What happened to Discovery Island

[blewits]

I was just watching Sing-A-Long Songs: Camping at WDW and they showed some scenes filmed at the old Discovery Island. I know that they closed it but I was wondering why, and what do they use the island for now? Does anyone know?

My husband went there the year before it closed and we thought it was a really neat thing to do. I miss it.

Thanks, Wendy

 

[jcriket]

I've read nothing goes on there now, however I thought the pirate adventure stopped by there. When Disney opened AK they closed the island, but Discovey Island lives on by name at AK.

 

[Mom B]

I still miss it too. The "new" one at AK is nice, but it's just not the same...sigh!

 

[Pixie_Dust]

I'm glad we got to see it before it closed, too. I could never get anyone to answer why it closed, but I too noticed it coincided with AK opening.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

The island and dock are still there. People will go out occasionally but not for anything official. It would be fun to get one of the boats and stop over there but I am sure that security would put a stop to that fairly quickly.

 

[bicker]

I believe there were some animals that could not readily be relocated, so perhaps the people we see visiting that island are checking up on those animals.

 

[DisFlan]

I recall a number of years ago that Discovery Island was sited for a number of infractions by either the state or the federal gov't re its official "conservation" standing. I don't know what happened with that, but it wasn't too much later that it was closed. Then AK opened and the island hasn't been used for much since. Seems like sort of a waste to me. You'd think it could be used for something - "pirate" picnics for kids or the like.

DisFlan

 

[bicker]

I don't remember reading about any serious infractions at Discovery Island, outside that would is typical for a small reserve in the US, until AFTER it was closed.

An isolated island isn't an efficient place to run a profitable theme park experience. I suspect the reason it was closed is because it was especially inefficient -- really a major waste of limited resources. Consider how few guests patronized it as compared to the number that patronize the comparable attractions at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park.

 

[SueM in MN]

I agree with bicker that it was a pretty ineffecient place/way to run a park. it was hard and time consuming to get there. It was also pretty small, so a fairly small crowd could fill the place.

 

[DisTeach1]

One of the rumors I heard was that the bird waste and droppings became dangerous to others and this was one reason the island was closed. Doesn't make sense, I know, it's just what I heard.

 

[bicker]

There's more than a kernal of truth in what you've heard. Bird droppings would play some role in any future use of the island. The bird sanctuary likely has caused such a concentration, that they could never (or at least not without great expense) turn that land over to use where people would come in any significant contact with the ground, such as would be the case if there was any truth to rumors about creating honeymoon villas there.

 

[WEDWDW]

Exactly what was on the island to do when it was open?What was the admission price?Thanks.

 

[bicker]

It was a nature preserve. I think the admission was a little more than $10 towards the end, but don't quote me on that.

 

[Hopefully]

We enjoyed visiting there years ago on our first rip to Disney - it was in the late 70's. We spent half a day there. The boat from the Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness made a stop there. This was the same trip that we greatly enjoyed River Country too! Ah things change ......

 

[Jsmply]

I asked about it to a boat driver one time when were passed it on our last trip.

He said it closed due to many of the things stated above (didn't mention the infractions though). He said the island isnt' a tourist attraction anymore, but I don't think its totall deserted. If I remember right I think there were still a few lights when we passed it back by on the boat later that night.