I'm annoyed because Disney did it's usual bull$hit, lying backpedal when Al's story about the destruction of Tom Sawyer Island hit the L.A. Times. So they dug out that great Mark Twain quote from the novel about Tom and Huck playing Pirates, and used that to advertise the new trend on the Island to all Disneyland guests who wandered by the raft dock to wonder what's up - - portraying Pirates Lair to the guests, and to the press, as a Tom Sawyer Island overlay.

Then they went on to demolish and remove every single (and now) last vestige of the Tom Sawyer FRONTIERLAND theme.


I don't so much mind the Pirate overlay. I am just bummed about the loss of such prime Frontierland property. I daresay this will be more fun for kids than the recent, neutered version of the Island ... but this strikes me both as an AmericaSings-in-Tomorrowland theme mismatch, and a Cut-Down-Cascade-Peak and Put-Nothing-In-Its-Place net loss.



* * * * *

On a happier note ... I'm doubly glad my last visit to the Island just before it closed featured a fun interlude at Fort Wilderness. The rear entry door to the Fort was ajar, so naturally I wandered inside. I wasn't there long, though, before some CMs using it as a break area came into the open and I had to retreat.

But as I exited the Fort, a crowd of tourist guests were milling about, wondering aloud if the Ford were open. I told them 'of course it is,' and held the door for them as the dozen or so walked inside :evil:

This is lame.

The fort could have been what the pirates were attacking.


:(

I'm surprisingly unmoved by the news. In the past, I've visited Fort Wilderness and it's been a diversion - but I've always had more fun playing in Fort Sam Clemens in The Magic Kingdom. I wonder if there are similar plans for WDW?

I suspected this would go. I find my real concern is for the graveyard. I love that thing.

I thought of that too, since I remembered last February we did not pay a visit to the Island and I did not remember the graveyard until I saw some pics posted. Naturally, then I wanted to see it. :( Guess I won't have the chance now.

Its a fairly tragic event IMHO. I think its a shame they let it deteriorate to such a state. The right thing to do is rebuild it to its former glory - but I doubt TDA has the guts to do it.

What's next? Pirates ransacking the Indian Village? Maybe Davy Jones poping up from the water and snatching the little girl and dog off the log???

:(

Well, if the graveyard does go, I hope they properly re-inter the bodies.

dunno. if they do a pirate themed island, the graveyard should fit well I would think.

nothing so appealing as a good graveyard

I guess our beloved Eliza Hodgkins 1812 is going to have to change her screenname to something like Red Handed Jill, or whatever frelling pirate wench they decide to faux inter.

LOL! Says the man from 'innerspace' ;)