Tom Sawyers' Island

John Sisker wrote:

> Was on Tom Sawyers' Island today, since it has been so long and also since
> they opened a few new things. Found it interesting. Unfortunately, I'm a
> little too old and big to get around castle rock anymore, but enjoyed
> watching the kids have a blast.
>
> However, was very disappointed to find Fort Wilderness locked up. Was told
> by Disney security that it is just too old and unsafe. I remember one could
> got to the second level and walk the cat walks, or whatever they are called.
>
> The bottom line is Disney will either keep the fort closed forever, tear it
> down, build a new one, or possible replace it with something else. That is
> the reason for this post. What would you like to see?

How about bringing back the old Indian attraction from the 60's, with dancing,
hogans, etc.... Bring back part of the learning concept that Walt was kicking
around.


just as long as no t-shirts or plush end up on the island.

Craig

How Disney Hears Things...

"Wow, a debate. It's between T-Shirts and Plush Items. I think we can do
both, and just move the fry cart to the left. We'll call it a rehab."

When Walt said Disneyland would never be finished, this isn't what he
meant...
Matthew

"tommy" <tommy@tommy.com> wrote in message
news:tommy-0257D2.21245102092003@news.la....
> In article <3F5566B1.614E21D9@>,
> Craig <crw59@> wrote:
>
> > just as long as no t-shirts or plush end up on the island.
>
> I'd rather have t-shirts and plush than spinny light-up toys.
>
> /tommy

If you go to Micechat and actually read the article it truly makes sense.
Remember Walt did not want Disney to ever be complete and as long as we have
an imagination it never will be.

I love Disneyland and I know most of you guys do, but some of you guys
complain about every single change or move they make. Yes, they do stuff to
make money, they have to. Money pays cast members, money keeps the park
clean.

Disneyland is Disneyland if you want a nice quiet place go camping or to a
park. Disney is noise, laughter. music, sweet treats, and yummy high fat
foods that you never let yourself eat at home.

Yes stuff leaves and the park changes but come on, Splash Mountain and Indy
are now "New Classics." The Pooh ride that you guys all complain about is
one of my kids favorites, and that's what Disneyland is all about. I love
the new changes to Pirates, its still pirates its a mix of old memories that
we love and new ones that we get to make.

Relax, enjoy Disney for what it is and don't fret. Its Disneyland.

Tracy
"tommy" <skyway@> wrote in message
news:skyway-6896B1.21215203102006@news.giganews.com...
> In article <9go5i295rgc6v7jttg4vdsnt8jn0obphs0@>,
> gjw <gjw@example.net> wrote:
>
>> I hate the idea. TSI, along with the Mark Twain and the bottom level
>> of the Hungry Bear restaurant, forms one of the last quiet, leafy
>> nooks left in Disneyland, where you kick back and imagine that you are
>> in America's rural past (as Disney imagined it). Without Tom Sawyer
>> Island, the Mark Twain Steamboat wouldn't make much sense. Would they
>> replace it with a full-time Columbia, to match the pirate motif? If
>> so, then the Indians and other Western/Southern items on the shore
>> wouldn't make much sense in a new pirate theme, and they would likely
>> be replaced. So the entire feel of the River would change
>> drastically.
>
> disney doesn't care about any of your concerns.
>
> Pirate theme would make money, and that's all that matters.
>
> /tommy

gjw wrote:
> MiceAge.com is reporting that they plan to get rid of Tom Sawyer
> Island - or more specifically, they plan to turn it into a Pirates of
> the Caribbean themed-island.
>
> I hate the idea. TSI, along with the Mark Twain and the bottom level
> of the Hungry Bear restaurant, forms one of the last quiet, leafy
> nooks left in Disneyland, where you kick back and imagine that you are
> in America's rural past (as Disney imagined it). Without Tom Sawyer
> Island, the Mark Twain Steamboat wouldn't make much sense. Would they
> replace it with a full-time Columbia, to match the pirate motif? If
> so, then the Indians and other Western/Southern items on the shore
> wouldn't make much sense in a new pirate theme, and they would likely
> be replaced. So the entire feel of the River would change
> drastically.

well remember even if they do, it will shut down at night like the
current TSI does, unless they build some kind bridge to it and create
some kind of "Pleasure Island" theme.

but I do agree that getting seat far back in the Hungry Bear is a great
place to get away from it all.

Craig

Sean Kilbride wrote:
> If you go to Micechat and actually read the article it truly makes sense.
> Remember Walt did not want Disney to ever be complete and as long as we have
> an imagination it never will be.
>

That does not mean that you throw out the founding ideas upon which the
place was built.

A great deal of the popularity of the park is due to its Americana. If
they do this, then they throw out a great deal of that.

Which is fine. For the last 20 years or so, they've done nothing but
really take away the basics upon which the original park was made
popular, and replaced it with ever-increasingly tawdry attractions that
do not fit in with their surroundings.

