Sunday, May 15, 2011

Tom Sawyer Island, January 1974

Tom Sawyer Island has undergone many changes over the years - particularly in the last decade. Fans of the old TSI tend to grumble (include me in that group), but my guess is that younger Disneyland fans are perfectly happy.

This nice view taken inside Fort Wilderness, which used to be the centerpiece of the TSI experience (in my opinion, anyway) - the "castle" of this land-within-a-land, so to speak. Now its gone, replaced with a strange structure that looks terrible, and is off limits to guests. SO... I love any photos that help remind me of the simple pleasures of original fort!


A familiar view, perhaps taken shortly after the park opened? The Columbia, one Keelboat, and one raft to TSI are all out of commission, it seems.


9 comments:

  1. Yay, the seventies. Once again, my favorite decade for the park. I know I'm probably in the minority on that one!

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  2. count me in that minority. the Seventies was the best time anywhere in my opinion!

    i esp love the colors here where the water is made blue by the sky...gorgeous!

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  3. Pegleg Pete4:03 AM

    The Seventies were indeed the best era for the park – the classic attractions were all in place and the powers that be hadn't yet begun to take things away and replace them with inferior attractions and experiences. That's my opinion, anyway. And don't get me started on the changes that have been made to Tom Sawyer's Island!

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  4. Anonymous8:21 AM

    Thanksfully, saner minds are on the job now, and some of the better attractions are being restored to their former glory. It was announced today that WDW's Tiki Room will come back from refurb with the original show, so there's still hope for TSI someday in the future.

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  5. Mom appears to have been an avid Montgomery Wards shopper based on everyone clothes.

    The second view is amazing, where did THAT island go?

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  6. I know it's not DL, but you can still play all over and in the fort in WDW. Love that TSI.

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  7. Just the other day (Thursday) I was on the Mark Twain and looking at what is left of the old fort...I got kinda sad. I do not have any memories of ever being in the fort so I'm guessing that I probably skipped it as a kid because it wasn't exciting like the Matterhorn. *sigh* Oh well, at least the first photo gives me a peek into the past I never saw.

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  8. bloefeld11:00 PM

    I remember they sold beef jerky at the fort and pickles. Used to love entering through the "secret" cave.

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  9. @bloefeld....jerky and pickles, man, I had forgotten that.

    Thank You for reminding me. Also...

    What Pegleg Pete said.

    JG

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