Ft Wilderness - shoe tree leaving dock

[newholidayx2]

Whats the story behind the "shoe tree" leaving the Ft Wilderness boat dock?

 

[disneygoof]

It has to do with retirement ceremonies for the boat captains.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I knew the tree existed but have not been able to find it, guess I have to look harder next time we are at the Fort . As the other poster stated, When a boat captain on the Seven Seas Lagoon/Bay Lake retires or leaves the company, the tradition is to leave your shoes in the trees Many attractions have silly things like that, although most are out of sight.

 

[mx55mom]

We saw it from the boat and the captain said it was a tradition of the college kids who worked there during the summer. When they left to go back to college they threw their sneakers. He also said that lots of the sneakers disappeared after the hurricane. Sounded like a good story to me

 

[JCA1970]

Our family also saw it on our way to MK. We sure got a laugh out of it and I'm glad they have it. I wonder how many people don't even see it!

 

[Rhonda]

We saw it on our last trip, and had no idea what it was! LOL!

 

[ynottony99]

Is that one of the trees out in the water by River Country?

 

[michelle9343]

Thats funny. I figured it was just some of the CMs having fun. Were I grew up, there was a telephone wire that the last day of middle school the kids would throw thier old gym shoes on. It was like that for my entire childhood. So when I see the tree in the lagoon it makes me think of simpler days

 

[ktmdad450]

We were there 3 weeks ago and one of the captains said it was for the retired captains. They throw their shoes on the tree the last day of work.
Yes, it is the tree by River Country. You really can't miss it. Its a tree sticking out of the water and has a bunch of white tennis shoes on it.
The only way to see it is by boat.

 

[NHcampers]

Here is photo from screamscape