As Walt Disney World races to start building on Vehicles and Villains Lands in Magic Kingdom, the challenge has hit its first pace bump that might end in a site visitors jam delaying its arrival at beginning line–or the end line for Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. This put up particulars the pothole introduced by the State of Florida, together with what this might imply for the closure, building, and opening timelines.
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, nevertheless it’s sizable sufficient for us to contemplate it Vehicles miniland at minimal. Together with this, they formally introduced Villains Land enlargement at Magic Kingdom.
Subsequent to D23, Walt Disney World revealed that the Vehicles space will really substitute the Rivers of America, that means that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat will completely shut. This information let plenty of the air out of the tires from Walt Disney World’s in any other case blockbuster night time. (Okay, sufficient with car-related puns. Sorry, I’ll cease.)
Inside days of that, Imagineering filed permits with the South Florida Water Administration District that relate to stormwater displacement modifications and building laydown yards. There are low-lying areas to the northwest of the Rivers of America, necessitating further 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, that means exterior of Magic Kingdom visitor areas, with the third laydown yard that must be seen from inside Magic Kingdom alongside the northwestern banks of the Rivers of America. These gravel laydown yards will probably be used for building gear, heavy equipment, supplies staging, earth-moving, and so forth.
These approvals are a essential prerequisite for starting substantive building–this sort of allow is required is when waterways are going to be rerouted or water is displaced. Principally, earlier than the Rivers of America will be drained, Disney wants to clarify how they’ll substitute the misplaced stormwater runoff capability–they should offset what’s being misplaced by the Rivers of America. Such is the character of building within the swamps.
About one month after the permits have been filed, the South Florida Water Administration District (SFWMD) has responded to Imagineering with a 6-page ‘Request for Extra Data’ letter concerning the 407 Basin Stormwater Modifications challenge. Because the identify suggests, it is a request for extra info, clarifications, and corrections in addition to adjustments or revisions to components of the plan. Because it’s solely 6 pages (in contrast to the ~1,000 web page preliminary utility), you may as properly learn the entire thing for your self right here.
We’re going to handle widespread misconceptions about this deeper within the put up. The underside line for now’s that this sort of request is widespread in a challenge of this nature–we’ve simply by no means seen something of this diploma since Walt Disney World hasn’t undertaken a challenge that might displace a lot stormwater capability (a minimum of to our recollection) since we’ve been masking building. If I recall accurately, a number of of the DVC tasks located on Bay Lake and/or Seven Seas Lagoon have acquired related requests, however I don’t recall which offhand (not the brand new Island Tower).
Massive image, the SFWMD actually desires to know extra concerning the potential wetland and floor water impacts, together with the next: kind 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 issues. They need to be certain the development gained’t end in flooding inside or exterior the development space because of misplaced stormwater runoff capability.
In addition they request affordable assurances that the proposed challenge won’t adversely affect the abundance and variety of fish, wildlife, protected species, bald eagle, and so forth. That Disney isn’t doing something to jeopardize the habitats of protected species. Principally, the SFWMD desires to ensure 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 so forth. (Keep in mind that bear that broke into Magic Kingdom? SFWMD desires to make sure Disney isn’t pulling a “Bambi” and killing his buddies within the identify of Vehicles.)
Maybe most apparently, the SFWMD desires Imagineering to “discover sensible design modifications to scale back or get rid of hostile impacts to wetland features,” as a result of the applying doesn’t sufficiently exhibit that Disney has adequately pursued web site plan options that get rid of or cut back the impacts to wetlands. SFWMD desires supporting paperwork that mainly present Disney has carried out its due diligence to determine one of the best ways to mitigate the affect on water administration–together with different plans.
There’s much more to the letter than that–the SFWMD has outlined 20 drawback factors (over two-dozen when you rely subparts) that want clarification or supplemental info. However that is the final gist of it and, once more, you possibly can learn the whole letter when 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 drawback factors. If one just isn’t acquired inside 90 days of the letter, Disney’s utility will probably be processed for denial. Imagineering might also 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 sort 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 totally different places, fortunately). The animating thought nonetheless appears related.
My expertise was that the federal government receives requests, analyzes them and affords 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 info will be shared to fulfill the request), and no matter is submitted is ultimately rubber-stamped. Everybody will get what they need in the long run, albeit with additional expense and wasted time. (Sadly, the Ron Swanson is definitely a legendary beast in Indiana authorities.)
