Tom Sawyer's Island- Adult rest stop?

[AZMermaid]

We are planning on visiting Tom Sawyer's Island during our trip in June. My kids will be 6.5 and 5. Is this a place where we need to follow them around or can we find a bench and rest while they play and run around?

On a helicopter scale of 1-10, with 10 being VERY attached... I'd give myself a 3. I let my kids play out front without me when they are playing with the neighbor kids (my son more than my daughter- I started letting him do this around 5 and she isn't there yet, but if he is out too... I will let her go, but I check on them more often). My kindergarten son goes to the men's restroom 75% of the time if it is just us- based on the location. My 4 year old goes to the out of sight snack bar by herself at her brother's baseball games. When we go to the mall play area... I find myself a bench and watch- and have since they were toddlers. So.... I am not a hoverer in general. But, I realize Tom Sawyer's Island is much bigger than my local park or mall play area. So... is this a place where we can rest our feet or do we need to stay with them?

 

[DisHmsklMom]

I'd recommend you stay with them. It's a large area with a good number of people scrambling all around it. You also would not be able to just sit and watch them, like at a playground area. We actually enjoy wandering the island with them and watching them discover everything.

 

[Wendy12]

I would rate myself a 5 or higher on the helicopter scale. We make our way to the fort for the boys (6 and 9) to run on their own while DH and I have a rest. This is one of my kids' favorite places in MK.

 

[Amii]

I saw an alligator in the water where Tom Sawyer's Island is. I went and told someone at one of the carts and they said they would take care of it. We went by it again a while later and they had closed the island for the day.

I am not a clinger but there is no way I would let my granddaughter go to the island.

 

[noblemaidenfair]

We love Tom Sawyers Island, but I wouldn't let them go unsupervised. There are a lot of places to get lost, including the dark tunnels. The best place to let them play while you rest your feet would be the water area by Dumbo. In June, they'll love that

 

[kappyfamily]

I agree with the above. We love TSI but wouldn't let my kids go without supervision. The alligator/snake factor now has me more concerned then ever. I know if I was a critter that's where I might hang out...,

 

[2pinwheels]

I gave them a lot of slack there. I sat nearby. But, my son tripped on an uneven surface and cut his stomach. He was crying and bleeding. Left a scar.

Keep bandaids and antiseptic spray on hand.

Next time, because of the gators and the fall my son took, I'll probably hover a bit more.

But, I think I'll try to let them think that I'm not hovering. They like the freedom to explore and can't wait to go back. They've asked about going back. It's top of their lists.

 

[NinaBella]

We are planning on visiting Tom Sawyer's Island during our trip in June. My kids will be 6.5 and 5. Is this a place where we need to follow them around or can we find a bench and rest while they play and run around?

On a helicopter scale of 1-10, with 10 being VERY attached... I'd give myself a 3. I let my kids play out front without me when they are playing with the neighbor kids (my son more than my daughter- I started letting him do this around 5 and she isn't there yet, but if he is out too... I will let her go, but I check on them more often). My kindergarten son goes to the men's restroom 75% of the time if it is just us- based on the location. My 4 year old goes to the out of sight snack bar by herself at her brother's baseball games. When we go to the mall play area... I find myself a bench and watch- and have since they were toddlers. So.... I am not a hoverer in general. But, I realize Tom Sawyer's Island is much bigger than my local park or mall play area. So... is this a place where we can rest our feet or do we need to stay with them?

I am not a fan of TSI. I don't see it as a rest stop. You won't have visibility of the kids to let them roam on their own and TSI gets pretty crowded too and the paths are narrow. You would be better off letting them play at the playground or waterplay area while you sit and can supervise from a bench.

 

[CaliTex]

I agree with not letting them go unsupervised until age 10 or so. I'm not a terrible hoverer (is that a word?) but that said, the alligators and snakes just...yeah. I go with them.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

It is a big area with lots of nooks and crannies to hide in. It would be too easy for someone up to no good to pull something. Plus the critters.

 

[North of Mouse]

We are planning on visiting Tom Sawyer's Island during our trip in June. My kids will be 6.5 and 5. Is this a place where we need to follow them around or can we find a bench and rest while they play and run around?

On a helicopter scale of 1-10, with 10 being VERY attached... I'd give myself a 3. I let my kids play out front without me when they are playing with the neighbor kids (my son more than my daughter- I started letting him do this around 5 and she isn't there yet, but if he is out too... I will let her go, but I check on them more often). My kindergarten son goes to the men's restroom 75% of the time if it is just us- based on the location. My 4 year old goes to the out of sight snack bar by herself at her brother's baseball games. When we go to the mall play area... I find myself a bench and watch- and have since they were toddlers. So.... I am not a hoverer in general. But, I realize Tom Sawyer's Island is much bigger than my local park or mall play area. So... is this a place where we can rest our feet or do we need to stay with them?

Definitely would watch and stay right with them.

 

[JonesFamilyTravels]

We are regulars to Disney World (almost weekly). My kids are really familiar with all of the parks. I will not even let them wander around Tom Sawyer by themselves. There are way too many hidden spots without people and/or Cast Members.

 

[SA mom]

Our twins were 6 on our first trip. We would explore TSI in sections. We would sit in an area and let them explore, then move on. We went through all the tunnels with them.

Our kids aren't adventurous as some, so they are pretty good about staying near by.

 

[Bob Dolewhip]

Okay, so now I am afraid to go to Tom Sawyers island...

 

[2pinwheels]

Okay, so now I am afraid to go to Tom Sawyers island...

Don't be. It's a lot of fun for them. Just stay with them to see what it's like.

Mine love it.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

You could do that once you get to the Fort, but the rest of the island is just too big. We usually go through the two caves and then spend most of the time at the Fort anyway.

 

[North of Mouse]

Okay, so now I am afraid to go to Tom Sawyers island...

Why? It's no different or more important there to watch your children and keep them with you than anywhere else. We never felt any unease there.

 

[crazylady]

I think my kids were 6 & 9 the last time we went over there. I gave them freedom over at the fort but I was not comfortable with them running around the other areas so we stuck together.

 

[Kat-n-Mouse]

I am no longer chasing after young children, and I love going over there just to rest. (I sit in shady rocking chairs and just chill.) I was not a helicopter parent and I did let my kids have some slack, but I have to agree with others on this board, there is some trouble for kids to get into on the island unsupervised. On our visit in August I saw two 7-8 year old boys climbing up very high (about 15 feet or so) above the walking path on some boulders and they were making me very nervous. I had no idea where their parents were and one of them almost fell. If that were my child or niece or nephew, I would have been crazy with worry seeing them in such a perilous place. Definitely visit, but you'll have to keep up with them to some extent. It's bigger than you realize and not necessary in the Disney bubble of "everything is perfectly foolproof and safe." My other favorite "resting" places at MK were the Railroad, the People Mover and if it's hot, kids always got a nap in the Hall of Presidents.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

We finally let my niece and nephew run feral on the island last trip. They were 12 and 10. It was my nephew's favorite thing of the entire trip, so much so that on our second day at MK that's all he wanted to do. It worked out great, really. My dad was already exhausted from the trip so he napped on the island while my nephew ran wild, and us girls got to run off and do our own thing.

There are often alligators in the water near there, but even with recent events I'm still not concerned about it. Considering the millions of guests (and thousands of gators) that have visited wdw over the last 45 years, I really think the recent tragedy was a freak accident. With the layout of the paths on the island, it would be really difficult to accidentally get near the water.