Disney’s first water park is ‘set to become a hotel’

 An abandoned water park in Orlando will become a Disney resort, insiders say.

The River Country water park, which opened in 1976, was the first of its kind in Walt Disney World – but it closed for good in 2001. 

The water was finally drained out in 2016, and now it appears the site will be transformed into a hotel resort.

 

Disney’s first ever water park, River Country (pictured) could soon become a hotel

The park opened inside Walt Disney World in 1976 and closed in 2001

The park opened inside Walt Disney World in 1976 and closed in 2001

It was not demolished after its closure, and has sat and deteriorated for more than a decade (pictured 2009)

It was not demolished after its closure, and has sat and deteriorated for more than a decade (pictured 2009)

The once popular park is now empty, with trees seen covering dirty, dry waterslides

The once popular park is now empty, with trees seen covering dirty, dry waterslides

A number of permit applications have convinced Disney superfans the company will build a resort on the site

A number of permit applications have convinced Disney superfans the company will build a resort on the site

The pool, designed to look as though it was part of the river, was finally drained in 2016, leaving some to speculate things were moving ahead

The pool, designed to look as though it was part of the river, was finally drained in 2016, leaving some to speculate things were moving ahead

Disney filed paperwork in March to undertake boring on either side of the land, possibly to see if it was suitable for building on Walt Disney World News Today reported. 

Designs leaked in 2010 and published on Disney Vacation Club News show the company were considering building timeshare housing – though it was not clear where. 

Further applications to make changes to the land, also published on DVCN, suggest the build would take place on the site of River Country. 

Architecture firm WATG, the brains behind multiple other Disney accommodation facilities, has also reportedly been chosen to design the project, GrowthSpotter reported. 

Disney are also rumored to have brought in Balfour Beatty to manage the construction.

Leaked designs showed Disney were planning to build more accommodation in 2010, but it was not clear where

Leaked designs showed Disney were planning to build more accommodation in 2010, but it was not clear where

But later that year, permit applications to build on the land were also leaked

But later that year, permit applications to build on the land were also leaked

The plans appear to have been shelved for some time, but it is possible they have been revisited

The plans appear to have been shelved for some time, but it is possible they have been revisited

Reports claim an architectural firm and a construction management firm have been chosen for the project

Reports claim an architectural firm and a construction management firm have been chosen for the project

Disney has declined to confirm or deny the rumors, and have only told reporters there are many projects underway at Disney at any one time

Disney has declined to confirm or deny the rumors, and have only told reporters there are many projects underway at Disney at any one time

Until the pool was drained in 2016, it was covered in a thick layer of algae (pictured)

Until the pool was drained in 2016, it was covered in a thick layer of algae (pictured)

The park has become overgrown - meaning any builders will have their work cut out for them

The park has become overgrown – meaning any builders will have their work cut out for them

River Country retained a natural, riverside feel throughout the park. 

Guests could jump from rope swings into the river, slide down rocks to hit the pool and climb along logs, which sat above the water.

The park retained a massive crowd, until Disney expanded its water park offering, opening Typhoon Lagoon in 1989 and Blizzard Beach in 1995.   

Since the park’s closure in 2001, the area has become run down. 

Trees sit over slides which are full of leaves, plants have overgrown once popular rides and structures, and before the pool was drained, a thick layer of algae sat atop it. 

Despite deep interest in what will happen to the once beloved site, Disney are keeping their lips sealed.

‘At any given time we have numerous projects in varied stages of development across the [Walt Disney World] resort,’ a spokeswoman told Growthspotter.  

The park was popular with visitors for its natural feel

But it was soon overtaken by Disney's other, more modern water park options

The park was popular with visitors for its natural feel, but was soon overtaken by Disney’s other, more modern water park options

The park had a riverside feel to it and activities were mostly created with wooden planks

The park had a riverside feel to it and activities were mostly created with wooden planks

Others were more content enjoying the waves in a rubber ring (pictured)

Others were more content enjoying the waves in a rubber ring (pictured)



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