Goodbye Tom Sawyer Island, Hello Jack Sparrow Island

[Mr. Toad]

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al100306a.htm

First, of all I would rather the more reputable Mouse Planet reported it first.

Secondly, if true I hope they at least keep the tunnels. Seems like a waste to get rid of them.

My reaction is mixed. The Island is in such need of a lot of work. Half of the really fun stuff is not even being used. But it holds a bunch of happy memories for me, over thirty years worth since my first visit there. I guess this is what Walt wanted though. Always changing, always moving forward. If they do it right, it could be just as much fun. Just hope it does not get as busy.

At least I might have one chance if February to visit Tom Sawyer Island again with my daughter in February unless it is completely under rehab.

[Wonderlicious]

I have nothing profound to say except:

THIS PROPOSAL IS EVIL.

[slave2moonlight]

This would be a tragedy, as much as I love Pirates! I just hope they don't do this at WDW, but it probably would follow suit. They are slowly killing Frontierland and all "classic" Disney subject matter! It's going to be nothing but PIXAR and Pirates before long! With a hint of Pooh and Princesses, of course. I'm a huge Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn fan, and I'll be sooooo broken hearted if they do this, especially if they do it in BOTH parks...

[Loomis]

While I definitely don't like to see the remnants of Walt's era disappear - especially in one of my favourite aspects of Walt's dream i.e. rampant Americana based around Crockett, Sawyer etc - I have to admit that the Island is in need of a refurb. Once you get over there, there is only so much you can do.

Now, while I would certainly enjoy seeing a Paris-style Pirates Island - and it is geographically close to the POTC ride - I am in two minds about the proposed changes. As I said, one of the chief appeals of Disneyland for me is the Americana aspects of it, and those stories that I enjoyed the most as a child were the Mark Twain ones. There is something whimsical about two young kids setting out on an adventure down the 'Rivers of America'. Further, the Island fits in so well with the existing theming surround the Island (the river, the Riverboat etc). To lose this would be a great tragedy.

By the same token, it makes perfect sense - at least perfect business sense - to add more Pirates to the parks. POTC is quite simply the biggest filmed hit that Disney has had in years. From a synergy standpoint, of course Disney are going to try and tie in all their business aspects - especially the profitable theme parks - with their profitable movies. For theme park fans it should all seem rather cyclical: the popular ride inspired a successful movie; which spawned successful sequels; which in turn inspired a refurb to the original ride and more attractions in the park. After all, some of the most enduring rides/attractions in the park have either been based on movies or originally served to promote those films. Lest we forget - Disneyland is not simply there for our enjoyment, it is there to make money, and it has always been a giant ad for Disney products when you think about it.

Having said all of that, more Pirates is not the answer. Disneyland is built up of a diverse series of rides and attractions that integrate almost seamlessly. An ideal solution would be to try and make Mark Twain relevant to the modern audience. These are classic tales we are talking about. The Uncle Remus stories have been made into Splash Mountain, something that I certainly wouldn't have associated with the stories as a child, but works perfectly and has become one of THE most popular rides in the park. If Disney can create something as bold and exciting for Tom as they did for Remus, then at least we'll all be happy on some level.

[slave2moonlight]

I feel the same about Disney's love of Americana. I love it too. I love the small town Main Street, New Orleans Square/Liberty Square, and I love Frontierland. I haven't been to Disneyland since I was like 5 or 6, so I can't say I am perfectly familiar with closeness of the various attractions. Therefore, since I visit WDW more often, I am more concerned with this happening at the Magic Kingdom. I mean, if it works in California, there's a big chance they'll try it in Florida, and I can see how easy it would be to transform the island into a pirate theme. The trouble is, in Florida, it would be very awkward. Tom Sawyer Island is surrounded by Frontierland and Liberty Square in Florida. A big Pirate Island just wouldn't look right there, as cool as it would be. I hope they realize that, because I'm a huge fan of Tom and Huck.

