Normally, we wouldn’t cover a project in such quick succession as we’re about to for the Rivers of America, but while visiting Magic Kingdom today, we stopped by for an update. While we’ve noted some real progress since Walt Disney World started the draining process a couple of weeks ago, it’s clear that there are some struggles thanks to Mother Nature. In this update, we’ll take a look at an uphill battle, a new-to-us spotting, and the real winners of this project.
Rivers of America Refilling
We’ll start with the “storms” part of our title. Over the past couple of days, Central Florida has experienced some rainfall – to the tune of an inch or more. That’s not necessarily a groundbreaking amount, but when you’re trying to keep a riverbed as dry as possible, it can lead to some issues.
Here’s a look at the Rivers of America with significantly more water in it today than yesterday, and that was before the afternoon storm rolled in.
Construction Site
While most of our views of the Rivers of America have been uneventful beyond the draining in recent weeks, we spotted our first construction vehicle from within Magic Kingdom today. Previously, construction vehicles seemed to stay on the northern bend of the river, out of view from guests at Magic Kingdom.
We also spotted some construction workers on Tom Sawyer Island and walking within the Rivers of America basin, but we weren’t quick enough with the camera before the rain arrived. The truck seen below is for the subcontractor Terracon, which is a consulting engineering firm.
Wildlife Winners (and Losers)
The real winners here (beyond the contractors that received winning bids for demolition and new construction) are the wildlife. More specifically, the birds who are met with a buffet of trapped fish and other riverbed goodies. Of course, the fish that previously enjoyed a flowing river that are now just waiting to be picked off are the losers, but such is the circle of life.
The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are being demolished at Magic Kingdom to make room for a Cars-themed area called Piston Peak National Park, and eventually, a Villains-themed land.
For everything we know about the Cars-themed expansion to Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, check out our dedicated project page below!
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
