Tom Sawyer - Totally Underrated

[hakepb]

My boys love it, to be honest I do not. I always get over there and wish to go back! I have to take a deep breath and "let it go" and let the boys enjoy.

As an adult, I kinda think it is almost a waste of space....but then one look at a boy's eyes while they are exploring Tom Sawyer island, and I realized, "Walt really knew what he was doing"

 

[JimmyV]

As an adult, I kinda think it is almost a waste of space

I have always found the inclusion of the river and island to be an odd choice (especially at Disneyland where space is at such a premium). If they got rid of the Riverboat and filled in the river, they would have enough space to build an entire new land the size of Adventureland. That's a lot of real estate devoted to a slow boat on a track.

 

[ghtx]

It's totally awesome. Also, it's the best place to eat a picnic lunch or dinner at MK - tables in a covered patio with a great view of the Haunted Mansion and a steamboat passing by every 30 minutes.

 

[hakepb]

I have always found the inclusion of the river and island to be an odd choice (especially at Disneyland where space is at such a premium). If they got rid of the Riverboat and filled in the river, they would have enough space to build an entire new land the size of Adventureland. That's a lot of real estate devoted to a slow boat on a track.

I can see that, but with Walt being Walt, transportation was / is a very big deal at Disneyland. You gotta have boats to go with the cars, trains and trolleys

 

[lovndisney12]

As a Mom of boys - no girls - we LOVED TSI when the boys were young. It was such a great break from the traditional park pace - kids could run around while parents sat and relaxed (or explored with them if they were too little to on their own). While I'm not saying girls can't enjoy TSI (I did as a child) - it is nice to have non Princess attractions. I believe attractions like TSI, Treehouse, Railroad, etc. are what make WDW different than other theme parks. It is a great complement to the rest of the park.

Wouldn't surprise me if all three of my guys, now 17, 14, and 40 something - ask to take a break there this December when we are at MK!

 

[texasroni75]

Finally made it over there on our last trip (trip #8!). Wish I had made the time for it before. Got some lovely pictures, my DD(13 at the time) loved sitting in the rocking chairs, and it gave us a nice little escape from the parade crowds, and we could actually see most of the parade floats from the dock. Plan on making some time for youngest DS to run off some energy there on our next trip!

 

[JimmyV]

I can see that, but with Walt being Walt, transportation was / is a very big deal at Disneyland. You gotta have boats to go with the cars, trains and trolleys

Oh, don't get me wrong. I love the fact that the island exists. I am just amazed that some Disney efficiency expert hasn't convinced anyone to pave paradise and put up a parking lot. For example, at Disneyland, they are going to struggle to shoehorn in a Star Wars Land and have already announced the closure of Big Thunder Ranch and Big Thunder BBQ. But if they announced the end of the Mark Twain Riverboat ride and used the river and island as their space for SWL, it would give them much more room to swing their light sabers.

 

[DisneyFive]

Nope, don't think we'll ever set foot on that island again after our first visit. Long story, but the kids got lost for a bit, then we lost my mother-in-law, was a crazy experience. Plus, nothing there really appealed to us.

Dan

 

[hakepb]

Nope, don't think we'll ever set foot on that island again after our first visit. Long story, but the kids got lost for a bit, then we lost my mother-in-law, was a crazy experience. Plus, nothing there really appealed to us.

Dan

That sounds like an accurate description of the nightmare known as the Honey I Shrunk the kids playground at DHS.

 

[DisneyFive]

That sounds like an accurate description of the nightmare known as the Honey I Shrunk the kids playground at DHS.

True that. Kids love playing there though, and I love the photo ops with the oversized bugs, film roll slide, etc...

Dan

 

[buzznina]

Our family really likes TSI for the caves but mostly for the barrel bridge. We usually wait til there is no one on it and then my 2 DDs will start crossing it and then I will proceed to bounce and shake the bridge. Everyone has a great time and they will make me do it over and over and over... It turns out to be one of our DDs favorite rides

 

[JimmyV]

1. Nope, don't think we'll ever set foot on that island again
2. then we lost my mother-in-law

Hmmm. Just thinking out loud here. But......never again?? Don't be too hasty!

 

[LisaCM614]

I don't hear a lot about Tom Sawyer but recently started doing it again. After a week in Disney, I'm a bit roller coasted out so I love hopping on the first raft over to Tom Sawyer and exploring when it seems like I have almost the entire place to myself, away from the crowds of Magic K.

Anyone else agree?

We do! To take that raft to Tom Sawyer Island is to transport you to another land within the Magic Kingdom.
My kids are teens and tweens now and maybe they don't play on the playscape but they love the cool caves, finding the diamond, exploring the Old Mill, going across bridges and going to the fort. Our last trip the girls played checkers at the fort. We sat in the cool, quiet and shade and had such a nice visit. Tom Sawyer Island is a truly interactive attraction.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We loved Tom Sawyers Island, Walt did indeed know what he was doing. When laying out DL Walt had given the assignment for TWI to some imagineers and they just didn't seem to be able to please him. So Walt took the blue prints of the island home one night and in that evening he layed the whole island out and it was built based on those plans.

My wife and I would love to let the kids explore and we would later sit on Aunt Polly's porch and drink ice cold lemonade!

AKK

 

[WEDWDW]

I also get a kick out of the VERY "old school" animatronics in The Fort!

 

[DisneyFive]

Hmmm. Just thinking out loud here. But......never again?? Don't be too hasty!

LOL! Love it.

Dan

 

[scrhsa]

It was the highlight of my recent trip . My sister and I "discovered" the guns that really make noise in the fort. And the mine shaft...totally empty. It was as if we were completely transported back to being kids. We certainly acted like kids When we went over and started to walk around we both said that it was like Walt looked into our minds as kids and built it just for us,exactly as we would have wanted it

 

[nilla]

If you could walk there, we'd probably visit it more often. We can't stand the raft, though. Far too long to travel that short distance. Plus, on hot days, it's horrible.

 

[Lucius Best]

If you could walk there, we'd probably visit it more often. We can't stand the raft, though. Far too long to travel that short distance. Plus, on hot days, it's horrible.

Agreed, the raft is brutal in the hot sun. But without the raft, if guests could just walk over, it would be way too crowded and wouldn't be enjoyable as a getaway from the typical afternoon mayhem surrounding BTMRR and Splash.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Actually if you could walk , it would no longer be a island!

AKK