Long Live River Country!!!

[HakunaMatataMan]

This thread is dedicated to the memory of River Country. The Good Ol' Fashion watering hole that was the ONLY wdw water park during my childhood.

Even though it didnt boast the tallest slide or largest waves, River Country had its own distinct charm and its unique water activities separated it from ANY waterpark in America.

It was a place where parents could let there children play in the water while they relaxed on the beach...all the while, keeping an eye on them because the park was small enough to do so. The zip-line is still one of the most fun water activities of all time!

In its later years, I appreciated River Country for its Mark Twain-esque theming. Being from NJ, I found this theming delightful and something that I couldn't experience elsewhere. Whereas today's water parks boast the biggest, fastest, largest attractions, River Country's charm was in its relaxing and inviting nature. River Country was the place to go to avoid long lines and over crowded lazy rivers.

Its proximity to Magic Kingdom was another great feature! Instead of taking a WDW Bus, you could go from a water park to MK entrnace in less than 10 minutes! Also, a daily appearance by Goofy and pals made it a great and impersonal character greet area!

So, where are all my fellow River Country brothers and sisters out there? What are your fondest memories of the Good Ol' Fashion watering hole? More importantly, what are they gonna do with that area and what was the "official" reason for taking it away?

 

[PattiPB]

We, too, LOVED the joy and simple pleasures of River Country!!! The ability to virtually see, and navigate, the entire park with ease was wonderful with young children! We have an awesome picture taken from the old barrel bridge of the lagoon, past the CR and right to Cindy's castle! What a site!

I fear it will never come back, because it was probably too costly to run considering the lower gate price and small crowds...alas...

Could it be a NJ thing, I wonder!?!?!? I spent my first 30 years in NJ, and Wildwood was the only other place I've ever seen a zip-line attraction!!

Patti

 

[JulesMom]

We only visited it once in 2000, but my kids had a blast.

They played volleyball for hours!!

It was SO relaxing and unrushed

 

[shafke]

We used to go during president's week in Feb and always without fail it would be closed for the annual rehab and open the day we left. I don't think it was until the late 80's until the first time in RC. Boy is that water cold.

 

[ChairborneRangr]

The one and only time I went to RC was when we were there in 1978. I was 14 and we were at the Contemporary Resort for an annual sales meeting for Beechcraft. I enjoyed MK, but all my "Fond Memories" are from RC and Treasure(Discovery) Island. Now neither of those are available.

I'll miss them. This June is my 4th time to WDW, but the first for most of my kids. Now I can't even take them to the places I've told them about over the years.

Very sad.

 

[cinmell]

I have only been to River Country once because we usually went during off season so it was always closed for refurb. We visted WDW once in May a few years back and went to River Country because I hate the crowds at TL and BB. I fell in love with River Country and wish it was still open. The view from some areas was great such as the castle and the Contemporary. I miss it!

 

[pigby]

Last time we visited was in September 2001 - didn't know at the time that we would probably be among it's last few visitors. LOVED this park especially the boat ride over from MK first thing in the morning - we were the only ones on the boat - it was truly magical. The park itself was wonderful - especially adored the view of Cinderella's castle from the beach and the nature walk. I can't get so enthusiastic about TL or BB I'm afraid - will still make the boat ride to FW for the memory this trip - and to visit Chip and Dale.


Sue

 

[Simba's Mom]

Our first visit to WDW was in 1987, staying in FW cabins (then trailer homes). Some of my favorite pictures of that trip were the day we spent at River Country. Me standing at the foot of the water slide at the kiddie pool, waiting to catch DS #2 as he slid down with a huge grin on his face. And DS #1 and DH going down that seemingly huge slide into the pool over at the left (hey, DS was only 7-it seemed huge!). In a few weeks we are returning to WDW and for a few days we'll be again at Fort Wildernes Cabins. Sigh-how I wish River Country were still open-they grow up so fast!

 

[Gregg]

I had so many chances to go and I never did. My family likes Typhoon Lagoon.

Thanks for sharing the memories.

Gregg

 

[tinkerbee]

I never got the chance to see River Country but last week we walked by it. It was so sad to see what looks like a beatiful place all blocked off. I hope they open it agian.

 

[InstImpres]

It must be something about those of us from NJ. I loved RC as a child and have told my DD about it.

FW isn't what it use to be without RC and no more Marshmellow Marsh.

I thought Disney was magical and could make anything work...it must just be a longterm rehab.

Sandy

 

[wdwguide]

I loved River Country - it was great to be able to hit the park for a couple of hours in the afternoon during a hot and busy day at the Magic Kingdom without having to waste a lot of time driving around.

My last time there was not very pleasant though, since Bay Lake had overflowed into River Country, and the chemicals in the water had killed off all the fish. So there were kids tossing these dead fish all over the place, which was really unpleasant. Sadly none of the castmembers even attempted to fish the dead creatures out of the water.

 

[Planogirl]

There's tons of rumors as to why River Country was closed so I won't conjecture. But I will miss River Country too.

Last month we spent some time at Fort Wilderness and walked over to the park. We were surprised to see that access is still open to all of the areas except for the pools and slides. We walked in and ran into a young couple just coming out. The lady was in tears and asked if nothing could be done to save the place. She wondered if writing to Disney would help. I urged her to go ahead but truthfully, I doubt that writing really matters in cases like these.

Anyone who's in the area might want to stroll over and see if the area is still open. It's fun to walk by the buildings and reminisce.

 

[house_of_princesses]

As a camper who loves staying in FW, I for one feel the only thing the campground is missing is a great themed pool area. And wouldn't RC fit that bill! As a FW guest, I'd even pay a little extra for the day we spent relaxing there! Too wonderful of a spot to let go to the jungle!

 

[treesinger]

It was my FAVE water park! I especially liked the relaxed tube slide that had short drops into small pools, one after the other until you came out into the main pool. My kids will never get to see it though. A damn shame, it was such a nice relaxing place. And all the pictures we had from RC and Disney through the mid 90's are lost to us from when Hurricane Floyd claimed them in a basement flood.

TL and BB are nice enough, but toomuch activity, too much like the "cookie cutter" water park, too much thrill,not enough relaxation. I'll miss it.
I always thought that it was shut down because the cost to upkeep was too great compared to profit. And I think there was a bacteria scare from overflow. Nothing corroborated, just what I heard.

 

[funhouse8]

We went to river country with the family in 1997 for Mickey's All American Beach Party. I think they were trying to drum up business for the park. Well, my kids had a ball. The whole gang was there. Goofy took the kids on a nature hike and had a water gun fight with the cm at the shops. They played games and had contests. (how many marshmallows can you fit into your mouth.) It was like we hired the characters, they spent the whole day with the kids. While on the hike my daughter spent the whole time right up goofy's butt and he accidentally stepped on her barefeet. He took her foot into his hand and kept kissing her foot. It was so funny I wish I had a video camera then. But she still talks about the day Goofy stepped on her. I hope they don't keep it closed forever it was a nice quiet escape from the crowds in the parks.

 

[Uncleromulus]

What I really liked most was the fact that after you went down one of the water slides, it was only a very short walk back to the top for another trip.
At Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, it's a long hike back to the beginning of the water slides.

 

[DNSDisney]

I never visited this place, didn't even know about it until reading this board. Why did it close?

 

[Poohbear123]

1977 and had a BLAST! I was 19 at the time and stayed the WHOLE day! This was the ONLY water Park at the time.

 

[grinningghost]

Originally posted by Gregg
I had so many chances to go and I never did. My family likes Typhoon Lagoon.

Thanks for sharing the memories.

Gregg

Same story here.