Thoughts on Cars Land replacing Tom Sawyer Island at The MK

[slo]

Well friends, it’s time for me admit to you all that I’ve been going to WDW regularly since 1976 (I was 6yrs old) and not only have I never taken the ferry to Tom Sawyer Islsnd, I have also never taken my girls (bad mom, I know).

With the announcement that the new Cars Land is coming to WDW, and that it’s going to be where Tom Sawyer Island is, I guess it’s time for me to go on our next trip. I always took for granted that it will always be there, but that is no longer true. I’m really kicking myself now, because me and everybody else, will be wanting to ride the ferry and go to the island before it’s gone forever.

What are my thoughts about this….. I’m excited actually. I know many like to keep things the original way, but change has to happen - it just does. As much as I love The Princesses, it’s nice to see some new attractions coming that aren’t Princess themed (which girls enjoy more), and attractions that are themed for both boys and girls to enjoy.

D23 had a lot of great announcements this year - it’s an exciting time to be a Disney Fan.

 

[BrianL]

The knee-jerk reaction is that I will miss it, but the reality is that the island isn't that popular. The concept for the new Cars ride looks amazing too! I am okay with it, though am generally more excited for Villains Land going in to the north of this.

 

[Kooks and Bay Bay]

I'm not a huge fan of Cars but also I feel like TSI is not an attraction that most even do these days so I don't mind it getting renewed life as a different attraction.

 

[Smugpugmug]

The super mega Disney nerds at D23 booing the Cars area announcement during the show made me laugh pretty dang hard but I can't say I'm very sad to see Tom Sawyer Island go. I've never actually been over there during all of my visits to WDW.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I loved the lack of development on Tom Sawyer Island and the peace in the middle of controlled pandemonium but oh well guess it’s time for progress to envision another look.

 

[rangerxenos]

I don't think I've been to TSI in decades. I remember visiting when I was a kid in the 70s, but I've maybe been there once since in all my trips?

 

[BrianL]

I'm not a huge fan of Cars but also I feel like TSI is not an attraction that most even do these days so I don't mind it getting renewed life as a different attraction.

I feel like the island could be more popular if it were more accessible. It's the rafts that keep me from going all of the time. Like, I don't mind taking it to go over there, but if I need to get back quickly, I am kind of stuck.

 

[gottalovepluto]

It’s a much better use of the land as it will add a good amount of capacity for all MK guests.

If you get nostalgic over it I highly recommend Disneyland’s ROA which is better than WDW’s anyway after they did the beautiful trestle work for the train during the Star Wars expansion and kinda plussed up the River. The river is also shorter so the attention span/boredom situation if you want to take kids on the boats is easier.

 

[TippyThomas]

Guess I'm gonna have to make my first trip a priority soon if I want to see it before it's gone.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thinking out loud here.....to get to the island now, you take the rafts. The Liberty Belle uses the waterway also. A Cars attraction would most likely be more popular than the island as it is now. How would they transport large numbers of people over to the island and back?

I'm more of a traditionalist, I would miss the island as it is.

 

[MGMmjl]

I don't ever remember going to Tom Sawyer Island, even when I was little. So, it doesn't really hold much nostalgia for me. I do like the Cars movies and am excited for the new attractions coming!

 

[jo-jo]

I feel like the island could be more popular if it were more accessible. It's the rafts that keep me from going all of the time. Like, I don't mind taking it to go over there, but if I need to get back quickly, I am kind of stuck.

We went over a few times when our kids were young. Not sure if grandkids ever went there. But now it's too hard for us to go.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I don’t like them taking out such old things when they have empty land to expand on. Looks like they also are going to get rid of rivers of America eventually which is upsetting too. The worst is getting rid of muppets for the monsters inc land. Looking forward to the land but not at the expense of the muppets. They keep saying they have all this land to expand….

 

[#1hoosierfan]

We have been to TSI only one time in all of our trips. We are huge Cars fans in our household, so I am looking forward to the changes.

 

[MGMmjl]

I don’t like them taking out such old things when they have empty land to expand on. Looks like they also are going to get rid of rivers of America eventually which is upsetting too. The worst is getting rid of muppets for the monsters inc land. Looking forward to the land but not at the expense of the muppets. They keep saying they have all this land to expand….

I don't think the location of the Monsters Inc. land has been confirmed. I've heard speculation it could be the Animation Courtyard area.

 

[BrianL]

I don't think the location of the Monsters Inc. land has been confirmed. I've heard speculation it could be the Animation Courtyard area.

Yeah, I don't think Monsters Inc. is going over Muppets, but rather the old Animation Building/Star Wars Launch Bay, so it will be kind of next to Toy Story Land.

 

[HokieRaven5]

I don’t like them taking out such old things when they have empty land to expand on. Looks like they also are going to get rid of rivers of America eventually which is upsetting too. The worst is getting rid of muppets for the monsters inc land. Looking forward to the land but not at the expense of the muppets. They keep saying they have all this land to expand….

Concept arts seemed to show 2 different designs, Animation Courtyard and the Muppet Area. I don’t think they were set on where it might go and were going to read into fan response before continuing on a path.

 

[Skippyboo]

Thinking out loud here.....to get to the island now, you take the rafts. The Liberty Belle uses the waterway also. A Cars attraction would most likely be more popular than the island as it is now. How would they transport large numbers of people over to the island and back?

I'm more of a traditionalist, I would miss the island as it is.

It would be filled in that would be my guess.

 

[Dan Murphy]

It would be filled in that would be my guess.

So Liberty Belle is gone then also?

 

[HokieRaven5]

As far as Rivers of America, I’ll miss the sights of it, but that’s it. Never went on the boat or to TSI that I can remember from my visits.

Adds new places that will be open for all park hours and further expands places beyond the hub to view the fireworks.