[Review] Pirate island is great

[DannyLand]

Have u ever visited pirate island via Tom Sawyer ?
it's soo cool Cus THERE IS NO RAILING on the island. There's no safety railing on the islands, it's mostly just rocks tho. So if u get too close to the water... U might go for a swim. Ahh but I'm just surprised theirs no barrier or railing like what they did for Alice, the storybook ride, cal screaming

But I don't like the fact that its too small. I was expecting a bigger island

[sbk1234]

Re: Pirate island is great

This isn't the most popular view on Micechat, but I actually like the island, too. I think what they did was first rate, and offers plenty of opportunity for kids to burn some energy and do some exploring. I would like to see it expanded some, such as building a new structure where the fort is, but one that is accessible by the guests.

[OliviaVonDrake]

Re: Pirate island is great

This isn't the most popular view on Micechat, but I actually like the island, too. I think what they did was first rate, and offers plenty of opportunity for kids to burn some energy and do some exploring. I would like to see it expanded some, such as building a new structure where the fort is, but one that is accessible by the guests.

This would of course all be true without the ill-fitting pirates theme as well, though.

[gatheringrosebuds]

Re: Pirate island is great

This would of course all be true without the ill-fitting pirates theme as well, though.

Exactly: love the island. Not in love with the pirates invading it.

[D3COY]

Re: Pirate island is great

Oh dear someone at Disney is going to read this and see that you mentioned that theres no railings!!! Its all downhill from here on out!

[Pirate Lover 68]

Re: Pirate island is great

I love the pirate stuff. I suppose that's not a surprise given the name. I'm looking forward to having my son play there this December. Can't wait.

[explodingboy]

Re: Pirate island is great

Oh dear someone at Disney is going to read this and see that you mentioned that theres no railings!!! Its all downhill from here on out!

[sbk1234]

Re: Pirate island is great

This would of course all be true without the ill-fitting pirates theme as well, though.

Actually, I don't think the theme is any more ill-fitting than POTC is in New Orleans Square. Much of what I'm talking about, as far as what they've done to the island, has to do specifically with the pirate-ish stuff they've added: Pirates in the caves, salvaged ship motifs, treasure, etc.
As for the change in theme, no, I probably would not have done it, since it really all seemed very "band wagonish" to me, since it all was in reaction to the popuar movies. I liked the original theme of Tom Sawyer and the Mississippi River/wilderness. But if they were going to change it - and they did - I think they did it to a good quality.

[Steve DeGaetano]

Re: Pirate island is great

Actually, I don't think the theme is any more ill-fitting than POTC is in New Orleans Square.

The entrance to the amusement park ride known as Pirates of the Caribbean is in New Orleans Square. Thematically, POTC begins in the bayous of New Orleans, but then transports us hundreds of miles away to the Caribbean Sea. Thematically, POTC is nowhere near NOS.

[MANEATINGWREATH]

Re: Pirate island is great

Keep in mind that Tom Sawyer's Island (after Walt's time) was planned to receive a pirate hideout accessed from the New Orleans Square mainland. There has to be some kind of connection in mind. And regardless of the POTC movie character references throughout, isn't the theme supposed to be American river pirates in addition to Tom and Huck playing "pirates." With Casey Jr., Alice, and the Matterhorn already affected by safety, we can only hope that Pirate's Lair stays around a little while longer to prevent the ever-bizarre-looking guardrails. It's times like this that I wish the world wasn't so safe, lol. Well, you know what I mean.

[Steve DeGaetano]

Re: Pirate island is great

And regardless of the POTC movie character references throughout, isn't the theme supposed to be American river pirates in addition to Tom and Huck playing "pirates."

No.

They could tell the faithful that the "theme" is Gilligan's Island by placing a transistor radio powered by coconuts into a scene, and it would be thought of as magnificent, detailed and completely immersive theming.

[BlAcKoUt510]

Re: Pirate island is great

Oh dear someone at Disney is going to read this and see that you mentioned that theres no railings!!! Its all downhill from here on out!

lol I thought the same thing.


TSI is better now than it has been the years before. Everything is restored & enhanced now, besides the unfortunate fort.

This attraction was made for the most part kids, at the time kids were into westerns & Tom and Huck's stories. Today, it's pirates that's popular. It doesn't bother me that they are using this theme, & overall the island is better now.

My disappoint is more that Frontierland has had more taken away. It's unfortunate I can't think of a popular overlay to attract kids to the island besides the current theme & Toy Story. Pirates overlay doesn't bother me, but I wish we had better options for the island.

But I see more gains than losses with the current island. Make many more new memories now

No.

They could tell the faithful that the "theme" is Gilligan's Island by placing a transistor radio powered by coconuts into a scene, and it would be thought of as magnificent, detailed and completely immersive theming.

Always a positive post by you.

[sbk1234]

Re: Pirate island is great

The entrance to the amusement park ride known as Pirates of the Caribbean is in New Orleans Square. Thematically, POTC begins in the bayous of New Orleans, but then transports us hundreds of miles away to the Caribbean Sea. Thematically, POTC is nowhere near NOS.

My point, exactly!

[Steve DeGaetano]

Re: Pirate island is great

My point, exactly!

You're missing my point. POTC isn't "in" NOS, and therefore there's no thematic violation of either attraction. TSI is in the middle of Frontierland, so having 17th century swashbuckling Caribbean pirates on the banks of an island in the middle of a western "river" circa the mid 19th century is a thematic violation of the first order.

[Flickering Bulb]

Re: Pirate island is great

Did I just read a teenager's Myspace post?

[sbk1234]

Re: Pirate island is great

You're missing my point. POTC isn't "in" NOS, and therefore there's no thematic violation of either attraction. TSI is in the middle of Frontierland, so having 17th century swashbuckling Caribbean pirates on the banks of an island in the middle of a western "river" circa the mid 19th century is a thematic violation of the first order.

You're right, I guess I did miss your point. I also agree, however, as much as this seems like a contradiciton, for some reason, it doesn't seem to encroach into the surrounding area, imho. Perhaps, since like Fowler's Harbor (New England) it represents an era of history that could be contemporary-ish with the surrounding area? Perhaps since from the mainland, you can't really see the piraty theme so much? I don't know.
Just how I feel about it. Not wanting to get into a debate, since your views are 100% as valid as mine. Just how I see it.

[fifthrider]

Re: Pirate island is great

Did I just read a teenager's Myspace post?

Yes you did, as did I. ....and I think they call it Facebook nowadays, something like that.

[ohmyjustin]

Re: Pirate island is great

You're missing my point. POTC isn't "in" NOS, and therefore there's no thematic violation of either attraction. TSI is in the middle of Frontierland, so having 17th century swashbuckling Caribbean pirates on the banks of an island in the middle of a western "river" circa the mid 19th century is a thematic violation of the first order.

Actually, the entrance to the amusement park attraction known as Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island is in Frontierland. Thematically, PL begins in the heart of the frontier, but then transports us hundreds of miles away to somewhere pirates are more relevant. Thematically, PL is nowhere near FL.

[imaginashton]

Re: Pirate island is great

Did I just read a teenager's Myspace post?

[Steve DeGaetano]

Re: Pirate island is great

Actually, the entrance to the amusement park attraction known as Pirates Lair on Tom Sawyer's Island is in Frontierland. Thematically, PL begins in the heart of the frontier, but then transports us hundreds of miles away to somewhere pirates are more relevant. Thematically, PL is nowhere near FL.

Trying to be cute does nothing to alter the fact that Pirate's Lair is a thematic nightmare that would never have even been considered back when Imagineers understood cohesive theming, and when accountants weren't involved in the creative process.