River Country
River Country was scheduled for re-opening this Spring after
it's annual shut-down for maintenance, but that re-opening has been delayed.
It's not yet certain whether or not the park will be opened at a later
date. For now, though, you shouldn't plan on being able to enjoy
a visit to River Country any time soon.
River Country was Disney's first attempt at a themed
water park. It was built early in the life of Walt Disney World, and was
originally considered just a part of the Fort Wilderness complex. It wasn't
until the non-themed water parks began to open outside of the WDW borders
(i.e. Wet-N-Wild and Water Mania, for example) that Disney decided to
open Typhoon Lagoon and later Blizzard Beach.
This park is located on the south edge of Bay Lake
inside the Fort Wilderness campground complex. The only ways to get there
is by bus from the Fort Wilderness bus station or on foot...but it's quite
a trek. Bottom line - there is no convenient parking lot specifically
for River Country.
Barb and I visited one morning with Mom and Dad
and my brother David, and were satisfied to leave before lunch time. There
certainly isn't as much to do -- or that you want to repeat -- as there
is at the bigger water parks.
Attractions:
The Pool
A very large (heated in the winter) pool that
includes a couple of slides that drop the rider about eight feet at
the conclusion of the ride. This is a popular part of the park.
The Old Swimming Hole
The Old Swimming Hole is unique in that it is
actually part of Bay Lake. The water is murky, but the bottom is solid
sand (not mushy muck like some lakes are). There are few slides (Whoop-'N-Holler
Hollow) when comparing this park to it's bigger siblings. Some of
the old watering hole stuff is fun (there's several zip ropes, swing
booms, and other things for the kids to play on). There is a barrel
bridge across this area to make it easier (albeit not by much) to
cross and catch the slides...
Whoop-'N-Holler Hollow
This area of the park is actually two different
"flume" slides. They are similar to the "storm"
slides at Typhoon Lagoon, but are much shorter.
White Water Rapids
This ride, even with it's wild name, is tamer
than the flume slides at Whoop-'N-Holler Hollow. It's a nice tube
ride...not too severe, but a lot of fun.
Admission:
About $18 for adults, $15 for kids 3-9 years old.
Lockers cost $3, plus a $2 key deposit. Large
lockers cost $5, plus a $2 key deposit.
Small towels rent for $1.
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