pirate island?

[starbox]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-sawyer5oct05,1,2668579.story?coll=la-mininav-business

Somehow, I missed this rumor. Maybe more reason for a DL DVC...........
Then again, it seems like they'd change WDW eventually too.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

The article is right about today's kids not knowing who Tom Sawyer is.... and a pirate theme to the island would be more recognizable to today's kids. It sounds like an interesting idea, but I'll hold my opinion until the rumor is confirmed with more detail on what will make it a "pirate themed island"

I did take offense to the authors claim that kids today don't read... my kids DO read.... alot... and have never read Tom Sawyer. The reason is that there is so much quality children's literature out there, and not enough time to read it all. Plus, my older son started to read Tom Sawyer, but could not understand the slang in the book, so he stopped reading it.

 

[canda]

The article is right about today's kids not knowing who Tom Sawyer is.

I did take offense to the authors claim that kids today don't read... my kids DO read.... alot... and have never read Tom Sawyer. The reason is that there is so much quality children's literature out there, and not enough time to read it all. Plus, my older son started to read Tom Sawyer, but could not understand the slang in the book, so he stopped reading it.

I know that "Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn" is not allowed in my school district. It is thought to be racist and intolerant. It is likely the same across the country. So I don't think it is kids fault for not knowing Tom Sawyer.

 

[rantnnravin]

Many of my ninth graders have no clue who any of the past presdients are either....i guess HoP will be the next to go

 

[dianeschlicht]

Many of my ninth graders have no clue who any of the past presdients are either....i guess HoP will be the next to go

Good point, but it Disney thinks POTC is a better theme for Tom Sawyer Island, you better believe that's what will happen. It's all about promoting the latest film craze, and this one looks like a certainty to me.

 

[rantnnravin]

Good point, but it Disney thinks POTC is a better theme for Tom Sawyer Island, you better believe that's what will happen. It's all about promoting the latest film craze, and this one looks like a certainty to me.

I guess it's the difference between buying "classic" clothes at Ann Taylor and "disposable" clothes G&G/Rave...Sure, G&G may cater to the trends, but the clothes fall apart after two washes (or less) and are "out" 3 months later anyway.

ETA: and... if they do to TSI what they did to PoTC, It will be a sad, sad day indeed. Pirates was one of my favorite rides, and now, even though i DO appreciate the new animatronics, the attraction is unsatisfying. By removing the song, there's a LOT of "dead" time between scenes, which makes it seem much shorter and makes it less catchy-you don't leave humming the tune, longing to go back on -- sort of like how they destroyed the Tiki Room....but i digress...

 

[Entropy]

The source there is Al Lutz...rhymes with nuts.
That guy has had a bad case of Disney Derangement syndrome for a long time ever since he was kicked out of Disney's Creative Advisory group after he lost it after Light Magic premiered. He started Mouseplanet but they kicked him out. Read his stuff on Miceage, it reads like a vendetta against Disney management with a few grudging compliments thrown in. As far as his predictions go, read back a few years and see how much he has predicted based on "inside sources" has come to pass. You'd be better off going to your neighborhood crystal ball gazer.

 

[starbox]

As far as his predictions go, read back a few years and see how much he has predicted based on "inside sources" has come to pass. You'd be better off going to your neighborhood crystal ball gazer.

But, there is the survey that some people received:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1232998
which sought opinions on a character meal experience with Jack Sparrow.

Re-reading the description Disney posted - it sounds like it would work perfectly with a TSI makeover - since TSI already has restrooms/food service facilities and a cave. The survey said the boat would dock from "a resort" , but perhaps that was just to throw off the rumors, since saying it would depart from the lagoon near Adventureland would sort of give it away.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Tom Sawyer's Island has already been "tweaked"; no more war canoes, no more Mike Fink Keelboats! I think that if kids today were polled on name recognition, Jack Sparrow and Barbarosa would win, hands down, over Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
While many of us are sentimental (hey, I admit I miss the original Figment ride......I still sing the song ), Disney has to stay current with today's world, not necessarily Walt's. It may be , but as a DVCer, I want WDW to keep appealing to my kids and grandkids!

 

[crisi]

Its very odd.

When my eight year old son was three he was obsessed with pirates. We tried to do a pirate birthday party, and pulled it off, but it took lots of creativity on my part. We bought the four pirate books I could find. There were few pirate movies. It was hard to fill his pirate needs.

Now we are deep into a "pirates are popular" cycle.

While I know Disney has added Jack to PoTC, they've been around long enough to understand fads - even the ones they create - are cyclical (Fess Parker and coonskin caps anyone?). I have my doubts that they'll spend too much to jump on this fad when the third movie is only a year away and a year after that this will be "Jurrasic Park."

I think Tom Sawyer Island is still appealing to kids. My kids know who Tom Sawyer is (they read an "I can Read" version of the fence painting story in first grade). Classics are classics because they are durable. Mark Twain isn't going anywhere. And the island has very little to do with the story anyway - its really all about the cool bridges, neat caves, paths you can get "lost" on safely when you are six.

 

[crisi]

But, there is the survey that some people received:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1232998
which sought opinions on a character meal experience with Jack Sparrow.

Re-reading the description Disney posted - it sounds like it would work perfectly with a TSI makeover - since TSI already has restrooms/food service facilities and a cave. The survey said the boat would dock from "a resort" , but perhaps that was just to throw off the rumors, since saying it would depart from the lagoon near Adventureland would sort of give it away.

That description sounds like the old Discovery Island. I'm sure a lot of work would need to be done out there, but at one time it had restrooms and limited food service facilities - and docks from resorts. At one point Discovery Island was "Treasure Island" and had a pirate theme.

 

[DonnaL]

I think Discovery Island would require too much work to make the cut.....however, River Country just might be workable as a pirate island......true, not an island, but, I'm sure Disney Imagineers could make us think we were on an island.

 

[starbox]

I think Discovery Island would require too much work to make the cut.....however, River Country just might be workable as a pirate island......true, not an island, but, I'm sure Disney Imagineers could make us think we were on an island.

Except that the article suggested that DL, not WDW would be the first to get a pirate island. If it's something TPTB are planning for both parks, I'd bet on TSI because they could use the same basic imagineering.

Of course, it's all just rumors.