I was at the Magic Kingdom a couple of days ago and while I was there I paid a lengthy visit to Tom Sawyer Island. While exploring the island, I noticed a couple of new things about the current state of this attraction. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised.
- The main Tom Sawyer Island sign has been repainted.
- The Becky Thatcher, Huck Finn, and Tom Sawyer signs on the rafts have all been recently replaced or repainted.
- All of the signs found around the island have been given a fresh new coat of paint. Previously, some of them had been almost unreadable.
- The broken guns in the Rifle Roost that did not make sounds effects are now fixed. However, a few guns are still missing.
- The side of Fort Langhorn that faces Big Thunder Mountain, including the porch on the path that sits over the water, looks like it has been refurbished recently.
- The chickens in Fort Langhorn were not moving their heads and the horses were not twitching their tails.
- Less trash was found around the walkways and paths than I have seen in recent years.
- The Escape Tunnel, Injun Joe's Cave, and Old Scratch's Mystery Mine were all open and in great condition; all of the visual and sound effects were working.
- All of the sounds effects from the animatronics and static figures on the island are working.
- Aunt Polly's Dockside Inn is still closed, obviously. It is still a great place to relax.
- The water wheel at Harper's Mill is still working.
- The Barrel Bridge is still open.
- Potter's Mill (the big windmill) is under refurbishment right now, so I couldn't go through it. However, the windmill is still operating during this refurbishment and it has received a nice new coat of paint.
I'm not sure how many folks on here still visit Tom Sawyer Island, but I just wanted to give everyone a quick update. Personally, I am very happy to see that the island is being maintained fairly well, despite how generally ignored this attraction is. The island is looking much better now than it was during my visit to it last January. Potter's Mill currently being under refurbishment shows that they are still updating and refurbishing the island, so more improvements may still be coming. It's not perfect, but this attraction is doing better than many others at the Magic Kingdom.
Tom Sawyer Island is one of my favorite attractions at the Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately, I think it is severely underrated. It's one of the best places to relax during the busy afternoons at the Magic Kingdom and it's great fun to explore, no matter what age you are.