Florida really appears severe about stormwater administration and wetlands, which is sensible as a result of the whole state is mainly one big swamp–or is swamp adjoining. My impression (each firsthand and oblique) is that the state is pretty gentle on authorities forms and unnecessary crimson tape, however water administration is one factor that’s correctly scrutinized. And for good purpose.
That’s mainly what that is. Imagineering must do extra work to clarify how water administration won’t be adversely impacted, exhibit that they’ve carried out their due diligence in analyzing options, and clarify that they aren’t killing any cute animals that individuals love (three-eyed fish are most likely positive–minimal cuteness issue).
Now for what this isn’t. We’ve already heard plenty of hypothesis and wishful pondering from followers about how the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District or the State of Florida might mainly current insurmountable limitations that kill the challenge. Even previous to this letter or any allowing, I noticed some options that quite than a letter writing marketing campaign to Disney, followers undertake one to CFTOD or the governor.
Principally, 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, shield 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, masking 16 counties from Orlando to the Florida Keys and serving a inhabitants of 9 million residents. Its huge initiative is restoring the Everglades.
With that stated, the CFTOD of late 2024 additionally isn’t the identical CFTOD of this identical time final 12 months. Quite a bit 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 have been beneath the Reedy Creek Enchancment District, nevertheless it’s gotten loads higher than final 12 months when there have been threats of a jail, toll roads, and so forth., on-site.
Personally, I’d be completely shocked if the state “took a stand” on this and prevented it from taking place. Maybe through the top of DeSantis vs. Disney, however not now. I don’t suppose the optics among the many normal public can be the identical as they’re amongst some Disney followers.
The upside in endeavor this battle from a tradition conflict 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 flawed about this sort of factor earlier than.
For my part, what’s more likely is that South Florida Water Administration District just isn’t happy with Walt Disney World’s proposals (from a totally impartial perspective), and there’s extra back-and-forth than anticipated on this. That might end in important delays and prices spiraling past what was initially budgeted.
If something, that’s what’s almost certainly to let the air out of the tires of the Vehicles land challenge: money and time.
I’m not suggesting that can trigger Imagineering to return to the drafting board and even that it’s extra probably than not. On the contrary, I’d put the possibilities of this challenge getting the greenlight from the state roughly as conceived at over 90%. I’m simply saying that if there’s some foundation for this not taking place, it’s most likely the SWFMD having official foundation for slow-rolling the challenge, and Disney shifting into a distinct path in consequence.
As for the titular query, Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America haven’t any deadline at current. Walt Disney World has solely indicated that work will kick “into excessive gear” in 2025, however earlier than then, that “visitors could have loads of time to expertise the attraction and nostalgia of Frontierland as it’s in the present day.”
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 Summer season 2025 earlier than closing Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. Disney Starlight Parade goes to be massively standard upon debut and can want ample viewing house throughout its opening summer time alongside the promenade in Frontierland. Development partitions up on one aspect of the walkway would cut back viewing capability. (See Development & 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 challenge, since it is a pretty routine request. If Imagineering doesn’t promptly file a response and if the SFWMD doesn’t shortly approve, I do suppose we will rule out a closure of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island round Easter 2025. However that may’ve by no means been the aim within the first place.
Beginning shortly after Labor Day 2025 is actually nonetheless attainable–as are the few months earlier than then if Walt Disney World isn’t involved with beginning building proper across the debut of Disney Starlight Night time Parade. (Whole apart, however the spot above was a private favourite for ‘atmospheric’ viewings of SpectroMagic or MSEP. Notice that the picture is definitely an extended publicity of the streaming lights of the parade. I sit up for watching Starlight from the identical location.)
Additionally remember that it’s not like this challenge will get accepted, and partitions go up round Rivers of America the very subsequent day. There’s presumably an honest quantity of backstage prep and web site work that may very well be undertaken even earlier than the waterway is drained.
I don’t purport to be an skilled on any of these items, nevertheless it appears attainable 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 carried out this sort of factor earlier than–and it might lengthen the period of time followers need to say goodbye to those areas whereas additionally decreasing visible blight till it’s completely essential.
Finally, 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 a minimum of Easter 2025, however that was most likely all the time the case.
I’d take {that a} step additional and predict that, no matter this request, you most likely have till a minimum of 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 totally and finds a technique to protect the promenade and waterfront. I can settle for shedding Tom Sawyer Island and the riverboat, I assume, however paving over that lovely 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 info? Do you count on that Imagineering will make main revisions and adjustments to the challenge, or just provide 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 once you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!