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January 9, 2008

Disney's Discovery Island

Discovery Island, also known as "Bay Lake's Tropical Island Paradise," is an 11½-acre island in Bay Lake at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. It opened as "Treasure Island" on April 8, 1974, and was a place to observe wildlife. It was closed to the public on April 8, 1999, but continued to operate until July 9, 1999, at which point all of its animals had been relocated to new homes at Disney's Animal Kingdom (which retained the Discovery Island name in the hub area formerly called Safari Village) and other zoos.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_Island

Disney's Discovery Island has been abandoned since 1999.  Before it closed many families made memories here and they will continue to talk about their time spent on Disney's Discovery Island. Whether they stayed right in Disney-themed hotels or in Disney hotels Orlando, they adventured to the Island, that is, until they were no longer able. At the time, the Bay was a popular site for Disney travelers.

Did you have the chance to visit Discovery Island before it closed?  Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.

Check out Jurassic World and the abandoned Six Flags New Orleans/Jazzland on Modern Day Ruins:
Six Flags New Orleans/Jazzland - A History: http://www.moderndayruins.com/2012/09/six-flags-new-orleans.html
Jurassic World filming at Six Flags New Orleans/Jazzland: http://www.moderndayruins.com/2015/06/Six-Flags-Jurassic-World.html

The photo at the top was taken while the island was still open. The photo below was taken in 2002, after the island closed, in its abandoned state.


I haven't been able to find any photos of any ruins online, but we know they are there. Aerial views show buildings till standing. I did find this interesting and funny post on one of the Disney boards. Perhaps this is why there are not photos (besides the fact you need a boat to get there):

"A boat skipper during a Wishes Cruise told us that the last time Disney folks were on the island removing the last of the useable equipment from the buildings they encountered a gator and a VERY large snake. (He was the boat driver that took them over). The place is now 100% totally abandoned. There was a light that was on during the cruise and I asked about it. He said "notice how it is next to the ground". It was your standard street lamp. It had gotten knocked over during the hurricanes and apparently a wire short circuited and that's why it was on. In my two Ft. Wilderness visits since then, I have not seen the light on any more, so they have now totally cut power to the island." (or the light finally burned out - Brian
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1391731&page=5


Page from a WDW guide book.

2008 photos of the abandoned island




Links

A great story about a group sneaking onto the island at night. Submitted by Matt (see the comments section below).


Did you have the chance to visit Discovery Island before it closed?  Share your thoughts and stories in the comments below.

19 comments:

  1. When I stayed at the Wilderness Lodge in November '08, I sailed past the island several times on my way to the Magic Kingdom and there were a couple of lights flashing on the island.

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    Replies
    1. If its abononed why where there lights on?

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    2. they cut power to the island in 2009

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    3. disney keeps their lights on in these parks for unknown reasons but i can tell you for sure the lights are still on in discovery island and river county but whats more creepy than that is the speakers still play the themed music

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    4. the lights are on for unknown reasons but i do know the lights are still on in discovery island and river country but whats more creepy than that is the speakers still play the Disney themed music

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    5. Didn't you read the information on the island?

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    6. Apparently, Disney keeps the lights on to attempt to maintain the idea that the island is still functional.

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  2. From following a link of the Orlando Sentinal.

    http://shaneperez.blogspot.com/2009/12/discovery-island.html

    Slightly reminiscent of Jurassic Park 2/3! At least the bay vultures didn't try to eat them though.

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  3. If you ever have an opportunity to go to treasure island do not go to mowgli's place or the staff only door

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    Replies
    1. Why not?!? Interested in any Intel...

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    2. There's no Intel. It's from a fictional horror series called abandoned by Disney. The work was inspired by urban legends about when they shut discovery island down. The story takes place in a fictional park similarly abandoned caked mowglis palace. In the staff area is a rather horrifying twisted and homicidal Mickey mouse.Writer has talent for creepy discription

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    3. Read the creepypasta abandoned by disney

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    4. He's referring to a creppypasta...

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  4. in spring of 1991 we spent first half of day at River Country with our 3 children. I got bitten by a fire ant while sitting in the sand. i got so sick that when we went over to Discovery Island i was unable to go with the family to walk through. I stayed at a restroom area with my 10 month old baby and waited for them to return. I remember so vividly how sick i got in such a short amount of time. while i sat waiting i felt such panic that i was going to pass out and my baby would be left alone in her stroller. i would have to say this was among the top 2 worst moments of my life. luckily my kids didnt get bit by the fire ants. i can only imagine how it would have affected them.

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  5. I heard in 1996 from a Disney-employee friend that worked on DI that they were experiencing problems de-gatoring the island. They evidently had to inspect the island daily for alligators.

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  6. Besides the crocodiles still there (kinda) , I wonder if they are any MAJOR attractions untouched, (or mostly untouched) that could be documented really well or if theres any thing good to see.

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  7. I worked at Discovery Island from 1977-79. It was a wonderful time. My memories are rich and hilarious. I would love to connect with a couple of people that I worked with then. If you did, please reply.

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