River Country

[SandrA9810]

I know there's been several topics about it, but none answered any of my questions.
1. Is it true that you can have it exclusivly opened for you... like if you were to have a big party there? I heard that MTV had a couple music awards there, and they opened it specifically for them.
2. Is it true that they might open it for Fort Wilderness guest... as part of thier pool? I know they got two pools, but they really are small, and there's nothing fun, like a slide or waterfall. The only interesting thing is the little playground next to the big one.

 

[FrozenTundra]

River Country is DEAD. It can't be reopened for a special event because it is an unsafe eyesore. NOBODY can use it at all.

As for your 2nd question, many have expressed the opinion that FW needs a themed pool ( other then WL and CS ) and refurbing RC would solve that problem. No one knows if it will happen and I don't recall any teaser info from Disney that would give hope to this happening.

 

[SandrA9810]

See here in waltdatedworld's site, it says "River Country is still in place but is only available for private parties and conventions, not for regular guests. Even then, it is rarely used. There have been rumors that it may reopen someday exclusively for Fort Wilderness guests."

BTW, a lot of disney forum sites like to use this layout... such as disneycentral and talkdisney.

 

[SandrA9810]

I don't see why they can't just allow people to use the one heated/chlorinated pool for FW guest, close off the other water sections, and let people lounge on the beach, sun bathing. That is until they figure out what to do with the rest.
And they're cracking down big time on pool hopping. And you realize how many people are in those two little pools at FW? There's no room to do anything but pretty much stand in the water to stay cool. And there aren't any sections for the little one. Just a rope seperating the deep end at 5ft.

It's hard sifting through sites of information, just cause there aren't any dates.

 

[FrozenTundra]

They need to update their site because RC hasn't been open in almost 10 years. It is decaying at this very moment.

 

[SandrA9810]

only about 6 years, it closed in fall of 1999. And apparently it's taken them 5 years to make offical announcements about it. But they're so vauge, it's hard to tell what will come of it. And then there's what CM's hear, and pass a long to guest. Who knows where they got thier info from.

 

[FrozenTundra]

I'm not certain SandrA, but I think the guests staying at FW are allowed to use the pools at WL and CR. They even operate that little shuttle boat that runs a WL-CR-FW loop.

I know when we check-in at WL, our activity flyer invites us to visit FW at nite for a campfire & movie. I think I've read where the FW flyer states they can use the pools a WL and CR, but I could be wrong. I've never seen a CM check resort ID's at WL.

 

[SandrA9810]

I've never seen them check ID's, but Kari signed a waiver when she checked in that should would not pool hop. I don't know if it said anything about being able to use Wilderness Lodge pool, but I'm sure they wouldn't allow you to use the Contemporary pool.
The activities at Fort Wilderness are open to all guest of Disney, including the campfire/movie, ranch, petting zoo, wagon rides, horse back riding. And the boat loop takes you to the Magic Kingdom, then there's also a boat that goes to the Grand Floridian and Poly to the Magic Kingdom. It's just one of the many ways of Disney Transportation.
I don't think they allow guest staying at the Boardwalk, go to the Yacht and Beach club resort pools, and those are connected by boat also.

 

[FrozenTundra]

SandrA, there are two boats that operate the Bay Lake loop. The larger boat does WL,FW and MK - it skips CR because those guests can use the mono or simply walk in.

The other boat - the cool looking smaller one, only does the 3 resort loop.

I know of no boat that connects Bay Lake resorts with 7SL ones.... maybe it's something they operate in the busy summer months.

I've also never seen a waiver one would sign agreeing not to pool hop.

 

[SandrA9810]

Well Kari signed it when she checked in, back in July. Unfortunatly though, I didn't see it, I was over at the kennel getting Kiani checked in.
But in one of those little pamphlets they give out, it stated again that there is no pool hopping allowed.

 

[sotoalf]

I'm not certain SandrA, but I think the guests staying at FW are allowed to use the pools at WL and CR. They even operate that little shuttle boat that runs a WL-CR-FW loop.

I know when we check-in at WL, our activity flyer invites us to visit FW at nite for a campfire & movie. I think I've read where the FW flyer states they can use the pools a WL and CR, but I could be wrong. I've never seen a CM check resort ID's at WL.

The boat between WL-CR-FW is to connect the three Bay Lake resorts, not to transport pool hoppers (although no doubt this happens).

 

[FrozenTundra]

The boat between WL-CR-FW is to connect the three Bay Lake resorts, not to transport pool hoppers (although no doubt this happens).

I didn't mean to imply that the boat was intended for pool hopping, only that it was meant to transport guests between resorts for whatever reason was needed - visit a resort,eat a meal, shop, etc.

Over on the DVC board there has been several discussions about FW guest using WL and VWL pools. As I recall the general consensus was that FW guests are allowed to use WL but not VWL.

Guess in Dec I'll dig a little further into it when I'm at VWL.

 

[DVCDAVE]

I've been to FW and WL many times, and pool hopping is NOT allowed to WL from FW. Recently, at WL, they have started to crack down on this by asking for resort ID.

 

[FrozenTundra]

If that's the case Dave then they really need to put in a theme pool at FW because what they have isn't even up to AS standards.

 

[DVCDAVE]

I agree. I would love for RC to be refurbished as a themed pool for FW.

 

[dr2004]

If anyone wants to get a birdseye view of how River Country is rundown and unusable, rent a speedboat at Bay Lake and you can pull right up to it on the Lake. Its really surreal..like an abandoned ghost park

 

[mochabean]

Disneypix has recent pictures showing the disrepair.
http://www.disneypix.com/Recreation/River/2005a/River2005a.htm

 

[DVCDAVE]

Thanks for posting the pix link. While a crying shame, I wouldn't call it hoplessly beyond repair. I still think that the reason it is closed is due to high bacteria level from Bay Lake. The same reason the beaches are now closed. Remember when they had lounge charis by the beach, along witha a roped off wading area so the water mice wouldn't get too near the beach?

 

[FrozenTundra]

They still have the lounge chairs out on the beach and the last few trips down we've noticed increased wading in the lakes.

I think the opening of BB had more to due with the closing of RC then water bacteria. WDW had two top notch water parks with TL and BB. While RC may have been cool, it didn't compare to the other two parks.

 

[ryley26]

My db and i climbed under the ropes at the backyard barbeque that place is a wreck.I can't believe they could use it for anything.