Summary
Introduction to Discovery Island
There’s an abandoned island at Walt Disney World, and it’s hidden in plain sight. Located in Bay Lake near Magic Kingdom and several Disney hotels, Discovery Island was once a subtropical oasis that welcomed guests for 25 years before closing in the late ’90s.
Originally called Treasure Island, it opened on April 8, 1974, three years after Walt Disney World first welcomed visitors. The theme was based on the 1950 Disney pirate adventure film “Treasure Island,” with a wrecked ship visible on the shore. Its name was changed to Discovery Island in 1977, and the 11.5-acre nature preserve — accessible by boat — operated until April 8, 1999, about a year after Animal Kingdom opened. The subtropical island was home to an array of birds and animals, featuring one of the largest walk-through aviaries in the world and giant tortoises, according to D23, the official Disney fan club.
Legacy and Closure of the Island
A 1999 Orlando Sentinel article about the park’s closure traces the island’s pre-Disney history as a family residence in the early 1900s and later as a hunting retreat. At the time, tickets to Discovery Island cost $12.67 for adults and $6.89 for children.
Today, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort are all located around Bay Lake. Even though the island isn’t out of sight, many guests remain unaware that it used to be a Disney attraction. From afar, it blends in with the wooded shoreline of the lake, and with very little visible from the outside, it doesn’t draw much attention. Nevertheless, the property is off-limits, although it hasn’t deterred a few adventurous individuals from attempting to visit. For instance, in 2020, a 42-year-old man was arrested after sneaking onto the island and camping for days.
Connection to Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Although Discovery Island might be long gone, it certainly isn’t forgotten. Its legacy lives on in another Disney World theme park. Disney’s Animal Kingdom seems to build upon the island’s zoological theme with interactive and immersive animal exhibits. Interestingly, its central land is named Discovery Island, appearing to be a nod to the park of yesteryear.
Importantly, this former attraction should not be confused with Disney’s River Country, an abandoned water park that operated around the same time period on the shores of Bay Lake. This park, themed after a rustic swimming hole, was open from 1976 to 2001. However, that’s a Disney narrative for another day.
