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Abandoned Disney World Park is a Real-Life Dismaland

Abandoned Disney World Park is a Real-Life Dismaland

By Erika Owen

April 07, 2016

Credit: Seph Lawless

Disney World has been engrained as a vacation destination for families since it opened in 1971. With that imagery comes thoughts of 3-hour waits in zig-zagging attraction lines, noisy restaurants, children running every which way, and costumed characters lining the street to Cinderella's castle. But somehow, all of this is part of the magic. When you strip away the crowds, vendors, and pomp, an amusement park quickly takes on the slightly eerie persona of a ghost town. This is exactly what happened to Disney River Country—a destination for families around the country that opened in 1976. The location was Disney's first water park and welcomed visitors until its last day in 2001. In all of Disney history, River Country is one of two parks that have permanently closed down, the second being Discovery Island.

So what does an abandoned Disney park actually look like? For one, it takes on an entirely new kind of beauty, completely taken over by nature and at the whim of the day's weather forecast. This is no longer a family destination. This is a real-life Dismaland.

Cleveland-based photographer Seph Lawless has made a career out of exploring decaying areas and sharing them with the world, much of which can be found in his book "Autopsy of America," highlighting the economic downturn's effect on our physical landscape. We've previously covered Lawless's adventures into a Wizard of Oz-themed amusement park, and a number of other deserted destinations. Ahead, the photographer's look into the overgrown space.

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Abandoned Pool

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Shower Area Outside Swimming Hole

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Overgrown Walking Bridge

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Abandoned Ropes Course

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Dried-Up Waterslide

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Pool Entrance

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Abandoned Pool

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Birds-Eye View of Waterslides

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Flower-Consumed Waterslide

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Lamp Post

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Abandoned Tire Swing

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Overgrown Pool

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Walking Bridge to Pool

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Overgrown Waterslide

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Limb-Covered Waterslide

Credit: Seph Lawless

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Abandoned Disney World Park is a Real-Life Dismaland

1 of 15

Abandoned Pool

1 of 15

2 of 15

Shower Area Outside Swimming Hole

2 of 15

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Overgrown Walking Bridge

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Abandoned Ropes Course

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Dried-Up Waterslide

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Pool Entrance

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Abandoned Pool

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Birds-Eye View of Waterslides

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Flower-Consumed Waterslide

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Lamp Post

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Abandoned Tire Swing

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Overgrown Pool

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Walking Bridge to Pool

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Overgrown Waterslide

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Limb-Covered Waterslide

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