liberty square riverboat

Complete Guide to Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom

Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the Magic Kingdom while learning a little bit about American history? Then welcome aboard the Liberty Square Riverboat!

You’ll ride the majestic  Liberty Belle  riverboat for a half-mile tour around  Tom Sawyer Island .

On this 17-minute trip, you’ll hear the voice of iconic American author and humorist, Mark Twain, sharing some of his memories of life on the Mississippi. You’ll also encounter a rarely-seen side of the Magic Kingdom.

It’s full steam ahead for our complete guide to the Liberty Square Riverboat .

In this article

Liberty Square Riverboat Quick Facts

• Location: Liberty Square , in The Magic Kingdom
• Height req : None
• Suitable for: Anybody
• Attraction length: About 17 minutes
• Do we recommend? Just as a time filler
• When to visit: Anytime
• Scheduled Refurbishments
• Tip(s): Mostly standing room only, find a spot on the top deck to snap some good pics of nearby attractions.
• Description: This 17-minute cruise on a steam-powered boat takes you on a 1/2 mile tour around Tom Sawyer Island.

Liberty Square Riverboat is located in Liberty Square, across from Liberty Square Market and down the way from The Hall of Presidents .

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How to Ride Liberty Square Riverboat

Liberty Square Riverboat has a Standby Line. There is no Single Rider Line .

Do I need to use Genie+ at Liberty Square Riverboat?

Genie+ is not available at Liberty Square Riverboat.

Rider Switch/Child Swap

As there is no height requirement for Liberty Square Riverboat, this attraction does not offer Rider Switch .

Rider Switch is Disney’s system that allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.

You can learn more about Rider Switch via our helpful guide.

What to Expect When You Ride

The queue to ride the Liberty Square Riverboat is shaded with some benches. The loading dock is also covered.

The ride leaves twice an hour on the hour and the half-hour so if you don’t make the boat, you’ll be waiting quite a bit for the next one.

Ride Vehicles

The Liberty Square Riverboat is a 47-foot-tall working steamship called The Liberty Belle . It is propelled by the paddle wheel that is itself propelled by the steam engine.

It is a reproduction of the historic vessels that ferried people up and down the Mississippi River.

While it is fully functioning, it is actually guided on an “I-beam” track that is hidden by the green and brown-dyed water of the Rivers of America.

The Riverboat has a maximum capacity of 450 people.

Guests enter the ship on the middle deck. This area features a sitting room, an outside wheelhouse, and the captain’s quarters.

On the bottom deck of the boat, you can see the ship’s boiler and pistons and you can visit the viewing platform which has great views of all the attraction’s scenes.

On the top deck, guests get the best perspective of the Magic Kingdom from the water.

Accessibility Information

Guests in wheelchairs and ECVs may remain in them to ride The Liberty Square Riverboat.

If you are in a wheelchair or ECV, ask a Cast Member for help and they will assist you in boarding the ride up the exit ramp. There is actually a sign at the main entrance to the attraction that points those that require wheelchair or ECV access to enter to the left.

Those in wheelchairs and ECVs must remain on the middle deck of the riverboat as there is no handicap access for other levels.

On the Ride

If you prefer to keep your ride aboard The Liberty Square Riverboat a surprise, you may want to skip this part to avoid any spoilers.

The Liberty Square Riverboat begins with its captain, Horace Bixby, welcoming guests aboard The Liberty Belle as well as introducing his pilot, Samuel Clemens (known to future generations as the author, Mark Twain). You are currently on Clemens’ 100th journey aboard the Liberty Belle.

Before the Liberty Belle leaves port, Sam sets the scene for the ride ahead by warning guests to stay behind the railings, as river pirates are known to frequent the area.

As you sail down the river, you’ll see the sights of Frontierland, which for the purpose of the ride was once just a boom town but is well on its way to becoming a big city. Over the announcement system, Sam mentions that the large peak in Frontierland is known as Chick-A-Pin Hill (also known to Disney guests as the former Splash Mountain and future Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ).

Continuing on, the boat passes Sam’s “old stomping ground”,  Tom Sawyer Island .

Next, he points out  Big Thunder Mountain where the water gets so hot that geysers erupt. Sam explains that Native Americans used to think that the geysers were spirits and that’s why they named the mountain “Big Thunder Mountain” and the moniker stuck.

As your boat ride continues, you’ll see Beacon Joe and his dog Rufus in front of his bait shop.

