Liberty Belle Riverboat

Last updated
Liberty Belle Riverboat
Liberty Square Riverboat.jpg
The Liberty Belle Riverboat in October 2005
Magic Kingdom
Area Liberty Square
Coordinates 28°25′11″N81°34′58″W / 28.4196°N 81.5829°W / 28.4196; -81.5829
StatusClosed
Opening dateMay 20, 1973
Closing dateJuly 7, 2025
Ride statistics
Vehicle typeSternwheeler
Riders per vehicle450 riders
DurationAbout 20:00
Wheelchair symbol.svg Wheelchair accessible

The Liberty Belle (formerly Richard F. Irvine) was a steam-powered riverboat ride vehicle at Rivers of America in Magic Kingdom. [1] A steam-powered sternwheeler replica, [2] it was the second boat ride vehicle to be introduced in this attraction and originally named after the late Disney executive Richard F. Irvine. [3] [4]

Contents

History

The Richard F. Irvine was the second riverboat to enter into service on May 20, 1973, in the Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom park. [5] Its other riverboat colleague, the Admiral Joe Fowler , served from October 2, 1971, through fall 1980 when it was destroyed in a dry dock accident. [5] The Richard F. Irvine was completely refurbished and returned to service in 1996 as the Liberty Belle. Everything except for the hull, boiler, and engines was stripped off, and an all-new superstructure was constructed from aluminum and vinyl. The Richard F. Irvine name would later be reintroduced on one of the ferry boats that travel between the Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center, having been renamed from Magic Kingdom II in 1997.

The Liberty Belle underwent an extensive rehab from September 2005 to September 2006 and returned as an attraction ride vehicle. [6] Between late October 2009 and early January 2010, the Liberty Belle was used for a live show called Tiana's Showboat Jubilee to promote Disney Animation's 2009 film The Princess and the Frog . [7] [8] In 2018, the Liberty Belle was completely overhauled with a new boiler. [9] [10]

In August 2024, Disney announced that the Magic Kingdom version of Rivers of America would be closed to make way for a Frontierland expansion, themed to the American wilderness from Pixar's Cars franchise. [11] [12] The Liberty Belle closed on July 7, 2025 for that expansion, with its final voyages being held on July 6. [13] As of August 2025, the Liberty Belle riverboat is docked at a backstage marina in the Magic Kingdom Resort area. [14] [15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sandler, Corey (December 1999). Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando: Also Includes Sea World and Central Florida 2001. McGraw-Hill/Contemporary. ISBN   978-0-8092-2639-9.
  2. ↑ Americana. 1978.
  3. ↑ Caselnova, Anthony M. (25 April 2020). Disney By The Numbers: Facts and Figures about the Walt Disney world Theme Parks and Resorts. Anthony M Caselnova. ISBN   978-1-941500-60-6.
  4. ↑ Steamboat Bill: Journal of the Steamship Historical Society of America. The Society. 1999.
  5. 1 2 Mongello, Lou (September 17, 2007). "Liberty Square Riverboat". WDW Radio. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  6. ↑ Rich, Jason (17 September 2004). Everything Family Gd Disney/Universal Studios & Greater Orlando. Adams Media. ISBN   978-1-59337-179-1.
  7. ↑ Mongello, Lou (26 October 2009). "First Look - Tiana's Showboat Jubilee at Walt Disney World Videos". WDW Radio. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "'Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!' at Walt Disney World". AllEars.Net. 26 October 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  9. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 3, 2018). "7 Confirmed Refurbishments Coming Soon to Walt Disney World (January 2018)". Theme Park Tourist. Archived from the original on March 18, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  10. ↑ Soberman, Matthew (December 22, 2018). "PHOTOS, VIDEO: Liberty Square Riverboat Returns, Burning Cabin Restored at the Magic Kingdom". WDW News Today. Archived from the original on March 18, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  11. ↑ Bevil, Dewayne (2024-08-12). "Disney: New 'Cars' rides will go on Tom Sawyer Island". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  12. ↑ Zizo, Christie (August 12, 2024). "Newest expansion at Disney's Magic Kingdom means Tom Sawyer's Island is going away". WKMG. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  13. ↑ Kennerly, Britt. "Final bow: Magic Kingdom's Tom Sawyer Island, Liberty Square riverboat close | Photos". Florida Today. Retrieved 2025-07-09.
  14. ↑ Rowland, Jamie (August 16, 2025). "Liberty Belle Riverboat not destroyed, Internet rumors proven false". WDW News Today. Archived from the original on August 17, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  15. ↑ Taylor, Blake (August 17, 2025). "Rivers of America drained, Liberty Belle relocated | 'Cars' construction update, August 2025 | Magic Kingdom". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
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