Walt Disney International has filed its reaction to Florida’s Request for Further Data, and it’s transparent that Imagineering might not be reversing path on its plan to fill in and substitute the Rivers of The united states with Automobiles Land in Magic Kingdom. This submit discusses the most recent on this months-long saga, together with what this may imply for time limits and development.
In the event you’re unfamiliar with those plans, Walt Disney International introduced two all-new Automobiles sights in a reimagined house of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom all through D23. Together with this, they formally introduced Villains Land enlargement at Magic Kingdom, necessarily at the back of Automobiles Land, and between/at the back of Giant Thunder and Haunted Mansion.
Next to D23, Walt Disney International published that the Automobiles house will in reality substitute the Rivers of The united states, that means that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat will completely shut. This information let numerous the air out of the tires from Walt Disney International’s in a different way blockbuster evening.
The most recent construction considerations the saga of the South Florida Water Control District (SFWMD) allow procedure. The fast of the back-and-forth is that Disney filed allows concerning stormwater displacement again in August, and SFWMD spoke back by means of inquiring for adjustments and giving Disney a time limit for the ones.
Following that, the SFWMD despatched a letter caution Disney that its 10-day time limit to reply was once rapid coming near, and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) intervened on Walt Disney International’s behalf to request a 60-day extension. The SFWMD granted the extension request, however best partly, providing a brand new time limit of January 9, 2025 versus February for Disney to substantively resolution SFWMD’s Request for Further Data (RAI).
Finally, it gained’t subject. Walt Disney International didn’t want till the equipped January 9, 2025 time limit, a lot much less the February person who was once asked on its behalf by means of the CFTOD. Walt Disney International equipped an in depth packet of knowledge on December 19, 2024, which incorporated a 23-page letter together with numerous extra pages of maps, plans, appendices, and updates to previously-filed paperwork.
In the event you’re in point of fact concerned with all of this, head to the SFWMD ePermitting web page and input “407 Basin Stormwater Changes” because the challenge title within the seek. From there, take a look at the RAI Data drop-down. There’s a number of stuff there, together with the aforementioned 23-page letter.
A part of the explanation I’m recommending that you simply learn the correspondence itself is as a result of I, admittedly, lack the subject material experience to evaluate the standard and sufficiency of Walt Disney International’s reaction. Whether or not it adequately addresses the questions and considerations raised by means of the South Florida Water Control District is unclear to me. It seems that to my untrained eye that it does typically, and kicks the can again to SFWMD for rationalization in a few circumstances, however I really well may well be incorrect.
From what I will be able to confirm, there are necessarily two angles from which Walt Disney International approaches this. The primary is an easy subject of addressing the questions and considerations one-by-one, with concise solutions and clarifying knowledge. The second one and extra fascinating method is in attaching a Reaction to RAI from 2015 together with different correspondence from 1993. Disney comprises the ones by means of reference into this 2024 RAI reaction, together with any other letter from 2011 and the 1992 Walt Disney International Grasp Building Plan allow.
There’s so much to unpack with all of this, however it sounds as if that Walt Disney International’s statement is that additional research or scrutiny isn’t essential or suitable. That’s as a result of, in gentle of those paperwork, the wetland strains are grandfathered-in. I think it’s no longer value getting slowed down within the specifics of the allowing procedure and backward and forward over the wetlands.
A deep dive into water control and diverse prison jargon more than likely isn’t why you’re right here–it’s to grasp the place this challenge stands. In a nutshell, Disney’s large transfer was once “bringing receipts” to turn SFWMD that numerous its questions had already been addressed–a decade or few in the past.
From a realistic standpoint, the important thing takeaway from those 23-pages and supporting maps and paperwork is that Walt Disney International has no longer altered path on its plans to take away the Rivers of The united states and fill within the waterway.
On the contrary, Disney doubles down in this and obviously outlines that they’re going to be draining the Rivers of The united states and filling in all the expanse with grime to create a leveled and graded development house. This can be a essential prerequisite for development of the Automobiles Land enlargement in Frontierland, and also will shape the basis for the following section of labor on Villains Land.
If Walt Disney International had been getting chilly toes concerning the Rivers of The united states plans following fan backlash, it will’ve been mirrored within the allowing procedure with SFWMD. This sends the unequivocal message that it’s complete steam forward on Automobiles Land. That there will likely be no last-minute changes to salvage even a sliver of the Rivers of The united states.
For our section, that is what we’ve heard all alongside. That even supposing Walt Disney International didn’t await the level of backlash, no quantity of court cases would purpose a path trade. That the worth of the actual property, underutilized capability, long-term repairs prices, expense of change siting of the growth, and different components made this the best viable plan. (Don’t shoot the messenger–I’m simply sharing what I’ve heard, no longer that I accept as true with it.)
Another websites had reported the other. That Disney is thinking about going again to the planning stage. Or moderately, that Disney was once taking into consideration it. We discussed this formerly, noting that even supposing we hadn’t heard this, being dismissive of the rumors could be silly since such a lot of assets were given the positioning of Monstropolis incorrect in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
At this level, we will be able to just about shut the door at the Rivers of The united states being stored. Once more, the whole thing I’ve heard since August indicated to me that the door wasn’t open within the first position, however this seals that. Disney has already persevered the worst of the talk, they usually’ve held company. Taking additional steps in the similar path strongly suggests there by no means was once another.
