What ever became of the old Disney?

[Sherri]

Hi everyone. I wondered if anyone knows this. I found our guide book from our first trip to Disneyworld in 1982. Lots of things seemed to have changed not just the prices (lol).
What became of the Tree house villa's? What about Discovery Island? River country and where is Walt Disney village or I should ask, what is there now?
How about the golf club resort and vacation villas?
I can't believe how intrigued I am with this book.
Being a DVC member now, this all seems so interesting to me now.

 

[utahkennedys]

I totally feel the same way, I am nostalgic about a lot of things that have suddenly gone missing at WDW...I found this great site looking for pictures of the old River Country. It was a ton of fun to look at!

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/index.htm

 

[buckylarue]

Hi everyone. I wondered if anyone knows this. I found our guide book from our first trip to Disneyworld in 1982. Lots of things seemed to have changed not just the prices (lol).
What became of the Tree house villa's? What about Discovery Island? River country and where is Walt Disney village or I should ask, what is there now?
How about the golf club resort and vacation villas?
I can't believe how intrigued I am with this book.
Being a DVC member now, this all seems so interesting to me now.

Treehouse Villas are on the SSR property. They were in use until recently, but were damaged during the hurricanes last year and are no longer being rented.
Discovery Island was closed when the Animal Kingdom theme park opened.
River Country at Fort Wilderness is still there, but hasn't been open for several years. I believe I read that there were structural problems that were proving impractical to overcome.
Walt Disney World Village became Disney Village Marketplace, and eventually Downtown Disney Marketplace.
The Golf Resort became Shades of Green, the resort for military personnel.
The Vacation Villas are now Old Key West.

 

[Chuck S]

Actually I think the Vacation Villas became the Disney Institute, and is now Saratoga Springs.

 

[Caskbill]

Actually I think the Vacation Villas became the Disney Institute, and is now Saratoga Springs.

Yes, I believe that's correct. The Old Vacation Villas became part of the Institute, but then were torn down to build SSR.

The Disney Vacation Club Villas are still there and have been renamed to Old Key West. I believe the OP was definitely referring to the old Vacation Villas that were originally located on the current SSR property, and not Disney Vacation Club villas since her book is 1982 and Disney Vacation Club wasn't constructed until 1991.

 

[Sherri]

Thanks everyone. I feel clearer now on the old Disney VS new Disney.
Did the animals at Discovery Island get brought over to the animal kingdom? I was just wondering, as so many animals have become the victim of "progress", it would be nice to know that they were relocated not disreguarded all together.

 

[Sherri]

Oh- I now remember there was one other thing in my old guide book I wanted to check out. I see pictures of cable cars going accross the park. I slightly remember from my first trip in the 80's as well. I didn't notice them the last trip to Disneyy (in the summer). Any idea why they took them down?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Oh- I now remember there was one other thing in my old guide book I wanted to check out. I see pictures of cable cars going accross the park. I slightly remember from my first trip in the 80's as well. I didn't notice them the last trip to Disney(in the summer). Any idea why they took them down?

A worker was killed after falling from the loading area of the Skyway. Soon afterward I guess Disney determined they were too dangerous but there were a lot of reasons it was closed (Link). Go to that link and scroll down the page for the full story.

HBC

 

[lllovell]

I actually remember checking the "Disney" section on snoopes.com and it said that the falling worker/falling guest was a myth as to why the cable cars were closed. (now I need to go and look that up again)

 

[spiceycat]

teenagers and even younger ones were throwing stuff on the people below them in the skylift ride.

I was told that is why WDW closed it.

I still miss Horizons although Mission to Space is a great ride.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

I totally feel the same way, I am nostalgic about a lot of things that have suddenly gone missing at WDW...I found this great site looking for pictures of the old River Country. It was a ton of fun to look at!

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/index.htm

anyone know if theres plans to ever reburbish this area? Seems it was always busy when I was there and that the other 2 are still busy enough to support a third.

 

[Sherri]

I totally feel the same way, I am nostalgic about a lot of things that have suddenly gone missing at WDW...I found this great site looking for pictures of the old River Country. It was a ton of fun to look at!

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/index.htm

Thanks for the link. That is a great website. I learned lots.

 

[Disney Doll]

Last time we were down, DH had the opportunity to speak with a Disney exective, who was running a customer service seminar at the convention he was attending, about the Treehouse Villas. The info about the hurricane is correct. They are damaged beyond practical repair. They are also on what is now protected wetlands, so Disney cannot go in and tear them down. They have to be left there to let Mother Nature take care of. Apparently, protected wetlands cannot have heavy machinery on them as the effects pof the machinery change the ecology of the wetlands.

Too bad, because I always thought they would be a cool place to stay.

 

[WolfpackFan]

I'd say Horizons and Discovery Island are the two attactions I miss the most. We went to River Country a couple of times, but prefer Typhoon Lagoon more. Granted with AK, you really don't need Discovery Island, but it was neat having such a nice nature preserve so close to MK and the resorts.