Originally Posted By Darkbeer I am going to just place the Pirate' Lair at TSI info here, it comes from a Press Release, the full release can be found over at the DCA section, in regards to Toy Story Mania! <a href="http://mb.laughingplace.com/MsgBoard-T-83815-P-1.asp?C=1" target="_blank">http://mb.laughingplace.com/Ms gBoard-T-83815-P-1.asp?C=1</a> >>Extensive enhancements will bring a rousing "Pirate's Lair" to Tom Sawyer Island in Disneyland's Frontierland beginning in May. Building upon the hands-on play and exploration that have made the island a popular experience for children and adults for the past 50 years. "Pirate's Lair at Tom Sawyer Island" will take its inspiration from Tom and Huck's pirate games in the classic Mark Twain story, as well as from the renewed interest in pirates generated by the "Pirates of the Caribbean" attraction and motion pictures. The attraction's opening will coincide with the summer opening of Walt Disney Pictures' Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Fun and interactive surprises will be encountered throughout "Pirate's Lair at Tom Sawyer Island" and will include pirate details added to Tom & Huck's Treehouse and to the traditional Smuggler's Cove, with its fun and challenging rope and barrel bridges. Among the other adventures to be found on the island will be a "Dead Man's Grotto" in the island caverns, a "Pirate's Den" on the familiar Castle Rock, and opportunities to search for buried treasure while encountering live pirates.<< Sounds interesting, a group of outside contractors was touring the island yesterday afternoon taking notes, getting ready for the upgrade.
Originally Posted By cinderella143also This sounds fun!!! I also like that they are keeping some of the Tom and Huck theme!
Originally Posted By Skellington88 >> I also like that they are keeping some of the Tom and Huck theme!<< You can thank Al Lutz, the Reimagineering team, and the passionate disney fans at L A Times for that!
Originally Posted By Bucky N Satchel I hope it's ready in time for my son's birthday in May! He'll get a kick out of it, TSI is one part of the parks he's spent very little time exploring.
Originally Posted By monorailblue He broke the word at the earliest possible opportunity of the horrendous possibility that the Island would be gutted of its Tom Sawyer inspiration. The word and the bad press spread quickly, and, just perhaps, we're getting what we're getting because of it.
Originally Posted By berol I don't know that there was ever a possibility. This coulda been the plan all along as far as I know.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA <a href="http://www.Al_Saved_Tom_Sawyer_Island.com" target="_blank">http://www.Al_Saved_Tom_Sawyer _Island.com</a> Hey, help me out! Click the Amazon button! Buy a T-shirt!
Originally Posted By Darkbeer From today's Orange County Register.. <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1556800.php" target="_blank">http://www.ocregister.com/ocre gister/homepage/abox/article_1556800.php</a> >>In regard to the island, it leaked out late last year that Disneyland wanted to banish Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, and instead turn it into another Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. In the end, designers decided to integrate the pirate subplots from Mark Twain's books, calling it "Pirate's Lair at Tom Sawyer Island." "I think that the word getting out sort of helped it remain a little bit more Tom Sawyerish than it would have been," said Al Lutz, editor of Miceage.com, a Disney watchdog Web site that reported the news last year. The makeover is to coincide with the planned May release of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," the third in the movie series that popularized pirates and is based on the Disneyland ride. Rob Doughty, Disneyland's spokesman, said the island will retain Walt Disney's original vision. Old concept drawings show pirate imagery, including Jolly Roger flags on the rafts used to get to the Frontierland island. Pirate details will go in Tom and Huck's treehouse and Smuggler's Cove, keeping the rope and barrel bridges. Visitors will search for buried treasure on the island, while live pirate characters wander. Margot Wright, an Anaheim resident since 1954 who lives about a mile away, said she worries the island will become too commercialized. "I prefer to leave it just as an island. Why tie it into pirates? We've already got Pirates of the Caribbean and enough stuff in New Orleans Square," said Wright, 56.<<
Originally Posted By Elderp "I prefer to leave it just as an island. Why tie it into pirates? We've already got Pirates of the Caribbean and enough stuff in New Orleans Square," said Wright, 56.<< Because very few people care about Tom anymore. Pirates is in, tommorow who knows what will be in, but right now it is pirates. There was a time with NOS was all about NBC but not anymore.
Originally Posted By avromark Another Question is how many people will distinguish between Tom's River Pirates and the Buccaneer Pirates of NOS? The problem is more with society then Tom Sawyer himself. For me Tom isn't about commercialization (unlike some things for children today). People should take the time to be considerate (Cell phones etc have pretty much ruined that, talking to other people and not even acknowldging those around you? Talking/Ringing during a Performance?) Patience is out (Contact all the time, delivery now,not tommorow...) Sometimes people just need a relaxing time out. Today many people aren't willing to step back and relax. For me that was what TSI was, a place where we could step back to a simpler time, without having to leave the park and rest at the hotel.
Originally Posted By Elderp ^ Nice thought and I agree with you, but in a business sense it makes more sense to capitalize on your resources. The only point I think Disney struggles with these days is the issue of quality. Which is really sad because if Disney taught his company it should be that the public will buy anything as long as it is done with quality but these days I think it is more about risk mngmt than quality.
Originally Posted By avromark I agree, but the thing is many of the new characters appear to be designed around how "marketable" is this character. Mista Sammy C, never thought about how he could "sell" Tommy Boy and that dude Huck. If parents would take the time to read (or let their kids read) the classics instead of letting their kids be babysat by Playstation 3. Then again maybe TSI could also be more successful if they increased hours, added new items to discover, darken the caves again (Darn Lawyers) It just doesn't feel right with yellow safety tape. If the bridges bounced more, if parents would let their kids run around (without being rude and inconsiderate of course). Enya - Return To Innocence.
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP My Friends and I were at the parks on Thursday and they were wondering what the people in suits on the river barges were doing. (I wasn't wondering because I didn't see them, I was enjoying the happiest potties on earth.) Now we know!!
Originally Posted By Elderp I don't know Mr. C was pretty well known for being a showman and did all he could to promote his books including capitalizing on Tom and Huck. <a href="http://www.marktwainhouse.org/theman/bio.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.marktwainhouse.org/ theman/bio.shtml</a>
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Oh please. This whole notion that 'kids today' don't know who Tom Sawyer is, is hogwash [channelling Dick Cheney here]. This is just Disneyland being trendy. Pirates have become popular, and so they're finding a place to add more of that. I just don't buy that Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and Becky Thatcher are 'unknowns' to kids. Maybe I feel that kids today are smarter than that.
Originally Posted By berol Maybe it's that kids are more excited these days by pirates than Tom and Huck
