Discovery River Boats
| Discovery River Boats | |
|---|---|
| Disney's Animal Kingdom | |
| Coordinates | 28°21′24″N 81°35′24″W / 28.35667°N 81.59000°WCoordinates: 28°21′24″N 81°35′24″W / 28.35667°N 81.59000°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opening date | April 22, 1998 |
| Closing date | August 21, 1999 |
| General statistics | |
| Attraction type | Boat ride |
| Vehicle type | Natural Gas powered boats |
| Vehicle names | The Darting Dragonfly, Otter Nonsense, Leaping Lizard, Crocodile Belle, Hasty Hippo |
Discovery River Boats was an attraction at Walt Disney World's Disney's Animal Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
Attraction facts
- Renamed:
- Discovery River Taxi (November, 1998)
- Radio Disney River Cruise (March 1999)
History
The boats docked at the Safari Village and in Asia. The ride was a non-stop trip that brought the passengers near to the Tree of Life and past all the lands of the theme park. During the journey, the guests would be shown small animals that had been brought on board. The captain would walk the aisles and point out other items on the trek. The ride was similar to the Jungle Cruise at the Magic Kingdom, however there was little to see exclusive to the ride.
In 1999 the attraction was renamed Radio Disney River Cruise and played commentary from Radio Disney DJs Just Plain Mark and Zippy. The guests were told that the songs were broadcast from the top of the Tree of Life. The boats were all re-painted in new colors, and animals were no longer brought on board. The routes were also modified, with boats returning to the departing dock instead of stopping at the other dock for guests to disembark.
The ride closed in late 1999 due to large numbers of disappointed guests who had not realized that the ride's original purpose was transportation and showed a minimal number of animals that, with the exception of the Banteng, could all be seen from the paths surrounding the Tree of Life. The docks, however, can still be seen in the park. Both docks are now used for character meet and greets.