Discovery Island??????

[loopner67]

Who remembers Discovery Island?

I ask because I just dug out (of the attic) our honeymoon pictures from Disney and we went to "Discovery Island" (I even took a picture of the sign, so I'm sure that was the name!). It was a place with animals and wild life shows? I *think* it was somewhere near the campground?

I just wanted to reminisce, so if anyone remembers about this place and can fill in the blanks for me, that would be great. Was it really an island? If so, then where is it located? Any idea when they closed it? Just curious!

Thanks in advance.

 

[disneynutt1225]

Here you go:

http://waltdatedworld.bravepages.com/id21.htm

I like the rest of this site as well. It's pretty neat.

 

[WDWLinda]

We went there once...lots of parrots. I think you walked through on a boardwalk and looked at animals. It was on a real island in the lagoon (Seven Seas lagoon?) between the Contemporary and the Wilderness Lodge. There was a thread on this a while ago...don't remember why they closed it, probably just wasn't too popular.

~Linda

 

[dgaston]

It was just outside Ft Wilderness. They even used to sell combination tickets to River Country and Discovery Island. The parrots were moved to AK. You can still see the docks on the boat to WL and FW. Good memories there!

 

[TommyTutone]

I only went once, with my wife, probably a year before it closed. A shame as spending time there, and discovering it for our first time, it was easily our favorite part of Disney.

Somewhere, I need to dig it up, we have photos of each of us absolutely COVERED in Sun Conjures, the colorful birds that roamed the open aviary. One nibbled a hole in my shirt, but it was absolutely worth it to have a dozen on arms, shoulders, back of neck, and top of head.

Being a 'hidden gem', it broke my heart to see it go, and while we enjoy AK, it is very much not the same experience and the rides detract from the nature.

 

[MinnieGi]

I remember visiting Discovery Island as a child. I remember the bird paths and the wooden plank boards you walked on. We were just at WLV and you can see the "island" in the middle of Bay Lake very easily. As we rode the boat to FW and CR you could still see some of the structures on the island. I thought it closed once Animal Kingdom opened.

 

[loopner67]

How awesome that so many of you responded already. Thank you Chris for the link - it was very interesting to read and I'll probably end up poking around that site now that I'm totally addicted to everything Disney (again).

It's great to hear your memories of the place. I have pictures of the reptile/bird show and I remember how it was very interesting. I also remember that on a 7 day honeymoon, Discovery Island was a nice diversion for an afternoon. Again, I'm not shocked that it's gone now that AK has been built. I'll be on the look out for the island out in the bay now! I love nostalgia.

 

[Tracey1974]

Oh gosh- I went there in 1993 and it was in a combo with River Country. I do remember lost of birds! It was a nice diversion. I think I still have some of it on video!

Wow time has flown.....

 

[reeeoga]

Went there the year before it closed. I still have the map somewhere. does anyone else remember the wonderful Smell that the island had?

 

[Earstou]

That was one of my favorite places at WDW! I was so sad to find out it closed. I remember the walk-thru aviaries and boardwalks, the bird shows and holding a parrot, the flamingos and big turtles. It was a nice peaceful retreat.
Last time I was there was in Sept. 1994 with my dh and dd. It poured on us, but we knew to take ponchos, so we kept going. People were so jealous of our ponchos, yelling "where did you get those?"! They were hiding under the eaves of the buildings waiting for the rain to stop. Then after it stopped raining, there were vultures on the beach with their wings spread open drying!!!

 

[HLAuburn]

I remember the vultures sunning themselves on the beach.

 

[Pigletlover]

I remember they had those unusual animals called capybaras, which are now at Animal Kingdom along the Oasis trails when you first walk in.

They also had beautiful bright red Scarlet Ibis birds in the aviary, also moved to Animal Kingdom's Oasis trails. They weren't there on our last visit in December however, and a cast member told us they had taken them away because the many white ibis kept stealing all their food.

 

[cancilla]

My wife and I loved Discovery Island. We went there on our first trip to WDW together, back before we were married (we've been married 14 years), so it was quite a while ago.

My fondest memory is of the birds that we dubbed the "stupid turkeys." They were these birds that would walk around backward, kicking dirt and fallen leaves until they had built a gigantic mound of the stuff in which to lay eggs.

We spent hours there and saw very few other guets.

Years later, when we went there again, the Island had changed a bit. There were more restrictions on where you could walk, and we didn't see as many critters. Still enjoyed it, though!

--Dominick

 

[MJMcBride]

I was there for the last time on my honeymoon. It was a great quiet place. I know why they closed it (who would go with AK). But its still kind of sad.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I was there with my parents and DB in '97 and we had so much fun walking around and learning about the animals. It was so peaceful - a great break from the crowds. Some of my favorite photos from that trip were taken at Discovery Island. My dad used up at least 2 rolls of film trying to get "just the right pictures" of all the birds and animals.

I remember a bird show there that I think was similar to Flights of Wonder at AK now. Does anyone else remember this?

 

[Pigletlover]

I was there with my parents and DB in '97 and we had so much fun walking around and learning about the animals. It was so peaceful - a great break from the crowds. Some of my favorite photos from that trip were taken at Discovery Island. My dad used up at least 2 rolls of film trying to get "just the right pictures" of all the birds and animals.

I remember a bird show there that I think was similar to Flights of Wonder at AK now. Does anyone else remember this?

I remember a birds of prey show they had there with seating I think. Also they would have little parrot shows on the footpath, where they would do some tricks, but no seating.