River Country FAQ

1/20/05:
Today, Disney announced that
River Country is permanently CLOSED.

This
FAQ is Maintained By Denise Adams
Please send additions and changes to [email protected]

What exactly
is River Country?

River
Country (RC) is a water park with an "Ol' Swimmin' Hole" theme.
It was the first water park built at Walt Disney World and is smaller
than both Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach.

When is
River Country open?

April
7-21, 24-26, 28 10 am-6 pm
May 1, Sept 1 10 am-6 pm

Where
is RC located?

River
Country is located in the Fort Wilderness Resort on the shore of Bay Lake.
The entrance to RC is next to the Pioneer Hall restaurant complex.

How much
is admission?

The
good news is there is no change in price from last year. A one-day ticket
to River Country is currently $15.95 for adults and $12.50 for children
3-9 years of age. These prices do not include tax. Guests staying at the
Fort Wilderness Resort are eligible for discounted admission to River
Country. Length-Of-Stay Passes include admission to River Country. The
Park is a option for the Hopper Plus Pass.

What
is there to do at River Country?

There are
three main sections to the park: Bay Cove – This is the area
of the park with the 'Ol Swimmin' Hole theme. There are rope swings,
T-Bars, large platforms, a ship's boom and other areas from which swimmers
can plunge into the water. Also in this area is Whoop-'N-Holler Hollow
which has two water slides (one 160 feet long and one 260 feet long)
and White Water Rapids which sends guests down a contoured, water-filled
path in inner tubes.

Upstream
Plunge – A 330,000 gallon swimming pool is located between the entrance
and Bay Cove. Upstream Plunge has a built in rock formation along one
side which houses Slippery Slide Falls – two slides that begin high
up in the "rocks" but end well above the surface of the water.

Beach
Area/Kiddie Cove – This area is located on the inland end of Bay
Cove. It offers a tamer version of Bay Cove which is better suited to
younger children. There is a beach with lounge chairs along one side
and a grassy area with picnic tables and Indian Springs, a fountain
which children can't seem to get enough of. In addition there is a Cypress
Point Nature Trail which is located along the shore of Bay Lake.

What is
the "All American Water Party"?

One
of the most endearing characteristics of River Country is the "All
American Water Party" held during the summer months. "Supergreeters"
announce various activities during the day. On the day we visited, there
was a "water Mickey Says" game at Indian Springs for young children,
Cannonball contest for kids at Upstream Plunge (judged by the adults)
and a Cannonball adults contest (judged by the kids). Small prizes are
awarded to participants. A bluegrass band performs several times a day
near the entrance to Cypress Point Nature Trail.

Where
can we change?

Locker
rooms are located near the entrance to River Country. Both the Men's and
Women's facilities offer changing rooms and showers as well as lockers.
Large lockers cost $5 (plus a $2 refundable deposit) and smaller lockers
cost $3 (plus same $2 deposit) per day.

Do we
need to bring our own towels or will there be some available at the park?

Towels
are available for rental at River Country. Each towel costs $1 but they
are not very big so you may prefer to bring your own. Towels are also
available for purchase at the Beach Shop.

Are there
characters at RC?

Several
classic Disney characters make daily appearances at River Country. During
the 1999 season, Minnie, Pluto, Chip and Dale were regulars. Goofy made
special appearances arriving on water skis from bay lake. RC has it's
on version of the 3 PM parade where anyone who wants to walks around the
park with the characters. This is a great chance for kids to interact
with there favorite Disney friends.

Can we
bring a picnic lunch with us?

Sure,
picnickers are welcome at River Country, however alcohol and glass containers
are not permitted. There are picnic tables scattered throughout the park
or guests can eat right on the beach.

Can we
buy lunch at River Country?

Yes.
Pop's Place, a fast food restaurant, is located near the changing rooms.
Nachos, hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, fried chicken, pretzels and beverages
are on the menu. The Watering Hole opens during busier seasons and has
a limited menu. You can also exit River Country and eat at one of the
restaurants in Fort Wilderness's Pioneer Hall complex. Finally, Fort Wilderness's
Settlement Trading Posts offers a number of items for take-out. Some people
like to take a break from River Country and enjoy a picnic along the Fort
Wilderness beach.

Okay,
we want to go explore Fort Wilderness for a while…can we get back into
River Country later?

Yes,
just get a hand-stamp on your way out. When you return the Castmember
at the entrance will ask to see your handstamp and your ticket or all-inclusive
pass.

Help!
I forgot my sunscreen! Where can I get some?

The
Beach Shop is the place for sunscreen, as well as pails, shovels, film,
beach towels and a limited selection of swimwear.

It looks
like it is going to rain. Is it still worth going to RC?

Melissa
writes: I thought you may be interested in knowing that River Country
has a rain provision. We were in the water park last August, when a typical
Florida thunderstorm struck. We were all instructed to go to the pavilion
used for the Backyard BBQ. After 30 minutes with no let up in sight, we
were told that if we had been in the park less than 3 hours, they would
give us a comp ticket to be used another day. Incidentally, the tx never
expires, and since we had just about seen all River Country has to offer,
we elected to save the tx until another visit. We loved the American water
celebration. There is something about the characters on the beach that
is especially exciting. My 9 year old loved the scavenger hunts and other
character led activities!

We've heard that River Country is not as good as Typhoon Lagoon or
Blizzard Beach. What's the story?

Typhoon
Lagoon and Blizzard Beach are larger than River Country and, therefore,
have more attractions. They also have very long lines for their water
slides and raft rides. River Country, by comparison, has fewer attractions
but it is often less crowded than the two newer parks, even during the
summer and is more laid-back and quiet.

It's themeing
is terrific as well. If you are into "thrill" rides and wave
pools then the other parks are probably what you are looking for. However
if you want to have a great day splashing around and getting wet then
River Country will do the job. It is also a great initiation to water
parks for younger children.

Okay,
we're ready to go to River Country…how do we get there?

By Car
– Enter through the Magic Kingdom toll booths (stay to the right
as you approach them) and then follow the signs for River Country. Buses
take guests from the parking lot to the River Country entrance.

By Bus – Buses bound for Fort Wilderness depart from the Transportation
& Ticket Center regularly throughout the day. These buses will drop
guests off at the Pioneer Hall bus stop in Fort Wilderness. From here
it is a short walk to the River Country entrance. After exiting the
bus guests should follow the path to their left. The River Country entrance
will be just after the Pioneer Hall Restaurant complex on the left.

By Boat
– Guests who are at the Magic Kingdom, Wilderness Lodge or Contemporary
Resort can take motor launches directly to the Fort Wilderness docks.
The entrance to River Country will be straight ahead and to your right.

Anything else we should know?

There is
a small first aid station located near the locker rooms.

The rock
formations at Fort Wilderness were designed by the same man who created
Big Thunder Mountain at the Magic Kingdom.

On busy
days the ticket windows will close as River Country reaches its capacity.
If you plan on visiting during the summer it is often a good idea to
get your tickets in advance. Guests who already have tickets (including
those who have Length-of-Stay Passes or Hopper Plus Passes) will still
be admitted until the park actually reaches capacity, even if the ticket
windows are closed.

River Country
is usually closed for refurbishment during part of the Fall or Winter.

Guests
can call (407) 824-4321 for up-to-date information.