Tom Sawyer Island at Disney’s Magic Kingdom – Episode 32
This week we explore Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida on Travel with Rick with Rick Howard
Hope you enjoy this week’s video, be sure to leave a commment!
Rick Howard
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To take a break from the parks, our favorite thing to do is visit the different hotels…especially at Christmas when they are so beautifully decorated. Thanks, Rick.
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We like to go back to our hotel and go to the pool to cool off. Or just visit Downtown Disney to do some shoping
WE will be at WDW at the end of Spet. WE will be sure to visit Tom Sawyer Island . Thanks Rick for all the shows.
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Rick, Thanks for sharing Tom Sawyer’s Island with us this week. I am a newby and always enjoy what you have to share.
Caroline
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That was great I really wanted to go there the last time but it started raining and we had to go to the Crystal Palace to see Pooh and Piglet. I can’t wait to go next time. I also really want to ride on the riverboat, that looks really cool. Off the beaten path for me was walking all the walkways at our resort, Port Orleans Riverside, occasionally sitting on one of the benches and just people watching. I love to people watch it is so interesting because WDW draws so many people from all over the world.
Thanks Again,
Penny
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Thanks for the awesome tour. We love Tom Sawyer Island – took hubby there last fall. In all his trips – he had never taken the time to visit the island before. He is now also a big fan! Maybe somebody else will know – isn’t Aunt Polly’s seasonal? I’ve been sevral times in the fall and they were closed or my timing was off!
TSI is my off the beaten path place in MK, especially on warm days. The cool breeze and the shade make it a great get-away. One of my other favorites is in World Showcase – sitting by the Italian gondola’s people watching drinking a glass of Rosa Regala.
Keep up the great work – love the videos……they make my day and keep me close to Disney since I can’t make it as often as I would like…….
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Great video, I’ve been on the island before but haven’t seen it all yet so I will definately have to go over again on a future trip. My favorite off the beaten path thing to do is ride the monorail to the different resorts to check them out and our favorite thing to do is sit in the lobby of the Grand Floridian and listen to the piano. It’s so relaxing.
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WOW!!! It’s been so many years I haven’t visited Tom Sawyer Island. The first and last time I was there was 1994, when I was just a teenager. In my recent trips with my husband and kids I’ve kinda overlooked this. But on my next trip this coming june I’ll definitely take my boys there, I’m sure they’ll love it.
My favorite off the beaten path thing to do is visiting Downtown Disney. There are so many things to do there and it’s so relaxing and it’s hardly ever crowded.
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Great video! We havn’t been on Tom Sawyers Island in a long time. We’ll have to do it again on our next trip. I really Love exploring the caves but the barrel bridge scares my wife. As far as off the beaten path goes, we pretty much stay where the people are. One thing we do though is eat at Flame Tree Bar B Que at Disney’s Animal kingdom. We grab our food and walk to the farthest seating area. We get to eat all by ourselves and it feels like we have the whole park to ourselves…with the exception of all the critters that beg us for french fries and bread.
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Thanks for sharing Tom Sawyer’s Island. We haven’t ventured there yet, but maybe this trip.
My favorite “off-the-beaten-path” thing to do is visiting Downtown Disney. It’s rarely crowded and there is so much to see and do.
Linda Miller
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I find watching the street preformers in Epcot is the most relaxing. There are such a variety of entertainers.
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That was great! For a few minutes we were at Magic Kingdom again. Our favorite park! Our out of the way places vary according to the park. At Magic Kingdom we go to Liberty Square behind the Liberty tree. There is a quiet place there, also behind the castle by the wishing well. Great job Rick! Thanks for the memories!
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Thanks Rick – The kids love to play checkers at the Fort. I do love to sit in the lobby at the Wilderness Lodge — it is so relaxing – but I still get to people watch!!
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It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Tom Sawyers Island. Wish I was 8 years old again to enjoy the tunnels and stuff.
Leave the parks? They have to take me out kicking and screaming.
🙂 But when the parks close, I do like to get in some shopping at the resort or even better, get in some time at DisneyQuest. I’d love to see some video of DisneyQuest, by the way. I feel like a missed a lot in there.
I used to love going to Pleasure Island for an evening of Adventurers Club and Comedy Warehouse, but sadly they are no more.
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I love Tom Sawyers Island, I was in the ICP and I actually did some “homework” and reading there. One time I also sat at the Tomorroland Terrace, the Noodle Station wasn’t open and it was so quiet there yet you could oversee all the hustle and bustle in front of the castle.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_X4-ULjEv8Kz2EKPcBOajg?feat=directlink
One of my favorite things to do was also just to take the different boats bringing people to and from the resorts. On the right times of the day it is so relaxing.
(DTD Port Orleans, Fort Wilderness/Wildernss Lodge/Contemporary/Grand Floridan/Polynesian Magic Kingdom, Epcot Disney Hollywood Studios)
Often times I skipped the boat ride from Epcot to the Hollywood Studios since it is also a very nice walk along the Boardwalk, you can unwind a little bit because it actually is quite peaceful.
Another place that I really liked to walk around is Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge. It is quite foresty and also peaceful. Around Halloween and Christmas the decorations are up and not only Disney’s own, which is fun to look at. And for all WDW resort guests chip and dale come out every night for a campfire sing along (I believe you can buy package to make smores there as well!) followed by a Disney movie. How does that sound for unwinding?
As for other fun boat activities I suggest to rent a boat at one of the resorts where it is possible. It is fun to do, you know you are at the most magical place on earth and yet you are doing something with only your family or your friends, to me that was a very personal experience.
