Entrance Waterfall at Animal Kingdom?

[Orlando Resident]

I recall in AK's early years there was a captivating gigantic waterfall feature at the main entrance of the park just over the Rainforest Café building, I recall this being an incredible first impression and the waterfalls looked so real and blended in so well with the lush theming. I noticed that a couple of years back the waterfalls appear to have been permanetly turned off (or perhaps even removed?) and fully covered with landscaping and trees.. Does anyone recall this? Was there a reason for this change? What happened to the Waterfalls???

[VWL Mom]

The waterfalls were part of Rainforest Cafe. Some thoughts are that as the foliage grew and began to block out the falls, they changed them to the rock formation with 2 small falls. Others suggest the operating cost was just to high. I would guess it's a mixture of both.

[Orlando Resident]

I am surprised that there wasn't more talk about this, I always thought the waterfalls looked incredible and majestic, I was shocked when they disappeared. I finally found some pictures online, here they are:

http://members.tripod.com/~SaitoNews/rainfor2.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/framedanddried/346033975/

[Coleby]

Were they turned off when Florida hit the big drought and they were conserving water? I remember when just about every fountain/water feature was turned off to conserve water.

[Orlando Resident]

Is there a better forum to post this thread in?

[Gator]

I remember from my first few trips that I could hear the waterfall but couldn't see it for all the trees and plants. I always wondered what happened to it. It's something they should've kept in place for sure.

[DNS]

Wow, I am not remembering this at all.

[Orlando Resident]

Hopefully this well help jog some memories.. The waterfalls were even illustrated on the park maps, the newer versions of the park maps no longer have the waterfalls as seen in the before and after links below:

BEFORE - Notice the Waterfalls clearly illustrated to the left of the Park Entrance

AFTER - Notice the Waterfalls are no longer there and were replaced with a small-scale illustration of the pool in front of the Rainforest Café and a rock-type formation where the waterfalls used to be.

[DNS]

I am going to have to go back and look through my pictures to see if I can find anything. It is just not clicking for me.