Every time I've been to WDW (10 trips), Aunt Polly's on Tom Sawyer Island is never open. I know everything says "open seasonally" but what does that mean? We're going the first half of August this year and I'm wondering if it has historically been open at that time.
Historically? Of course. Aunte Polly's was, once upon a time, open year-round. So was the canteen at Fort Sam Clemens.
Of course, times change. The canteen has been closed for
years now, the Fort is now named "Fort Langhorn" ('cause Sam Clemens is the cub pilot on the Liberty Belle Riverboat these days), and Aunt Polly's is also closed, home to the only two Coca-Cola vending machines in the Magic Kingdom.
Aunt Polly's is closed for good. The "Open Seasonally" bit is there to cover them should they decide to reverse their decision -- and there are a few things that could cause Aunt Polly's to reopen. But I don't see it happening.
It is inaccessible to 98% (or so) of guests.
Er, no. It's
accessible to just about anyone who chooses to board a raft and ride over to the island -- and it has been since 1973 or so.
Of course, you and I both know that
most guests (no doubt the "98%" you reference) will
choose not to go over to TSI, as there are no rides on the island, and rides/shows/attractions are plentiful these days at the Magic Kingdom. But still, hundreds, if not thousands, of guests visit TSI daily.
The reason Aunt Polly's is closed is simply that
it was no longer making enough money to justify keeping it open. WDW is a business, after all.
