Disney’s newly announced Lakeshore Lodge Resort finally replaces this long-abandoned site on WDW grounds

Disney's newly announced Lakeshore Lodge Resort finally replaces this long-abandoned site on WDW grounds

As a lifelong Disney enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of Walt Disney World, I can’t help but feel a mix of nostalgia and excitement about the upcoming Lakeshore Lodge Resort. Having grown up visiting River Country during its heyday, it brings back fond memories of family vacations spent splashing around in this unique water park.

Disney unveiled plans for a brand-new resort, filling the void left by the former largest water park in Orlando, which had been vacant for quite some time.

Anyone familiar with Walt Disney World recognizes that it’s brimming with remarkable accommodations. Over the coming years, additional resorts are slated for development, attracting even more visitors. This influx of guests necessitates the expansion of on-site resorts.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other complications, some plans have faced delays. Yet, exciting news from Disney! In the Magic Kingdom region, a fresh resort is set to debut in 2027. Originally known as Reflections: A Disney Lakeside Lodge, the new name for this venture will be Lakeshore Lodge Resort.

This story takes place in the vicinity of Bay Lake, nestled between Fort Wilderness Campgrounds and the Wilderness Lodge. It appears that Disney may be moving away from the Reflections idea, but still maintaining the spirit of an artistically themed, enjoyable lodge.

This prospect appears intriguing, with a particularly captivating aspect – it’s set to fill the void left by a historic fixture of Disney World, River Country. It offers a fresh perspective on the peculiar tale behind this former theme park.

The rise and fall of River Country

In 1971 when Disney World debuted, water parks as we recognize them now were still not commonplace. It wasn’t until 1977 with the establishment of Wet n Wild that the concept of water parks featuring pools and slides began to gain traction. Eventually, this type of attraction grew in popularity worldwide.

Just like in many areas, Disney was a trendsetter when River Country, their first significant water park, debuted in 1976. Unlike most parks that left pipes and other infrastructure exposed, Disney Imagineers had an ingenious approach. They designed it to resemble a “historic watering spot,” with water slides seamlessly integrated into the rocky landscape leading towards the lake.

The assortment of slides in that region was truly astounding. Not only did they offer the typical ones, but also tube slides and a distinct “drop slide” where visitors were sent plummeting into the water from an impressive height. Add to that the “boom swing,” a cable ride, and the creativity in their design, it’s no surprise that the area was so popular it frequently reached capacity on hot afternoons, requiring Disney to turn away new guests.

Disney aggressively advertised River Country in WDW promotions, and it proved so popular that Disney introduced Typhoon Lagoon in 1989 and Blizzard Beach in 1994. Despite this, River Country continued to exist but gradually lost attention due to the popularity of these new water parks.

The factors leading to its decline were diverse, including recurring issues about bacterial contamination in the water from Bay Lake, which led to illnesses and at least one fatality among children. Additionally, it was suggested that lower attendance might have played a role, as visitors preferred the larger and more spectacular water parks over it.

In November of 2001, River Country was temporarily shut down due to the typical seasonal closure. However, instead of reopening in 2002 as usual, Disney – affected by a decrease in tourism following the September 11 attacks – decided not to open it. There were hints of a potential comeback, but in 2005, River Country was permanently closed for business.

Over the following 17 years, the park remained accessible, gradually deteriorating due to weather conditions. It gained notoriety among urban adventurers, with unique features like Disney always keeping the electricity on. This meant that every evening, the lights would shut off automatically, and even the closing theme would play softly.

2018 marked the beginning of Disney’s preparations for their new resort, but with certain obstacles in mind. The upcoming resort is said to feature 900 rooms and an intriguing theme. For long-time WDW visitors, this development signals the end of a chapter as River Country, one of WDW’s historical landmarks, is being dismantled. This also serves as a testament to its role in shaping the evolution of water park development at WDW.

2024-11-27 23:57

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