Tom Sawyer Island

[snowman]

Do you let your kids explore on their own while you enjoy a rocking chair? Or do you keep them in eyeshot? Something in between?

 

[Thumper1066]

Rock away! If they are old enough to get themselves off the school bus and home, I would. They just need to have an awareness to their surroundings. Would you put them on other rides?

 

[GEM]

Up until age seven or so, I followed. After that, I sat and rocked. Lol. He's just turned 13 and still loves Tom Sawyer Island. These days I still sometimes go over and sit and rock. Or sometimes I let him take the raft over on his own while I do some shopping or something.

 

[ajfd]

The dock facing BTMRR is our happy place. We get off the ferry and tell the kids to meet us there in 20 min intervals.

Our game is to see how many BTMRR riders we can get to wave at us on each train.

 

[soniam]

We let him go now, started at 9, but with a watch, so that he can meet us at a certain time and place on the island. Otherwise, he will be gone the whole day.

 

[Disneylover99]

My kids are 9 and 12 now, but they've been going off together for the past few years. I love to relax on Tom Sawyer's Island. I like to sit and face the Haunted Mansion.

 

[conandrob240]

I never thought to do this. I think they are directionally challenged but it might be a good learning experience (reading the map). Does it concern you that there are many nooks and crannies there that are hidden from sight?

 

[jawa7400]

We are going to try this for the first time in June! We will follow DD5 and DS3.

 

[snowman]

Thanks all. DW and I have only been there once and didn't go any further than the rocking chairs at the docks. DS will be 8 when we go. If it was a play ground I would ride a bench, wasn't sure if this was that sort of area. I guess we will play it by ear but I'm glad to know that other parents let their kids run.

 

[EdmondD]

Our 4yo disappeared from our sight for awhile, though not because we intended it! It was for about 10 minutes and my wife was nearly in tears. I told her that aside from getting eaten by an alligator, what was the the worst that could happen on this isolated piece of land? Probably not the best effort at humor. We eventually found him, running through the fort at top speed and grinning like mad.

All that said, I would imagine that on our next trip, when he'll be 6 3/4, we'll probably let him have a fair amount of freedom.

 

[Minnesota!]

Thanks all. DW and I have only been there once and didn't go any further than the rocking chairs at the docks. DS will be 8 when we go. If it was a play ground I would ride a bench, wasn't sure if this was that sort of area. I guess we will play it by ear but I'm glad to know that other parents let their kids run.

I love TSI. We love going to the fort and playing checkers while the kids run wild within the fort. There are tunnels and "lofts", etc. It really is a good, contained place for the kids to burn off some energy and parents to restore their energy!

 

[Gillyrose779]

My kids will be 5 and 6- we will still follow- mainly b/c they are crazy boys that are in a climbing phase. They egg each other on and I could see one climbing 10 feet up a rock wall or the lighthouse.

I think 8 is a good age to roam free but every child is diff. of course!

 

[BarbieGal457]

The dock facing BTMRR is our happy place. We get off the ferry and tell the kids to meet us there in 20 min intervals.

Our game is to see how many BTMRR riders we can get to wave at us on each train.

My boyfriend is your biggest fan, then! He loves trying to see how many people he can get to wave back at him when we're on a ride!

OP, I may be remembering incorrectly but I think there is a little play area near the top portion of Tom Sawyer Island. I am almost positive it was there when we visited in December. It wasn't anything full-blown like you'd find at home but I'm pretty sure it had some climbing elements and such. I remember looking at it because we were looking for a bench to rest on! If I am remembering wrong I apologize. Maybe you could let your little one(s) run around and let off some energy there if you aren't sure about letting them run around the whole island themselves (though it's not super large).

 

[Schilltastic4]

I love Tom Sawyer Island! I think it's often overlooked because it's not a "ride" but it's such an awesome spot. Our kids are old and have freedom but some of that is because all the uneven paths trigger my vertigo, the first time we went I almost lost my mind in the cave because of the pitch of the floors/walls. The kids that it was HYSTERICAL that I was sick over walking!

 

[SeeDisney]

Really appreciated reading this thread. Never been on it, didn't know about the rocking chair. i will rest as my boys, husband and brother will explore.

 

[DisneynBison]

I rocked away last trip. I also needed to wait while my daughter and wife road BTM so I stayed and rocked some more while they took the raft across and went and road. A nice relaxing hour of my vacation. Man did I piss off this Brazilian lady though. She kept walking by in front of me giving me a dirty look then would start complaining to the girl with her. I just smiled and listened, they didn't know that I actually have spent time in Brazil and understand some Portuguese. Couldn't figure out a word though once she really got worked up and I figured it would have been rude to ask her to speak slower so I could understand what she was saying about me. So I just closed my eyes and rocked away till that dang horn from the steam ship went off right in front of me dang near made it so nobody wanted to sit in that chair anymore. When I did get up she rushed over and sat down. I guess in her mind I wasn't suppose to be their that long. Yep I guess I was a rocking chair hog. Oh the Disney memories!!!!