T-bar cable swing , and a wooden bridge that ran right along Bay Lake . Nature trails led adventurers through the woods and out onto a boardwalk overlooking the water .
The working title for the park found new life as Pop Willow ’ s Picnic Area . Guests were encouraged to pack in their own lunches , which certainly added to the camper feel of the park . The Watering Hole Quick-Service restaurant had typical park snacks on hand , like hotdogs , fries , ice cream , and fried chicken .
Characters inhabited this park near the Bay Cove pool every day from 1:00 to 5:00 PM , where they would pose for photos and sign autographs . Goofy could be seen in a gingham shirt , rope belt , patched jeans , or even a fetching onepiece bathing suit .
The down-home hootenanny was an incredible success — the park was sold out for most of its 25-year operation . But it was too good . The popularity of River Country was likely what led to its demise .
AND THEN THERE WERE THREE While our waterin ’ hole was hoppin ’, the nearby Wet ‘ n Wild Orlando waterpark competed with a contrast of newer and crazier waterslides . Disney saw room for expansion , and the word “ expansion ” means that this is where Michael Eisner comes in .
In 1984 , Michael Eisner took the helm as CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Walt Disney Company alongside COO and President Frank Wells . The duo would go down in history for expanding every aspect of the company , especially where competition was present . Typhoon Lagoon opened in 1989 not only as a response to the high demand for River Country but also to counter the threat of Wet ‘ n Wild ’ s appeal to a younger audience .
Typhoon Lagoon was such a hit that Blizzard Beach opened just six years later . The two waterparks were behemoths compared to humble ol ’ River Country ( it was about a fourth of Typhoon Lagoon ’ s size ), and each of the new waterparks offered a full day of fun while guests considered River Country a half-day adventure ( especially as the pools weren ’ t heated ).
River Country tried to rustle up guests once again in 1998 with the All-American Water Party . Here , a good ol ’ fashioned barbecue hosted live music and games like sack races and tug-of-war while Mickey , Pluto , Chip ‘ n ’ Dale , and Minnie
ABOVE : Inner tubing down the White Water Rapids . PANA-VUE SLIDE RESTORATION BY BILL COTTER