Treasure Island - the Park

There are many examples of abandoned, retired and defunct rides and attractions across the various Disney theme parks.  There are fewer examples, however, of entire abandoned theme parks.  Treasure Island is one of those.

Having just watched the first live action Disney film, Treasure Island I began my search for Disney theme park attractions related to the film. I didn't actually expect anything to turn up except maybe a vague link to the Pirates of the Caribbean rides.  I didn't expect to find an entire, abandoned park.

Treasure Island opened in 1974 as a wildlife reserve - somewhere guests could go to observe wildlife and nature.  To fit in with the name, it had a pirate theme including a shipwreck on one of the beaches.  Later, though, it was renamed Discovery Island, but with the pirate theme retained.  It eventually closed in 1999 shortly after Animal Kingdom had opened, with animals living on Discovery Island being transferred the newer park (which has an area called - Discovery Island).

As a park, it wasn't immensely popular, which lead, in part, to it's closure.  Only accessible by boat and considered by most visitors to only be a 'half-day park', it didn't generate the enthusiasm Disney had clearly hoped for.  This is a shame, because, from Youtube videos, it was clearly a lovely place to visit.

Some of the wildlife guests could see on Discovery Island included trumpeter swans, macaws, cockatoos, lemurs, pelicans, flamingoes and Galapagos tortoises.  Areas these animals lived in were titled as, for example, Pelican Bay, Tortoise Beach, Bamboo Hollow and a bird show called Parrots Perch. 

One path lead you around the entire island and there were various merchandise and eateries installed once it was relaunched as Discovery Island.

Treasure/Discovery Island is located in Bay Lake and is not really that far from the Fort Wilderness Resort.  Nowadays it is completely abandoned with various rumours arising now and again as to what Disney plan to do with the area.  The video below details it's history and rumoured futures in a more detail.

Treasure/Discovery Island is a fascinating glimpse of a lost Disney park/attraction tied to a oft-forgotten Disney film.  However, with Animal Kingdom being a far grander, extensive version of this park's mission statement, it's no wonder it has become a part of Disney history.