Countdown - 74 Days to Go!
- Jillian Wallin
- Sep 26
- 2 min read
🕯️ 74 Days to Go!
Day 6 of Our Eerie Disney Countdown
When we think of Disney, we picture magical parks, beloved movies, iconic characters, and maybe even a dreamy cruise. What we don’t usually think of? Abandoned, spooky, or haunted places. But guess what—Disney has a few skeletons in its closet… and they’re hiding in plain sight.
Let’s take a stroll down Abandoned Avenue and explore two failed Orlando theme parks that Disney quietly left behind.
🦜 1. Discovery Island – The Forgotten Wildlife Sanctuary
Originally opened in 1974 as Treasure Island, this secluded spot was designed as a bird sanctuary. Just four years later, it was rebranded as Discovery Island (sound familiar?). For 25 years, it housed exotic animals, flamingo pools, and even one of Disney’s first beaches.
But then… things got creepy.
The island was shut down due to concerns about wild alligators (not the zoo-kept kind) and dangerous bacteria found in the surrounding water. Today, it sits abandoned in Bay Lake—off-limits to guests. Trespassers risk arrest and even a Disney World ban. So as tempting as it sounds to explore this eerie relic… maybe just admire it from afar.
Fun Fact: Many of the animals from Discovery Island were relocated to the other Discovery Island—inside Animal Kingdom!
🌊 2. River Country – The “Old Swimming Hole” That Got Too Real
Opened in 1976, Disney’s River Country was the first water park at Walt Disney World. It had a rustic charm, designed to feel like an old-fashioned swimming hole. Guests loved it… but the park had a dark side.
Over its 25-year run (is 25 years a Disney curse?), River Country saw multiple tragic incidents:
In 1980, a young boy died from an amoeba found in freshwater. Disney couldn’t be held liable, but the incident raised serious concerns.
In 1982, another boy drowned after coming off a water slide. The pool depth wasn’t clearly marked—a heartbreaking mix of oversight.
In 1989, yet another drowning occurred.
Surprisingly, these tragedies weren’t what closed the park. After the 9/11 attacks, tourism dropped, and Disney quietly shut River Country down under the guise of refurbishment. It never reopened. By 2005, its fate was officially sealed.
These eerie remnants of Disney’s past remind us that even the most magical places have shadows. While you can’t visit these abandoned parks, their stories live on—and they definitely earn a spot in our countdown of Disney’s eeriest secrets.
References:
Gould, S. (2018, July). Disney has two abandoned parks in Orlando that are now off-limits to visitors. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/abandoned-disney-2018-7#in-1989-another-boy-drowned-there-11
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