As Walt Disney World races to start development on Vehicles and Villains Lands in Magic Kingdom, the mission has hit its first velocity bump that might delay the growth and closure of Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. This publish discusses the impediment, together with what this might imply for development, deadlines, and opening timelines. (Up to date November 4, 2024.)
In case you’re unfamiliar with these plans, Walt Disney World introduced two all-new Vehicles sights in a reimagined space of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom throughout D23. This isn’t Radiator Springs or a clone of Vehicles Land from Disney California Journey, however it’s sizable sufficient for us to think about it Vehicles miniland at minimal. Together with this, they formally introduced Villains Land growth at Magic Kingdom.
Subsequent to D23, Walt Disney World revealed that the Vehicles space will really change the Rivers of America, which means that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat will completely shut. This information let lots of the air out of the tires from Walt Disney World’s in any other case blockbuster evening. (Okay, sufficient with car-related puns. Sorry, I’ll cease.)
Extra just lately, Walt Disney World has introduced that Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad is Closing for Refurbishment at Magic Kingdom till 2026! This closure has been rumored for the final 6 months, and have become an open secret as soon as the primary development allow was filed in June. At the moment, work was anticipated to start in August or September.
This BTMRR multi-year closure is notable as a result of there nearly actually will probably be overlap, at the least partially, with this mission and work to fill within the Rivers of America and start Vehicles development. Amongst different issues, it will embrace connecting BTMRR and Villains Land with Liberty Sq. and Fantasyland.
Simply have a look at the idea artwork above–the primary thoroughfare on the far proper runs between Massive Thunder and Haunted Mansion, and there’s a smaller pathway veering off the artwork that leads into what’s going to turn into Villains Land.
Actually, although, this growth doesn’t actually change something with the anticipated closure of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad’s closure was inevitable and already (kind of) a recognized amount. All this actually does is reaffirm our commentary beneath, and additional reinforces the notion that closures are prone to start earlier than the second half of 2025.
Our expectation is that the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island, and Liberty Sq. Riverboat gained’t all shut concurrently. There’s the likelihood–if not chance–that Imagineering and development crews will use coffer dams to protect the aesthetics of the guest-facing aspect of the Rivers of America for so long as doable.
This might final into 2026. That might permit work to start out backstage and on the again half of the island, which would come with this pathway connecting Massive Thunder to Liberty Sq.. On the very least, I’d count on work on that pathway to start earlier than the BTMRR refurbishment mission ends. Which means some portion of the Rivers of America closing by the top of 2025, on the absolute newest.
As for the Past Massive Thunder initiatives (a misnomer now), Imagineering filed permits with the South Florida Water Administration District that relate to stormwater displacement modifications and development laydown yards a few months in the past. There are low-lying areas to the northwest of the Rivers of America, necessitating extra work to determine usable gravel laydown yards within the first place.
There will probably be three in gravel laydown yards across the northwestern perimeter of Magic Kingdom. Two will probably be positioned past the berm, which means exterior of Magic Kingdom visitor areas, with the third laydown yard that needs to be seen from inside Magic Kingdom alongside the northwestern banks of the Rivers of America. These gravel laydown yards will probably be used for development gear, heavy equipment, supplies staging, earth-moving, and many others.
These approvals are a needed prerequisite for starting substantive development–this kind of allow is required is when waterways are going to be rerouted or water is displaced. Mainly, earlier than the Rivers of America will be drained, Disney wants to clarify how they’re going to change the misplaced stormwater runoff capability–they should offset what’s being misplaced by the Rivers of America. Such is the character of development within the swamps.
About one month after the permits had been filed, the South Florida Water Administration District (SFWMD) responded to Imagineering with a 6-page ‘Request for Extra Data’ letter concerning the 407 Basin Stormwater Modifications mission. Because the identify suggests, this can be a request for extra data, clarifications, and corrections in addition to modifications or revisions to elements of the plan. Because it’s solely 6 pages (in contrast to the ~1,000 web page preliminary utility), you may as effectively learn the entire thing for your self right here.
We’re going to deal with frequent misconceptions about this deeper within the publish. The underside line for now’s that this kind of request is frequent in a mission of this nature–we’ve simply by no means seen something of this diploma since Walt Disney World hasn’t undertaken a mission that might displace a lot stormwater capability (at the least to our recollection) since we’ve been protecting development. If I recall accurately, a number of of the DVC initiatives located on Bay Lake and/or Seven Seas Lagoon have acquired comparable requests, however I don’t recall which offhand (not the brand new Island Tower).