And speaking of Tom and Huck, it would seem that the only thing that would save Tom Sawyer Island would be a big hit Tom and Huck movie from Disney. Sadly, both stories were already turned into films by Disney in the '90s, and I don't think either one was a hit. Tom and Huck was little more than a Jonathan Taylor Thomas vehicle, though I still found it greatly enjoyable. The Adventures of Huck Finn, starring Elijah Wood, is a Disneyfied version of the tale, but it is easily one of my favorite films of all time (still gotta get the amazing soundtrack...). I don't think either film caused a rush to Tom Sawyer Island, sadly. And, it's true, the island could use something to liven it up a bit, but, actually, I always felt that it was a nice rest stop during a day at the Magic Kingdom.

[MickeyMousePal]

Maybe the Jack Sparrow Island will be a limited time thing only and Tom Sawyer Island will return.

If not yayayaya!!! I dislike Tom Sawyer Island....

[Loomis]

I can see two ways of making this work within the confines of Frontierland/Rivers of America.

1) They play up the Pirates of the Frontiers aspect of piracy, and make it a bit like Davy Crockett and the River Pirates. This would bring piracy into the park in a good way, and maintain the existing themes.

2) Follow the model set out in Disneyland Paris. Their 'Adventure Isle' has a Skull Rock motif going for it. This used to be the case in Disneyland, but times change. Still looks cool.

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

I only see two problems with this plan:

1. All of Frontierland and specifically, Tom Sawyer's Island, take place in the 1800's. I remember Keira Knightley saying in a documentary it takes place in the 18th century, even if she's wrong(she's probably not the most reliable person who worked on the movie), the 17th and 18th centuries are around the right time for stereotypical sea pirates.

2. It'd be a shame if every piece of land at every Disney park is related to a Disney movie. When Walt built Disneyland, the only lands dedicated completely to his characters were Fantasyland and (partly) Main Street. The other lands were meant to be dedicated to various things, from classic literature, to ideas about the future, to pure adventure. With attractions turning to movies now(though most are not popular I know, sometimes many people realize after they're made they're based on attractions ) it seems like every attraction will somehow relate to a movie one way or the other. I'd like to keep at least some material being able only to find at the parks based off of completely unique.

Aside from that though, I think this is an fabulous idea. I LOVE both Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and Tom Sawyer's Island is an area that needs quite a lot of work, it's a perfect match.

I think anybody who says this idea is "evil" are as every bit as sane as those whiners of the recent Pirates changes.

[Loomis]

2. It'd be a shame if every piece of land at every Disney park is related to a Disney movie. When Walt built Disneyland, the only lands dedicated completely to his characters were Fantasyland and (partly) Main Street.

I only think it is a shame if those movies that they base the attractions on are 'flash in the pan' films with limited appeal over time. POTC is unique because it was a Disneyland attraction first, then a series of successful films, and then this saw subsequent upgrades to the parks.

When you think about it, the entire theme park concept is primarily there to promot Disney and its empire of films. Main Street shops aren't filled with Looney Tunes merchandise after all!

Pirates now has a proven track record for its appeal. However, I agree that it is a fine line between cashing in on a movie and cynical marketing. The term 'synergy' has a kind of organic quality for me, and it makes perfect sense to play up the more successful films in the park. In fact, if they are all based on films, I still wouldn't mind. After all, one of Walt's original intentions was to have a film that you could literally walk into. What I do object to is ruining a perfectly good theme simply to make money. It's reality, I know, but Disney has been above that so far.

I should add, by the way, that none of this is 100% confirmed and is just a very good rumour until we hear otherwise.

[slave2moonlight]

I personally believe that once Disneyland was built, Walt was more focused on movies to promote the park rather than vice versa.
Actually, now it seems that the purpose of both the movies and the parks is to promote merchandise. Don't get me wrong, I love their merchandise. It's nice when all subjects work to support each other though, without sacrificing quality in one area with the purpose of a quick push for aother.

