Before there was Fantasy Island in 1977, there was Gilligan's Island in 1964. One series offered a chance to make dreams come true, while the other was anything but a dream vacation.

In a 1965 interview with The Detroit News, Bob Denver, who played Gilligan, even referred to Gilligan's Island as Fantasyland.

While many fans loved Gilligan's Island for its silliness, critics saw it as one of the series' biggest flaws, with some even calling it a "horrible example" of television. But what TV critics deplored, fans adored.

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However, even Bob Denver, had his doubts about the series during its early days.

"I was wrong about taking such a dim view of things earlier in the season," Denver said. "We were all wrong about where the show was going."

According to Denver, Gilligan's Island had to endure some growing pains before finding its footing. One important step was getting everyone organized.

"The teamwork of the cast and especially of the special effects men has been really fantastic," Denver said. "We got lucky."

There were other challenges, too. Denver recalled restrictions from CBS, including an order against guest stars and a rule that the men couldn't shave. There was also criticism that the painted jungle backdrop looked fake.

Between network demands and negative reviews, the castaways had plenty of obstacles to navigate — and not all of them involved getting off the island.

Natalie Schafer, who played the wealthy Mrs. Howell, was also quick to defend the series.

"You should have heard me," Schafer said. "I kept telling our sponsor's representative how much the kids liked the show. He just sat there, finally saying, 'Miss Schafer, we sell cigarettes to adults, not to children.'"

Despite the criticism and behind-the-scenes challenges, Gilligan's Island found its audience. The castaways may never have made it off the island, but the series certainly went places.

Denver summed up the show's charm with a fitting comparison: "It's like the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland. Everybody loves it."