Tom Sawyer Island

[minnie4me]

Have been to WDW many times, but never once been to Tom Sawyer Island. This coming June, after a 5 night cruise, we are planning on visiting Disney for a few days. DS will be approx 7 & 1/2 so I am figuring this would be a perfect attraction for him. What are some highlights, what can mom do while DS is adventuring? About how much time would you plan for the experience?

 

[TimandTanya]

There are caves, a fort, foot bridges over water, it's just a really neat place to play. There are some benches to sit and rest, but we usually find ourselves running along with our DS8, and having fun with him. We fight Indians attacking the fort with the guns that make a firing sound, we explore the caves and take tons of pictures. One of our absolute 'must do's' when we go.

 

[Wall-E1]

There are caves, a fort, foot bridges over water, it's just a really neat place to play. There are some benches to sit and rest, but we usually find ourselves running along with our DS8, and having fun with him. We fight Indians attacking the fort with the guns that make a firing sound, we explore the caves and take tons of pictures. One of our absolute 'must do's' when we go.

I couldn't agree more. Being on Tom Sawyer's Island is like living the childhood that we never had, but always wished for.

 

[Sam's_Mom]

Do you have to take a raft to the island or is it connected by a bridge. We have been to Disney many times but never to the island.

 

[YourMajesty]

Including the raft ride to and from I would plan 1 1/2 hours? My two boys always enjoy this attraction.

 

[wmharley]

you take a motorized raft... this was the first time we took DD5 there.. she enjoyed it..

 

[Mickeypooh99]

My kids love Tom Sawyer Island. It such a great break for us. There are plenty of places to explore and play. We go there every time.

My kids have read Tom Sawyer too. I think it really connected for them on the last trip when they were 5 and 6.

 

[princess lovers mom]

some nice spots to sit in a rocker and play checkers too

only way over is the raft...if you are on the first raft over for the day you can hunt for hidden paintbrushes and turn it in for a fast pass !

 

[cmaee]

We did this on our last trip. Our kids loved it. The caves were a huge hit...although, I didn't like them because it had rained and there were all kinds of huge puddles in them that you couldn't walk around...yuck! The kids really liked the fort and had a huge battle with people attacking the fort.

It is really big island, with only one way on/off. We helped a girl who looked about 10ish who was really upset because she couldn't find her parents. They got separated and she was just running frantically trying to find her parents, crying and quite upset. We had her sit down at the docks and waited with her while my DH walked around trying to find her parents. Her parents walked up to the dock looking for their daughter, but were not too overly concerned as they walked up but were shaken up to see that their daughter had been so upset. I guess they had told her if they got separated to just wait for them at the dock and she forgot or got confused when she couldn't find them anywhere. If your child goes into the caves, go with him if he is isn't old enough to be on his own. They come out of the cave in other places than where you went into them, so you could be separated for awhile trying to find each other.

 

[kappyfamily]

We are going back in December and just last night we all agreed this was the 1 "must see" that all 4 of us HAD to do again. We love this spot.

 

[jb01]

I would plan about 2 hours. If your son is all alone you might want to tag along with him. You'll also have fun.

 

[Conan the Librarian]

I love going into the caves, but, I have a phobia of getting caught in them. It takes me a bit of winding up to get into them.

The whole of the TS Islands (there are two!) are quite fun and you never can tell what will be around the next corner or bend in the tunnel. Ft Langhorn is nice because there is usually no one in it. A oasis in a desert of humanity as it were.

 

[Micca]

Is Aunt Polly's still on TSI?

 

[PoohsFan1]

We are going back in December and just last night we all agreed this was the 1 "must see" that all 4 of us HAD to do again. We love this spot.

Same here. My DH and I have been on the island when we were both young and had never taken our DDs on it. So last night we all sat down and were discussing the attractions that we had never seen/been on that we would like to do this trip and we all decided that we wanted to do Tom Sawyer Island....we are all very excited about it....I think we will try to go early in the morning so we can look for the paintbrushes too (DH had never heard of this and would like to do it).

 

[WEDWDW]

Is Aunt Polly's still on TSI?

No,unfortunately instead of Aunt Polly's Dockside Diner,it is now "Aunt Polly's Dockside Vending Machines"!Whenn they closed Aunt Polly's it really took away from the overall TSI experience.

Below is some good information for anyone interested in (The Great Tom Sawyer Island Paintbrush Hunt".

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2303666

 

[MicheinMA]

Sounds like a must do for us in April when we are down.

 

[SydneyFalco]

I'm happy to see all this love for the island. Y'know, I'm constantly defending TSI from remarks about reusing the space, but my position in entirely philosophical. I haven't actually BEEN on the island since I was a kid in the seventies.

 

[Wall-E1]

One thing that my son and I always do on the island is make our way to the fort, and sit down for a game of checkers.

 

[gortman65]

Does anyone know if Tom Saywer Island is open during MNSSHP?

Thanks!

 

[Wall-E1]

No, it closes at dusk.