Thoughts on Cars Land replacing Tom Sawyer Island at The MK

[whiteness]

Disney should put something like Redwood Creek Challenge Trail there. It would really fit in thematically, I think.

My family and I actually enjoyed that play area more, and certainly visited more often.

 

[Tink-osophy]

It's definite, then?

I'm sad.

Things like Tom Sawyer Island; the riverboat; the old shooting gallery; the frontierland feel of the Fort Wilderness cabins are the kinds of things that create(d) atmosphere and set WDW apart, so that it's not just another concrete theme park with rides.. That may not show up on spreadsheets, but it doesn't mean it's not (wasn't) there.

I've always been over to TSI on my trips, but, even if I hadn't, it was scenic and atmospheric -- both things that were important to Walt and both things that, originally, put Disney parks in a league of their own.

You know how kids often love the little playgrounds around the resorts as much (sometimes more!) than the parks? It's because they are less stressful, freer, more relaxed... Places like Tom Sawyer Island provided that for kids, but also for adults. IMHO, we need the option for those stolen moments at Disney, especially as they keep making the parks experience more competitive, expensive and hard work!!!

 

[Tink-osophy]

Just for clarity: I like the ideas of the new lands and attractions; just not the loss of Tom Sawyer Island.

I might have to chain myself to the Swiss Family Treehouse!

 

[BrianL]

Just for clarity: I like the ideas of the new lands and attractions; just not the loss of Tom Sawyer Island.

I might have to chain myself to the Swiss Family Treehouse!

I do get that, and I am a little sad to see the island go too, but I get it. Personally, I might have tried to come up with something that hewed a little closer to the original, while still making some very needed changes. At the end of the day though I can accept it.

 

[Tink-osophy]

Hold on! I've just read again. Does this mean they're draining and removing the river completely? ...So, just more concrete? ETA: And more concrete, with less greenery and water = hotter.

 

[Tink-osophy]

I hadn't heard about this and I wondered if this thread was even correct initially, but I see there's been an announcement made.

I agree with the above, it's not so much the attraction going away that bugs me, but the dramatic impact of energy change and the loss of the rivers that I question. Part of what has always been respected as a storytelling device is the building of excitement/tension, releasing the energy, a bit of a wind down and then the excitement starting to ramp up again. It seems as if there is zero attention left to the importance of that slower pace within the telling of the story.

The attraction may turn out to be very enjoyable in and of itself, which would be wonderful. A big part of the Disney difference used to be taking it that extra step further, leading guests deeper and deeper into a web of magic spun all around by the totality of the experience that gave context to moving from outer space into a fairy tale land, etc. I wonder how much understanding of those types of ideas still exists within the company these days -- and how much determination there is to follow up on it?

So well said.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I'm generally pleased with all of the new editions that were announced at D23. Some personal thoughts on the matter...

• I haven't set foot in this area in adulthood. I didn't have my first visit until the mid 80s and I was 11. I know we did this once, but I have very little memory of it and while it's something to do, it was always sort of a filler thing that nobody wanted to do.
• Only one of my kids has done it. My younger one was 2 and my older one had just turned 5. The older one was finally tall enough to ride the 40" attractions, so I got to take her that morning. DH used Tom Sawyer island to pass the time with the younger one, but none of us have felt the urge to go back since that trip.
• It's one of those areas that's really visually pleasing. It breaks up the monotony, gives me sort of a relaxed feeling, and is nice to photograph. So, I will definitely miss the vibe and visuals.
• While I hate seeing old classic things go to make way for the new, this doesn't hurt my feelings the way it did when I found out Galaxy's Edge was a death sentence for Osborne Lights.
• I like, but don't love Cars, but have found that I don't need to love the IP to love an attraction.
• This is the D23 WDW Parks announcement that excites me the least. Yes, even a new nighttime parade tops a Cars expansion. I am hoping that the music will incorporate at least some of Baroque Hoedown. The Villains land and the door coaster for Monsters Inc in HS is far more exciting to me. I have been talking about how an inverted door coaster was a no-brainer for the parks ever since we saw the movie in theaters.

Edit to add that I think I'll miss the Liberty Bell more than the island.

 

[cabanafrau]

Hold on! I've just read again. Does this mean they're draining and removing the river completely? ...So, just more concrete?

That's an aspect that seems particularly unpleasant about this to me. However I do have to say that for WDW specifically it may be that over time a river in the middle of the park presents some unique problems that management feels would be best addressed by removing the river. I do not know this to be the case, just something I have wondered about several times over the years and am merely speculating.

You were absolutely correct above, they do need to be mindful not to become just an endless expanse of concrete with rides. Trees are a definite must IMO.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

The river, TSI, Liberty Belle were all Walt’s ideas and it’s so sad to see them destroyed. It doesn’t matter if you’ve ridden the boat or not the river itself contributed positively to the aesthetic of the park. Theyre just trying to shove IP everywhere at the expense of original attractions. I guess nothings sacred. I’m worried for all of the other old, classic attractions. Why destroy when they can expand? I’m still not over the great movie ride lol

 

[flowergirl45]

Has there been a date announced for TSI to close? We visit every trip, and ride the Liberty Bell too.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Has there been a date announced for TSI to close? We visit every trip, and ride the Liberty Bell too.

