Got to enjoy this park in 1998, three years before they shut it down. Had more fun here than at Blizzard Beach. Nothing beat Typhoon Lagoons wave pool though.
please join my facebook page "save wdw's river country water park" Maybe we can get this park re-opened & back to it's old glory. thanks... see you online.
I went here one time when my family & I stayed at Fort Wilderness, I was probably 5 or 6. I grew up in Tampa so I've been to Disney World many many times. It's sad they got rid of this waterpark, it was a pretty cool concept. This is the ONLY Disney waterpark I've been too, surprisingly. I'd really love to go to both Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon. Just never had the chance.
they closed it down because number of people got hurt there, the water playground and waterslide fell apart, and theres been aligators in the area so they shut it down for good.
@sideslide23 Actually no. It did close because some alligators got in there, but that was part of the reason. It mainly closed because of bacteria from Bay Lake was getting in there and it was unsafe to swallow.
Seeing a video like this commemorating the glory days of River Country kinda gave me a creepy, uneasy feeling of how it would be if our great, great, great grandchildren saw a video like this on say the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. I imagine though that Disney World will always be here, but it was kinda weird you know?
Never went. But I have been to Typhoon Lagoon. Not a water person.
This one looks more ol' American to me. Good for the 70's-late 80's, but unappealing to anyone after 1990. (which is, the main audience of Disney Parks, remember? not you 60's 70's and 80's kids)
I never has the honor to be there but my sister was. You may me cry .The other one close to that one is Thyphoon Lagoon I'm still going to that one and Blizzard Beach .Did you lived here in Florida, casue i wish to see where are the remainings of that park and discovery island
at 4:10 it looks sicko RIP river country you had a happy life of children laughing and playing in you. let that still echo through the waterpark. lots of people loved you and enjoyed you when growing up. lots of people agree with me about that tons of people on youtube grew up in florida and visited many times. I'm sure happy times were shared at this paradise and let all of them be remembered. maybe one day will reopen you lets hope! and WEDisney thanks for posting the video RIP river country!!
it is sad I looked at a vid where it showed pics where it was abandoned......it looked like a swamp a green gooey swamp I mean its blue here! and disney just let it go looked like so much fun! and I was like.....I don't know how old when it closed but too young to go just like santas village it was just let go but it was poluted so thats why it closed oh well
I miss it very much. Lots of memories in that park. My friend, Jerry and I went there about three or four times a month when we were teenagers. His mom worked for Disney and got us employee-priced tickets. We knew every square inch of that park. We loved talking with cute girls and hunting for money that people lost while swimming. We had a secret spot where lost money tended to collect. It was amazing-hot girls, bathing suits, water slides, and free money...ahhh, good times, good times indeed!
it looks fun. i wish i could go to Florida and visit Walt Disney World someday instead of just sitting here in front of my laptop, googling and searching all info about walt disney world? Loves from Indonesia.
i remember camping at Fort Wilderness with my parents and going to the parks then at the busyest time of the day we would goto River Country and relax and it does really suck that River Country is closed because im older now and i would have really liked to take my kids to River Country and relive the memories i have with my kids and im sure my kids when there older would like to do the same when they have kids.
your right they shold close off the lake water to the water park and really doesent seem like it would be that hard to do but im guessing Disney is thinking with all there other updated water parks that there isent a need to go do all that extra work on River Country when they already have really nice up to date water parks, but i am on your side i do think they should reopen River Country the should close off the lake, i remember going to river country when i was a kid.
I know the water was poluted but Disney shouldn't just close an American icon. It was the first ever themed waterpark in the world. That is why I proposed to block the lake off from the attractions and make the entire area clorinated water and open it as Fort Wildernesses new pool
river country was closed due to bacteria comeing up from the swamp disney world and bay lake were built on. we were told this years ago when river country closed by the cast member's who run the boats that go from fort wilderness and the contemperary and disney world its really sad because i remember all the fun times we had there when i was a child. Disney has changed so much things it will never be the way it use to be. anouther thing i remember is the cast member's use to be alot nicer. :(
@DopeSmoken it was closed because all the water was taken from the lake and it didnt have chemicals and then there was a law made where they had to have chemicals so they had to close it down
@DopeSmoken Just because disney world changed doesnt mean that it's bad. Thats a horrible thing to say because disney world doesn't compare to any other park in the world.
@DopeSmoken it wasnt just because this particular park had bacteria coming in, it was because of the new law that proposed no parks using their water from a lake, which is what the whole river country section was using.
We took our family to Disney every year when they were little, and had such GREAT memories of River Country! This is a bittersweet video... So sad that Disney let this area go to ruin and did not keep it up and make it a better adventure... My family will always have sweet memories but I'm sad that all the "new" families will never get to make new memories there together... They will surely miss out!!!
So sad! Makes me remember all the fun times I had there with my family as a kid. I almost wish they'd just razed the place instead of letting it go like they did. Scary.
