Abandoned Disney: Disney's River Country

That is creepy! but I bet there's a billion frogs living in those pools.

We went there in the 90's when our son was younger. It was such a relaxing place - I liked it way better than Blizzard Beach! (but not as much as Typhoon Lagoon).

It's a shame they've just let it go - I don't think I'd want to wander around there now!

I remember a few trips back I was sat out on the balcony at SSR and we tried our hardest to imagine an abandoned Disney, tumbleweeds rolling through a crumbling Cinderella castle etc and it was impossible, to think it could ever be like that...but then you look at those River Country pics *shudders*.

They're so eerie, it really does look like everybody just upped and left one afternoon and never came back! I'm surprised nobody has tried to shoot a slash'em up teen horror there yet!

I went to River Country all the time as a child, but that was before the other Water Parks existed. It makes me so sad to see it how it is now. I would love it if they cleaned it up and did something else with the property.

When I was a kid, my parents loved to camp. We stayed at Ft. Wilderness in our pop up camper and went to River Country every time we stayed. It was a blast!!!! I agree with Kristen K., there was no "Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon" back then. Such a shame what River Country has become. Don't get why they don't just replace this area with something really nice.

some of my fondest memories of WDW as a kid involve river country. I'm not sure why, I think because I had never really been to a water park. (being from the midwest). I remember playing with Goofy in one of the parts and going on waterslides with my dad.

They don't need the land. There is so much undeveloped area on the property that they can easily build six more theme parks. Maybe someday they will find a need for it and clear it but until then there is no reason. Backstage isn't what you would expect. I've mistakenly found my way in the past to warehouse areas and other less than magical places and, well, it isn't so happy there either but you are never meant to see it as a guest.

It's so spooky to see that- We used to have so much fun at River Country- it really was a unique water park. The little nature trail nearby was awesome too. I found some awesome abandoned shells there (snail I think). I still have my river country towel that i use each summer.

Rumors have been swirling around for the last couple of years that DVC is going to be taking over the old River Country property for their next resort. My guide was actually really surprised that Grand Floridian started building first.

DVC has filed some permits to do work in Fort Wilderness, but from what I've seen it's probably not a new resort. However they could be building up other portions of Fort Wilderness before they put in the Villas. You can see the post I made about that earlier here:
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/dvc-fort-wilderness-shake-ups-coming

And other things that I hate!

I can see that happening. Im always down for more DVC places! heh

Oh wow! I have never been but it looks so creepy! Has anyone seen the photoshopped pictures people have done of abandoned Disney World? Made me think of that....

What's really creepy, we went to have a look around when doing our wishes cruise - in the dark!!!

No I havent... do you have a link?

Wow, those photos are stunning! Thank you for posting them.

AHH! Exploring abandoned areas is one of my favorite things to do, though I don't know if I'd have the nerve to chance it at Disney. Legendary Years was tempting...but after the news and photos like these get out, security must be super tight.

It's been a few years and I think this is it although I remember seeing pictures. He has a bunch of other videos too of resorts and other parks.

creepy........................................

Whoa! I like that Epcot is not only abandoned but Spaceship Earth apparently exploded.

That's just too weird. It's a scenario I would never want to see happen...seeing my beloved monorail abandoned like that.

I looked for the old thread but I couldn't find it..anyway my point is a few years ago I posted a link to a blog post done by a couple of guys who SWAM across Bay Lake and snuck in River Country and took pictures of all the creepy, creepy stuff that is over there now.

My kids and I spent hours at River Country. We camped in a motor home at Ft. Wildnerness for a whole MONTH one year and rode our bikes there every day. While it was not as glitzy as Blizzard Beach or Typhoon, it had a nice, relaxing feel.

I always mourn the loss of closings...hold on to those nostagic feelings. I miss Take Flight in MK, Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit in The Land (Epcot), and other SNOW WHITE in MK. I just came back after a nearly 15 year hiatus...but excited to see the new stuff too.

Unfortunately my stomach does not deal well with the thrill rides, so I really love things that take us on trips that don't require a lot of jerky moving around.

ooooo, yukky. Swimming in the lake is not a good idea. Flesh eating bacteria, anyone?

My thoughts exactly..I am still digging for it! I've even tried googling it to find the post..

Any of my WDWGPS vets remember this reading it? I'm not hallucinating am I?

I got it! Here is the link to the blog post of some guys who SWAM to Discovery Island..This post is WEIRD. Dead snakes in jars, old photographs..swimming to across a bacteria infested lake. This is more Discovery Island than River Country though..I forgot that part!

http://shaneperez.blogspot.com/2009/12/discovery-island.html

And here is another link to the DISBoards page with tons and tons of River Country pictures..with lots of trash!

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2344523

I have read the blog about the guys who swam across, it was on another board though. Seriously, who would ever get in that water?!?!?!?!

I agree with you RobynPrincess...you couldn't pay me enough to get in that water - some things are just not worth it.

I found some more pictures taken in 2010 of River Country on another board's thread while googling River Country to death this afternoon. I don't know if it's been posted on our forum before.

(I hope my link works)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2449157

Thanks a bunch for finding those links, Bella! Swimming across the water...it's all swamp! That's insane.

What's amazing about all of this is that these abandoned pieces of land are hidden in plain sight. Legendary Years was different because it was out in the open and visible from another resort, so there was no hiding it. But Disney World is so huge that when something runs its course it can just be left off the guides and no one will know it's there unless they know where to look. They don't need to immediately re-purpose the land, they can afford to wait until they find another use for it because there is just so much space that guests will simply not notice. It's unbelievable.