Disneyland's Rivers of America set to reopen

by Leah Zanolla
May 6, 2010

The Rivers of America at Disneyland are opening again this week after several months of refurbishment. The river has been divided up into four distinct regions. Kim Irvine, art director of Walt Disney Imagineering, says that Disney "never even named the rivers." People just took to the unofficial name and now, Disney has themed the river to match. The four U.S. rivers that will be represented are the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Potomac and the Rio Grande.

According to the Orange County Register, some of the things that have been done include:
- Installing a new 2,500-foot track for the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Sailing Ship Columbia.
- Built a corral for two ponies - there have never been live animals on the banks before.
- Planted 4,000 new shrubs and 130 new trees to correspond with the new river regions.
- Added 10 new figures and repainted 16 figures.
- Posted a sign reading "Mike Fink's Keel Boat" in front of the cabin.
- Replaced the paddle wheel on the Mark Twain Riverboat.
- Replaced nine of the 11 docks.

All of the additions can be seen from the various boats traveling on the waterway. All the attractions on the river will open this Saturday, except the riverboat; it will be back May 21.

The riverboat will have some new features as well. A new storyline at the beginning of the ride will explain about the four rivers that will be seen. Guests will notice new scenes along the river, including new animals and a new resident in the burning cabin. Imagineers used original sketches from Disney artists Marc Davis and Sam McKim to plan out the new scenes.





Map by: Sarah Tully and Molly Zisk/The Orange County Register