Overview
- Crews have fully drained Echo Lake to give workers access above and below the waterline for a refurbishment centered on Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner and the SS Down the Hatch boat.
- Scaffolding now wraps much of the SS Down the Hatch’s midsection down to the emptied lakebed, and photos show drainage hoses and only shallow puddles where water once stood.
- The exposed hull and nearby features show visible wear, including faded paint, streaking on the boat’s lower panels, and heavier erosion and staining on Gertie the Dinosaur’s normally submerged base.
- Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner has remained open to guests and perimeter signs reading “Please Pardon Our Appearance” mark the fenced work zones.
- Disney has not released a detailed scope or completion timeline, leaving reporters to document conditions on site and underscoring that draining a lake is a standard way to inspect and repair waterfront structures during routine maintenance.