Originally Posted By dresswhites remember when there was a lot of doom and gloom about the future of TSI? i just reread one of David Knoenigs storys at mouseplanet. IT seemed very sad and depressing. luckily i can tell you the island is still very nice and fun for everyone. The caves are all still there and Injun joes actually seem darker than it has been in a long time. when i was there this past weekend, both bridges were open to cross, and castle rock fortress seemed busy with kids. i do miss not being able to go to the fort, but otherwise TSI is still a great, magical place. you really do feel like y ou are miles away from disneyland and the real world. i love sitting on one of back docks and just watching the big boats, the canoes, and the ducks. It just so peaceful and one my favorite spots in thw whole park. i am glad tom sawyer island didn't go the way of much of mickey's toontown.
Originally Posted By irishfan I made my very first visit to the Island back in January, and really enjoyed it. Like dresswhites mentioned, you'd never think you were in the middle of Disneyland! What was the Fort like? Were there things in there to see and do?
Originally Posted By ADisneyPrincess Why is the fort closed? It's open at WDW. Seems odd they would close one and leave one open if it were a safety issue. Unless the DL version is structurally unsound.
Originally Posted By nemopoppins If it was structurally unsound I don't think they'd be able to use it for storage. Well maybe only part of it is unsound.
Originally Posted By ssturgeo When I took my 14 year old granddaughter last June, I did not think she would be interested in Tom Sawyers Island at all, and since it was "her" trip, was not going to press. But, she did want to go over...and she LOVED it!! Magic..sure there is...everywhere once you enter the park...and part of the magic is enjoying everything there being a kid, no matter your age!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo "What was the Fort like? Were there things in there to see and do?" Hi Irishfan. The fort was like a smaller scale version of the one at the entrance to DLP. No figures in the buildings though. They also used to have rifles mounted that you could fire, but a little girl nearly lost her finger when she fell, so the lawyers had them taken out before the fort closed. I miss the fort, but I miss Cascade Peak with the Two Sisters and Big Thunder even more!
Originally Posted By liveforvacations I went to Disneyland the first time when I was ten and did not return again until I was 29. (I obviously didn't know what I was missing). The funny thing is that the thing I remembered most about Disneyland was Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America. I don't know why but I know my brother and I had so much fun playing on the island. I remember I was shocked to realize how small it actually was upon seeing it on my second trip.
Originally Posted By CMM1 In the early ticket book days, for kids, TSI was the one attraction you could stay on as long as you wanted.
Originally Posted By dzy76 I love TSIl. My son (14) and I spent two hours there recently and loved it. We really had fun hiding from each other in the caves. Most of the time we were all alone in them and I swear Injun Joe was hiding around each corner! There are tons of beautiful little spots to sit and take in waterfalls, lush landscaping and the river. It's a great place!
Originally Posted By MickeyMommy Us too, we love Tom Sawyers Island. My oldest son, who is 11, tends to favor video games and computers and T.V. while my 8 year old son is constantly on the go, always outside playing, jumping, climbing, etc. But it is my mellow 11 year old that is crazy for TSI. He could run around and climb and play there all day. There is something very special about that place. And some of my earliest memories of Disneyland are not of the castle or merry-go-round, it is of climbing down the rocks of TSI.
