River Country, Disney World’s first water park, operated at the Florida theme park from 1976 to 2001
Credit: Disney; Barry Lewis/Planet Pix via ZUMA Wire/Shutterstock
NEED TO KNOW
- Disney announced its new Wetlands recreation area this week, which will replace the long-abandoned River Country water park at Bay Lake
- The Wetlands will feature Pocahontas-inspired play areas, a lazy river, and pools with views of Magic Kingdom fireworks
- The recreation area is part of the new Lakeshore Lodge resort, opening in 2027 with 967 rooms and waterfront Lake Houses
More than 20 years after Disney World's first water park shut down for good, the resort has finally revealed what will be replacing it.
Formerly located on Disney's Bay Lake, River Country was the destination's first water park and featured a down-home watering hole theme and a pool filled with natural lake water. It operated from 1976 to 2001 before shutting down, according to Attractions Magazine, and sat abandoned for years, leaving many wondering when Disney might reimagine it, if at all.
This week, Disney has finally answered that question with its announcement of the Wetlands: a new “outdoor recreation area” that will be located just beyond the lobby of the forthcoming Lakeshore Lodge resort and available for use by hotel guests.
Credit: Barry Lewis/Planet Pix via ZUMA Wire/Shutterstock
Lakeshore Lodge, a new nature-themed Disney Vacation Club hotel, is expected to open in the summer of 2027 and will be “surrounded by the beauty of Bay Lake," according to Disney Parks Blog.
Guests can take advantage of the site's Wetlands pool complex located in the spot where River Country once stood. The reimagined space will reflect a “whimsical” feel featuring wet and dry areas that are “inspired by the music and storytelling of Walt Disney Animation Studios' Pocahontas,” per the blog.
Specifically, the lyrics to the song “Colors of the Wind” from the beloved 1995 film serve as the inspiration behind the Heron Shores and Otter Springs play areas at the forthcoming destination.
Credit: Disney
The site's lazy river, or Daydream River, will invite guests to peacefully float along a relaxing route where they can take a moment to appreciate the surrounding nature. Meanwhile, the resort's Lakeside Lagoon pool will be a place for guests of all ages to enjoy, complete with a spiral waterslide.
On the opposite side of the resort, a leisure pool with a whirlpool spa called Perspective Pond will be another place where guests can unwind, with the spot offering views of Magic Kingdom's fireworks in the evenings.
The resort is located “just a boat ride away from Magic Kingdom” and will offer guests complimentary transportation across Disney World.
Credit: Disney
Per the renderings of the new Wetlands recreation area shared by Disney on Wednesday, June 17, the space appears to reflect a more modern feel, which is quite the contrast from the rustic River Country park that operated there decades ago.
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Credit: Disney
As for Lakeshore Lodge, the new resort will not only feature subtle nods to Pocahontas, but it will also take inspiration from other films like Bambi (1942) and Brother Bear (2003).
The hotel, which will be part of the Disney Resorts Collection, will boast 967 rooms that offer a variety of accommodation options. Depending on the room, guests will have direct views of Bay Lake or the beloved fireworks display at Magic Kingdom.
Along the waterfront, the new Lake Houses featuring one or two bedrooms are another accommodation option for families who want to be closer to nature.
While the hotel is a Disney Vacation Club property, non-members will also be able to book a stay there.
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