No more canoe paddling around Tom Sawyer island

[old lady]

What was the reason for the canoes being removed?

 

[DisneyOma]

When was the last time they had this at WDW? Did they have this there, or only at DL? I would guess the alligator factor was part of it, and the eat-your-brains amoeba was another.

 

[mesaboy2]

When was the last time they had this at WDW? Did they have this there, or only at DL? I would guess the alligator factor was part of it, and the eat-your-brains amoeba was another.

Very long time, at least 20 years ago. I don’t know why they stopped, but I doubt neither alligators nor amoebae were the reason. Probably a combination of cost, capacity, and potential legal reasons.

 

[mom2rtk]

Feel free to head west to Disneyland where you can still get a workout paddling a canoe around the Rivers of America.

 

[DisneyOma]

Very long time, at least 20 years ago. I don’t know why they stopped, but I doubt neither alligators nor amoebae were the reason. Probably a combination of cost, capacity, and potential legal reasons.

Considering there are alligators in that waterway all the time, and they don't want people in the water there (the amoeba is one scary issue from inhaling Florida pond water) wouldn't that be part of the legal reasons?

 

[mesaboy2]

Considering there are alligators in that waterway all the time, and they don't want people in the water there (the amoeba is one scary issue from inhaling Florida pond water) wouldn't that be part of the legal reasons?

I was thinking more along the lines of non-swimmers and no restraints, etc. Gators aren’t a problem from almost any boat, and the amoeba thing wasn’t really a thing back then and is IMO very overblown here. But the cost to operate such a low-capacity slow-loading attraction, not unlike the Swan boats or 20,000 Leagues, is probably what did them in.

 

[DisneyOma]

I was thinking more of a capsize for the gators - that's a huge temptation for them (people splashing around), and a huge lawsuit. I think even one death by water-born amoeba is one too many.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I think FL weather may have had something to do with it. I’d do the canoes on a comfortable day, but paddling on a super hot, humid, muggy Florida summer day? Nah. Anaheim’s weather on the other hand is much more comfortable. Not to mention the rain/storms in FL - rain pops up out of nowhere daily for a good part of the year, and guests and CMs are completely exposed in the canoes. Rain/storms are much less of an issue in CA.

I’m sure budget/resources also played a part.

I do miss the canoes. They were neat! I remember them from when I was a kid. But, I think they’re a better fit at Disneyland due to the climate there.