River Country was once a booming water park in Walt Disney World, but with its closing came the abandonment of a significant plot of land in the heart of the Magic Kingdom resort area. It seems like the time is now right for Disney to finally develop on this land, as a new resort is on the horizon.
The design firm Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (now known as WATG) has reportedly been selected as the lead designer for the resort, and Balfour Beatty will be the construction manager for the project.
WATG is probably most well known in the US for the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas and has also designed the Grand Floridian Resort at Walt Disney World. Balfour Beatty is currently constructing the gigantic new tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
Unlike Disney’s Riviera Resort currently under construction, this new resort will also play host to 400 standard hotel rooms in addition to 300 DVC rooms. An opening date or name are not yet known for the resort, as it will undoubtedly open years from now, even after the Star Ward Land resort.