Apparently the REAL reason it closed was that there was a new law coming out that said that ALL WATER PARKS HAVE to have Municipal water systems (Machines pumping out water etc.etc. you get the point) NOT natural bodies of water (rivers,ponds,) due to this Disney HAD to close it, or get into some judicial trouble...
they should do something wive this space reopening it would be great they could put more water rides in it and make another disney water park they have somethings thier allready justed needs cleaning up and fixing and makeing safe again but it could be a great place to go again and make more jobs to if only disney opend it again
i did go but i was like 2 but i got pics of me thir but i dont rember going i was so sad looking at the pics i was so cute and i was so happy in the pics :(
ive seen some newer photos of the park and i think that it would look really cool if they fixed some things up but keep it looking forgotten. like a ghost town. i think i'll make a photoshop video of some of the new photos that look kind of cool.
so sad, its a shame that the law says it cant re-open, disney has the money to make it bigger and re-open it. just a shame that this has become a waste of land and so derelict and scary...seems odd in the 'happiest place on earth' :(
it actually is really fun, i only remeber being there when i was a little kid but like a few years ago we tried to sneek in becase we wanted to see it and hat it looked liked now, and of course we got caught but it was no big deal we just played stupid, but we were talking to this guy who has worked there for like 40 years and he was saying how sad it was, but he said that it would cost more to fix it up then it would to tear it down
and since the waters like polluted and u cant swim in the lake no more, and river country runs off of the lake water but i think that disney has enough money to re build it and make it like pool water it doesne have to run off of lake water, but yeah its sad, and sorry i worte so much
always wanted to go never got to...they could never have a park like this again sadly ...too many people would take advantage of the more risky rides and suit over their inability to follow direction and take care of themselves its too bad things cant be like they used too
A law was passed along the lines that it was too dangerous to use natural still waterways in Florida as recreation areas due to several harmfull yet naturally occuring bacteria Disney was forced to close this park due to its' use of the surrounding natural waterways..
I saw on the Travel Channel that Schlitterbahn Water park in Texas uses the river water next to it for its waterpark, that's a natural body of water... and it's still open. I want RC back. They can fix the run down part and use clean water. Please reopen the park, disney :)
i do belive that the law was particularly for the Florida area, due to the naturally occuring yet harmfull bacteria there, i could be corected though.
this park was awesome and i went there in 97. I MISS IT TOO. WE STAYED AT THE CAMP WILDERNESS CAMPGROUND AND IT IS A HOP SKIP AND JUMP AWAY FROM THERE. The reason it is no longer used is because a boy got hurt and broke his kneck on the slide where it drops five feet into pool of lake water. Also this park did not get too many visitors as the other ones bc of sanitary issues. The main one being no chlorine and using dirty water fom a river and lake.
actually the real reason it closed was in 2001 when the government passed a new law saying you can not have any waterpark or establishment like it using natural bodies of water like river country did.
there is a national law now that forbids having waterpakrs or other water attractions using natural bodies of water like river country did. It used that whole lake as its play area. It closed in 2001.
@marinestar23 the pipes that kept the water clean and clear you know [where it was blue] and those pipes had problems so it would take a whole new pipes and pump system it would take years so disney said this would take tons of renovation plus its not very up to date with other water parks so thats why now its gooey green sad isn't it
waytooawesome4you person ok first you should shut the hell up..... Okay i want you to make another Disney world. I want to see you get up there and bulid a new park.. I want to see you build an awsome water park... I dont like when people post shit like that its pretty fucking point less and Disney is fun and soo is the rest of the park and waterparks... Ohh and they have alot of cabins soo yeah you guys should go to Disney thats one of my favorite places to go :)
I know how you feel about losing a Theme Park, my local Theme Park Camelot was put into recievership in February, but was luckily bought by Fred Story. I know that in the near future Camelot will be demolished and a new Villiage will be built on site.. x
That is so very sad! I just went to Disney and I remembered a waterpark set up like an old swimming hole that I went to when I was just a kid. Now I know I wasn't crazy. I know change happens, but the water parks they have now just seem kind of typical...if that makes any sense.
wow i remember going here the first time i went to disney when i was 11 i remember how fun it was we went to disney last month and i asked one of the people who worked at mk about it and they where like when was the last time you were here made me miss it nice video
this video is just so sad. i never got to go to River Country. but i would have loved to. we were in WDW one time and we saw the place where it used to be. it made me wanna cry.. i can't believe i didn't. =[
Could some one tell me how I can get to go see this park I think it would be so much fun to see the past of Disney water parks. So if some one could send me directions that would rock
It is in Fort wilderness. You can take a boat launch from MK. Although, River country it's self is enclosed in a giant fence, so I don't know how much you will be able to see. If you go, make sure to post a vid, thanx!
the park is now surrounded by a green fence if you wanted to get in i suppose you would just have to climb it. I highly doubt theres any type of working security system inside the park. All i can remember is Mickey's Backyard BBQ is very close to it if you go to MBY bbq im sure you will find the fence
Hey guys. I am trying to lead a group of people to save the old place. I beleive that Disney should open River Country up so future generations could see what the park was like. When I stayed at Fort Wilderness in April of 08 I was sad to see it. Such a great park put to waste. It was the worlds first themed waterpark and they killed it. I think if we tell Disney our opinions and sugestions, ex. Campgrounds new pool are ext. So who is with me!!!!
hey i think that it is a great idea to try and get the park re opened again it holds so many memories for me and was by far the best water park that disney have had i dont understand how they cant just block it off from the big lake where the water for the main pool was from and fill it with normal water it seems silly to let such a great park go to waste because of some government regulations that were put into place i mean it isnt like the dont have they money for it! anyway im in RC again :)
1 cant do because someone was greatly injured in the park (dont ask how idk)
2 more cabins wont work because that space is with water and it was a natural swimming hole Before it opened draning the water would take a long ass time
3 same as 2
4 makes actual sense *claps*
5 >_> AGAIN same as 2 and also WTF fort wildness and a restraint... no
and 6 go to fucking Downtown
ANY OTHER LAME ASS QUESTIONSim happy to fucking answer
Okay, know you're not making any sense. Um...first of all, you can't tell me with curses, asshole. Second, 2,3,and 5 do make sense because...uhh..I think we all know Disney has the time and definately the money to do any of them. Remember, idiot, Disney World isn't going anywhere. For number 6, Yes, it makes tons of sense, it TAKES OVER AN HOUR to get to Downtown Disney in the evening, especially here. And 1, I said not likely, so FING STFU!
i remember me n my family went to a disney BBQ the first time we went to Orlando when i was 5 in 1996 and this park was near it as i recall.. i always wanted to go ther but we never did..
