What is the Signifigance of TSI and RoA??? Rethemeable?

[Omegadiz]

TSI is supposed to be a playground in short. I get that but the actual Tom Sawyer themeing doesnt seem to hold much signifigance compared to a retheme that would make the area a bit more interesting. I understand that the actual river needs the be there as part of water control.

So down to my point, I was wondering if theming the Island to Never Land would be appropritate. In doing so, replace Peter Pan's Flight with something, have a Re-Imagined Peter Pan taking up the northern tip of the north island (more on this later), Pixie Hollow on the south island.The actual exterior edges of the islands would remain the same to fit frontier land and the boat would remain but having manual draw bridges (to account for more popularity) would replace the keel boats.

so with that in mind, is the island able to be rethemed successfully? or would it seem totally unethical and out of place?

 

[ellie-badge]

While I agree that Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America may need to be rethemed (I personally have never visited or shown interest in either, and I've been going to the parks since I was four years old), I'm not sure if Neverland is the way to go about it. While it does seem like an interesting idea, WDI might be making a bold and risky move by removing Peter Pan's Flight from Fantasyland, much like how they got rid of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and replaced it with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. I'd be one of probably many who'd be upset, as it actually is one of my favorite rides at Magic Kingdom.

Also, I don't think theming part of an area to Direct to DVD films is a very wise decision, however popular they may be. That's just my personal opinion, though.

I'd actually rather they completely re-theme it to Pirates of the Caribbean, as to my understanding there is a bit of PotC already on the islands. But this may also clash with the whole Frontierland theme... so perhaps Treasure Island, or even, dare I suggest, Muppets Treasure Island? (I actually really liked that film as a kid! )

 

[Vader2112]

I guess then it could not be the River of America? As they have the River boat thematic of the Mississippi and the novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckle Berry Finn takes place in the Mississippi River Valley. Thematically the Mississippi River was a barrier crossed from when the Nation was founded going towards the new frontier.

 

[Vader2112]

I have never visited TSI as well but I think it would be missed. Just one of those original parts about WDW. To theme after Peter Pan and Faries would be a mistake. They already shot down the Pixie Hollow concept from Fantasyland Expansion as the Direct to Video series was not doing as well as anticipated.
I recently watched the Tinker Bell movie with my daughter and talking about changing the lore of a charecter. WOW...what happened o the little fairy with the temper and attitude from Peter Pan?

 

[flynnibus]

TSI is supposed to be a playground in short. I get that but the actual Tom Sawyer themeing doesnt seem to hold much signifigance compared to a retheme that would make the area a bit more interesting. I understand that the actual river needs the be there as part of water control.

So down to my point, I was wondering if theming the Island to Never Land would be appropritate. In doing so, replace Peter Pan's Flight with something, have a Re-Imagined Peter Pan taking up the northern tip of the north island (more on this later), Pixie Hollow on the south island.The actual exterior edges of the islands would remain the same to fit frontier land and the boat would remain but having manual draw bridges (to account for more popularity) would replace the keel boats.

so with that in mind, is the island able to be rethemed successfully? or would it seem totally unethical and out of place?

A few 'issues'
- The island faces Frontierland - not Fantasyland
- You are talking about taking out the #1 ride in Fantasyland for some new re-imaged attraction.. That would go over like 'universal healthcare'

Are you not aware of the Pirates Lair retheme they did of TSI in Disneyland? That would be far more likely than anything.. but even that has been cranked down by Disneyland (no more Captain Jack M&Gs for instance)

Another thought would be to simply bring TSI back to being alive, with actual things kids can play with. Make the lookouts and rifles that used to be there fun to use... bring back the scavenger hunt.. update the effects in the caves (see what was done at DL).. make Aunt Pollies a food station again that people would want to hang out at.

There would be a lot more entertainment out there if Disney simply didn't shutter what it used to have

 

[Lee]

No need to retheme either one, especially not to Peter Pan.
They fit the Liberty Square /Frontierland just fine.
And the river doesn't play a significant role in water control, far as I know.

 

[spacemt354]

TSI is supposed to be a playground in short. I get that but the actual Tom Sawyer themeing doesnt seem to hold much signifigance compared to a retheme that would make the area a bit more interesting. I understand that the actual river needs the be there as part of water control.