Last but not least, the mini-golf courses are a lot of fun to do as well and the crowds are usually not as dense as in the parks.
Writing this down made me realize once again the size, scope, and versatility of the Walt Disney World Resort. Love it!
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I remember taking the kids there when they were little. Lots of fond memories over there.
We like spending time when we are not in the parks in Fort Wilderness. There is so much to see and do there! I remember a friend of mine was in MK on Memorial Day one year. The park had actually closed to any more people as it had reached capacity. He remembered my telling him how much I loved FW and all the things there are to do there. He thought it would be a good time to get out of the crowds and see what I was talking about. He called me from the porch on Crocketts Tavern. He was so amazed that despite how mobbed MK was, it was like he walked into another time….everything was so peaceful!
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Love those barrell bridges on Tom Sawyer Island, it is a great place to get away and you can to see some great views of the park. I enjoy going back to the resort and relaxing by the pool in the middle of the afternoon and escape some of the crowds from the park. Thanks for another great video!
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Love Tom Sawyers Island, Took my kids there for their first time last year and they loved it. My favorite thing to do off the beaten path is, the stuff away from the parks. The pool, mini golf and Downtown Disney
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Hey Rick, love the video of Tom Sawyer Island. I like to visit the island, but I usually can’t convince the spousely unit to take the time and explore it. Anyways, I have two “off the beaten paths” that I like to visit. The first is at Anaimal Kingdom. I like to walk the trails beneath the Tree of Life. There are so many extra sculptured animals that are usually hidden and many people don’t notice them. Second area is pathway that leads from Cinderella’s Castle over to Tomorrow Land. I love to stop by Cinderella’s Wishing Well and make a wish. You never know….if I keep wishing, I may end up winning that lottery sometime. Thanks
Steve
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Thanks Rick for the Tom Sawyer’s Island video, perfect timing my friend, because my family missed it last year and i’ve been talking it up for our September trip!! I think my boys will love it, they are 6 and 4! We love to go to our resort pool to unwind and get off the beaten path. Thanks again Rick, keep smiling!
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Hi Rick! We just got back from WDW 2 hours ago and we were in line for this 11 hours ago but decided to pass on seeing it. (We weren’t sure we would have enough time before catching the Magical Express bus.) Now I feel like I saw it today anyway! Nice video! We like to ride on the train all the way around the MK when we want to take a park break. We also like to hang out at the resorts and just enjoy what they have to offer. We had a great trip this week and we were looking for you in case you were there taping another video!
Thanks again, Rick!
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Hi Rick, It looks like there is more to explore at the Magic Kingdom. I will have to take another look Tom Sawyer’s Island the next time I am at WDW.
My favorite off-the-beaten-path thing to do is to go to Jungle Adventures on HWY 50 and then to the beach at Merrit Island next to Titusville. I usually go there first and then come to WDW. but I think on my next trip I will go there in the middle of my trip to WDW to get a break from going to the theme parks every day.
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Hi Rick,
Just discovered you through the world of Twitter!
Fantastic page you have here!
As an annual traveller from Scotland to WDW, I enjoy things that can keep WDW alive in me until the following summer’s trip!
My off-the-beaten-path is Cap’N Jack’s Marina at Downtown Disney.
After several trips, we discovered the facilities at the Marina this year.
My husband and I enjoyed a wonderful time when we hired a Suntracker boat and enjoyed the peace whilst enjoying the sail!
The scenery was lovely, and seeing the disney hotels and Downtown Disney from the boat made for some memorable photo’s!
Hope many other have enjoyed this too!
Leona xx
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Another great video, thanks Rick! Ran out of time for Tom Sawyer’s Island last year, so it was great to show the kids what we’ll make an effort to see next time…
Off the beaten path led us to hop a bus or monorail for one morning and check out the other hotels throughout WDW — loved Wilderness Lodge at Christmas time!
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Spending time at the pool and shopping at Downtown Disney. Really enjoyed the show never even thought about going to Tom Sawyer Island. Thank for a great idea for our next trip.
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Hi Rick, I Just found your site and I absolutely love it. I love your videos and the way you film them! I haven’t had the pleasure of going to Disney World or Disneyland, growing up it wasn’t in my family’s budget and now that I’m an adult, my husband and I are planning on going to Disney World within the next 2 years. Your videos have been a great preview for me and I’ve really enjoyed watching them, you film them very well. I can’t answer your question of the week obviously but I’ll leave comments! Thanks again for the videos!
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Hey, Rick! On my last trip I had the opportunity to stay at the Grand Floridian. My off the beaten path treat was walking the beach at sunrise. I mean, it was just so peaceful and beautiful I almost couldn’t believe that I was in the middle of Disney World! There’s nothing like watching the sunrise and seeing that first Monorail of the day. I have the best pictures from those mornings!
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Tom Sawyer’s Island really is a nice place to take a break. We are usually on the go AM to PM but lately we have started to go back to the resort to take a nap. It’s the best thing we ever started. It is a luxury that is under-rated.
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A nice way to get away from things is to stop by the resort formerly known as Dixie Landings (I still have a hard time calling it Port Orleans Riverside)and hopping a boat from there down the Sassagoula River to Downtown Disney. It’s a very scenic, relaxing ride.
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What I liked to do that was off the beat and path was visiting the gift shops in the parks, downtown Disney, and resorts.
Thanks for the videos. It really help me when I am going through my Disney withdrawls.
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