""ur reading this u cant go back there was a dad who got pissed cuz he got layed off so he went home took a knife than went to his 13 year old daughter and slit her neck! if u r reading this and dont forward to 10 vids the 13 year old girl be sitting on the endge of the bed waiting for tha when u wake up who ever takes care of u will find u in the tube full of bloode with ur throat slit and than the 13 year old girl will come to who ever takes care of u so hury dont be the" less"""
imagine if disney close down how sad it would look... just like this the entire park empty not kept up and looked like a ghost town lets hope that never happens
this has a ghostly eerie feel to it, the whole video I mean....the combo of the song and the antique quality of the footage make it like that I think...
I was there in 96' and 97'.....best times of my life....so sad now. :(
...and if anyone asks, it closed on November 1, 2001, and on January 20, 2005, Disney said it was closed for good (I looked it up, I don't just know this off of the top of my head...lol)
and the reason for it is posted in a whole bunch of comments below...
Yah Florida laws began to prohibit natural water body usage in water parks. I've heard rumors of possibly using the land for something else, possibly a new hotel.
hi there ye good times when i was there goofy steped on my toe under the water grabed my leg and pulled me under for like 1 second i was not bothered bc he kissed it lol :D
This happened to me to, in precisely the same manner - however, I deemed Goofy to be a peadophile (or more so, a pedophile you sexy Americans) and took him to court. Anyways, he didn't get away with such passionate foot kissing and was sentence for life.
tota: Nope, it's still there...though it's unused. The other two waterparks are further south on the property. River Country was a fun place to go and my family always set aside a day there, camping at Ft. Wilderness quite a lot too.
Hmm, I *think* I went to this park back in 1997 or '98, but I might be thinking of one of the other WDW water parks. If it'll never re-open, I kinda wish they'd tear it out and replace it with something else... that way we won't have these overgrown, decaying phantoms of times gone by.
Yeah, Florida passed a law that you can't use water from natural bodies of water or something like that. Great video, I've never even been to florida and I totally feel for the people that miss this place.
this video was depressign but like not in that way just that it was so awesome and now it's just run-down and moldy! the owners should re-open it!!! it looks so fun!!!
The reason the park closed was due to a law that was passed that forbidded the use of "natural bodies of water" for the puropse of a water park. If River Country Reopened, it would be breaking the law, and would be shut down within weeks.
They closed it because its now forbidden to build water parks on natural waters... Disney says its to remain closed permanently :( sad i was there in 89 loved it as a kid
The last time I went to WDW was a trip to the campground and River Country. I loved those ziplines (1:52) and spent most of the trip on them! I had no idea that it was so close to the Contemporary, though -- I guess that's a testament to the skewed perspective of a child!
omg why did they colse it i never been their but i bet it would have been loads of fun i have been to blizard beach and typhoon lagoon those are fun but i would like to go their and why would they shut it down maybe i will be owner of whoever shut it down and make them reopen it don't mistake me but that place looks like loads of fun..
loved river country.i think of my childhood.thanks for posting
djallen16 1 week ago
Got to enjoy this park in 1998, three years before they shut it down. Had more fun here than at Blizzard Beach. Nothing beat Typhoon Lagoons wave pool though.
arodaman 1 month ago
please join my facebook page "save wdw's river country water park" Maybe we can get this park re-opened & back to it's old glory. thanks... see you online.
LMann32869 2 months ago
Very Sad :'(
pedromaskot1 3 months ago
what is the name of this song ?
wcajr 5 months ago
Excellent editing. Thank you for sharing it with us.
m3jpnv 5 months ago
Craig Morgan Redneck yacht club should be playing as the music
adammx81 7 months ago
man i remeber going 20 yrs ago
hpd77 8 months ago
I went here one time when my family & I stayed at Fort Wilderness, I was probably 5 or 6. I grew up in Tampa so I've been to Disney World many many times. It's sad they got rid of this waterpark, it was a pretty cool concept. This is the ONLY Disney waterpark I've been too, surprisingly. I'd really love to go to both Blizzard Beach & Typhoon Lagoon. Just never had the chance.
xheathermichelle 8 months ago
I went in 2000
It was a really great water park and I didn't realise how much people loved it
It's so sad to see it abandoned
C0DZ1LLA94 9 months ago
yeah right you act like it was a tragic death with this music and everything get over yourself
xkakax 11 months ago
i twas closed because of that law not because of bacteria!
Kagenore 11 months ago
@07Disneygrl If there present in Texas, how far is it from Victoria TX San Antonio or Houston?
sideslide23 11 months ago
they closed it down because number of people got hurt there, the water playground and waterslide fell apart, and theres been aligators in the area so they shut it down for good.
sideslide23 11 months ago
@sideslide23 Actually no. It did close because some alligators got in there, but that was part of the reason. It mainly closed because of bacteria from Bay Lake was getting in there and it was unsafe to swallow.
