The dead water parks at the heart of Disney World Florida

bbc.co.uk Newsbeat ^ | March 20, 2016 | staff

[kingu]

Just east of the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Florida, is a lake.

In the middle of Bay Lake is an island that Disney won't let anyone set foot on.

That's because Discovery Island is home to an abandoned park that they'd rather nobody saw.

Just across the water is another deserted park, River Country. These images show nature reclaiming what Disney left behind.

These are the only Disney parks to close permanently. Discovery Island was a nature reserve open between 1974 and 1999 and River Country, a water theme park, operated from 1976 to 2001.

[kingu]

First and foremost, many who have been to WDW and stayed on the 'other lake' at Wilderness Lodge or Fort Wilderness might have noticed the old park structures on the south side of the lake, so it is interesting to see the images..

But what kind of moron claims as defense of common trespassing (and specific violation of the contract one signs when renting the boats) by asserting that you violated FAA restricted airspace to do it..?

Drones have been forbidden from within 3 miles of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and major sporting events since October 2014.

[rktman]

Yup. The wonderful world of disney. Being so eco friendly, you would think they’d at least return these areas to pre disney condition.

[King of Florida]

This guy IS a moron, as his own words in the article reveal. It’s Disney’s property, as is everything within miles. What’s it to him? Plus Disney already has Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, two great water parks. Get a life, pal!

[grania]

Leaving the land alone to return to nature is probably the best way to stop it from becoming more pavement and condos. Designate it a nature preserve and let the stuff rot.

[Kirkwood]

Do you own property? Can I see it? Can I tell you how to manage it?

[Marko413]

If you are staying at a resort on property, then the ferries do go by Discovery Island and you will see it. My wife used to work at Animal Kingdom and Epcot so she pointed it out to me and explained it. A lot of the photos in the article are pretty well what you can even see from the ferry. If Disney is trying to keep hushed about it, they are doing a bad job because the ferries don’t divert around it in any way.

[RightOnTheBorder]

I’m no fan of Disney but what is it to this schmuck what Disney does with their own property. On the flip side Disney Co. and their fellow travelers do want to tell me what to do with my property so f’ them too.

[Salamander]

The writer asks "What are they hiding?

Well...maybe....;D

[blackdog]

Two years ago I rented a Boston Whaler and visited the shoreline. The island is full of habitat structures for bird nesting and is a flourishing ecosystem because it's left alone.

Nature has a seven year rule. Stay away for seven years and it reverts back to nature. Sunken ships are much the same.

As for trespassing, Disney would have a huge liability if it let visitors crawl around unattended islands.

I was at a company event there and one evening you could have your picture taken with Mickey Mouse at a formal affair. My wife on one side, me on the other with a glass of wine in my hand. That was until the security detail saw the glass of wine in a picture shot with Mickey Mouse. You would have thought I was the unibomber with a live grenade! They actually tackled me. Great experience right out of a Hunter S. Thompson story! I got roughed up by some Mickey Mouse thugs.

[reaganaut]

Several thousand acres. Yes you may see it, you can even fly drones over it and if you would like to, hunt on it with my permission.

You can tell me how to manage it, but I don’t need to take your advice.

The point of this is that Disney, which as become so damn liberal, isn’t even being conservationist about this much less ‘green’. It exposes their hypocrisy.

[Objective Scrutator]

Ban gay marriage, and Disney will happily give up their property for free!

[rktman]

Where’s the HOA? You can try to manage my property cause I sure ain’t doin’ to good. LOL! Just sayin’ from their much guarded “positive image”, they might take a shot at the property. Thou shalt not speak bad of disney.

[Salamander]

Sorry for the abuse you suffered but LOL...what a story.

;D

[rktman]

Thank you. When’s huntin’ season open?

[freedomlover]

There is a saying in legal circles:

Don’t Mess With the Mouse

[lancium]

A guy a few years back claimed he visited the island
http://shaneperez.blogspot.com/2009/12/discovery-island.html

[reaganaut]

Pheasant or Deer? Bow or rifle?

[pgkdan]

You couldn’t pay me to set foot on any Disney property. Gay agenda HQ USA.

[freepertoo]

I’m a Disney World fanatic. Don’t know if there’s any truth to the RUMOR for the closing of these two parks, but the RUMOR says that a dangerous virus of some kind was discovered there...doesn’t sound legit to me, but that’s what one of the RUMORS is.

[llevrok]

Leaving the land alone to return to nature is probably the best way to stop it from becoming more pavement and condos

My thoughts too.

What better way to show the strength of nature (rather than a man-made idea of what nature will do to re-claim the land)?

BTW, I suspect this is a man-made lake and island??