The one hope there, as prior to, was once that the South Florida Water Control District would reject Disney’s allows.
To that time, it nonetheless stays a imprecise risk that the South Florida Water Control District nonetheless gained’t be glad with Walt Disney International’s RAI reaction, and there’s extra back-and-forth than expected. That might lead to delays and prices spiraling past what was once in the beginning budgeted.
If anything else, that’s the one factor that would realistically let the air out of the tires of the Automobiles land challenge: money and time.
I nonetheless don’t view that as most likely. On the contrary, I’d put the possibilities of this challenge getting the golf green gentle from the state kind of as conceived at over 90%. I’m simply pronouncing that if there’s any foundation for the Rivers of The united states being stored, it’s no longer in a transformation of center from Disney, however moderately, the SFWMD slow-rolling the challenge, and Disney moving into a special path in consequence. In gentle of the RAI reaction, I’d put the probabilities at that within the low unmarried digits.
As you’re most likely mindful, Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of The united states haven’t any ultimate date at the moment. Walt Disney International has best indicated that paintings will kick “into prime tools” in 2025, however prior to then, that “visitors could have numerous time to enjoy the allure and nostalgia of Frontierland as it’s as of late.”
Alternatively, Walt Disney International made that commentary again in August and has been silent as to the Rivers of The united states long run since. When providing a sneak peek at 2025 and letting fanatics know they’d have all 12 months to enjoy DINOSAUR, Walt Disney International made no such assurances concerning the Rivers of The united states. If truth be told, they didn’t say anything else in any respect. At what level has “numerous time” handed?
Our wager is Easter 2025 on the earliest. That’s over 8 months for fanatics to mention their goodbyes, which is longer than the typical time frame between reserving and touring. This isn’t to mention that Rivers of The united states will shut then…we simply wouldn’t be expecting it any previous than that. And it in point of fact doesn’t come all the way down to giving fanatics one final seek advice from. It’s extra a question of practicality.
To that time, Magic Kingdom would possibly attempt to get thru Summer time 2025 prior to ultimate Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of The united states. Disney Starlight Parade goes to be vastly well-liked upon debut and can want plentiful viewing area all through its opening summer time alongside the prom in Frontierland. Building partitions up on one facet of the walkway would scale back viewing capability. (See Building & Openings Timelines for New Lands, Rides & Additions at Disney International.)
Beginning the challenge in a while after Exertions Day 2025 could also be conceivable. That provides Walt Disney International all summer time with the Rivers of The united states running as standard, which could be essential at a time when so much will likely be down in Magic Kingdom. Park operations would possibly not need much more offline–particularly if that comes with lowered parade viewing choices or cuts into crowd go with the flow (the waterfront prom is a very powerful parade bypass).
Additionally take into account that it’s no longer like this challenge will get licensed, and partitions cross up round Rivers of The united states the very subsequent day. There’s probably a good quantity of behind the curtain prep and website paintings which may be undertaken even prior to the waterway is tired. It’s additionally conceivable that Disney may set up a coffer dam to maintain get right of entry to to Tom Sawyer Island and the view of the Rivers of The united states for the entirety of 2025. (See picture above of the final time a coffer dam was once used all through a refurbishment a couple of years in the past.)
They’ve carried out this kind of factor prior to–and it would lengthen the period of time fanatics have to mention good-bye to those spaces whilst additionally decreasing visible blight till it’s completely essential. In the sort of state of affairs, the Liberty Sq. Riverboat could be first to near, and that might more than likely occur prior to the second one part of 2025.
In the end, the back-and-forth at the SFWMD allowing procedure doesn’t in point of fact trade a complete lot within the grand scheme of items. It does considerably will increase the possibility that the Rivers of The united states and Tom Sawyer Island will likely be protected thru a minimum of Easter 2025. That was once more than likely all the time the case (and I’d consider Disney constructed a buffer into its inside timeline for allowing–it’s no longer like that is their first rodeo), however this simply additional cements it.
I’d take {that a} step additional and expect that, you more than likely have till a minimum of August 2025 to mention good-bye to the Rivers of The united states and Tom Sawyer Island. There turns out like an attractive just right risk that Disney does behind the curtain paintings first, and this serene surroundings and get right of entry to are preserved for nearly all the 12 months–possibly into early 2026. I wouldn’t wager the farm on that and I’d plan a good-bye commute neatly prior to then if seeing the Rivers of The united states and Tom Sawyer Island had been a must-do, however my suspicion is that we’ve got extra time to revel in those spaces.
After all, my actual hope is that Imagineering is going again to the planning stage completely and unearths a strategy to maintain the prom and waterfront. I will be able to settle for dropping Tom Sawyer Island and the riverboat, I assume, however paving over that lovely vista is a bridge too a ways for me. Expectantly fan comments or a last-minute miracle can reserve it, however I’m no longer keeping my breath.
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Your Ideas
Ideas at the Walt Disney International’s reaction to the Request for Further Data? Hoping that there’s nonetheless an opportunity of adjusting the plans if Florida doesn’t approve? Excited or underwhelmed by means of the plan to exchange Rivers of The united states with Automobiles land? Or, are you in wait and notice mode with this? Do you compromise or disagree with our review? Any questions we will be able to permit you to resolution? Listening to your comments—even while you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas under within the feedback!