ACCFElissa 8 months ago
@ACCFElissa I heard that this will be dead closed forever, so what are they planning to use this land for?
sideslide23 8 months ago
@sideslide23 Rumors and ideas on DISboards have been tossed around saying Discovery Island and River Country may turn into a DVC hotel.
ACCFElissa 8 months ago
Seeing a video like this commemorating the glory days of River Country kinda gave me a creepy, uneasy feeling of how it would be if our great, great, great grandchildren saw a video like this on say the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. I imagine though that Disney World will always be here, but it was kinda weird you know?
tlandboy 11 months ago
Never went. But I have been to Typhoon Lagoon. Not a water person.
This one looks more ol' American to me. Good for the 70's-late 80's, but unappealing to anyone after 1990. (which is, the main audience of Disney Parks, remember? not you 60's 70's and 80's kids)
smartwarlord 11 months ago
I never has the honor to be there but my sister was. You may me cry .The other one close to that one is Thyphoon Lagoon I'm still going to that one and Blizzard Beach .Did you lived here in Florida, casue i wish to see where are the remainings of that park and discovery island
MrOnixroldan 1 year ago
I VISITED " RIVER COUNTRY " IN DECEMBER ( 1980 ) !!!
THAT WAS THE MOST FUN I EVER HAD MY WHOLE LIFE !!!
" WALT DISNEY WORLD " SHOULD CONSIDER BRINGING
BACK " RIVER COUNTRY " ???!!!
" I WILL ALWAYS HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF ( RIVER COUNTRY ) !!! "
MrDAVIDEO84 1 year ago
its so sad thinking that people used to go there and enjoy it and now its all gone..
carmiscrazy 1 year ago
I went here when I was in 7th grade (around 1997 give or take), I loved it.
By the way, the song makes me want to randomly donate to the ASPCA. Curse you Sarah mclachlan!!!
dementionX 1 year ago
I cried
ohamberxx3 1 year ago
I remember this place more than every other theme park i went too. it was full of dodgy water and the paths ripped into your feet but it was so coool
Typhoon Lagoon cant hold a candle to this place =D
danny50000 1 year ago
My kids would have loved this place. It's so sad that it's gone now.
supersuperwendydvc 1 year ago
how did you get so many photos
mike2325el 1 year ago
at 3:16 it shows the way it looks now.
mike2325el 1 year ago
at 4:10 it looks sicko RIP river country you had a happy life of children laughing and playing in you. let that still echo through the waterpark. lots of people loved you and enjoyed you when growing up. lots of people agree with me about that tons of people on youtube grew up in florida and visited many times. I'm sure happy times were shared at this paradise and let all of them be remembered. maybe one day will reopen you lets hope! and WEDisney thanks for posting the video RIP river country!!
mike2325el 1 year ago
sniffle I am so sad right now [for real]
mike2325el 1 year ago
it is sad I looked at a vid where it showed pics where it was abandoned......it looked like a swamp a green gooey swamp I mean its blue here! and disney just let it go looked like so much fun! and I was like.....I don't know how old when it closed but too young to go just like santas village it was just let go but it was poluted so thats why it closed oh well
mike2325el 1 year ago
Those slides were a little freaky b/c it was hard to see if it was clear below...
nismoblue 1 year ago
Why was this closed down by the way?
Mongoose015 1 year ago
OMFG Yea it was cool but this song on it is so fucking melodramatic it made me spit up my wine.....Youre making it seem like 9/11
ddmmunday 1 year ago
I miss it very much. Lots of memories in that park. My friend, Jerry and I went there about three or four times a month when we were teenagers. His mom worked for Disney and got us employee-priced tickets. We knew every square inch of that park. We loved talking with cute girls and hunting for money that people lost while swimming. We had a secret spot where lost money tended to collect. It was amazing-hot girls, bathing suits, water slides, and free money...ahhh, good times, good times indeed!
SteveBiologist 1 year ago
it looks fun. i wish i could go to Florida and visit Walt Disney World someday instead of just sitting here in front of my laptop, googling and searching all info about walt disney world? Loves from Indonesia.
bluecherrysweet 1 year ago
i remember camping at Fort Wilderness with my parents and going to the parks then at the busyest time of the day we would goto River Country and relax and it does really suck that River Country is closed because im older now and i would have really liked to take my kids to River Country and relive the memories i have with my kids and im sure my kids when there older would like to do the same when they have kids.
DopeSmoken 1 year ago
your right they shold close off the lake water to the water park and really doesent seem like it would be that hard to do but im guessing Disney is thinking with all there other updated water parks that there isent a need to go do all that extra work on River Country when they already have really nice up to date water parks, but i am on your side i do think they should reopen River Country the should close off the lake, i remember going to river country when i was a kid.
DopeSmoken 1 year ago
I know the water was poluted but Disney shouldn't just close an American icon. It was the first ever themed waterpark in the world. That is why I proposed to block the lake off from the attractions and make the entire area clorinated water and open it as Fort Wildernesses new pool
Disney8289 1 year ago
They should do something with the land there.
Good items are just sitting there and rotting.
Same with the nature exhibit laying on the island across from the ruiny wreck that was river country.
Hell, if I owned disney, I would move those things and use them for something else.
C:
Oh and they took the water tower and used it for the fort wilderness campground.
It now is a center piece for a slide, I think.
I'd still like to see something done with that land.
