You would not be able to chlorinate water that discharges to a lake, as that would effect the natural water life.

[mochabean]

I have to say that I don't understand why Disney couldn't control the bacteria level in the water? I live in Texas and there is a water park called Schlitterbahn (awesome place) and most of their water slides feed right from the river (I believe the Guadalupe). So if they can do it for over 30 years and make a profit then why couldn't Disney keep River Country going? :confused3

The lakes are stagnant (for the most part) water, whereas a river is always running. The lakes have high levels of bacteria from bird droppings.
The profit from River Country plunged (no pun intended) when Typhoon Lagoon opened in 1989.