Can anyone please tell me about Tom Sawyers Island?

[karensi]

I just saw a brief mention of Tom Sawyers Island on a post on FB and I'd like to know more.
We were just at WDW with my 3 grandsons and I'm sure they would have enjoyed this but I didn't even know it existed.
Actually I thought there was a Tom Sawyers Island, or something similar that no longer existed.
So where and what is Tom Sawyers Island?

Thank you

 

[FastPasser.]

From MDE:

Brave an adventure all your own at this rustic, secret hideaway inspired by the stories of Mark Twain.

Adventure Awaits!
Journey by log raft across the Rivers of America and discover an idyllic place influenced by the works of Mark Twain. Arrive at Tom’s Landing and embark on a self-guided expedition into the heart of early America.

Wander dusty dirt roads lined with sycamore and oak trees and amble across creaky suspension bridges. Navigate narrow passages amid secret mined caves and uncover an age-old fort. Along the way, follow in the pioneering footsteps of the frontier’s early settlers, during an era when Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer reflected an America coming into its own.

Pick Your Path
You’ll find adventure aplenty around every corner of Tom Sawyer Island. During your tour, be on the lookout for some of these legendary sites:

Harper’s Mill
Behold a giant waterwheel on the outside, and an homage to one of Disney’s earliest animated films, The Old Mill, inside.

Injun Joe’s Cave
Trek through the tight rocky passageways of this forgotten cavern, where strange fossils and jetting stalagmites mingle with a haunted pit.

Fort Langhorn
Explore this early frontier settlement, which includes a blacksmith shop, a watch tower, stables and an escape tunnel.

Potter’s Mill
Cross a crooked bridge to this wooden mill that offers a picturesque view of the Rivers of America and Frontierland.

Tom Sawyer Scavage Fort
March over a small bridge, slide through a tube and enjoy the view from this fort designed for children under 12 years of age.

 

[Surgie2]

Actually I thought there was a Tom Sawyers Island, or something similar that no longer existed.

You might be thinking of the long-ago water park called River Country. It was modeled after an old fashioned swimming hole as in the days of Huck Finn. It closed at least 15 years ago. But Tom Sawyer's Island is alive and well.

 

[karensi]

Thank you both.
Surgie, you might be correct, that I'm thinking about River Country. Was that in MK? I'm thinking about a place that also had a type of cave and kids could explore and I think if they found a paint brush (or some type of treasure) they got a small prize. IDK, am I losing my mind?

 

[sharonabe]

Thank you both.
Surgie, you might be correct, that I'm thinking about River Country. Was that in MK? I'm thinking about a place that also had a type of cave and kids could explore and I think if they found a paint brush (or some type of treasure) they got a small prize. IDK, am I losing my mind?

That IS Tom Sawyer's Island and it's right in the middle of the lagoon in MK. The Liberty Belle boat goes around it. You can see a good deal of it as you stroll from Haunted Mansion to Big Thunder. I don't know if they still hide the paint brush, but I know they used to.

 

[karensi]

That IS Tom Sawyer's Island and it's right in the middle of the lagoon in MK. The Liberty Belle boat goes around it. You can see a good deal of it as you stroll from Haunted Mansion to Big Thunder. I don't know if they still hide the paint brush, but I know they used to.

Thanks so much sharonabe. I actually feel kind of bad. My 11yo grandson is really into Disney and watches a lot of youtube about different things at Disney. We were just there in November and he was asking about Tom Sawyer's Island and I told him it wasn't there anymore . I'll have to tell him he had the correct info. I'm sure all 3 of my grandsons would have enjoyed this.
Oh well, we'll just have to plan another trip.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

My nephew LOVES it. There is a fort, the barrel bridge, caves to explore, a secret escape tunnel from the fort, some playground items, pretty much little boy heaven.

 

[EdmondD]

Thanks so much sharonabe. I actually feel kind of bad. My 11yo grandson is really into Disney and watches a lot of youtube about different things at Disney. We were just there in November and he was asking about Tom Sawyer's Island and I told him it wasn't there anymore . I'll have to tell him he had the correct info. I'm sure all 3 of my grandsons would have enjoyed this.
Oh well, we'll just have to plan another trip.

Aw...I'm sure you gave them a great trip, anyway.

I have a 7yo son and we always carve out an hour or so over there. It's just a great way for kids to burn off some energy in an uncrowded, woodsy environment. You feel like you're kind of remote, even though you're right there in the MK. Barrel bridge, playground, fort with rifles that actually still have a shooting sound effect (I can't believe Disney hasn't taken these out yet), an escape tunnel from said fort.... etc. It's a great way to just take a break from the park.