MarioJunkee30112 1 year ago
I don't miss the place. It was a waste of money to me.
bIancoitaliano 1 year ago
looks fun!
MrPhsycodude999 1 year ago
this is also the same reason why you are not aloud to swim in bay lake at the beach's at any of the resorts. R.I.P. River Country.
DopeSmoken 1 year ago 2
river country was closed due to bacteria comeing up from the swamp disney world and bay lake were built on. we were told this years ago when river country closed by the cast member's who run the boats that go from fort wilderness and the contemperary and disney world its really sad because i remember all the fun times we had there when i was a child. Disney has changed so much things it will never be the way it use to be. anouther thing i remember is the cast member's use to be alot nicer. :(
DopeSmoken 1 year ago 8
@DopeSmoken it was closed because all the water was taken from the lake and it didnt have chemicals and then there was a law made where they had to have chemicals so they had to close it down
PszMan19063 9 months ago
@DopeSmoken Just because disney world changed doesnt mean that it's bad. Thats a horrible thing to say because disney world doesn't compare to any other park in the world.
iBeHarrison 9 months ago
@DopeSmoken it wasnt just because this particular park had bacteria coming in, it was because of the new law that proposed no parks using their water from a lake, which is what the whole river country section was using.
kilsya1 6 months ago
Comment removed
DopeSmoken 1 year ago
what happened to the water park i was born in 2000 and i dont know what it is
kellilyn69 1 year ago
We took our family to Disney every year when they were little, and had such GREAT memories of River Country! This is a bittersweet video... So sad that Disney let this area go to ruin and did not keep it up and make it a better adventure... My family will always have sweet memories but I'm sad that all the "new" families will never get to make new memories there together... They will surely miss out!!!
kellymacdoula 1 year ago
So sad! Makes me remember all the fun times I had there with my family as a kid. I almost wish they'd just razed the place instead of letting it go like they did. Scary.
megustamex 1 year ago
never been there but am sory and our theme park is close kentucky kingdom it sucks so bad
cman10001 1 year ago
Apparently the REAL reason it closed was that there was a new law coming out that said that ALL WATER PARKS HAVE to have Municipal water systems (Machines pumping out water etc.etc. you get the point) NOT natural bodies of water (rivers,ponds,) due to this Disney HAD to close it, or get into some judicial trouble...
Mriceman7 1 year ago
they should do something wive this space reopening it would be great they could put more water rides in it and make another disney water park they have somethings thier allready justed needs cleaning up and fixing and makeing safe again but it could be a great place to go again and make more jobs to if only disney opend it again
gummie1066 1 year ago
this song sounds depressing change it please before i get nightmares!!
TheManofthefuture101 1 year ago
so the river side area of disney land is abandoned while the rest is open?
TheManofthefuture101 1 year ago
this place looks like fun. i just wish it was still opened so i could go. why did it close anyways?
IhateOrton 1 year ago
@IhateOrton They said the rides were too old and unsafe, but they should have fixed them instead of closing it down :(
theaterqueen95 1 year ago
Why what happen'd to it ?
alsyanalovesmusic 1 year ago
i did go but i was like 2 but i got pics of me thir but i dont rember going i was so sad looking at the pics i was so cute and i was so happy in the pics :(
YTNimron 1 year ago
i never got to go and then they closed it :( i never went it sucks it looks like fun
YTNimron 1 year ago
ive seen some newer photos of the park and i think that it would look really cool if they fixed some things up but keep it looking forgotten. like a ghost town. i think i'll make a photoshop video of some of the new photos that look kind of cool.
VervainGirl 1 year ago
i will miss it but not that much to be posting this video now thats just drammmmmmmmmmmmmmmma!!!!!!!!!and this is my opinion/FACT
skilletgirlone 1 year ago
No reason why they couldn't open the pool with the rock slides! The campground could always use a 3rd pool.
uumpa74 1 year ago
great video! Just posted one with some updated photos of the park! check it out!
LaurenWDWCP 1 year ago
at 4:16 what is taht stuff in the lake
coolbutt7 1 year ago
i couldnt stand river country. im just expressing my opinion.
etanallik 2 years ago
so sad, its a shame that the law says it cant re-open, disney has the money to make it bigger and re-open it. just a shame that this has become a waste of land and so derelict and scary...seems odd in the 'happiest place on earth' :(
angiebucko 2 years ago
it actually is really fun, i only remeber being there when i was a little kid but like a few years ago we tried to sneek in becase we wanted to see it and hat it looked liked now, and of course we got caught but it was no big deal we just played stupid, but we were talking to this guy who has worked there for like 40 years and he was saying how sad it was, but he said that it would cost more to fix it up then it would to tear it down
danii421 2 years ago
and since the waters like polluted and u cant swim in the lake no more, and river country runs off of the lake water but i think that disney has enough money to re build it and make it like pool water it doesne have to run off of lake water, but yeah its sad, and sorry i worte so much
danii421 2 years ago
thanks so much for posting this - River Country was always our favorite waterpark...it was so sad when it closed..
bethnivelern 2 years ago
Ok, this is sad. I went there in 1991 and loved it. So sad to see it rotting away...
MssGiggles 2 years ago
in with the new out with the old
sk84life654 2 years ago
whats the song names?
