FROM: Wandering the World with Wally Published Mondays

Tom Sawyer Island

Sure, he talks a good adventure, but Wally isn't much different than you and me when it comes to the Big T - Treasure! He goes in search of it today with another of his reluctant companions. And he goes in style aboard the Disney World Railroad.

- by Walter Octavius March, July 11, 2011

KUNGALOOSH!

Good day, my friend! Today we're going to wander as if we are on Safari, since we are going to an island to look for elusive items.

I hope you are ready for an Adventure!

We have to make our way first thing this morning to the Magic Kingdom and catch our raft to the Island. Yes, of course I mean an island in the Magic Kingdom! You don't recall an island? Think about it, my friend; maybe it will come to you...

Yes, that's right, Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland. It's one of the hidden treasures of Walt Disney World and the perfect place to relax, perhaps with a refreshment.

But the reason we are heading there today is for treasure. Yes, treasure! I'll explain when we get there, I don't want anyone overhearing us and spoiling our fun.

All Aboard with Wally

Let's journey in style. We'll hop aboard the train here at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom and let it take us to the Frontierland Station. It's much more elegant than navigating through the crowds. Have you been on the Walt Disney World railroad before? Most people have, but did you know that it is one of the reasons why Walt Disney wanted to build a theme park in the first place?

Walt had built his own railroad in the backyard of his home on N. Carolwood Drive in Los Angeles. He actually called it the Carolwood Pacific Railroad. He enjoyed riding it around the track laid out around his property. His daughters and their friends would be the passengers, and so would other guests who came to visit. When Walt decided to build Disneyland, it is said that the idea came from the train layout in his backyard.

There are some neat Unknown Magics about the Walt Disney World Railroad that my friend Bruce has pointed out to me over the years and writes about on his website.

For example, did you know that Space Mountain is the only attraction in the Magic Kingdom that is outside the railroad tracks? Everything else is neatly confined into the perimeter of the railroad. Also, there are four locomotives: the Walter E. Disney, the Lily Belle, the Roger E. Broggie, and the Roy O. Disney.

But my favorite thing that most people miss when they are riding the railroad is the wooden leg. Look around here in the Frontierland Station as we arrive and see if you can find it.

Yes, that's it, my friend, the one with the tag that says Smith. I love that joke, don't you? What, you don't recall the joke? Well, let me explain...

In Mary Poppins, when they are laughing with Uncle Albert, Bert says, "I know a man with a wooden leg named Smith." To which Uncle Albert asks, "What's the name of his other leg?" Ho, ho, ho! I chuckle every time I think of it, and they put the leg here as a hidden joke for us to enjoy! Very good!

Off we go now to Tom Sawyer Island. What we are looking for when we get there is a paint brush.

What's that? No, I am not going to paint; the paint brush is supposedly one that Tom dropped while whitewashing the fence. But he has since moved on to other adventures and left the brush behind. If you find the brush and hand it to one of the Cast Members, you get a special prize. That, my friend, is why I didn't want to tell you earlier, because I didn't want someone else hearing us and making off with our prize.

So, here we go! Get in the queue for the raft. I like that the rafts are named after characters in the Tom Sawyer story, don't you?

Which reminds me: did I ever tell you that I used to pilot a raft like this on the Draa River in Morocco? Yes, it was quite a few years back, but I used to take people and their wares up and down the river and sometimes all the way into the Dades and Imini Rivers. It was a tough job, with many adventures, but It was worth seeing the famous kasbahs in valley of the Draa...

A Brush with Tom Sawyer

We've docked, already! let's go and find us that treasure, shall we, chap? Ordinarily, I'd say we split up, but divide and conquer isn't a good strategy for this adventure. Besides, I see no one else looking for the brush, and so I'd like to stay together. We can chat...

Isn't the foliage here beautiful? Be wary of this bridge. I was on one just like it in Tanzania once, and it fell apart moments after I jumped to safety. So do be careful. One adventure at a time.

Why don't we look in the caves over there? I know they are dark, but I'm sure the Cast Members check every morning for scary things like spiders and bats before they open the island to guests.

Hey, look here, I found a brush! Bully! And it has something written on it:

Now we have to go back to the raft driver for our treasure. I wonder what it will be. Thirsty work, wasn't it? Let's stop Let's first stop at Aunt Polly's for a cold beverage.

"Why, hello, young lady! How are you? Yes, we did find this paint brush. Your family has been searching three days without success? Hmmm... it took me not much longer than three minutes. I'm sorry to hear of your troubles! No, I hadn't heard that the prize for finding a brush is FastPasses for one's whole family to both Big Thunder Railroad and Splash Mountain. Quite generous!

"Excuse me a second, please, while I talk with my friend privately."

I have no right asking this of you, compadre, but she looks like she wants to find that paint brush more than us. Why don't we re-hide it over behind those barrels near the water fountain and tell her to go get a drink, and maybe the drink will be a magical one. Then she will find the brush and believe in that Disney Magic even more. I can tell by the smile on your face that you like the idea. Go hide the brush, please, and I'll try to convince her she needs a drink.

"Young lady, do you know what I have found? Besides wishing wells, sometimes when you are in Walt Disney World, the water fountains can be magical. Why not get a drink at that fountain over there and wish for whatever you want. It might just work!"

Thank you, my friend, for hiding the brush again. I love young people who still believe in magic! Look, she's taking a drink and closing her eyes to make her wish. She's opening them. I think she sees it. Yes, she's hopping all around. Very good! I think we have made a young person happy!

Shall we see whether we can find another brush? What's that - you're heading back over to Frontierland to enjoy Splash Mountain? Wonderful idea! But I'll stay here and search a bit more. We'll meet later, my friend!

Until next time, KUNGALOOSH! And keep your eyes open for Adventure!

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