In the past month, Disney has released a TON of news that some of us are really excited about (it’s me, I’m really excited about it all), and others of us are mourning the losses the changes mean.
Over in Magic Kingdom, the changes are abundant and construction walls will likely be RAMPANT over the next few years as we prepare to see Villains Land arrive behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (*cue my excited screaming*) AND we’re getting a Cars Land in Frontierland! However, the arrival of Cars Land means that the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be no more. Well, let’s just say our readers had a lot to say about this fact, and some of them…were not what we were expecting.
Tom Sawyer Island is only accessible by raft from Frontierland, and a LOT of Disney World fans have no idea it exists! When I went on my first adult trip in 2021, I ALSO had no idea it existed, so hey, I totally get it.
But Tom Sawyer Island is definitely a place exploring at least once before it goes away. It’s modeled after Mark Twain’s stories and features some of the rustic hideaways, caves, and more that are reminiscent of both the stories and the time period they’re set in. (Heads up, I’ve heard those caves are no joke — I’ve know a lot of the AllEars YouTube team can’t stand them.)
However, there’s a restaurant/snack stand on this island — no, I’m not kidding, there really is, it’s called Aunt Polly’s! Has it been open basically ever in the past decade? No, not really. It would just open super seasonally when crowds were MEGA HIGH. But Disney has never announced its official closure. Until now, that is, since once the island goes away, the restaurant will too.
We asked our readers how they felt about this closures and well…I think it’s best summed up by this comment from Damon:
I can honestly say that in my 30ish trips to WDW I had absolutely no idea that this place existed.
And tons of our readers agreed with him! Many shared that they remember eating there in the 80s and that they remember loving it when their kids were younger. Reader Vicki shares:
We loved Aunt Polly’s when my kids were growing up. They had the best fried chicken as well as peanut butter fluff triple decker sandwiches, which the kids, big & small loved!!!
Um, peanut butter fluff sandwiches?! My brother LOVED those growing up, and I’d like to try the Disney version, please! Many of our readers shared that they’ve never seen the restaurant open in the 20+ years that they’ve been going to the parks, and so they really won’t miss it.
Another reader, Elaine, shared that she wished they would open just ONE last time before the island officially goes away, and we totally agree! It would be a great way to be able to say goodbye to an area of the park so many people have such fond memories of AND give those of us who have never seen it open one chance to experience it.
We’ll keep an eye on Aunt Polly’s and the rest of the island, and I know I’ll be making a special trip over to Tom Sawyer Island on my visit later this month to check it out for the first (and probably only) time — be sure to stay tuned to AllEars!
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Did you ever get a chance to eat at Aunt Polly’s? Tell me in the comments!
Never ate at Aunt Polly’s, but loved Tom Sawyer’s Island. And I would ask the people who are happy it is closing if every square inch of the theme parks has to be crowded, have long lines, be noisy, and full of stimulation? Isn’t there enough of what you seek already? Can’t there be just a smidgen of space for the people who don’t tolerate thrill rides, have small kids that don’t meet the height requirements, or have people in their party that need a place to escape from the noise and stimulation? Or does everything have to be for your interests? I think the parks are plenty big enough to provide something for everyone.
I l9ved getting peanut butter sandwiches from Aunt Polly’s. I will miss it tremendously. Very upset.
Anytime we visited the island Aunt Pollys was closed. We would sit there for awhile and that was it. The cars ride will be a good replacement, after all, rides are what people want in their price of admission. It also will open up more paths to move people along. The beauty will still remain,because it’s not all going away,but,just will be different.
good riddance. that area is a complete waste of space and I can’t honestly beleive it has taken this long. This is a theme park and that island along with the huge boat that slowly circles a pond is beyond boring and uninteresting. They should also get rid of hall of president’s which is also a waste of space. nobody goes to Disney to see political things. go to wash. dc for that.
my comment was going to be almost the same as article. I have never been to park where someone even mentioned going there.
Yes,I did since 1975 and it really surprises me that with the detailed map of the Magic Kingdom and listed attractions, you have not. It was always a great place to take a bit of a break from the pace and watch children use their imaginations back in frontier times where our Country was settled. It is part of our History and how you came to be. I have lovely memories from my Honeymoon with my late husband there and the hysterical barrel bridge..lol. Peanut Butter sandwiches and Lemonade. To remove it is to surgically remove History and the Antebellum Paddle Wheeler. The Cars ride should go over to replace Tomorrowland Raceway (IF something needs updating). I didn’t think Cars was that popular anymore. Explore and use your imagination..
It’s where I used to go to get out of the crowd for a moment..
If someone has been there over 30 times and didn’t know Tom Sawyer Island existed they are either blind or did absolutely no research or have any knowledge of the park at all.
I never ate at Aunt Polly’s, but I did spend some solitary time there on their back porch deck. There were tables and chairs for those few times the restaurant was open, which remained when it was closed. It was a lovely spot to people-, river-, and duck-watch. Most relaxing. Although I enjoyed Tom Sayer’s Island for the raft ride, the barrel bridge, the trails, and the fort, the caves were NOT for me! As a child at Disneyland, I had loved them. But, as an adult, I found them too small and claustrophobic. Rivers of American and the Mark Twain Riverboat are still favorites of mine. I also like the uncrowded wooden walkways bordering the river as an alternative pathway to the main sidewalk of Frontierland. This will all be missed. We’re losing an iconic area of the park with its gentle and natural, woodsy setting for yet another loud, concrete-filled land consisting of 3 rides. As Joni Mitchell put it, “they paved over paradise and put up a parking lot.”
Totally agree. I am very sad that both the island and the Riverboat are going to be replaced. My favourite part of the park