Heard a tidbit last week

[Lesia]

at Trails End last week. One of the longtime Ladies said they were just told by managment that there is something DVC going in at the old River Country site. She wasn't clear about what it is, just that it is DVC. So it could be an added resort, or a water park for DVC people. River country has been closed many years, but the infrastructure is still there.

 

[dianeschlicht]

That would be interesting! Maybe a DVC only playground/water park/ picnic spot? That would be like our only little Disney park! I can imagine it being used for things like our member's meetings and parties!

 

[WendyinNC]

Oh! I sure do miss River Country. I hope they do something with it.

 

[Monte Cristo]

Did they say who was going to pay for the construction of said site? If it's not a resort then the financing would have to come from somewhere and I can think of other places I would want the $$ spent.

I wonder if CM's come onto these Disney websites and look for the rumor they told some vacationers.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

That would be interesting! Maybe a DVC only playground/water park/ picnic spot? That would be like our only little Disney park! I can imagine it being used for things like our member's meetings and parties!

As with anything that would be "DVC only" the question is, who pays for it?

If it's paid by the DVC Marketing budget (like the weekly DVC member game show at the dance hall), I'm fine with it. If it's an attraction that's somehow also a sales pitch for DVC, that would be fine. But I really can't imagine that Marketing would get enough value for the considerable cost of running a water park in a remote location.

If it's a self-sustaining business, which charges admission but limits access to DVC members, I guess I would not have a complaint. But I really don't see Disney excluding other guests (such as Fort Wilderness guests and deluxe resort guests) from a gated water park at Fort Wilderness.

And if the construction and operating costs would be added to our already-high annual dues, I would object strongly.

If there is any truth to the rumor that Lesia posted, I could image a DVC resort at or near the old River Country site some day. The resort could leverage Fort Wilderness transportation and facilities, just as BWV, BCV, VWL, and AKV share transportation and facilities with non-DVC resorts. And such a DVC resort could make it possible to reopen an updated version of River Country.

I don't think that it will be a private DVC water park.

 

[BillPA]

I thought they closed RC because the water is unsafe to swim in. None of the resorts allow swiming in any of the lakes, and except for the one pool, RC is all lake water.

 

[Mahusky]

I thought they closed RC because the water is unsafe to swim in. None of the resorts allow swiming in any of the lakes, and except for the one pool, RC is all lake water.

That is what I was lead to believe too..... I d have fond meemories of watercountry as a boy in '78.

 

[Lewisc]

I don't know who'd pay for it. I guess it could be shared with FW and they could pay "their share".

Part of the rumor has pool hopping being removed when the DVC water complex at RC opens. I don't know how many DVC member pool hop but there is a limit to how many DVC pool hoppers that pools like the POLY Volcano pool can accommodate. Disney had to end resort pool hopping when WDW increased the number of hotel rooms. The same thing might happen to DVC hopping.

Maybe you can combine this with another posted rumor, use the revenue from parking fees to pay. That's really a joke, it doesn't really work that way.

As with anything that would be "DVC only" the question is, who pays for it?

If it's paid by the DVC Marketing budget (like the weekly DVC member game show at the dance hall), I'm fine with it. If it's an attraction that's somehow also a sales pitch for DVC, that would be fine. But I really can't imagine that Marketing would get enough value for the considerable cost of running a water park in a remote location.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I thought they closed RC because the water is unsafe to swim in. None of the resorts allow swiming in any of the lakes, and except for the one pool, RC is all lake water.

It's my understanding that the River Country water was separated from the Bay Lake water by a barrier under the Bay Bridge. See http://www.talkdisney.com/maps/WDW_River_Country.jpg

In any case, it would not be difficult to keep the River Country water separate from the Bay Lake Water, just as the water at Stormalong Bay at YC/BC/BCV is separate from the water of Crescent Lake.

By now, the aging and and long-shuttered River Country would require substantial work before it could be reopened.