NastyBoyZ100 2 years ago
Thanks for a great video! Never made it to River Country but it looks like it was a blast! Thanks again!
dougconley 2 years ago
What the shit? This music belongs to a funeral. Dork
lovebasil 2 years ago
always wanted to go never got to...they could never have a park like this again sadly ...too many people would take advantage of the more risky rides and suit over their inability to follow direction and take care of themselves its too bad things cant be like they used too
coaltrain1011001 2 years ago
i was there the year they closed...we had tickets to go there to.
we didnt.
i was 5 lol
i wish we went.
TheEnd795 2 years ago
I ALWAYS wondered why they closed River Country. NOW I know..THANKS !!! What a great video....makes me feel OLD
mockomocko 2 years ago 3
Wait y the hell did they close??!!!!!!!!
LEsTARpRODUCTIONS 2 years ago
A law was passed along the lines that it was too dangerous to use natural still waterways in Florida as recreation areas due to several harmfull yet naturally occuring bacteria Disney was forced to close this park due to its' use of the surrounding natural waterways..
gooniegod1 2 years ago
o so it was closed becuz it was using like lake water and stuff btw thanks alot
LEsTARpRODUCTIONS 2 years ago
I saw on the Travel Channel that Schlitterbahn Water park in Texas uses the river water next to it for its waterpark, that's a natural body of water... and it's still open. I want RC back. They can fix the run down part and use clean water. Please reopen the park, disney :)
LMann32869 2 years ago
i do belive that the law was particularly for the Florida area, due to the naturally occuring yet harmfull bacteria there, i could be corected though.
gooniegod1 2 years ago
@LMann32869 Also in Texas. Not Florida. The brain/flesh eating amoebas that live in inland fresh water in Florida are not present in Texas.
blobyourmom 1 year ago
I liked River Country too... but it really isn't THAT sad... cool footage, though.
hoytdan 2 years ago 7
I have never been to RC, and it makes me a bit misty-eyed to see it being abandoned.
fromwkfsmouth 2 years ago
this park was awesome and i went there in 97. I MISS IT TOO. WE STAYED AT THE CAMP WILDERNESS CAMPGROUND AND IT IS A HOP SKIP AND JUMP AWAY FROM THERE. The reason it is no longer used is because a boy got hurt and broke his kneck on the slide where it drops five feet into pool of lake water. Also this park did not get too many visitors as the other ones bc of sanitary issues. The main one being no chlorine and using dirty water fom a river and lake.
gardencitystud2008 2 years ago
it wasnt closed because of the whole neck break thing, that was a rumor.
coderip12 2 years ago
Comment removed
gardencitystud2008 2 years ago
actually the real reason it closed was in 2001 when the government passed a new law saying you can not have any waterpark or establishment like it using natural bodies of water like river country did.
gardencitystud2008 2 years ago
that's sad. i think we were there in the late 70's.
zatoth13 2 years ago
does anyone actually know why it shut down?
marinestar23 2 years ago
there is a national law now that forbids having waterpakrs or other water attractions using natural bodies of water like river country did. It used that whole lake as its play area. It closed in 2001.
gardencitystud2008 2 years ago
Thanks for the answer.
Ramoin 2 years ago
@marinestar23 the pipes that kept the water clean and clear you know [where it was blue] and those pipes had problems so it would take a whole new pipes and pump system it would take years so disney said this would take tons of renovation plus its not very up to date with other water parks so thats why now its gooey green sad isn't it
mike2325el 1 year ago
c une riviere aménagé ?
Mellezen 2 years ago
waytooawesome4you person ok first you should shut the hell up..... Okay i want you to make another Disney world. I want to see you get up there and bulid a new park.. I want to see you build an awsome water park... I dont like when people post shit like that its pretty fucking point less and Disney is fun and soo is the rest of the park and waterparks... Ohh and they have alot of cabins soo yeah you guys should go to Disney thats one of my favorite places to go :)
rpalacios1996 2 years ago
wow guys really wore their shorts that short. Im glad the 80's are gone!
mstngken 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
faggot video i wanna see someone hert not your orgazom over a fucking water park
codylk101 2 years ago
I know how you feel about losing a Theme Park, my local Theme Park Camelot was put into recievership in February, but was luckily bought by Fred Story. I know that in the near future Camelot will be demolished and a new Villiage will be built on site.. x
ltlough08 2 years ago
why did eht close down x_x ?
or did something happen to eht ? :]eht lookes like that wud have been ALOT of fun to go chu :D
keira97 2 years ago
Why did it ever close? I'm surprised that disney didn't spruse it up a bit and give it some new attractions. I guess all good things come to an end.
I remember going there about 11 years ago I think, first water park I ever went to.
I guess it wouldn't be able to compete with the likes of Aquatica now adays though.
MLeyden91 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
what happend to it?
K33ana 2 years ago
What happend to the park ? :O
Mark9150 2 years ago
That is so very sad! I just went to Disney and I remembered a waterpark set up like an old swimming hole that I went to when I was just a kid. Now I know I wasn't crazy. I know change happens, but the water parks they have now just seem kind of typical...if that makes any sense.
Smittycat1234 2 years ago
wow i remember going here the first time i went to disney when i was 11 i remember how fun it was we went to disney last month and i asked one of the people who worked at mk about it and they where like when was the last time you were here made me miss it nice video
hunter2426 2 years ago
this is so sad! u are making me miss disneyworld :(
louisianagirl4life 2 years ago
this video is just so sad. i never got to go to River Country. but i would have loved to. we were in WDW one time and we saw the place where it used to be. it made me wanna cry.. i can't believe i didn't. =[
MsChocolateCHIPPY 2 years ago
Could some one tell me how I can get to go see this park I think it would be so much fun to see the past of Disney water parks. So if some one could send me directions that would rock
happydizhmslover 2 years ago
It is in Fort wilderness. You can take a boat launch from MK. Although, River country it's self is enclosed in a giant fence, so I don't know how much you will be able to see. If you go, make sure to post a vid, thanx!
mrwaltdisneyworldfan 2 years ago
Well you can see some of it when taking a launch to Fort Wilderness. Just be looking towards the shores of Fort Wilderness and you'll spot it.