No.

 

[slo]

The river, TSI, Liberty Belle were all Walt’s ideas and it’s so sad to see them destroyed. It doesn’t matter if you’ve ridden the boat or not the river itself contributed positively to the aesthetic of the park. Theyre just trying to shove IP everywhere at the expense of original attractions. I guess nothings sacred. I’m worried for all of the other old, classic attractions. Why destroy when they can expand? I’m still not over the great movie ride lol

I do agree with this, but who knows why they aren't expanding. Maybe there's something really big on the drawing board that they need to expand for - it'll be interesting to find out. And I agree about the Great Movie Ride - I really miss it too, even though Mickey's Runaway Railway has captured my heart and I need to ride it like 3 times while I'm there - LOL!

 

[slo]

Has there been a date announced for TSI to close? We visit every trip, and ride the Liberty Bell too.

Not that I've seen, I just hope it's after March 2025, so we can make up for lost time and ride the ferry and visit the island.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I'm sad to see the river and the Liberty Belle go, I have to say. We enjoyed the peace of the riverboat ride...but I guess, no, I know, I'll like whatever takes its place. I'm not due to go until December of 2025, so I guess it will be gone by then.

 

[GJD86]

I'm a huge Disney nostalgia nerd, so I'm pretty bummed out that RoA and TSI are soon to be no more. Like others have mentioned, the ambiance that the river and Liberty Bell provided so much to Frontierland.

But I also realized:

-In 25+ visits to WDW, I haven't ridden the river boat or went to TSI since I was a child (in the 90s). I'm seeing this seems to be a common theme.​

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-Even during my last visit, which involved my 3 year old nephew and 4 year old niece, no attempt was made by anybody to visit TSI. We were far too busy doing other things. This also seems to be a common theme, many here and on other Disney fan sites indicate that TSI is a ghost town these days.​

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-Disney seems to have been interested in deleting the whole Frontierland theme for a while now. Once they decided Splash would become Tiana's Bayou, they started slowly winding down the "frontier" theming all together (removing the Country Bears, the Shooting Gallery ect..)​

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So looking at it from a logical standpoint, I can see why Disney is choosing this path. However, I am also excited to see this new Cars land as the land in DCA is great. I am sure the new land will be awesome, but I also agree with others that there is a need for some type of preservation of certain "classic" Disney attractions.​

 

[BrianL]

Hold on! I've just read again. Does this mean they're draining and removing the river completely? ...So, just more concrete? ETA: And more concrete, with less greenery and water = hotter.

It looks like there is still some water on the south side facing Fronteirland, but in general, yes, there will be no "river" encricling the island, it will be filled in to conntact to the mainland.

 

[Figment Mom]

I actually cried a little bit this morning when I read the news. I was really hoping they'd leave TSI alone and possibly build behind HM.

I'm the same age as WDW. I have great memories of TSI from childhood. Whitewashing the fence, eating PBJ sandwiches at Aunt Polly's, exploring both caves - even the very scary pitch black one, traversing the barrel bridge, and shooting from the fort (pre-BTMRR).

Of course all that nostalgia is great, but the even greater part of TSI for me is that my own children adore it. We laugh every time we dock. "A bump, a tug, a swing, and a couple more bumps." We literally spend more than an hour there on each MK day. It's a must-do for us. It is such an amazing respite from the crowds of the park (which, I understand, is part of its downfall) and is a unique place to explore. We sit and play checkers. They love to play hide and seek tag at the fort. And did you know they have amazinging cold bathrooms at the fort?

After our most recent visit a few weeks ago, I realized that my younger son does not know the story of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. So we went to my mom's house where she has a complete set of Mark Twain's works with a publication date of 1917 (original copyright of 1875). It was a treasured possession of her grandfather. My son very excitedly got the copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer that belonged to his great, great grandfather and we brought it home for him to read. I have Disney to thank for that.

I was so looking forward to returning to TSI in the future (trips two years apart are pretty reasonable for us) so he could see TSI through fresh eyes after reading the novel.

I guess we'll be taking our first trip to Disneyland now.

With all of the land that they have in Florida, I really wish they wouldn't take away such a beautiful part of MK. My family will sorely miss it.

 

[fla4fun]

I am disappointed. TSI is well themed and provides the perfect backdrop for the transition from Liberty Square through Frontierland. It also doesn’t reflect heat, like filling it in and paving it over will. I think they could have added to MK without removing it completely.

 

[gottalovepluto]

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.

There won't be an island or a river anymore according to DPB post with expanded concept art here

 

[GAN]

So much for instilling a little creativity into children! As well as a place to go to get away from the park crowds…..