 

[CWdreamer]

Tom Sawyer Island is such a nice break from the crowds in MK. The last time I was there with my boys, we spent time on the island, then as we were getting ready to board the raft, it started to rain. They don't run the rafts in the rain so my son and his dad played checkers for a bit. He still talks about that!

 

[CarolynFH]

FYI to get there you take a boat from the landing across from BTMRR. It would be easy to miss if you were focused on Splash & BTMRR and especially easy to miss if you didn’t go to that corner of the MK at all!

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

My nephew LOVES it. There is a fort, the barrel bridge, caves to explore, a secret escape tunnel from the fort, some playground items, pretty much little boy heaven.

All 3 of my kids loved it (DD9, DD7, and DS5). Definitely a good place to turn the kids loose in the afternoon when they’re tired of waiting in line.

 

[HyruleHero]

Tom Sawyer's Island is one of my favorite places in MK. It's a great place to escape the crowds and have a lunch at some of the tables. Once you enter the Island, on the left, is a porch overlooking Big Thunder Mountain with a few rocking chairs.

 

[Cornish Lad]

Aw...I'm sure you gave them a great trip, anyway.

I have a 7yo son and we always carve out an hour or so over there. It's just a great way for kids to burn off some energy in an uncrowded, woodsy environment. You feel like you're kind of remote, even though you're right there in the MK. Barrel bridge, playground, fort with rifles that actually still have a shooting sound effect (I can't believe Disney hasn't taken these out yet), an escape tunnel from said fort.... etc. It's a great way to just take a break from the park.

Nice to see that the rifles have not fallen to the pc brigade - my 16 year old daughter and my wife had great fun with them way back in 1990.

 

[Meridagal]

Is there a fence around the island? I have a 2.5 boy who is quick on his feet. I plan on staying with him the entire time but a mama worries. My 6 yr old love it.

 

[mesaboy2]

Is there a fence around the island? I have a 2.5 boy who is quick on his feet. I plan on staying with him the entire time but a mama worries. My 6 yr old love it.

There is no literal fence around the island, but I can’t think of anywhere that there is easy access to the water. Millions of previous families with quick-footed young boys have managed to stay dry.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Is there a fence around the island? I have a 2.5 boy who is quick on his feet. I plan on staying with him the entire time but a mama worries. My 6 yr old love it.

I agree with @mesaboy2 - although between the caves and passageways, your kids can get out of your sight very quickly which can be a bit unnerving. DS (5ish at the time) ran me ragged all over that island one time!

 

[DisneyFive]

All I can say is that during our first trip to WDW we almost lost our kids(3, 6, and 8 at the time)... and my MIL there. There are lots of twists and turns and some cave like things, and the kids got just a little ahead of us and when we rounded a twist in the path, poof, they were gone! It was actually a little unsettling and a mildly scary event. Well, then my MIL decides to take off on her own searching for them (without letting my wife, or my FIL know ). We found the kids pretty quickly but then she went missing for a good 15 minutes.

Haven't been back since. So, moral of the story, keep a close eye on your loved ones on Tom Sawyer Island. On the other hand, it's a great place to ditch someone if they are really driving you nuts!

Dan

 

[GADisneyDad14]

All I can say is that during our first trip to WDW we almost lost our kids(3, 6, and 8 at the time)... and my MIL there. There are lots of twists and turns and some cave like things, and the kids got just a little ahead of us and when we rounded a twist in the path, poof, they were gone! It was actually a very unsettling and a mildly scary event. Well, then my MIL decides to take off on her own searching for them (without letting my wife, or my FIL know ). We found the kids pretty quickly but then she went missing for a good 15 minutes.

Haven't been back since. So, moral of the story, keep a close eye on your loved ones on Tom Sawyer Island. On the other hand, it's a great place to ditch someone if they are really driving you nuts!

Dan

Funny post. And I completely agree!!!

 

[L&Lfan]

Thanks so much sharonabe. I actually feel kind of bad. My 11yo grandson is really into Disney and watches a lot of youtube about different things at Disney. We were just there in November and he was asking about Tom Sawyer's Island and I told him it wasn't there anymore . I'll have to tell him he had the correct info. I'm sure all 3 of my grandsons would have enjoyed this.
Oh well, we'll just have to plan another trip.

Not to sound snarky, but did no one see it in the MK guidemap?

 

[EdmondD]

Oh yeah, we lost our 5yo for a good 20 minutes or so. Kind of a rite of passage. Just have a seat and he/she will come running by at some point.