River Country Reopening?

[SpaceAce]

I haven't stayed at one of the Magic Kingdom resort since the middle or late 80s. I remember people swimming while staying at the Contemporary. Was Bay Lake open for swimming in the old days, or was that the Seven Seas Lagoon. Can people swim in the Seven Seas Lagoon now?

 

[hyzdufan]

I never got a chance to go to River Country either. I had a chance, I forget what year, but it was the year Typhoon Lagoon opened, and I opted for the brand new shiny water park after being hit with a bunch of adverts for it. Wish I would have taken the opportunity while I had it.

On a side note, can you still rent those lil' motor boats at Fort Wilderness? I think they were $15 per half hour, or something to that like?

 

[bgula]

My wife and I talked to a security guard this past summer when we tried to bike down the path toward RC. He said it had been closed due to safety problems (i.e. the place was basically falling apart and Disney didn't want to fix it up). He didn't know if anything would ever be done with it in the future.

Sad, as I remember swimming there as a kid on my first trip to Disney way back in late '77.

 

[texas8891]

You can still rent the water mice at Fort Wilderness, as well as all of the other resorts that are located on the lake. They cost a bit more now. I believe they are about $24/hr. They are definitely a blast and worth a half hour of your time.

 

[hyzdufan]

That darned inflation, I tell ya. I remember you had to be 14 to ride them alone, and I counted the days, and saved my money, and paid a whole $15. Oh well.

 

[abitjaded]

Originally posted by kc&dmom
the 2004 edition of Walt Disney World With Kids by Kim Wright Wiley. . .

Interesting, since Kim Wright Wiley is an "official" Disney writer. She also writes for Family Fun Magazine and the Disney Magazine. You'd think Disney would feed her accurate info. We have been to all the water parks, and I liked RC the best. Smaller, more intimate and more natural. Seems a shame to give up on it. The last we had been told was that it would become a water park available only to Ft. Wilderness guests. Amazing how many different stories are contained in only three pages of DIS rumor. Why in the would would a natural spring be capped??? If the water flows, then no mosquitos, less bacteria and less amoeba.

Carla

 

[mikek]

Originally posted by SpaceAce
I haven't stayed at one of the Magic Kingdom resort since the middle or late 80s. I remember people swimming while staying at the Contemporary. Was Bay Lake open for swimming in the old days, or was that the Seven Seas Lagoon. Can people swim in the Seven Seas Lagoon now?

yup you used to be able to swim, but not any more.

Supposedly their is some type of micriobrial problem as others have posted. Once i read it had to do with bird droppings but i havent seen that in a while so not sure of the truth to that.

I think RC got closed just because they figured they could squeeze the people who would have gone there into the 2 other parks most every day of the year for alot less cost.

I cant imagine there was anytype of biological problem in the water within RC- thats what chlorine or ozone or bromine are for. It's not like the other 2 parks they dont treat the water. Now you might be able to argue that it costs more money to treat water from bay lake then the tap water apparently used at the other two parks but if that was the only issue why not just use tap water at RC too? Maybe they would need to upgrade a water main to get enough volume in but I dont think it would cost too much if they wanted to keep it open and that was the only issue.

I think the bio stories go a long way in this day and age for some reason. Theres always rumors about how discovery island is permanently ruined from the microbes that live in the buildup of bird poop there too. If there is ANY truth to that, you might need to clean it up but it certainly isnt permanent.

 

[YoHo]

You can't treat the water in River Country, because it is fed from and returns to Bay Lake. They'd have to treat the entire lake and Seven Seas Lagoon and that would be impossible from both a logistical and environmental perspective.

 

[bmoc_ny]

RC was never closed for good, they always said that during Peak times it would open to reduce crowds at the other water parks.

 

[raidermatt]

Everything I've seen and heard from Disney in the past year or so mentions only two water parks.

River Country has been Fredo'd.

 

[Dznefreek]

RC was never closed for good, they always said that during Peak times it would open to reduce crowds at the other water parks.

Well, I guess there have not been any peak periods in the past couple of years then. . . . . . . .

 

[YoHo]

Originally posted by bmoc_ny
RC was never closed for good, they always said that during Peak times it would open to reduce crowds at the other water parks.

Nope, if they said this it was a smoke screen to cover up the fact that they didn't want to fix up the lake.

River country effectivly no longer exists.

 

[eeyore0062]

There is no official word on RC ever reopening. The signage on the roads has been removed, and there is nothing on any of the WDW transportation maps that mentions it.

It was a great place, in its day. Hopefully, one day, they will find use for this parcel of land, like maybe incorporating it into the Fort Wilderness Campground, but I don't forsee them using anything other than the chlorinated pool, the trails or perhaps the beach. Shame, the tube ride there was definitely the best!

 

[MrsJ Henry]

It's no longer on any of the current WDW maps. I've checked quite a few different ones.

 

[SpaceAce]

So are all of you telling me that you cannot wade into the water at the beach of the Contemporary anymore at all??????

 

[wishuponastarforever]

We have stayed at Ft. Wilderness over the years and have enjoyed the swim in the lake. When swimming was no longer allowed, the bacteria problem was explained to us.

I do believe this explanation.
I can't help but wonder - alligators are increasing in population in several states. Could this be a factor as well? Any thoughts?

 

[eeyore0062]

There are signs posted at all of the resort hotels with beach access that swimming and wading is not allowed. You will still see those that do, though.

As in any body of water throughout Florida, there is always the risk of an alligator or 2.

 

[YoHo]

HEck, there are Alligators in the Rivers of America. You can occasionaly see the traps for them.

People can still waid in, but when they contract Ebola and Die, they can't sue Disney.........Well, they probably could, but it would be a a harder case.

 

[PatriciaH]

I too missed going to River Country many times when it was still open-oh well. DH and I took a walk over to Fort Wilderness from the Wilderness Lodge last August. The path was empty and it was just us the whole way. We saw a path that veered off that probably went to River Country. When we got to FW Campground, there was a huge group family reunion or wedding rehersal of some kind going on. We wandered back to River Country since no one was paying any attention and took some pictures around the tall water barrell. It was dark and very strange! There are (were) wodden fences up around RC so DH stood on some wooden crates proped against the fence and then boosted me up. We could not see a lot in the dark but sure enough everything is still in there rotting away. We took the boat several times back and forth and got some pictures of the slides too. I will try and post them. Discovery Island sure looks strange just sitting there too with the docks still up.

 

[LTUDawg]

Actually visited RC in '95 I think. Not that memorable at the time other than characters that spent a lot of time with my son, about 6 at the time. I remember it seemed dead and that DIS was "throwing characters" at RC to save it.

I rember a large pool and tall diving board. Other than that, the rest was obviously lake water. Not comparable to TL by any means.

Since then, and 2 more kids, we've become RVers. This year will be trip 3 to FW. FW pools suck. Period. For the "best campground in the USA" this is terrible. I hope DIS comes up with a way to redevelop RC for an "expanded" FW. Ditto Discovery Island. Scott