Turning the island into a pirate theme just takes yet one more giant
step into turning a once special place just that much more ordinary.

Yes, it's probably a lousy idea.. but it's not quite fair to blame it
on the 'imagineers'. they have very little say in what goes on. it's
the accountants that run the business now who must shoulder the blame
for insensitivity and quite frankly, ignorance, of Walt's guiding
principles for just how the park should develop. A shift to a pirate
theme for TSI, is at best, short sighted, and at worst, a tragic death
blow to one of the most idyllic and magical places in Disneyland. To
the poster who said, 'go camping', sorry, but you have no idea what
you're talking about.. a place to find calm and quiet is necessary,
especially given the crowds that have recently plagued the park. The
park is supposed to change, yes, but that change must be considered
carefully. Retheming TSI would have vast repercussions for the entire
area surrounding the island. It certainly is in need of refurbishing,
but the idea that has been put forth by some, that Tom Sawyer and the
culture of that earlier time in America is no longer relevant to todays
youth reminds us that our education system needs refurbishing as well.
Personally, i'm sick to death of the Pirate business though i dont have
a real problem with the changes that were made to the ride itself, in
fact, i think some of them are quite well done. Something needs to be
done with TSI, but preferably something that will bring back the sense
of joy and wonder that children used to find there.. before lawyers
'baby-proofed' the place. Once upon a time, you might have gotten wet
traversing the barrel bridge. nowadays you'd have to bring a bucket of
water with you to do so. think about it.

Regardless I am still excited about the prospect for soemthing new, if the
park lacks what you are looking for then try to find your entertainment and
make your memories else where.
"mrtaste" <mrtaste@> wrote in message
news:1159991899.243413.145380@e3g2000cwe. ...
> Yes, it's probably a lousy idea.. but it's not quite fair to blame it
> on the 'imagineers'. they have very little say in what goes on. it's
> the accountants that run the business now who must shoulder the blame
> for insensitivity and quite frankly, ignorance, of Walt's guiding
> principles for just how the park should develop. A shift to a pirate
> theme for TSI, is at best, short sighted, and at worst, a tragic death
> blow to one of the most idyllic and magical places in Disneyland. To
> the poster who said, 'go camping', sorry, but you have no idea what
> you're talking about.. a place to find calm and quiet is necessary,
> especially given the crowds that have recently plagued the park. The
> park is supposed to change, yes, but that change must be considered
> carefully. Retheming TSI would have vast repercussions for the entire
> area surrounding the island. It certainly is in need of refurbishing,
> but the idea that has been put forth by some, that Tom Sawyer and the
> culture of that earlier time in America is no longer relevant to todays
> youth reminds us that our education system needs refurbishing as well.
> Personally, i'm sick to death of the Pirate business though i dont have
> a real problem with the changes that were made to the ride itself, in
> fact, i think some of them are quite well done. Something needs to be
> done with TSI, but preferably something that will bring back the sense
> of joy and wonder that children used to find there.. before lawyers
> 'baby-proofed' the place. Once upon a time, you might have gotten wet
> traversing the barrel bridge. nowadays you'd have to bring a bucket of
> water with you to do so. think about it.
>

Sean Kilbride wrote:
> Regardless I am still excited about the prospect for soemthing new, if the
> park lacks what you are looking for then try to find your entertainment and
> make your memories else where.


sean... did you even read what i wrote? this isn't a case of 'america,
love it or leave it'. you probably would have subscribed to that
sentiment (if you even remember what it was about, though i doubt
that). I did not say the park lacks what i'm looking for, but i, and
many, many others are concerned about the long term effects of such a
drastic and far reaching move. perhaps you have too short an attention
span to understand that concept, and that's part of the problem. I
too, am always excited about the prospect of something new, but not at
any cost. I would venture to guess that you never experienced TSI when
it was well maintained, before it had most of the fun legislated out of
it, and that's a pity, but don't deny others the opportunity to have
that experience (if it can be re-created, which is another question
entirely).

crw59@ wrote:

> but I do agree that getting seat far back in the Hungry Bear is a great
> place to get away from it all.

That entire area used to be really nice. I used to love the sourdough
chowder bowls and the ambiance of the little stand that sold them. Very
peaceful late at night on a slow evening. Now its just another frigg'n
McDonald's. I really do feel that Disneyland is slowly losing the
general ambiance and character is once had. I don't mind the out with
the old, in with the new. Just keep the character of the place fairly
intact.

Sean Kilbride wrote:
> Regardless I am still excited about the prospect for soemthing new, if the
> park lacks what you are looking for then try to find your entertainment and
> make your memories else where.

I as a paying customer would rather try to let the owners of the park
know what I want and what will get the most money out of me. If they
ignore the public then so be it. I'll do as you suggest and take my
money elsewhere. But right now theres still hope that Disneyland will
survive and return to the character it once had.