Disney World Is Closing Rivers Of America Today. Of Course, Fans Have A Lot Of Thoughts

For quite some time, we’ve been aware that Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island would be parting ways with us, making room for exciting new offerings at Walt Disney World. The moment has finally arrived. After the Fourth of July holiday, the beloved theme park chose to bid farewell to this classic attraction, but today, on the final day of its run in the parks, fans are expressing their feelings freely.

Change is something I can’t escape, but it doesn’t make the feelings associated with alterations in theme parks any less real when they occur. Some enthusiasts are grappling with these emotions currently, and have been expressing their sentiments on X (previously Twitter), essentially cherishing the sights before the river permanently shuts down.

Enjoying the panorama of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad while aboard the Liberty Belle, before this breathtaking scene vanishes for good once Rivers of America undergoes permanent closure at Magic Kingdom.

Many express a sense of nostalgia for the charm that the Rivers of America attractions, such as the boat rides and islands, brought to the parks. This sentiment seems to be rooted in the lasting memories people have created over years or even decades at Disney World. When one user described the attraction as “timeless” and lamented the potential loss of its dynamic allure, another fan echoed this feeling.

These distinctive, intricate, peculiar yet enchanting watercraft navigating the Rivers of America are something extraordinary that only Disney’s Magic Kingdom can pull off due to their complexity. It’s one of the many features that sets the Magic Kingdom apart from other theme parks.

Some enthusiasts are still quite bitter about the upcoming closure of the attraction that debuted when Magic Kingdom initially welcomed visitors back in 1971. A particularly disgruntled post drew attention online, and it resonated with comments such as “Brilliantly articulated emotion” and “The most heartfelt ones hit home.

Happy 4th of July to everyone except the jerks that decided to remove the Rivers of America.

Some people are asking the decision-makers behind Imagineering to reconsider their forthcoming changes, particularly the introduction of the beloved Pixar series “Cars” into the Magic Kingdom. As the ride is scheduled to close today, it seems that new plans may already be well underway, but this request certainly highlights the feelings of some Disney World visitors.

Those who express gratitude towards the Rivers of America with phrases like ‘Thank you for the memories,’ might not be aware that it wasn’t necessarily required to change. It seems that nobody desired this alteration. This situation suggests a sense of loss that Disney has seemingly experienced.

Recently, Florida theme parks have undergone significant transformations. The debut of Epic Universe, the shutdown of Muppet-themed areas, and now the disappearance of Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island are just a few examples. These changes affect not only attractions but also photo spots and restaurants that have been park fixtures for decades. It’s clear to see why long-time visitors might feel a sense of nostalgia, as many of us have enjoyed the riverboat rides or explored the man-made caves at some point in our theme park experiences.

There’s good reason to look forward to the alterations in Frontierland. A fresh phase is about to begin – not immediately, but soon enough – and it could offer a chance for new families to create lasting memories. If you happen to be at the parks right now, you might want to take one more cruise along the river before the change sets in.

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2025-07-06 19:37