Tom Sawyer Island 2025 tour at Magic Kingdom with 80 photos

(Tom Sawyer Island and the surrounding Rivers of America will be replaced by new rides themed to Pixar’s “Cars” movies. The project is part of a larger Frontierland makeover.)

Rafts and arrival

The only way to visit Tom Sawyer Island is to travel by raft. Guests board motorized, free-floating rafts near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad for the brief journey across the Rivers of America. Cast members onboard really do steer the vessels; they’re not on a track.

Upon arrival, a map of Tom Sawyer Island greets visitors, as does a bit of nonfiction context.

If your cursive could use some brushing up, the inscription on the map reads:

Mark Twain was born Samuel Clemens in 1835 in Florida, Missouri. He grew up not too far away in the small town of Hannibal. From there he would raft over to islands in the Mississippi and watch as majestic steamboats paddled by. As a young man, he became a riverboat pilot, listening for the leadsman to sing out “Mark Twain,” which indicated the river measured two fathoms deep, making it safe to proceed. As a writer, his two most famous creations, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, sprang from his boyish memories of life on the Mississippi. All the names on the island can be found in the literary classic “Huckleberry Finn.”

Some in-universe, fictional story aids provide some backstory, too.

Barrel bridge

A distinct area of Tom Sawyer Island is the barrel bridge, a rollicking series of barrels (safely) strung together along the riverbank. As seen throughout many of the photos in this story, Tom Sawyer Island is not always accessibility-friendly.

Caves

Want to be engulfed in a cave that smells like your basement with zero ventilation? Tom Sawyer Island is your place. You may even find some crystals.

Fort Langhorn

Technically, Tom Sawyer Island is a collection of two islands connected by a long bridge. On the isle opposite from where guests arrive and depart via raft is Fort Langhorn, a multi-level structure with toy rifles and even some inhabitants.

Aunt Polly’s

Signage refers to a small snack location as Aunt Polly’s Refreshments. At various points in history, it was known as Aunt Polly’s Landing and Aunt Polly’s Dockside Inn. It’s rarely been open in recent years.

Harper’s Mill

Harper’s Mill on Tom Sawyer Island has a robotic owl inside. Though signage written by Tom Sawyer indicates its name comes from the father of Tom’s friend Joe Harper, Harper’s Mill may also be named after legendary Disney Imagineer Harper Goff, who helped design Disneyland.

Magic Kingdom views from Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island offers unique vantage points of several delightful Magic Kingdom sightlines.

Country Bear Jamboree, Enchanted Tiki Room from Tom Sawyer Island

The island boasts a particularly unique spot to photograph Haunted Mansion’s exterior. Many of these architectural details go unnoticed when experiencing the attraction, since the ride’s queue doesn’t traverse near the Mansion’s front porch at eye level.

Tom Sawyer Island also has plenty of views of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. At the time these photos were captured, the roller coaster was closed for refurbishment (it will reopen in 2026).

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad from Tom Sawyer Island

The weathered lettering on this dock shelter reads, “Reliable shipping of freight – round-trip sightseeing – inquire within – Mike Fink.” Mike Fink is a character in the vintage “Davy Crockett” television programs that aired as part of the “Disneyland” primetime series in the ’50s. (Incidentally, Mike Fink’s Keelboats were a former Magic Kingdom attraction; they launched, though, from what is currently the Haunted Mansion extended queue, not the spot pictured below.)