I could see a DVC resort at Fort Wilderness. And I could then see a rebuilt version of River Country serving the same role that Stormalong Bay does for YC/BC/BCV — in other words, as an exclusive super-pool for guests of Fort Wilderness and Fort Wilderness Villas.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's my understanding that the River Country water was separated from the Bay Lake water by a barrier under the Bay Bridge. See http://www.talkdisney.com/maps/WDW_River_Country.jpg

In any case, it would not be difficult to keep the River Country water separate from the Bay Lake Water, just as the water at Stormalong Bay at YC/BC/BCV is separate from the water of Crescent Lake.

By now, the aging and and long-shuttered River Country would require substantial work before it could be reopened.

I could see a DVC resort at Fort Wilderness. And I could then see a rebuilt version of River Country serving the same role that Stormalong Bay does for YC/BC/BCV — in other words, as an exclusive super-pool for guests of Fort Wilderness and Fort Wilderness Villas.

I think that is a very feasible idea as well. A DVC resort with the "bones" of old River Country as it's main pool. Now THAT would be a draw!

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

I think that is a very feasible idea as well. A DVC resort with the "bones" of old River Country as it's main pool. Now THAT would be a draw!

I agree and since DVC loves to use existing infastructure, that part of it makes sense as well.

HBC

 

[greenban]

You guys (and gals) should be charging Disney for these brillant ideas you come up with!

I believe that the CM who shared this 'tidbit' with the OP, planted this idea to see what ideas would materialize on the websites that Disney monitors.

Now, once again, a great idea has been given away for free. You should have requested a free week in Cindy's Castle!

Truly a great idea, makes financial and marketing sense.

-Tony

P.S. It could be another method to reduce commercial renting too!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Wow, the rumors abound in the New Year!

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

River Country didn't have a problem keeping the lake out, it had a problem keeping the park water in. The water was separated by a "bladder" that deteriorated over time.

River Country was fun, but it required a pretty good swimming ability (at least compared to the current water park offerings). I remember when guests at WL and FW could use River Country without extra charge. Even then, they couldn't keep capacity up to a worthwhile level.

I've seen some pics of River Country taken within the last year. The amount of work necessary to bring it back is daunting. It's been taken over by birds.

 

[jennypenny]

Hmmm...

Over on the camping board, they have been talking for months about an upcoming expansion of FW. (I think there is already some site prep--I'll try and find the thread) They assumed it was going to mean more campsites, but maybe DVC? I could certainly see them converting the cabins to DVC. Their occupancy always seems soft, and with DVC obviously trying to create rooms with an occupancy limit of 5 that would work nicely.

I'd accept the cabins as DVC with upgraded ammenities and a new pool in the RC area. Maybe they'd add golfcarts with the DVC logo

DVC must really be a cash cow. I know disney get's it's own line item in our budget now

Jenny

 

[keishashadow]

I think that is a very feasible idea as well. A DVC resort with the "bones" of old River Country as it's main pool. Now THAT would be a draw!

hopefully, not with a view of the campground

i've heard rumours of gators; big ones

 

[DVCconvert]

Oh sure...I believe this tidbit -- every wave that comes by will feature a 'mickey head' too!

 

[Granny]

I could see a DVC resort at Fort Wilderness. And I could then see a rebuilt version of River Country serving the same role that Stormalong Bay does for YC/BC/BCV — in other words, as an exclusive super-pool for guests of Fort Wilderness and Fort Wilderness Villas.

I think they are going to make a super pool for FW just to keep the FW people out of the WL pools! Now THAT would be doing something for this DVC owner!

I'd personally like to see them do something with RC. But I agree it would require a ton of work and not sure how Disney would recoup that cost. No matter what they do it wouldn't really compete with TL or BB.

 

[CinderellaPug]

Isn't river country in the same area as STOL? Could this be another layer to the STOL rumor?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Hmmm...

(snip)
DVC must really be a cash cow. I know disney get's it's own line item in our budget now

Jenny

I agree! Disney isn't spending all this time and money on DVC for any other reason! They are assuring that they will have clientele for years to come!