May 20, 1973 – The Tom Sawyer Island Attraction Opens in Walt Disney World
Image Credit: Official WDW Site
“Sitting alongside the Rivers of America on the porch of Aunt Polly’s Dockside Inn, sipping on a glass of lemonade, you can soak up a real glimpse of the idyllic world of yesteryear that Mark Twain and Walt Disney loved.”
On May 20, 1973, Tom Sawyer Island opened in Walt Disney World’s Frontierland. The original attraction in Disneyland opened on June 16, 1956; there were a few changes made when the attraction moved to Florida, including the fort being renamed to Fort Sam Clemens. Both islands were located the middle of the Rivers of America on opening day of their respective parks, but the attraction didn’t open until months later.
The Tom Sawyer Island is a leisurely walk-around area designed to resemble America in the 19th century from the novels of Mark Twain. Guests can travel to the island using a raft at Tom’s Landing, near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. There are many areas worth exploring on the island, as guests can pretend they are living out the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
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