Discovery River Boats Video

[BackIntoYourSystem]

I would have liked to ridden these but never got the chance but heres some videos I found:

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UqQVO2FCO0

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8WhAD32efs

[EvilQueenRocks]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

Great videos! I never rode this either! When did they do this at AK and for how long? Now they just use the boat landing for character interactions don't they? I don't get it? Those boats were full and it looked like a gret informative experience!

[Melonballer]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

Thanks for posting the links. lol Cornstalk of death!

[BackIntoYourSystem]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

Your welcome!

Great videos! I never rode this either! When did they do this at AK and for how long? Now they just use the boat landing for character interactions don't they? I don't get it? Those boats were full and it looked like a gret informative experience!

I believe they were around from when the park first opened till like 1999.
Problem is lines were long and people were getting disgruntled.

[yoyoflamingo]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

They really did not have very much going for them. The lines would develop, and they would travel around the river. However, the sights were minimal, and since you had to take the entire trip, instead of stopping half way in Asia, the lines would develop very quickly. Combine that with the minimal attractions in DAK, and people waiting 45 minutes or more to ride, and people became angry very quickly. They tried to make it more intersting by adding an animal guide with small animals on board, and later a prerecorded Radio Disney Spiel, but nothing could save them.

They now use them to have a band and characters travel the river on occassion. I also saw them used in Bay Lake as training for the boat drivers. Quite a surprise to see one of the old Discovery River Boats dock at the Polynesian.

[EvilQueenRocks]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

They really did not have very much going for them. The lines would develop, and they would travel around the river. However, the sights were minimal, and since you had to take the entire trip, instead of stopping half way in Asia, the lines would develop very quickly. Combine that with the minimal attractions in DAK, and people waiting 45 minutes or more to ride, and people became angry very quickly. They tried to make it more intersting by adding an animal guide with small animals on board, and later a prerecorded Radio Disney Spiel, but nothing could save them.

They now use them to have a band and characters travel the river on occassion. I also saw them used in Bay Lake as training for the boat drivers. Quite a surprise to see one of the old Discovery River Boats dock at the Polynesian.

Yeah, I could see that being a problem. Hmmm...I bet that was quite funny seeing one of those boats in Bay Lake.) "Well, Bob, you failed the boat driving test since we are no longer on the river let alone in Animal Kingdom."

[yoyoflamingo]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

Forgot I took a pic of it at the Polynesian. Here ya go:

[MickeyMania]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

Oh, blast it. I got these confused with the swan boats at the MK.

[TDLFAN]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

Oh, blast it. I got these confused with the swan boats at the MK.

The Plaza Swan Boats actually had the shape of a swan in the front and, besides "If you had Wings", it's the one ride I miss the most at the MK.

[EvilQueenRocks]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

The Plaza Swan Boats actually had the shape of a swan in the front and, besides "If you had Wings", it's the one ride I miss the most at the MK.

Oh wow...If you had wings, the good old Delta sponsored ride. I still think about it every time I'm in Space Ranger Spin in the part where the screen used to show the birds...Great now the song is stuck in my head.)

[Disney Magic]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

I remember riding this attraction in June '98 and being completely disappointed with it. It was the one attraction at DAK that I was totally bored with. Seriously folks you're not missing anything now that it is gone.

[Speedway]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

God those boats are maHOOsive. I thought they were much smaller.

[Kevie]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

I don't care about them as a ride but at least they give the river some life. I wouldn't care if they just ran the empty boats around - at least it's using that river for SOMETHING!

[Cosmic Commando]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

Yeah. I road them in August of '99 and the only thing I remember is getting some great close-up shots of the DAK tree, so they couldn't have been that great.

[yoyoflamingo]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

I don't care about them as a ride but at least they give the river some life. I wouldn't care if they just ran the empty boats around - at least it's using that river for SOMETHING!

Actually, they do run the boats with a band and characters on it several times a day. It enters and exits near Everest, and I beleive travels the entire circuit of the river. So, they are trying to infuse life into the river in some way.

[TDR_Fan]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

They remind me of Tokyo DisneySea's Transit Steamers that make their way around the park's waterways.

[Neon Cactus]

Re: Discovery River Boats Video

I rode them once because the lines were so long. They were extremely slow loaders and there wasn't a lot of sights to see. I went on it with my sales manager at the time, and she didn't like insects. When they brought out some insects during the ride, I thought she was going to jump overboard!