But, perhaps I'm being too cynical, which really isn't my nature (but the whole situation with 2D animation being practically wiped out by the suits has made me a little more so, plus all the park changes I haven't liked). Definitely, movies are made nowadays that seem to have the purpose of promoting the park. After all, that's what a movie like Pirates of the Caribbean does. Movies based on park rides are not an example of the park being there to promote movies. They're an example of movies that promote the park. It seems they do still try to make everything support each other, but when they get carried away, that's when things start to smell sour. The idea of drenching the parks in PIXAR, or Princesses, or Pirates, as much as I LOVE all those things, it might raise attendance for a while, but the over all quality of the park is lowered for the many folks who aren't obsessed with those particular subjects and visit because of so many others. You have the ride, Pirates of the Caribbean, and now it even has Jack Sparrow. That's going to bring your Pirate fans. Transforming Tom Sawyer Island into pirate island isn't likely to do it (unless they build a ride there, or some incredible new show). They're likely to just redecorate it. And, if that's the case, might as well leave it Tom Sawyer Island. A pirate island just doesn't make sense in Frontierland, just like Monsters Inc. doesn't make sense in Tomorrowland. And, seriously, no one is going to decide to make the trip to Disney World just to see the Laugh Floor Comedy Club. Honestly, they can add all the pirate attractions and themes they want to Adventureland in my opinion, but I really get annoyed when they stop caring about the existing themes of the parks.

However, I would be fine with it if they only do it in Disneyland. After all, Disneyland has New Orleans square, which is a place I can see pirates hanging out. I also think it makes sense to have some differences between Disneyland and Disney World, so Pirate Island at Disneyland and Tom Sawyer Island at Disney World works fine for me. I just don't trust them to do it that way anymore.... I'm glad that this isn't confirmed yet.

[goofystitch]

I always get irritated when I hear that stuff Walt was around for is changing, but then I think of his philosophy about the parks always growing and changing and evolving. So then I grow used to the idea. That being said, I think this idea could only full work at Disneyland(possibly one of the overseas parks, but I don't know much about their layout). In Disneyland, "Pirates of the Caribbean" is in New Orleans square directly across from the island. It seems a little bit overkill to have pirates on both sides, but it's popular and I can see it completely turning the island around and drawing more guests to it. However, in WDW, POTC is in Adventureland and you can't even see the island from there. Turning Tom Sawyer's Island in Frontierland into POTC would take away from the old frontier ambiance. I would be distracted with saloons on the left and pirate caves and ships to the right. And I don't think they would do it at WDW either. They transfered the Swiss Family Treehouse in Disneyland into Tarzan's Treehouse, but the SFT in Adventureland at WDW remained the same (thankfully).

[brownie]

I like Tom Sawyer's Island a lot because there aren't as many people there; thus, it's super quiet. The stuff on the island itself is alright, although I did really enjoy the caves/tunnels.

[martinroyalsdisneyfan]

This is horrible. I'm affraid to ask what will happen to Fantasmic if they transform the whole island.

[Mr. Toad]

Nooooooooooooo. I have just found out that due to construction for this there will be no Fantasmic while I am there in January.

[DARTH KNITE]

I agree with the majority. This is a horrible idea!!! Upgrade the island? Yes, especially because Fort Wilderness has been out of comission for years now, but continue to shove Pirates down our throats? GOD NO!!! I for one am sick to death of these movies and especially, Disney's habits of ignoring older films and stories and replacing them with the latest fad. Tom Sawyer has clearly stood the test of time way longer than POTC can ever hope to. Especially because they made the movies with characters who aren't in the ride, which was my first problem with them. I also didn't like when the Treehouse was changed to Tarzan instead of Swiss Family Robinson. What's wrong with the classics?

[The Merman]

The Disney classics are not known by the upcomming generation of children.
Children would rather have a pirate island then a island based on a movie that they do not know.

[Disney-Fan]

This pirate synergy is going a tad overboard.
Can we keep some attractions with an original theme or is that asking for too much?

[The Merman]

I luv your sig!

[Disney-Fan]

Thank you! I love it too...haha

[dalmation134]

This is sad. They already have pirates of the carribean. I love Tom Sawer Island. I like the boat and the bayou feel of it. THis is horrible...