Massive image, the SFWMD actually needs to know extra concerning the potential wetland and floor water impacts, together with the next: sort of wetland or different floor water to be impacted, seasonal excessive water and wetland regular pool elevations, whole space/acreage of disturbed and undisturbed wetlands, in addition to higher labeling of wetland boundaries and upland buffers. The SFWMD is a water administration district (it’s proper within the identify), so it’s unsurprising that these are the character of their considerations. They wish to be sure that the development gained’t end in flooding inside or exterior the development space as a consequence of misplaced stormwater runoff capability.
In addition they request affordable assurances that the proposed mission won’t adversely affect the abundance and variety of fish, wildlife, protected species, bald eagle, and many others. That Disney isn’t doing something to jeopardize the habitats of protected species. Mainly, the SFWMD needs to be sure that Blinky the Three-Eyed Fish hasn’t chosen the cement canal as its new native habitat, that Disney isn’t disturbing bald eagles, and many others. (Do not forget that bear that broke into Magic Kingdom? SFWMD needs to make sure Disney isn’t pulling a “Bambi” and killing his buddies within the identify of Vehicles.)
Maybe most apparently, the SFWMD needs Imagineering to “discover sensible design modifications to cut back or remove opposed impacts to wetland features,” as a result of the appliance doesn’t sufficiently show that Disney has adequately pursued website plan options that remove or cut back the impacts to wetlands. SFWMD needs supporting paperwork that principally present Disney has achieved its due diligence to determine the easiest way to mitigate the affect on water administration–together with various plans.
There’s much more to the letter than that–the SFWMD has outlined 20 downside factors (over two-dozen in the event you rely subparts) that want clarification or supplemental data. However that is the final gist of it and, once more, you may learn your entire letter in the event you’re involved with figuring out the nitty-gritty of the problems.
The South Florida Water Administration District is requesting a “full response” that addresses the entire downside factors. If one just isn’t acquired inside 90 days of the letter, Disney’s utility will probably be processed for denial. Imagineering may submit a written request for an extension by way of the ePermitting web site.
Turning to commentary, I even have some tangentially-related expertise with this kind of allowing in a previous life. And by that, I imply I handled authorities allowing in Indiana, which clearly doesn’t have swamps. It’s principally cows, corn, and brownfields (very completely different places, fortunately). The animating thought however appears comparable.
My expertise was that the federal government receives requests, analyzes them and presents a little bit of pushback to justify their very own existence, the applicant clarifies (usually after the automated granting of a 90-day extension to allow them to collaborate with counsel about how little data will be shared to fulfill the request), and no matter is submitted is finally rubber-stamped. Everybody will get what they need in the long run, albeit with further expense and wasted time. (Sadly, Ron Swanson is definitely a legendary determine in Indiana authorities.)
Florida really appears critical about stormwater administration and wetlands, which is smart as a result of your entire state is principally one big swamp–or is swamp adjoining. My impression (each firsthand and oblique) is that the state is pretty mild on authorities paperwork and unnecessary crimson tape, however water administration is one factor that’s extra scrutinized. And for good purpose.
That’s principally what that is. Imagineering must do extra work to clarify how water administration won’t be adversely impacted, show that they’ve achieved their due diligence in analyzing options, and clarify that they aren’t killing any lovable animals that folks love (three-eyed fish are in all probability effective–minimal cuteness issue).
Now for what this isn’t. We’ve already heard lots of hypothesis and wishful considering from followers about how the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District or the State of Florida might principally current insurmountable obstacles that kill the mission. Even previous to this, I noticed options that somewhat than a letter writing marketing campaign to Disney, followers have interaction in a single to CFTOD or the governor.
Mainly, this isn’t any of that. South Florida Water Administration District just isn’t the identical because the CFTOD. Its purview isn’t simply over Walt Disney World. The SFWMD’s duty is to safeguard and restore South Florida’s water sources and ecosystems, defend communities from flooding, and meet the area’s water wants.
It’s a regional governmental company that manages the water sources within the southern half of the state, protecting 16 counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys and serving a inhabitants of 9 million residents. Its massive initiative is restoring the Everglades.
Furthermore, the CFTOD of late 2024 additionally isn’t the identical CFTOD of this similar time final 12 months. Loads has modified there, and the management is not adversarial to Walt Disney World. Ditto DeSantis. It’s nonetheless actually a far cry from how issues had been beneath the Reedy Creek Enchancment District, however it’s gotten so much higher than final 12 months when there have been threats of a jail, toll roads, and many others., on-site.
Personally, I’d be completely shocked if the state “took a stand” on this and prevented it from occurring. Maybe through the peak of DeSantis vs. Disney, however not now. I don’t assume the optics among the many common public can be the identical as they’re amongst some Disney followers.
