As Walt Disney World races to start development on Automobiles and Villains Lands in Magic Kingdom, the mission has hit its first velocity bump that might end in a visitors jam delaying its arrival at beginning line–or the end line for Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. This submit particulars the pothole introduced by the State of Florida, together with what this might imply for the closure, development, and opening timelines.
In case you’re unfamiliar with these plans, Walt Disney World introduced two all-new Automobiles points of interest in a reimagined space of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom throughout D23. This isn’t Radiator Springs or a clone of Automobiles Land from Disney California Journey, however it’s sizable sufficient for us to think about it Automobiles miniland at minimal. Together with this, they formally introduced Villains Land growth at Magic Kingdom.
Subsequent to D23, Walt Disney World revealed that the Automobiles space will really exchange the Rivers of America, that means that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat will completely shut. This information let loads of the air out of the tires from Walt Disney World’s in any other case blockbuster evening. (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 development 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 might be three in gravel laydown yards across the northwestern perimeter of Magic Kingdom. Two might be positioned past the berm, that means exterior of Magic Kingdom visitor areas, with the third laydown yard that needs to be seen from inside Magic Kingdom alongside the northwestern banks of the Rivers of America. These gravel laydown yards might be used for development gear, heavy equipment, supplies staging, earth-moving, and so forth.
These approvals are a crucial prerequisite for starting substantive development–the 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 exchange the misplaced stormwater runoff capability–they should offset what’s being misplaced by the Rivers of America. Such is the character of development within the swamps.
About one month after the permits had 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 mission. Because the title suggests, this can be a request for extra data, clarifications, and corrections in addition to adjustments or revisions to elements of the plan. Because it’s solely 6 pages (not like the ~1,000 web page preliminary software), you would possibly as effectively learn the entire thing for your self right here.
We’re going to deal with widespread misconceptions about this deeper within the submit. The underside line for now could be that the sort of request is widespread in a mission of this nature–we’ve simply by no means seen something of this diploma since Walt Disney World hasn’t undertaken a mission that might displace a lot stormwater capability (no less than to our recollection) since we’ve been masking development. If I recall accurately, a number of of the DVC initiatives located on Bay Lake and/or Seven Seas Lagoon have obtained related requests, however I don’t recall which offhand (not the brand new Island Tower).
Massive image, the SFWMD actually desires to know extra in regards to 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, complete 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 title), so it’s unsurprising that these are the character of their considerations. They need to be certain the development received’t end in flooding inside or exterior the development space because of misplaced stormwater runoff capability.
Additionally they request affordable assurances that the proposed mission is not going to adversely influence 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 make it possible for 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. (Do not forget that bear that broke into Magic Kingdom? SFWMD desires to make sure Disney isn’t pulling a “Bambi” and killing his buddies within the title of Automobiles.)
Maybe most curiously, the SFWMD desires Imagineering to “discover sensible design modifications to scale back or get rid of opposed impacts to wetland features,” as a result of the appliance doesn’t sufficiently show that Disney has adequately pursued website plan alternate options that get rid of or scale 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 influence 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 for those who rely subparts) that want clarification or supplemental data. However that is the final gist of it and, once more, you’ll be able to learn the complete letter for those who’re involved with understanding the nitty-gritty of the problems.
The South Florida Water Administration District is requesting a “full response” that addresses all the drawback factors. If one will not be obtained inside 90 days of the letter, Disney’s software might be processed for denial. Imagineering can 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 the 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 largely cows, corn, and brownfields (very completely different places, fortunately). The animating concept however appears related.
My expertise was that the federal government receives requests, analyzes them and gives a little bit of pushback to justify their very own existence, the applicant clarifies (typically after the automated granting of a 90-day extension to allow them to collaborate with counsel about how little data will be shared to fulfill the request), and no matter is submitted is finally rubber-stamped. Everybody will get what they need ultimately, albeit with further 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 complete state is mainly one big swamp–or is swamp adjoining. My impression (each firsthand and oblique) is that the state is pretty mild on authorities forms and useless pink tape, however water administration is one factor that’s correctly scrutinized. And for good motive.