Horizons1 2 years ago
the park is now surrounded by a green fence if you wanted to get in i suppose you would just have to climb it. I highly doubt theres any type of working security system inside the park. All i can remember is Mickey's Backyard BBQ is very close to it if you go to MBY bbq im sure you will find the fence
bmxer193 2 years ago
yup,dam shame,its like a ghost town walking thru river country now ,so sad
bubbabouyi 2 years ago
nope, it was because of how unsafe it was :/
proxnobody 2 years ago
it so sad and its funny to because there was alot less safty and stuff so the ride with the tubes would never be able to pass :(
MSguineapiglover 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
disney sucks.
larrym3369 2 years ago
what happened
thesmeximuffinman 2 years ago
Hey guys. I am trying to lead a group of people to save the old place. I beleive that Disney should open River Country up so future generations could see what the park was like. When I stayed at Fort Wilderness in April of 08 I was sad to see it. Such a great park put to waste. It was the worlds first themed waterpark and they killed it. I think if we tell Disney our opinions and sugestions, ex. Campgrounds new pool are ext. So who is with me!!!!
Disney8289 2 years ago 18
im with u never been to it but it look awsome sooo
emmaG1239 2 years ago
im with ya
mattshadow9 2 years ago
hey i think that it is a great idea to try and get the park re opened again it holds so many memories for me and was by far the best water park that disney have had i dont understand how they cant just block it off from the big lake where the water for the main pool was from and fill it with normal water it seems silly to let such a great park go to waste because of some government regulations that were put into place i mean it isnt like the dont have they money for it! anyway im in RC again :)
MartineAllen 2 years ago
I'd definately LOVE to protest against Disney. It's a total waste of space/and they could make a lot of people happy with it!
1. They could reopen the park(not likely)
2. They could add more cabins to Fort Wilderness or something.
3. They could build a new hotel.
4. They could put a new water park or pool.
5. They could build a new restaurant.
6. They could have go-karts or roller skating.
The possibilities of the empty area are endless and definately not useless!
waytooawesome4you 2 years ago
ok 1 thing to say to this...
WTF
ok let me explain your reasons here
1 cant do because someone was greatly injured in the park (dont ask how idk)
2 more cabins wont work because that space is with water and it was a natural swimming hole Before it opened draning the water would take a long ass time
3 same as 2
4 makes actual sense *claps*
5 >_> AGAIN same as 2 and also WTF fort wildness and a restraint... no
and 6 go to fucking Downtown
ANY OTHER LAME ASS QUESTIONSim happy to fucking answer
Seb0astian 2 years ago
Okay, know you're not making any sense. Um...first of all, you can't tell me with curses, asshole. Second, 2,3,and 5 do make sense because...uhh..I think we all know Disney has the time and definately the money to do any of them. Remember, idiot, Disney World isn't going anywhere. For number 6, Yes, it makes tons of sense, it TAKES OVER AN HOUR to get to Downtown Disney in the evening, especially here. And 1, I said not likely, so FING STFU!
waytooawesome4you 2 years ago
@Disney8289 I agree! I love Disney World so much and have always wanted to go to River Country!
theaterqueen95 1 year ago
@Disney8289 dude it is all overgrown now, they wouldn't be able to save it without trashing the old stuff
freeskierjay1233 1 year ago
@Disney8289 It ran foul of new legislation forbidding the use of "natural bodies of water".
venominsane 1 year ago
@Disney8289 Do you know why it was closed?
They didn't WANT to close it, but the water is horribly polluted.
MarioJunkee30112 1 year ago
i went here everytime i went to disney world...it was fun as hell...too bad it closed
Swflann 2 years ago
If you go to google maps and input these co-ordinates it will show you what it looks like now.
28.411254, -81.564721
Very sad. Great video though
knaggsy70 2 years ago
Very sad that it's like that, but so cool you can see what it looks like!
waytooawesome4you 2 years ago
i remember me n my family went to a disney BBQ the first time we went to Orlando when i was 5 in 1996 and this park was near it as i recall.. i always wanted to go ther but we never did..
tellindatruth 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
""ur reading this u cant go back there was a dad who got pissed cuz he got layed off so he went home took a knife than went to his 13 year old daughter and slit her neck! if u r reading this and dont forward to 10 vids the 13 year old girl be sitting on the endge of the bed waiting for tha when u wake up who ever takes care of u will find u in the tube full of bloode with ur throat slit and than the 13 year old girl will come to who ever takes care of u so hury dont be the" less"""
jenny7223 2 years ago
I rocked river country hard, that place was the shit. All you chumps that missed out on it can revel in how awesome i am and how lame you are.
z0neseek 2 years ago
why did they close it?
holly2223 2 years ago 3
Darn, I never got to go! ='[
XxNinjasGoRawrxX 2 years ago
imagine if disney close down how sad it would look... just like this the entire park empty not kept up and looked like a ghost town lets hope that never happens
tammyjzz409 2 years ago
I loved River Country! Went in the mid-70's... Typhoon Lagoon is quite an awesome water park, these days!
esd2snap 2 years ago
Why did it close?
