In all the time I have been going to WDW, I have always wondered what the connection is between Disney and Tom Sawyer Island? How does TSI connect to Disney? Does Disney own the rights to Tom Sawyer and it characters and storylines?
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TOM SAWYER ISLAND
- Thread starter yensid1967
- Start date
WorldExplorer
Well-Known Member
The book is over a hundred years old; it's in the public domain, no one owns it.
AndyS2992
Well-Known Member
Been beat to it but like most 'Disney' properties, they are stories from the public domain which Disney took and did what they wanted with them whether that be make a movie or a theme park attraction. Disney did eventually make a Tom Sawyer movie, 'Tom and Huck' in 1995.
So, they have a TOM SAWYER IP...wonder why no characters in the parks? Maybe remake Tom and Huck and introduce a new generation to those adventures and to tie in TSI to the park. It would be a way to incorporate Tom, Huck and Jenny(?) and have real adventures on the island(s)
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
Disney doesn’t own the rights, characters, and storylines to Mickey Mouse in Plane Crazy and Steamboat Willie, Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Little Mermaid, etc. etc.
AndyS2992
Well-Known Member
DisneyHead123
Well-Known Member
I believe the connection is primarily with Walt himself, who was presumably a big fan of Tom Sawyer. I did a quick Google search which said that Tom Sawyer Island is the only attraction that Walt personally designed. Also saw speculation that his love of Tom
Sawyer was due to his time in Missouri, where he had more freedom to roam and explore, in a similar manner to Tom Sawyer.
I think that Walt had a love of Americana (although he wouldn’t have used that word) that shows in the parks. I also think a lot of the original charm of the parks gets lost in the recent IP push. IP has a place, but it lacks the collective, mythical aspect of, well, myths. Americana is, in many ways, a beautiful myth. Princesses and castles and knights are, in many ways, a beautiful myth (I mean they existed, but the reality of life in that time was actually pretty f-ed up.) The technological utopianism of Tomorrowland is, in many ways, a beautiful myth. Etc. I am actually fine with coming up with new beautiful myths, if younger generations feel we need them. But I don’t think mythology can be replaced with fun but fleeting commercial ideas. (Lightning McQueen is great, but not a cultural mythos.) Not everything needs a meet and greet. Sometimes a felt, mysterious sense of something that you can’t really put to words is far more effective.
Sawyer was due to his time in Missouri, where he had more freedom to roam and explore, in a similar manner to Tom Sawyer.
I think that Walt had a love of Americana (although he wouldn’t have used that word) that shows in the parks. I also think a lot of the original charm of the parks gets lost in the recent IP push. IP has a place, but it lacks the collective, mythical aspect of, well, myths. Americana is, in many ways, a beautiful myth. Princesses and castles and knights are, in many ways, a beautiful myth (I mean they existed, but the reality of life in that time was actually pretty f-ed up.) The technological utopianism of Tomorrowland is, in many ways, a beautiful myth. Etc. I am actually fine with coming up with new beautiful myths, if younger generations feel we need them. But I don’t think mythology can be replaced with fun but fleeting commercial ideas. (Lightning McQueen is great, but not a cultural mythos.) Not everything needs a meet and greet. Sometimes a felt, mysterious sense of something that you can’t really put to words is far more effective.
TrainsOfDisney
Well-Known Member
That’s a great point. When New Orleans Square was added - it was also a mythical and romanticized take on New Orleans. Not realistic at all. The mint juleps don’t even have alcohol!
DisneyHead123
Well-Known Member
Kidding, kidding. (I think…)
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
How was Disney connected to pirates?
Why does an attraction not count as a connection?
Why does an attraction not count as a connection?
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
I’m going to miss it so much when it’s gone the way of all the extinct Dis things. Glad we had the years to enjoy.
Dis doesn’t have any set rules as to what has to be to put in an attraction. Just needs the approval for the budget and the future revenue it will bring in from guests being drawn to the parks and the merchandise sales. Making the money is most important and guessing how long a time it recoups the money spent is important.
Having a connection isn’t really as valuable as it once was. After all is said and done guests want the fun and the thrills. Dis wants the money.
Dis doesn’t have any set rules as to what has to be to put in an attraction. Just needs the approval for the budget and the future revenue it will bring in from guests being drawn to the parks and the merchandise sales. Making the money is most important and guessing how long a time it recoups the money spent is important.
Having a connection isn’t really as valuable as it once was. After all is said and done guests want the fun and the thrills. Dis wants the money.
I may get some pushback for this, but I am going to say it anyways...
Cars land HAS NO PLACE in the Magic Kingdom! It should go into DHS as an IP!
Villains land fits better to the Magic Kingdom, those villains that terrorize the princesses need someplace to live!
Cars land HAS NO PLACE in the Magic Kingdom! It should go into DHS as an IP!
Villains land fits better to the Magic Kingdom, those villains that terrorize the princesses need someplace to live!
TalkToEthan
Well-Known Member
You’re the first to really answer the poster’s prevailing question…..
Yes, Walt Disney held a personal interest in all things “west”, “frontier” and “adventure”(obviously)thus bringing a Twain theme to his park would be perfect fit as he saw it.
Cmdr_Crimson
Well-Known Member
Plus the Huck Finn Movie and the Disney Channel Movie Back to Hannibal The Return of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
I HAVE A GREAT IDEA!!!!
Let's turn the 'broken down almost daily' Tianias Bayou Adventure into Tom and Hucks Adventure!!! OBVIOUSLY, fix it so it doesn't breakdown, the riders go on an adventure with Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, ending in 'finding a river rapids and going down' at the HILL.! Tom & Huck meet n greets, a parade float, merchandise and MAYBE some Crawdad Soup!?
Let's turn the 'broken down almost daily' Tianias Bayou Adventure into Tom and Hucks Adventure!!! OBVIOUSLY, fix it so it doesn't breakdown, the riders go on an adventure with Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, ending in 'finding a river rapids and going down' at the HILL.! Tom & Huck meet n greets, a parade float, merchandise and MAYBE some Crawdad Soup!?
Disstevefan1
Well-Known Member
I am sure there is something culturally insensitive about Tom and Huck they can come up with.
Cmdr_Crimson
Well-Known Member
Tom and Huck and The Mysterious stranger.....IYKYK..Anytime they aired The Adventures of Mark Twain on Disney Channel this part was always cut out..
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
I’d guess Disney now also owns the two ABC television movies.Plus the Huck Finn Movie and the Disney Channel Movie Back to Hannibal The Return of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
DW Aficionado
Well-Known Member
I think it was popular in the 1950's... westerns, racoon hats, Tom Sawyer. But TSI isn't about Tom Sawyer specifically, it's about a beautiful visual walking thru Frontierland during dusk, seeing the Rivers of America, and the Steamboat, hearing it blow it's whistle..... THERE IS A REASON IT
Disney is missing the point, that's what made Walt such a genius, it's not about rides stacked on top of one another. In a recent documentary, Walt said that walking through the train tunned to enter the Magic Kingdom is taking you to another place.
