[1] In the late 1930s, it was purchased for $800 by a man named Delmar "Radio Nick" Nicholson, who renamed it "Idle Bay Isle" and lived there for 20 years with his wife and pet crane.

[7] In 1989, Disney was accused by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals of mistreating vultures that landed on Discovery Island.

[10] The island was occasionally used as a movie filming location, most notably for the climax of Treasure of Matecumbe, in which it doubled for the titular Florida Key.

[11][12] As of 2025, all original buildings and attractions remain on the island, though several have sustained major damage from hurricanes and natural decay.

It is adjacent to the former site of Disney's River Country water park, which closed in November 2001 and was ultimately demolished in April 2019.

In 2009, an account was published of an unauthorized exploration "a couple of years ago" with photographs by Shane Perez.