Lori1895 2 years ago
this has a ghostly eerie feel to it, the whole video I mean....the combo of the song and the antique quality of the footage make it like that I think...
I was there in 96' and 97'.....best times of my life....so sad now. :(
...and if anyone asks, it closed on November 1, 2001, and on January 20, 2005, Disney said it was closed for good (I looked it up, I don't just know this off of the top of my head...lol)
and the reason for it is posted in a whole bunch of comments below...
mcrfreek89 2 years ago 2
I know how you feel about the eerie feeling i wish i was there to experience it though =[
iHeartYhu1 2 years ago
After Watching It Almost Made Me Cry!!!! althogh i really miss DISNEYWORLD!!!!!~~~~Mandy Lau
mandylau12345 2 years ago
howcome they shut it?
it looks good, but i guess blizzard beach and typhoon lagoon are slightly more advanced.
EllenLool 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
/▌/
/ \☻
Kill bob! let him die in hell! copy and paste him all over youtube if you want him dead!
gigabyte998 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
This is Fred.
(\(\
( - -)
((') (')
He wants to save youtube from Bob!
Help him by posting him anywhere Bob is...
AND anywhere he might hit! xD bwahahaha
619yeah 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
/▌/
/ \☻
Kill bob! let him die in hell! copy and paste him all over youtube if you want him dead!
ssean2008 2 years ago
this waterpark/river country looks awesome and sad at the same time:
iluv9kittie09 2 years ago
I loved this partk. The zip line was my favorite.
unsupported 2 years ago
Yah Florida laws began to prohibit natural water body usage in water parks. I've heard rumors of possibly using the land for something else, possibly a new hotel.
KrazyFreeloader27 2 years ago
WOW! Great video.
woodencoasterfan 2 years ago
hi there ye good times when i was there goofy steped on my toe under the water grabed my leg and pulled me under for like 1 second i was not bothered bc he kissed it lol :D
starboo2008 2 years ago
This happened to me to, in precisely the same manner - however, I deemed Goofy to be a peadophile (or more so, a pedophile you sexy Americans) and took him to court. Anyways, he didn't get away with such passionate foot kissing and was sentence for life.
Albo1234567891 2 years ago
Did they build Typhoon or Blizzard on that place?Thanks!
tota18776 2 years ago
Comment removed
princesseilonwy 2 years ago
tota: Nope, it's still there...though it's unused. The other two waterparks are further south on the property. River Country was a fun place to go and my family always set aside a day there, camping at Ft. Wilderness quite a lot too.
princesseilonwy 2 years ago
Was this music really necessary?
rado2ooo 2 years ago 2
Hmm, I *think* I went to this park back in 1997 or '98, but I might be thinking of one of the other WDW water parks. If it'll never re-open, I kinda wish they'd tear it out and replace it with something else... that way we won't have these overgrown, decaying phantoms of times gone by.
Zalis116 2 years ago
Best Tube ride ever!!!!
swwhitlo 2 years ago
why did they close it?
Parker7532 2 years ago
If I ws to take a guess, that rock at 1:19 looks a lot like the bear in DCA. I think they transformed it into that.
Just a guess though
Alexthefunnyguy 2 years ago
i heard it was beacuse of they were using the lake water :(
puremage000 2 years ago
Yeah, Florida passed a law that you can't use water from natural bodies of water or something like that. Great video, I've never even been to florida and I totally feel for the people that miss this place.
shadesguy 2 years ago
What Song Is This ?
footieponymad 2 years ago
almost start to cry when i saw this :(
88owns 2 years ago
they should just re-open it.
this video was depressign but like not in that way just that it was so awesome and now it's just run-down and moldy! the owners should re-open it!!! it looks so fun!!!
bubblegirllala 2 years ago
The reason the park closed was due to a law that was passed that forbidded the use of "natural bodies of water" for the puropse of a water park. If River Country Reopened, it would be breaking the law, and would be shut down within weeks.
AdrenalineAddict610 2 years ago
thanks
i didnt know that was a law haha :)
bubblegirllala 2 years ago
Thanks for the video, it's incredible...5 stars for you
Arosa1982 2 years ago 2
that sucks
Nikodem9 2 years ago
Thanks! Brings back lots of memories. Just back from Ft. Wilderness...peeked over fence to see all badly overgrown & rotting away :(
SHNewEngland 2 years ago
i go to disney land every year my mom told me about the times she had at that water park. to bad i never got to see it
tentummy 2 years ago
They closed it because its now forbidden to build water parks on natural waters... Disney says its to remain closed permanently :( sad i was there in 89 loved it as a kid
Bleedxout 2 years ago 2
why was it closed it looks fun!!!???!!!
wholovesthejobros 3 years ago
whats this song
donnie1929 3 years ago
The last time I went to WDW was a trip to the campground and River Country. I loved those ziplines (1:52) and spent most of the trip on them! I had no idea that it was so close to the Contemporary, though -- I guess that's a testament to the skewed perspective of a child!
whistletutor 3 years ago
omg why did they colse it i never been their but i bet it would have been loads of fun i have been to blizard beach and typhoon lagoon those are fun but i would like to go their and why would they shut it down maybe i will be owner of whoever shut it down and make them reopen it don't mistake me but that place looks like loads of fun..
bloo222222 3 years ago
what happened
pogogeek24 3 years ago