The upside in enterprise this battle from a tradition warfare perspective has been exhausted, and reigniting that over this can be extra damaging from an anti-business perspective than it’d be fruitful. I simply don’t see the common individual caring about saving Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America from a historic or ‘Americana’ perspective. In fact, I’ve been incorrect about this kind of factor earlier than.
What’s more likely is that South Florida Water Administration District just isn’t glad with Walt Disney World’s proposals, and there’s extra back-and-forth than anticipated. That would end in delays and prices spiraling past what was initially budgeted.
If something, that’s the one factor that might realistically let the air out of the tires of the Vehicles land mission: money and time.
I’m not suggesting that can trigger Imagineering to return to the drafting board and even that it’s extra doubtless than not. On the contrary, I’d put the possibilities of this mission getting the inexperienced mild from the state kind of as conceived at over 90%. I’m simply saying that if there may be some foundation for this not occurring, it’s in all probability the SFWMD having authentic foundation for slow-rolling the mission, and Disney shifting into a special path in consequence.
As for the titular query, Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America haven’t any cut-off date at current. Walt Disney World has solely indicated that work will kick “into excessive gear” in 2025, however earlier than then, that “visitors may have loads of time to expertise the attraction and nostalgia of Frontierland as it’s as we speak.”
Beforehand, our guess is that this implies these closures wouldn’t happen till after Easter 2025. We additional speculated that Magic Kingdom may attempt to get by means of Summer time 2025 earlier than closing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. Disney Starlight Parade goes to be vastly fashionable upon debut and can want ample viewing area throughout its opening summer season alongside the promenade in Frontierland. Building partitions up on one aspect of the walkway would cut back viewing capability. (See Building & Openings Timelines for New Lands, Rides & Additions at Disney World.)
At this level, there’s no purpose to consider a 90-day delay or perhaps a 180-day delay with an extension materially alters the outer vary of that prediction. My guess is that this was really constructed into the unique timeline of the mission, since this can be a pretty routine request. If Imagineering doesn’t promptly file a response and if the SFWMD doesn’t shortly approve, I do assume we will rule out a closure of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island round Easter 2025. However which may’ve by no means been the aim within the first place.
Beginning shortly after Labor Day 2025 is actually nonetheless doable–as are the few months earlier than then if Walt Disney World isn’t involved with beginning development proper across the debut of Disney Starlight Evening Parade. (Whole apart, however the spot above was a private favourite for ‘atmospheric’ viewings of SpectroMagic or MSEP. Word that the picture is definitely a protracted publicity of the streaming lights of the parade. I sit up for watching Starlight from the identical location.)
Additionally take into account that it’s not like this mission will get permitted, and partitions go up round Rivers of America the very subsequent day. There’s presumably an honest quantity of backstage prep and website work that could possibly be undertaken even earlier than the waterway is drained.
I don’t purport to be an professional on any of these things, however it appears doable that Disney might set up a coffer dam to protect entry to Tom Sawyer Island and the view of the Rivers of America for the entirety of 2025. They’ve achieved this kind of factor earlier than–and it might delay the period of time followers must say goodbye to those areas whereas additionally lowering visible blight till it’s completely needed. In such a state of affairs, the Liberty Sq. Riverboat can be first to shut, and that might in all probability occur earlier than the second half of 2025.
In the end, the back-and-forth on the SFWMD allowing course of doesn’t actually change an entire lot within the grand scheme of issues. It does considerably will increase the probability that the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will probably be protected by means of at the least Easter 2025, however that was in all probability at all times the case.
I’d take {that a} step additional and predict that, no matter this request, you in all probability have till at the least August 2025 to say goodbye to the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Even past that, there looks like a fairly good chance that Disney does backstage work first, and this serene surroundings and entry are preserved till early 2026.
In fact, my actual hope is that Imagineering goes again to the drafting board completely and finds a option to protect the promenade and waterfront. I can settle for dropping Tom Sawyer Island and the riverboat, I assume, however paving over that stunning vista is a bridge too far for me. Hopefully fan suggestions or a last-minute miracle can put it aside, however I’m not holding my breath.
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Your Ideas
Ideas on the SFWMD’s request for extra data? Do you count on that Imagineering will make main revisions and modifications to the mission, or just supply additional clarification and reassurances? Hoping that there’s nonetheless time for a change of plans if Florida doesn’t approve? Excited or underwhelmed by the plan to switch Rivers of America with Vehicles land? Or, are you in wait and see mode with this? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even whenever you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!