Difference between revisions of "Tom Sawyer's Island"

Revision as of 17:23, 26 February 2012

Tom Sawyer's Island is an outdoor play area located in Frontierland.

Tom Sawyer's Island
Harper's Mill on Tom Sawyer Island
Land	Frontierland
Attraction type	Outdoor Playground
Opening date	1973
Based on	Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer

Attraction History

Although Tom Sawyer's Island was built in the Rivers of America before the Magic Kingdom opened, the island did not officaly open until 1973. Tom Sawyer's Island was made made, and all of the foliage on the island was planted by Disney Imagineers. No real major changes came to the attraction until 1996. In 1996 Fort Sam Clemens was renamed Fort Langhorn to tie the attraction into the Disney movie Tom and Huck. Another change hit Tom Sawyer's Island in 2005, when the burning cabin ceased burning due to pip corrosion. Guests can still see the cabin and it's settler, but the fire effects no longer work. In recent year's Aunt Polly's Dockside Inn has ceased operating. The restaurant had been located on the island since 1973.

Attraction Plot

In order to get to Tom Sawyer's Island, guests must board rafts in Frontierland. The rafts take guests slowly across the River's Of America to Tom's Landing on the side of the island. Here guests can explore various scenes from the book Tom Sawyer. When guests first get to the island, they can read a sign that Tom himself wrote. The sign reads:

"Ifn you like dark caves mystery mines, bottomless pits shakey bridges n big-rocks you have come to the best place i know ifn you dont like creep old scary places don't wurry Huck Finn an myself wuz plenty scared too Huck wuz more scared than me"

If guests travel counter clockwise around the island, the first major sight they will come across is Harper's Mill. The Mill is a working grain mill similar to the mills that once ran on the Mississippi River. There are two different stories which tell how Harper's Mill got it's name. One theory states that the mill is named after Imagineer Harper Goff who helped design both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Another story states the Mill is named after Joe Harper, who joined Tom and Huck when they ran away in Tom Sawyer. It is probable that in the backstory of the attraction, the mill is named after Joe Harper, while it's inclusion may have been a nod to Harper Goff.

Inside the Mill, a reference can be found to the 1937 Disney Short, "The Old Mill". In the short, a strong thunderstorm begins to rage, and the gears in a mill begin to turn. Inside the gears, a mother bluebird and her eggs are resting. It seems as if the gears will surely crush them, however one of the gears is missing on of it's teeth, thus saving the bird. If guests look into Harper's Mill, they will see a bluebird resting in between the teeth of two gears. Like her cartoon counterpart, this bird is also never crushed. An owl from the short can also be found inside the mill.

Around the corner from Harper's Mill, guests will come upon Aunt Polly's cottage. Here guests can sit and relax on a large, waterfront porch. A restaurant named Aunt Polly's Dockside Inn used to be open seasonally here, but it has seemingly closed for good. On the outskirts of the cottage, guests can see a fence that Tom convinced his friends Ben Rogers, Johnny Miller, and Billy Fisher to whitewash Aunt Polly's fence in the book. Continuing on past Aunt Polly's cottage, guests will come upon the Scavage Fort. Here, Tom and Huck have seemingly made a makeshift playground out of sip parts, lumber wood, and barrels. The roof of the fort is even made out of an old life boat.

Another point of interest on the island is Old Scratch's Mine. Here, guests can explore the old bumpy mine. After traveling through the dark passage, hearing bats chirp overhead, guests will come upon a large deposit of glowing gems. Old Scratch was a pre-civil war name for the devil, giving the mine a very ominous name. A sign outside of the mine reads:

"I have explored many old mines, but this un is the best ever! strange things happen in here so keep a sharp eye out and don't stop for nuthin!"

Near the entrance to Old Scratch's Mine, is Injun Joe's Cave. In the the story of Tom Sawyer, Tom witnessed Injun Joe murder Doc Robinson, and was later trapped in the cave with him. As guests explore the cave, they will come upon an errie face in the rocks. Further down, they cross a wooden bridge which seems to be suspended over a bottomless pit. Both Injun Joe's Cave and Old Scratch's Mine have one way walkways, which deposit guests on the other side of the island.

Another point of interest near Injun Joe's Cave is Potters Mill. Potters Mill is a small green mill, which guests can actually go inside. After traveling up a winding staircase and reaching the top, guests can look out and see beautiful views of the Magic Kingdom. Just outside of the mill is Huck's landing, where rafts may deposit guests during busier times (when two rafts are being used).

On the other side of the island, guests can attempt to cross the barrel bridge. Here, twelve barrels have been connected to make a makeshift floating bridge. Getting across the bridge is no easy task, however many guests consider the challenge the highlight of the attraction. The barrel bridge will lead guests over to Smugglers Cove, which gives guests some more great views of the park.

Another bridge, which is unique to the Disney World version of Tom Sawyer's Island is the suspension bridge. Although many guests may not realize it from afar, Tom Sawyer's Island is actually made up of two islands. To get from one to the other guests must cross the suspension bridge. Across the bridge is Pappy’s Fishing Pier, where guests can take a break and relax. From Pappy’s Fishing Pier, guests can watch the runaway trains on Big Thunder Mountain.

An interstingt sight that guests can see on Tom Sawyer's Island is the Settler's Cabin. This scene depicts a sleeping settler outside his cabain. The sight used to be referenced on the Liberty Belle, and the cabin would actually look like it's on fire. To to the deterioration of the pipers, the cabin is no longer on fire, and the scene is no longer mentioned on the boat.

The focal point of Tom Sawyer's Island is Fort Langhorn. Located in the fort is a blacksmith's shop. Here guests can visit Audio Anamatronic blacksmith's and explorer their shop. Above the shop, guests will find a cannon, pointed out towards the Rivers of America. Although the cannon does not fire, it is an interesting place to visit none the less. If guests want to find something that does shoot, they can climb up the watchtowers located in the fort. Here they can take up rifles and shoot (blanks) at passing boats. If guests simply want to relax, a checker board is located in the fort.

Fun Facts and Trivia

• Although Fort Langhorn was named after Samuel Clemens' middle name. Clemens actually spelled his name Langhorne.

• Six paintbrushes are hidden by cast members around Tom Sawyers Island daily. If guests find one of the brushes, they can be redeemed for a Fastpass.

• The rafts that take guests to Tom Sawyer's Island are named: Tom Sawyer, Injun Joe, and Becky Thatcher.

• The rafts are not authentic river rafts, they have natural gas motors to get guest across the Rivers of America.

References

http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/507/Walt-Disney-World/Magic-Kingdom/Frontierland/Tom-Sawyer-Island

http://allears.net/tp/mk/mk_tsi.htm

http://www.disunplugged.com/2011/07/20/walking-photo-tour-of-magic-kingdoms-tom-sawyer-island/

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/attractions/tom-sawyer-island/