Treasure Island?

[inloveindisney]

I just bought an old disney map from 74 and it has an attraction called Treasure Island. Can anyone tell me more about this? Is the island still there? What did you do once you got to treasure island? Sounds kinda neat.

 

[WeatherbySwann]

Where was it located on the map? Was it in MK or out in the middle of Bay Lake? If its in Bay Lake, then it was most likely what later came to be known as Discovery Island, which had a display of animals. Now it's closed and overgrown. However, if it's in MK, I'm not sure what the attraction was.

EDIT: According to Wikipedia, Discovery Island was indeed once known as Treasure Island when it opened on April 8, 1974.

 

[inloveindisney]

No, you're right, it was in Bay lake. How neat. Wonder why they let it go?

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

It was there on my very first WDW trip ever in 1996. We took a boat from Wilderness Lodge. It was an island with animals. I remember we saw a bird show and some crocs. on the island. I think once Animal Kingdom opened most, if not all of the animals were relocated there and Treasure Island just closed down.

 

[inloveindisney]

Just found this link: http://home.cfl.rr.com/omniluxe/trislnd.htm
I can't believe it was around until just a few years ago! My husband and I were talking and once we saw the date we couldn't believe we didn't remember it. We weren't fanatics at the time, though so I can see how something like this might have been missed.

 

[Robo]

It was there on my very first WDW trip ever in 1996. We took a boat from Wilderness Lodge. It was an island with animals. I remember we saw a bird show and some crocs. on the island. I think once Animal Kingdom opened most, if not all of the animals were relocated there and Treasure Island just closed down.

 

[huntconn]

I remember going to Discovery Island as a kid. I always thought it looked kind of cool and mysterious with that small ship wreck on the beach. But once we got there, I thought it was pretty boring actually. I remember it was mostly birds, which to me are fun to look at for like 5 seconds! Especially at the age of 8 or so. Too bad they can't come up with something interesting to do with the island now.

 

[inloveindisney]

You know, it's in a perfect place to tie it in somehow with the resorts and the campground nearby.
I'd like to just get dropped off there for a while to explore! I bet a lot of the old bridges, etc. are still there. I'm going to pay more attention next time I float by. I'm usually looking the other way (trying to catch a glimpse of water country). totally missed this island in the past.

 

[Robo]

You know, it's in a perfect place to tie it in somehow with the resorts and the campground nearby.
I'd like to just get dropped off there for a while to explore! I bet a lot of the old bridges, etc. are still there. I'm going to pay more attention next time I float by. I'm usually looking the other way (trying to catch a glimpse of water country). totally missed this island in the past.

I always do check out the island as we pass by.
It is so densely overgrown, you can't see much at all.

 

[bellazachmom]

While staying at VWL last September I spoke with one of the boat captain CMs about this island as we made the rounds and headed to MK. The boat was empty except for our family so we had quite a nice conversation. He had been working for Disney for over 25 years and had often piloted the boats that went to Discovery Island. He said that he was sorry to see it go and that most of the structures had been removed when it closed so that it could be allowed to return to it's more "natural" state and that it pretty much served as a wildlife refuge now. You will sometimes see Disney "animal staff" docking at the remaining dock because they still monitor the tagged birds and wildlife that live there, however they now live there bacause they choose to not because they are kept there.

 

[catsrule]

Been on Discovery island a couple of times before it closed. They had animals and did some small animal teaching type shows. There were benches in different areas and they would bring out some animals. I remember the snake one. They also had a place to eat near the beach, and some hammocks. It was nice to go to for a couple of hours in the afternoon in the middle of summer because it was very shady.