So down to my point, I was wondering if theming the Island to Never Land would be appropritate. In doing so, replace Peter Pan's Flight with something, have a Re-Imagined Peter Pan taking up the northern tip of the north island (more on this later), Pixie Hollow on the south island.The actual exterior edges of the islands would remain the same to fit frontier land and the boat would remain but having manual draw bridges (to account for more popularity) would replace the keel boats.

so with that in mind, is the island able to be rethemed successfully? or would it seem totally unethical and out of place?

That is a very interesting idea you have. I do agree that the Island can be repurposed or rethemed to add more to its popularity. But I think a Pixie Hollow theme and Neverland would counteract with the themes around it in the magic kingdom.

I had only realized this in my last trip, but Peter Pan's Flight placement in Fantasyland is there for a very specific storytelling reason. The Peter Pan ride begins in London, and when you exit the ride and pass under the columbia harbor house above, you are supposed to be entering a village along the Boston Harbor, hence the harbor house itself. So the story is that you have now crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Peter Pan's flight in London to a seaport town in Boston. And Liberty Sqaure and Fronteirland are shaped makeshiftly like America. The Haunted Mansion represents the mansions in Upstate New York, which is why it would be to above and to the left of the Boston Harbor area. Then as you go south, you reach the Hall of Presidents in Philadelphia. And as you start heading "west" you reach the Mississippi and TSI, and all the west is Peco's Bill (Mexican insipred) BTMR (inspired by Bryce Canyon in Utah) and Splash Mountain (inspired by song of the south, maybe Alabama, Georgia. So kinda out of place, but I'll let that one slide haha)

Anyway, if Pixie Hollow was shoe-horned in to the America on the banks of the Mississippi, I'm not sure how that would fit theme wise. It's a fantastic idea, don't get me wrong, but I think it would throw off the themes that disney has done so well thus far. I can't think of any disney films recently off the top of my head that take place in the south, but maybe a revamp of the TSI itself could be a nice addition.

 

[Californian Elitist]

In doing so, replace Peter Pan's Flight with something...

Blasphemy.

 

[Omegadiz]

Really? I thought with the I heard it did and play a roll. Regaurdless, even if they brought the island back alive, would it attract people? I don't know many who express much care for tsi, of course that doesn't mean some people don't.

 

[ellie-badge]

A few 'issues'
- The island faces Frontierland - not Fantasyland
- You are talking about taking out the #1 ride in Fantasyland for some new re-imaged attraction.. That would go over like 'universal healthcare'

Are you not aware of the Pirates Lair retheme they did of TSI in Disneyland? That would be far more likely than anything.. but even that has been cranked down by Disneyland (no more Captain Jack M&Gs for instance)

Another thought would be to simply bring TSI back to being alive, with actual things kids can play with. Make the lookouts and rifles that used to be there fun to use... bring back the scavenger hunt.. update the effects in the caves (see what was done at DL).. make Aunt Pollies a food station again that people would want to hang out at.

There would be a lot more entertainment out there if Disney simply didn't shutter what it used to have

I think a reason why they stopped doing Jack Sparrow meet-and-greets is because The Captain was becoming extremely popular with the ladies (people giving him phone numbers, whispering innuendos, etc), but don't quote me on that, as that's only what I've heard. The one time I did get to meet Jack Sparrow at Magic Kingdom was during MNSSHP years ago, and the one lady and her family before me spent like... ten or fifteen minutes with him. Crazy!

 

[Omegadiz]

That is a very interesting idea you have. I do agree that the Island can be repurposed or rethemed to add more to its popularity. But I think a Pixie Hollow theme and Neverland would counteract with the themes around it in the magic kingdom.

I had only realized this in my last trip, but Peter Pan's Flight placement in Fantasyland is there for a very specific storytelling reason. The Peter Pan ride begins in London, and when you exit the ride and pass under the columbia harbor house above, you are supposed to be entering a village along the Boston Harbor, hence the harbor house itself. So the story is that you have now crossed the Atlantic Ocean from Peter Pan's flight in London to a seaport town in Boston. And Liberty Sqaure and Fronteirland are shaped makeshiftly like America. The Haunted Mansion represents the mansions in Upstate New York, which is why it would be to above and to the left of the Boston Harbor area. Then as you go south, you reach the Hall of Presidents in Philadelphia. And as you start heading "west" you reach the Mississippi and TSI, and all the west is Peco's Bill (Mexican insipred) BTMR (inspired by Bryce Canyon in Utah) and Splash Mountain (inspired by song of the south, maybe Alabama, Georgia. So kinda out of place, but I'll let that one slide haha)

Anyway, if Pixie Hollow was shoe-horned in to the America on the banks of the Mississippi, I'm not sure how that would fit theme wise. It's a fantastic idea, don't get me wrong, but I think it would throw off the themes that disney has done so well thus far. I can't think of any disney films recently off the top of my head that take place in the south, but maybe a revamp of the TSI itself could be a nice addition.

