Wow KFM has quite the collection! Keep that scanner humming!
I think its gonna overheat!
Not really. I did relocate the scanner for more convenience in bulk scannification!
KFK-
Thanks for all of the great new scans! You were not kidding about KFM having kept
everything, were you? (I should have been a believer after the burger wrapper and fry basket).
I agree with you 100% about the late 70's-early 80's artwork. No wonder attendance at River Country and Discovery Island languished- they sure didn't do a very good job making in look appealing.
While enjoying the videos you linked, I came across a few other gems on
YouTube . . .
This is apparently a promotional video for the All American Water Party at River Country. It is remarkable to look at something like this and then compare it to the types of promos played at WDW now:
All American Water Party Video
This video is really long (over 10 minutes), but it shows a lot of River Country. And at least watch the first two minutes to see Goofy on the Boom Swing. Also, at about 4:30, there is a long scene where kids are climbing across what looks like floating log discs- I don't remember these at all. They currently have something like this in the teen area of Blizzard Beach:
Long River Country Video
TCD
No I wasn't kidding about the collection, but what you don't realize is that I'm not scanning everything. Just for the sake of repetitiveness.
I loved both videos. I must admit, there was a little lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. These videos just go to show that sometimes simplicity IS simply better! Miss that RC!
Kim, I am still ignoring you !
HOORAY! YIPPEE!! IT'S THE GREAT 2 GOOFY CAMPERS!!!!!
I vividly remember those darn log disks, I even have a scar above my left eye to help me remember them.
Hmmmm sounding like you're younger than me. I never did those. I think I must've been too old for that stuff when RC opened. I'm surprised w/all the safety violations, we weren't all injured or maimed! Those were the days! You could have a great time and kill yourself in the process if you wanted!
I totally believe you.
When I was looking at these, I was thinking how dangerous the whole thing looked. And, as far as I could see, it was a free-for-all, with people moving the discs as others were trying to step on them. I would expect that there would be a lot of face-plants.
The same goes for a lot of the other activities we see on the older videos- diving from the rocks into the pool- people crashing into each other on the slides-none of that would be allowed today, that's for sure.
I also remember that the water at the base of the flume slides was very deep. I know that I could not touch the bottom when standing. Same thing with the depth at the slides in the Upstream Plunge pool. These days, water park slides exit into water that is very shallow.
I'll bet liability issues entered into the equation of deciding to close River Country.
TCD
Looked GREAT didn't it! I remember kids climbing all over the rocks at the pool w/out too much being said. They'd probably be ejected these days.
I remember that the water at the base of the double slides was 12 feet. Clearly I remember feeling like my feet would ever touch bottom and when they finally did, i would spring myself to the surface!
Good times!
I am sure there probably were liability issues. I woulda signed a waiver!
I tried to grab a couple of screen caps from the 1999 All American Water Party video.
This video was produced in the time-frame that the TCD gang was visiting River Country.
But, there are things shown in that video that I sure don't remember.
Like this thing, which appears to be a squirting animal skull:
And this giant floating frog, which obviously was in the Kiddie Cove area:
I remember a giant floating fake log in the Kiddie Cove area- not this frog.
My memory deficits notwithstanding, these old videos sure do confirm that River Country was a fun and unique place.
TCD
I never went to the Kiddie Cove area, as I was already to old for that stuff. I'd be willing to wager that KFM does. My 2 younger bros spent plenty of time over there! Obviously, I don't remember the squirting skull or the frog. Seems like I do remember a floating log as someone else said. I definitely remember a water moccasin!
Not an animatronic either.
I never thought about this before, but why was Discovery Island sponsored by Friskies?
Did they make bird food?
Otherwise, what product association was there between Discovery Island and Friskies?
Or, was this just another 70's thing?
And while we're at it, when exactly was Friskies a sponsor of DI? None of the early stuff mentions Friskies.
I can understand why Friskies would be a sponsor of the WDW kennels (and I think they were), but Discovery Island?
Why?
TCD
Friskies must have made the bird food so the cats would have fat birds to eat.
I will keep my eyes peeled for any sponsor info. It could very well have been a hippie 70's thing.
Afteralll, this is the decade of Disney execs that brought Starbooty to the MK!
Can you picture that performance coming at you live in front of Cinderella Castle?
Summer Night Live! Wow! What is the deal w/the shooting gallery? This is the second concert we've found that you would need to pay extra for the shooting gallery. I'm sure it's fun, but good grief! It's those darn hippies again!
Probably trying to discourage use of guns.
