Originally Posted By Skylardad A Florida law that passed shortly before RC's closure pretty much sealed the deal for closing it. I cannot quote specifics but the law requires a particular filtration system whic RC did not have in place. To install it and rennovate the water park did not make financial sense with the openings of TL and BB. So, pretty much what everyone is saying is a true piece of the puzzle that basically forced RC to close.
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^ I recall swimming at River Country when I was very little.. the water was like swimming in the lake behind the house I grew up in outside Indianapolis, (no cows in the River Country one though).. The water was very brakish and other than the ziplines and the slides.. which scared the heck out of me.. (you could go REALLY fast on these narrow slides) and the inner tube slides (where I actually flipped over and had others pushing me under) the place really didn't appeal to me that much.. I like pool swimming so if I can't see the bottom where my feet will go I won't go in.. I realize the snakes and the egrets have most of the little islands of Bay Lake to themselves. However, I thought they still had corporate picnics there.. or is that no longer the case??
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I guess the bottom line is that Disney is certainly entitled to do whatever they want with their property. I just think that where are certain areas that looked neglected. I will also so that on the flip side of that there are "hidden" areas that are just stunning. For example the treehouses along the river if you take the boat between POR and DTD. Disney has certainly gone all out making this area INCREDIBLE. Its all well maintained. During my last trip I was expecting a spooky river trip on the boat and instead I got a romantic evening river cruise. WOW.
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^um.. when was this 'river cruise' of yours Tom??? =) methinks it's been a while....
Originally Posted By seanyoda The last time we took the cruise between DtD and Port Orleans, which was before Saratoga Springs was open, the treehouses looked delapidated.
Originally Posted By Crazy4WDW We just took the boat from DTD to POR in January. The college program kids were using the treehouse villas as dorms. They didn't look too bad.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom I was last at WDW in January. The tree houses look great. Yes, I understand that the college students are currently using the tree houses. Judging my the Brazilian flags everwhere, you would think you were traveling up the Amazon.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros In March of last year, I had breakfast at the Fort Wilderness area where they do Mickey's Backyard BBQ. Well anyway, they had silverware sitting in barrels. Most of the barrels had the name of the picnic area, but I found one that was clearly left over from River Country. It sort of fit the theme, but was really strange to see from a park that had been closed for quite a while at that point. <a href="http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=16b4x21i.vrwaz06&Uy=5uhc2d&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp" target="_blank">http://www.kodakgallery.com/Sl ideshow.jsp?Uc=16b4x21i.vrwaz06&Uy=5uhc2d&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp</a>%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1 (The link will probably be to a parking lot with a truck in it, but just go to the fourth photo and you will see the barrel)
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I guess the bottom line is that Disney is certainly entitled to do whatever they want with their property.<< Correct. That is the reason for Reedy Creek to be. Otherwise, some of the freedom they enjoy now, would have been regulated in many ways before. Want to have a Nuclear Plant on property? NO problem! (well maybe a little now a days)
Originally Posted By CastMemberAshWDWCP River Country always seemed boring to me. I always thought BB and TL had more to do... I say build campgrounds there, they could use more. That place is so much fun to stay at! LOL!
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I respect the love of camping. However I am a TOTAL freak and "fraidy cat" when it comes to bugs, snakes, gators, spiders, and anything else you may come across while "roughing it." It's sad, I know, especially since as a child the trip of my lifetime (you know how everything is more magical as a kid) we stayed a Jellystone Campgrouds now and then, I just would so much rather have "home away from home" type accomodations. I'm such a city slicker and wimp but well..there it is. I don't camp nor RV, but if I did, it would be a challenge with 6 kids, two in diapers.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<My understanding is that River Country reached a point of no return. It needed a lot of maintenance to keep it going due to age and WDW knew that families would prefer BB and TL due to both being larger, offering more slides and being a heck of a lot easier to get to. So WDW opted to mothball it.>> And why exactly did it reach that point? Neglect. Pure and simple. And I just love it when people say it's not needed yet there are so many summer days when BB and TL BOTH reach capacity and close. <<I always enjoyed RC but there just wasn't really enough to do.>> That was always its charm. It was a peaceful, old swimming hole in a rustic, wooded setting. It was perfect just the way it was. Oh well, maybe they can put DVC units there ...
Originally Posted By Crazy4WDW What about Discovery Island? That sure looks kind of scary. I wonder what, if anything, they use that for these days.
Originally Posted By BlazesOfFire Just got back from Fort Wilderness today. I dont like the bugs either, thats why we stayed in a cabin and that is as "roughing it" as Id get. River country still looks the same, just sad and untouched. It was almost as pathetic as my cabin (but thats another story)
Originally Posted By Labuda Ohhh, let us know if you post a thread about your cabin somewhere, Blazes!
Originally Posted By DisneyWorldMom >>! Crazy4WDW Sat 7/8/2006 5:39p What about Discovery Island? That sure looks kind of scary. I wonder what, if anything, they use that for these days. >> I would love to see a Resort Built there... that would be so cool... I knew when they were buiding AK that they would faze that out... but I thought they would have done something with it by now... I probably would have preferred this, then having Pop Century built..
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom The original plans for the Wilderness Lodge included plans to build the Wilderness Lodge Villas in that area. The plans included a live steam train that would take guests from the Wilderness Lodge to the Villas. Disney nixed those plans preferring to build the Wilderness Lodge Villas adjacent to the Wildereness Lodge so they could share amenities ( a decision I agree with ). I really could see expanding the Wilderness Lodge Villas more into that area. As it is, I don't think it makes sense for Disney to spend time and money trying to resurrect the ruins of an obsolute Disney attraction. Disney has improved upon River Country many times over in other sections of "The World". Sure it would be nice restoring this attraction. But in the grand scheme of things is it really necessary?