Well the actual ouside view of the island wouldn't change. So what the river boat sees will be the same, but I see your point

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Blasphemy, vandalism.

Maybe we can retheme the MS bakery to the Star Wars cantina. Both are, after all, 'eateries' and set 'a long time ago'.

The RoA serves as 'infinite space'. The design by which an area the size a small child can walk is made to feel 'infinite', fading off into an unseeable distance, so it is made to feel real, an actual place. This is how the magic is made.

TSI is significant for this area because Tom Sawyer is a character in a book by Mark Twain. An all-American classic. At once specific for the time and place of the area, and timeless. For all you young whippersnappers out there: Twain was a contestant on American Idol. Books are what people in the Third World who can't afford iPads use.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I think a reason why they stopped doing Jack Sparrow meet-and-greets is because The Captain was becoming extremely popular with the ladies (people giving him phone numbers, whispering innuendos, etc), but don't quote me on that, as that's only what I've heard. The one time I did get to meet Jack Sparrow at Magic Kingdom was during MNSSHP years ago, and the one lady and her family before me spent like... ten or fifteen minutes with him. Crazy!

I wouldn't doubt this. This is why Tarzan is no longer seen in Disneyland, besides his treehouse (I don't now about MK or any of the other parks). The women were being aggressive with the little kids and it became a problem. I remember, at one of the Halloween parties, seeing a dad VERY ACCURATELY dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow, including the face (he was gorgeous). I myself couldn't stop staring so I can imagine what it would be like if Jack and Tarzan roamed the parks freely.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I can't think of any disney films recently off the top of my head that take place in the south, but maybe a revamp of the TSI itself could be a nice addition.

The Princess and the Frog is set in New Orleans. An oldie also set in the South is Song of the South, of Splash Mountain fame.

A presence of either movie makes sense around the river in DL. Not in Orlando. The MK suffers from Disney being centered in LA.

 

[rufio]

I think a retheme would be fun. I've never done TSI, but I do plan on doing it this December. It just never really appealed to me at all. A Tom Sawyer-themed island isn't really on my "exciting things to do" list when I visit WDW.

 

[rsoxguy]

I like it, and would not re-theme. It fits perfectly with FrontierLand, and provides a great place for frolic and exploration.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

I have to agree with another poster who said that TSI would benefit from a refurb!
Fix up Aunt Polly's bring back the fried chicken, sandwich's, fresh lemonade etc. etc.
Maybe serve some BBQ at the Fort since at one point they used to also have food.
Fix up the effects inside the tunnels, maybe bring a sort of scavenger hunt for the Island with
little activities you have to do to find a treasure or something. I also really wish they would bring
back the Mike Fink boats, the canoes didnt work out because most people really didnt want to paddle
so the CM's ended up doing most of the work, so the MFB would be another nice form of transportation
around RoA.
Not to get off subject but I honestly feel they need to hurry up and do something with Discovery River
and lake, once again it is another area that could be used to further the theme for the park.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Really? I thought with the I heard it did and play a roll. Regaurdless, even if they brought the island back alive, would it attract people? I don't know many who express much care for tsi, of course that doesn't mean some people don't.

Why would people not go if there are interesting activities and people are made aware of their existence?

 

[bethymouse]

Haven't been to TSI, since I was 5! I believe the classics are great, Tom Sawyer & Swiss Family Robinson (haven't been climbing the tree since I was 5 either!). I hope there's a way to make TSI more appealing. I like the riverboat. It's classic America! It all just needs some love!

 

[FettFan]

If they DO re-theme TSI (and I hope they don't, I'm just thinking out loud here), I'd want it to be more in tune with Liberty Square than Frontierland. Call it Liberty Island, keep it as a kid's play area, and make it a callback to the failed "Disney's America" project.