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Rivers of America (Disney)

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The Rivers of America and its various watercraft in Disneyland, 2007

The Rivers of America is the artificial river found in the Frontierland areas of Disneyland-style Disney theme parks around the world. The first river was built in Disneyland when the park opened in 1955.[1] It surrounds Tom Sawyer Island, which guests reach by raft from Frontierland. Additionally, there are other water-based vehicles on the river. The various sights along the Rivers include a Native American tribe, a burning cabin (though the cabin at Disneyland has been removed), and audio-animatronic wildlife.

As other magic-kingdom-esque parks were built, they often incorporated this man-made river attraction. Such parks include:

  • At Walt Disney World, the Rivers of America is similar to its California counterpart
  • At Disneyland Paris, the Rivers of the Far West is home to Big Thunder Mountain
  • At Hong Kong Disneyland, there is no Frontierland, so the Imagineers merged the Rivers of America with the Adventureland Jungle Cruise attraction. Jungle river rafts travel around the Rivers of Adventure, encountering similar situations as in the Jungle Cruise attraction. In the middle of the Rivers sits Tarzan's Treehouse, which can be reached by River Rafts.

Different steamboat and ship replicas sail on the rivers:

Disneyland

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At Disneyland Park in Anaheim, the river passes through Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Critter Country (soon to be renamed Bayou Country).

History

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Disneyland guests take a raft to Tom Sawyer Island, about 1960

The Rivers of America existed since the opening of Disneyland on July 17, 1955, beginning with the Mark Twain Riverboat. However, the island that the river surrounds was bare. The Mike Fink Keel Boats opened in December of that year. A dry dock area for refurbishments has also been included since opening day.[citation needed]

In 1956, Indian War Canoes (now Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes), as well as the Tom Sawyer Island area on the center island that is accessible by raft, were opened. The Sailing Ship Columbia was introduced in 1958. The nighttime show Fantasmic! began showing on the river on May 13, 1992. The Mike Fink Keel Boats closed in 1997.

In September 2015, Disneyland Resort announced that the Rivers of America and its attractions would temporarily close starting January 11, 2016, to prepare for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.[2] An official Disneyland Twitter account confirmed that the Rivers of America would have a new route when it reopened from construction.[3] The Rivers of America and its attractions reopened in July 2017.[4]

Ecology

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The Rivers of America is not filtered or chlorinated in any way. Disney has placed mosquitofish in the waterways—which also connect to the Jungle Cruise, the Adventureland-Frontierland-Castle moat, Big Thunder Pond, Storybookland Canal, and the Fantasyland pond—to battle mosquito larvae from growing.[citation needed]

Upkeep

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All the waterways in Disneyland are interconnected so that they may go through a natural process of filtration and de-stagnation, much like a natural lake or pond would. All of the waters of Disneyland are connected via underground tubes, also allowing for aquatic life to pass through. Upon opening the Rivers of America, the water was a brown color due to the soil and mostly natural clay that kept the water from sinking (the first fill-the-river day failed as the water was absorbed by the sandy Anaheim substrate). Eventually, the rivers and moats were embanked by concrete. Following this, the water was dyed with green chalk which does not settle or bother wildlife; if left clear, guests would be able to see pipes, guidance tracks, and other hidden functions.[citation needed]

Attractions

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Current attractions

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Former attractions

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Entertainment

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Current entertainment

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  • Fantasmic!
  • The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural

Seasonal

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Former entertainment

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Former seasonal

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Other uses of the river

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Fantasmic!, which opened on May 13, 1992, takes place on both the River and continuing onto Tom Sawyer Island.

In 2003, the motion picture Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl had its world premiere on the Rivers at Disneyland, with hundreds of celebrities and movie stars viewing the film on a purpose-built 90-foot-tall (27 m) projection screen.

In 2006, the film's sequel, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, premiered on June 24 on the Rivers as well, two days before the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction re-opened after a lengthy refurbishment on the Rivers in New Orleans Square. In 2007, it hosted the gala for the premiere of the third installment of the film series, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

The world premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was on May 7, 2011, at a premium ticket screening at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, home of the original Pirates of the Caribbean ride that inspired the film series. Many of the film's stars were in attendance. The screening took place on the river with a temporary outdoor theater constructed along with a massive movie screen and sound system installed on the stage on Tom Sawyer's Island. The Sailing Ship Columbia was decorated like 'The Black Pearl' from the movie franchise and moved forward in proximity to the theater seating.

Since the opening of the Davy Crockett Explorer canoes, Disneyland Cast Members have hosted an annual event called "The Canoe Races" which takes place before the park opening. Cast Members form teams and race in a canoe. The race is watched from the Frontierland/New Orleans Square area by many Cast Members who cheer on their friends and teammates.

Deaths

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Main article: Incidents at Disneyland Resort

On two separate occasions, park guests have drowned while trying to swim to shore:

  • On June 20, 1973, an 18-year-old male drowned while attempting to swim across the Rivers of America. He and his 10-year-old brother stayed on Tom Sawyer's Island past closing time by hiding in an area that is off-limits to guests. When they wanted to leave the island, they decided to swim across the river even though the younger brother did not know how to swim. The victim attempted to carry his younger brother on his back but drowned halfway across. The teenager's body was found the next morning. The younger brother was able to stay afloat by "dog paddling" until a ride operator rescued him.[5]: 171 
  • On June 4, 1983, another 18-year-old male drowned in the Rivers of America while trying to pilot a rubber emergency boat from Tom Sawyer's Island that he and a friend had stolen from a "cast members only" area of the island.[6][5]: 174–175 

Magic Kingdom

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At Magic Kingdom, the river passes through Frontierland and Liberty Square. The Magic Kingdom river also hosts a Cast Member canoe race, similar to Disneyland's, called Canoe Races of the World.[7]

History

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In August 2024, it was announced that the Magic Kingdom version of Rivers of America would be closed to make way for an expansion of Frontierland based on the Cars franchise.[8][9]

Attractions

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Current attractions

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Former attractions

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Tokyo Disneyland

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At Tokyo Disneyland, the river passes through Westernland and Critter Country.

Attractions

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Disneyland Paris

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At Disneyland Paris, the river is known as the Rivers of the Far West, and is part of Frontierland.[10] Uniquely, at this park, Big Thunder Mountain takes the place of Tom Sawyer Island.

Attractions

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Current attractions

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Former attractions

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References

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  1. ^ Strodder, Chris (2017). The Disneyland Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). Santa Monica Press. pp. 415–416. ISBN 978-1595800909.
  2. ^ Glover, Erin. "Season of the Force Begins November 16 at Disneyland Park in Southern California". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "Disneyland Today on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  4. ^ Lee, Greg. "Popular Disneyland Railroad, Rivers of America reopen after 18-month closure". ABC7.com. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Koenig, David G. (1995). Mouse tales: a behind-the-ears look at Disneyland. Irvine, CA: Bonaventure Press. ISBN 978-0-9640605-6-2.
  6. ^ "Suit files in death". San Diego Haunted. Santa Ana, California.
  7. ^ Prihoda, Kathleen. "Cast Canoe Races: A Disney Tradition of Paddles Up Before Dawn". Disney Parks Blog.
  8. ^ Bevil, Dewayne (August 12, 2024). "Disney: New 'Cars' rides will go on Tom Sawyer Island". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Zizo, Christie (August 12, 2024). "Newest expansion at Disney's Magic Kingdom means Tom Sawyer's Island is going away". WKMG. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  10. ^ "Rivers of America - D23". D23. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
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