Tom Sawyer Island Flags...

[wagnerdanp]

I just at the world this past weekend and I was going onto Tom Sawyer's Island at 9 am when it opened. Before the first raft leaves, the raft driver and ride manager changes the flags on the pole were the boat is docked. I am assuming the flags mean the ride is open, closed, Aunt Polly's is closed, etc. However, does anyone know what each of the flags mean?

Thanks!

 

[sublimesting]

I googled it and found this link. Hope it helps!

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=720953

 

[Jerm]

I just at the world this past weekend and I was going onto Tom Sawyer's Island at 9 am when it opened. Before the first raft leaves, the raft driver and ride manager changes the flags on the pole were the boat is docked. I am assuming the flags mean the ride is open, closed, Aunt Polly's is closed, etc. However, does anyone know what each of the flags mean?

Thanks!

I remember talking to a CM and it was more about how many rafts are running and river traffic.

I googled it and found this link. Hope it helps!

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=720953

Was this just a bad joke?

 

[sublimesting]

Was this just a bad joke?

Yup (It was a google search though). I noticed this post through my e-mail. It just keeps bringin' me back to this site!

 

[Rob562]

I remember talking to a CM and it was more about how many rafts are running and river traffic.

Makes sense. The riverboat pilot needs to know from a distance how many rafts to keep an eye out for (even though the riverboat always has the right-of-way).

-Rob

 

[wagnerdanp]

Wouldn't the flags be really far away for the river boat driver to see though?

So... if the flags are for the river boat driver, what do all of the different flag colors mean?

 

[disneydata]

The colors have no meaning other than not having the same color flags. The exception is the checkered flag. That means there is a raft going around the river (not typical all the time) or it is docked at the second island dock.

The riverboat gets right of way in water traffic. They need to know when the path is clear for them to pass. The flags are used to tell the riverboat driver how many rafts are on the water. Based on the number of rafts, the signal may come from a different cast member. One flag means where ever the operating raft is located (either main dock or on the island). Two means there are two rafts operating and the signal comes from the main side. Three is the same as two, just with three rafts. All rafts must be secured to the docks before the clear signal can be given. The appropriate CM at the dock gives the signal after the captain of the riverboat signals with the whistle (why you hear a lot of that thing!). They know that it is safe to continue.

Just some useless info: back in the days when there were more than two vessel types, the order of right-of-way was: Riverboats, keelboats, rafts, and canoes. If you look around the Rivers of America, there are a few places a keelboat could dock to let the riverboat pass.