That’s mainly what that is. Imagineering must do extra work to clarify how water administration is not going to be adversely impacted, show that they’ve carried out their due diligence in analyzing alternate options, and clarify that they aren’t killing any lovable animals that folks love (three-eyed fish are in all probability advantageous–minimal cuteness issue).
Now for what this isn’t. We’ve already heard loads of hypothesis and wishful considering from followers about how the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District or the State of Florida might mainly current insurmountable limitations that kill the mission. Even previous to this letter or any allowing, I noticed some recommendations that fairly 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 will not be 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, defend 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 large initiative is restoring the Everglades.
With that mentioned, the CFTOD of late 2024 additionally isn’t the identical CFTOD of this similar time final 12 months. Loads has modified there, and the management is now not adversarial to Walt Disney World. Ditto DeSantis. It’s nonetheless actually a far cry from how issues had been beneath the Reedy Creek Enchancment District, however it’s gotten quite a bit 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 occurring. Maybe through the top of DeSantis vs. Disney, however not now. I don’t assume the optics among the many common public can be the identical as they’re amongst some Disney followers.
The upside in endeavor this battle from a tradition battle 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 particular person caring about saving Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America from a historic or ‘Americana’ perspective. After all, I’ve been flawed about the sort of factor earlier than.
For my part, what’s more likely is that South Florida Water Administration District will not be 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 vital delays and prices spiraling past what was initially budgeted.
If something, that’s what’s most probably to let the air out of the tires of the Automobiles land mission: money and time.
I’m not suggesting that may trigger Imagineering to return to the drafting board and even that it’s extra seemingly than not. On the contrary, I’d put the possibilities of this mission getting the greenlight from the state kind of as conceived at over 90%. I’m simply saying that if there may be some foundation for this not occurring, it’s in all probability the SWFMD having reputable foundation for slow-rolling the mission, and Disney shifting into a special route in consequence.
As for the titular query, Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America haven’t any cut-off date at current. Walt Disney World has solely indicated that work will kick “into excessive gear” in 2025, however earlier than then, that “company could have loads of time to expertise the appeal and nostalgia of Frontierland as it’s right now.”
Beforehand, our guess is that this implies these closures wouldn’t happen till after Easter 2025. We additional speculated that Magic Kingdom would possibly 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 well-liked upon debut and can want ample viewing area throughout its opening summer time alongside the promenade in Frontierland. Building partitions up on one facet of the walkway would cut back viewing capability. (See Building & Openings Timelines for New Lands, Rides & Additions at Disney World.)
At this level, there’s no motive 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 mission, since this can be a pretty routine request. If Imagineering doesn’t promptly file a response and if the SFWMD doesn’t rapidly approve, I do assume we will rule out a closure of the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island round Easter 2025. However which may’ve by no means been the objective 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 development proper across the debut of Disney Starlight Evening Parade. (Whole apart, however the spot above was a private favourite for ‘atmospheric’ viewings of SpectroMagic or MSEP. Observe that the picture is definitely a protracted publicity of the streaming lights of the parade. I stay up for watching Starlight from the identical location.)
Additionally take into account that it’s not like this mission will get accepted, and partitions go up round Rivers of America the very subsequent day. There’s presumably a good quantity of backstage prep and website work that could possibly be undertaken even earlier than the waterway is drained.
I don’t purport to be an professional on any of these items, however 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 the sort of factor earlier than–and it might lengthen the period of time followers must say goodbye to those areas whereas additionally lowering visible blight till it’s completely crucial.
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 chance that the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island might be secure by no less than Easter 2025, however that was in all probability at all times the case.
I’d take {that a} step additional and predict that, no matter this request, you in all probability have till no less than 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.
After all, my actual hope is that Imagineering goes again to the drafting board fully and finds a solution to protect the promenade and waterfront. I can settle for dropping Tom Sawyer Island and the riverboat, I assume, however paving over that stunning 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 data? Do you anticipate that Imagineering will make main revisions and adjustments to the mission, or just supply 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 Automobiles land? Or, are you in wait and see mode with this? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions—even once you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
