Discovery Island

[Nanu57v]

My MIL says there used to be a place called Discovery Island that you could get to on a boat from Contemporary. I haven't a clue what's she talking about. Does anyone know?

 

[Tiffany]

My MIL says there used to be a place called Discovery Island that you could get to on a boat from Contemporary. I haven't a clue what's she talking about. Does anyone know?

She is correct. But, it was closed after the AK opened.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It is the small island that can be seen from the Contemporary, WL & FWC. It use to have some birds & other natural habbitat animals on. There was also a snack shop. They moved the animals over the AK when it opened. There was rumor that Disney was going to to put up cottages on there for "honeymooners" but nothing ever came of it... it was just a rumor. I had pass's to it when they closed it down that I never got to use. Disney was nice enough to allow me to change them in for pass's to River Country.. I used 3 out of 4 of them up....then guess what happened to River Country. I figured with my luck, if I was allowed to convert that to another park (or something), that one would close too So I have my River Country pass as a suvie

 

[AJKMOM]

It was a nature preserve of sorts. There was a bird show, snakes, and some other animals. In all our trips to WDW, we only went once because we mistakenly bought a package from AAA and had include it to get a discount on the car and room.

 

[krbq]

It's the island in Bay Lake, visible from the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness. It's been said that the island appealed to Walt Disney so much that it inspired him to build the Magic Kingdom nearby. Walt originally named it "Treasure Island" and wanted it to have a pirates theme. For years it was more like a zoo with birds and small exotic animals. When Animal Kingdom opened, many of the animals were moved there and Discovery Island was closed.

A CM told us that the company has since considered building honeymoon cottages on the island, but that doesn't seem to be happening. Another CM said that there are still animals housed on the island in training to be companions to physically challenged humans. When the doves used to be released at the Magic Kingdom flag ceremony and the Beauty and the Beast show, they would return in a large flock to their home on Discovery Island and, if you were watching from the Outer Rim in the Contemporary, it was a neat little show to observe. I understand the doves have since been retired.

 

[CharlesTD]

Yes Discovery Island is almost directly in front of the Wilderness Lodge and it was an incredible place my DW and I went a couple times while we were there on our honeymoon in 98 I wish they still had it open. I have heard that they are now using it as an animal rehab centre for AK.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It's the island in Bay Lake, visible from the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness. It's been said that the island appealed to Walt Disney so much that it inspired him to build the Magic Kingdom nearby. Walt originally named it "Treasure Island" and wanted it to have a pirates theme. For years it was more like a zoo with birds and small exotic animals. When Animal Kingdom opened, many of the animals were moved there and Discovery Island was closed.

It is never too late to change it to a pirates theme They can have the pirates cruise sail on over there That would be so cute for the kids....

 

[dspk]

Discovery Island was an interesting place to walk around. Very few people visited there and they had some interesting birds and animals. The wild turkey vultures (buzzards) took over alot of the beachfront trees and were not scared of humans, it was fascinating to see how dirty and ugly they were up close.

 

[blueangel]

I did a Disney nature program that took us to Discovery Island when I was younger. We basically got to run wild with nature books on a nearly deserted island. We also got to see where they shoot the fireworks off from...got to hold a baby alligator there. Way cool. I also did a Disney animation one...anybody else remember these? Would have been 1991 or so; they were working on Beauty and the Beast at the time.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I had wondered about Discovery Island myself....... I remember going there on my last trip in 1996, but had heard no mention of it here on the boards.... now at least I know I'm not crazy...

 

[DisneyChristmas]

If you rent a mouse boat, or pontoon raft, etc at one of the area resorts you can cruise past the island and see what's left.

About the discontinuation of the "homing" doves, I heard about a year ago that some sort of red hawk species had started hunting the MK show doves. The predators had become much too adept at picking them off as they returned from the castle-front shows.

 

[newholidayx2]

was there a direct boat from WL to Discovery Island? or was WL not even there then? was it being built?

2001 was our first stay at the Lodge and by then DI was closed. I did however visit DI when I was a kid.

 

[lovethattink]

was there a direct boat from WL to Discovery Island? or was WL not even there then? was it being built?

2001 was our first stay at the Lodge and by then DI was closed. I did however visit DI when I was a kid.

Not sure. I remember going to River Country, then hopping a boat over to Discovery Island.

 

[Hopefully]

I think the transportation to the island was the boat that travels to the MK from Fort Wilderness. It stopped at Discovery Island in each direction. We visited Discovery Island years ago when our kids were young on our first WDW trip, and we had a nice afternoon visiting.

 

[dizplanner]

I know in 1995 both Wilderness Lodge was there and Discovery Island as we stayed at Wilderness Lodge and spent an afternoon at Discovery Island. It was included in the hoppers we had and the kids needed a break from the parks. I know we took a boat over, but I can't remember exactly the route. But I suspect we went over from WL.