Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island

Description And Comments

Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island manages to impart a sense of isolation from the rest of the park. It has hills to climb, tipsy bridges to cross, paths to follow, and a “rock-climbing” play area. It’s a delight for adults but a godsend for children who have been in tow all day. Sadly, safety and maintenance issues have closed a few of the island’s play elements, including the tree house, somewhat diminishing the attraction’s entertainment value.

As an aside, a mother of four from Duncan, South Carolina, found Tom Sawyer Island as much a refuge as an attraction, writing:

I do have one tip for parents. In the afternoon, when the crowds were at their peak, the weather was hottest, and the kids started lagging behind, our organization began to suffer. We then retreated over to Tom Sawyer Island, which proved to be a true haven. My husband and I found a secluded bench and regrouped. Meanwhile, the kids were able to run freely in the shade. Afterwards, we were ready to tackle the park again refreshed and with direction once more.

The island has sets from the Pirates of the Caribbean films, such as William Turner’s blacksmith shop, and story artifacts, such as Elizabeth Swann’s love letters, tucked into every nook and cranny. Kids exploring the caverns of Dead Man’s Grotto will encounter spooky voices, ghostly apparitions, and buried treasure. Elsewhere, a sunken chest can be discovered by operating a hoist.

Evidently, you can't have a pirate's lair without a bunch of gore. A pop-up head and moving skeletal arm are just the beginning. There's also a "bone cage," and our favorite, a treasure chest containing Davy Jones's beating heart. The Bootstrappers pirate band occasionally rides the rafts over to administer “pirate oaths” and lead sing-alongs.

Touring Tips

Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island is not one of Disneyland Park’s more celebrated attractions, but it’s certainly one of the most well done. Attention to detail is excellent, and kids particularly revel in its adventuresome atmosphere. We think it’s a must for families with children ages 5–15. If your party has only adults, visit the island on your second day, or stop by on your first day if you have seen the attractions you most wanted to see. We like the island from about noon until the island closes at sunset. Access is by raft from Frontierland, and you may have to stand in line to board both coming and going. Two or three rafts operate simultaneously, however, and the round-trip is usually pretty time efficient. Tom Sawyer Island takes about 30 minutes or so to see, but many children could spend a whole day there.

Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island Wait Times

This chart shows you roughly how long you'll wait for Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island when you visit on a day with a given Disneyland Park Crowd Level. The blue bars represent the average "peak" wait time (that is, how long the line will be at its busiest). The bottom and top black lines represent the range of peak wait times to expect (for you fellow nerds out there: it's the 5th percentile and 95th percentile of peak wait times). Please note that these are estimates, and for a better forecast for your travel dates, see Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island Wait Times.

Attraction Photos

Special Comments

The place for rambunctious kids; closes at dusk.

Special Needs

• May Remain In Wheelchair/ECV

Other Attractions in Frontierland

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Fantasmic!
• Mark Twain Riverboat
• Sailing Ship Columbia

Touring Plans with Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island

• Disneyland Dumbo-or-Die-in-a-Day Plan
• Disneyland Two-Day Plan for Adults with Children - Day 2
• Disneyland Two-Day Plan A - Day 1
• Things With No Lines Plan

What is a Touring Plan?