The Walt Disney Company is draining and filling a former water park at Disney World that the company closed 14 years ago. Disney has no immediate plans to demolish structures at the old River Country water park.
The company closed River Country in 2002 after two newer water parks at Disney World, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, became more popular. There is longstanding speculation that the River Country property will be redeveloped as a Disney Vacation Club timeshare community. Disney said its decision to drain and fill River Country is unrelated to concerns about standing water as a breeding habitat for mosquitos carrying the Zika virus. [Orlando Sentinel] — Mike Seemuth