You’ll then see Powhatan Native Americans gathering and pass by an unidentified Indian village. Down the river, the Liberty Belle reaches Cutthroat Corner where riders are told they are most likely to find river pirates.

Before returning to port in Liberty Square, the Liberty Belle passes The Haunted Mansion . Sam informs guests that rumor has it that the mansion was built on a Native American burial ground, and now 999 ghosts haunt it.

Finally, the Liberty Belle reaches port and Sam and Captain Bixby say goodbye as the boat docks and guests are directed to disembark.

One thing to note about taking a ride on The Liberty Square Riverboat: on top of the sights you see on the attraction, you will also get a unique view of Magic Kingdom. You might even be able to spot the parade or a cavalcade during your ride!

Is Liberty Square Riverboat Kid-Friendly?

This is a great ride for the whole family to take a break from the crowds of Magic Kingdom.

Strollers are not allowed in most queues at Walt Disney World. Instead, you’ll need to leave your stroller in the designated stroller parking area near the entrance to the queue.

The Liberty Square Riverboat is one of the few attractions that can trace its history back to before Disneyland or Walt Disney World even opened.

Walt Disney initially came up with the idea for a Mississippi steamboat attraction for the Disney Studio in Burbank, California. However, the Burbank Studio did not have the land to build the attraction so Walt decided to transfer the concept to Disneyland.

In order to create the attraction, Disney had to construct the first American-made, working steamboat in 50 years. Admiral Joe Fowler oversaw the construction of what would become The Mark Twain Riverboat in Disneyland.

The Mark Twain was built in two separate pieces. The hull was constructed in San Pedro, California and the deck was built at the Disney Studios in Burbank. The ship was assembled in Disneyland and The Mark Twin Riverboat debuted on July 17, 1955, for Disneyland’s opening day.

When Walt Disney World was in development, the riverboat was one of the attractions Imagineers decided to include in the opening day plans, however, it wasn’t quite ready.

The Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat opened one day after the park, on October 2, 1971. It was named in tribute to the man who had helped to create Disneyland and Walt Disney World, as well as the Riverboat attractions.

When the riverboat first debuted, live entertainment could often be found on deck because there wasn’t much else for guests to see on the Rivers of America at the time.

Since Walt Disney World did not yet have enough attractions to meet demand, in 1973 a second steamboat was built. The Richard F. Irvine  Riverboat entered into service on May 20, 1973. It was named after the late Disney executive, Richard F. Irvine, who oversaw the planning and construction of Walt Disney World.

The only difference between the two steamboats was that The Admiral Joe Fowler had two smokestacks, while The Richard F. Irvine only had one.

In fall of 1980, The Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat was destroyed in a drydock accident. Disney decided not to repair it, and the bell from the riverboat was added to the #4 engine known as the Roy O. Disney on the  Walt Disney World Railroad .

In 1996, The   Richard F. Irvine  was completely refurbished and returned to service as The   Liberty Belle  Riverboat.

The attraction itself was renamed the Liberty Square Riverboat to make it easier to remember and to tie the boat in with Liberty Square.

With one ship gone and the other one renamed, Disney decided to pay homage to Admiral Fowler and Richard Irvine by naming two ferries that run from the Ticket and Transportation Center to the Magic Kingdom after them in 1999.

The narration aboard the Liberty Belle has expanded as more rides have been added to Frontierland . References to  Tom Sawyer Island , Splash Mountain (the future Tiana’s Bayou Adventure ), and  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad  have all been added to the script.

In 1992, the Powhatan Native Americans were added to the attraction after the release of the Disney-animated film, Pocahontas .

The  Liberty Belle  underwent extensive rehab from September 2005 to September 2006, and then in 2018 it was completely overhauled with a new boiler.

Other Fun Details

• Captain Horace Bixby, the name given to the Liberty Belle’s captain, was a real steamboat captain on the Mississippi. Horace Bixby and Sam Clemens met aboard a steamboat called The Paul Jones . Bixby agreed to take Sam on as his apprentice. About 21 years later, the now-famous Mark Twain reunited with Captain Bixby in St. Louis. The captain even makes an appearance in Twain’s book, Life on the Mississippi .
• Inside The Liberty Belle’s Salon, there is a copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.
• Watch the Audio-Animatronic dog outside of Beaker Joe’s. Every once and a while he will turn his head as a fish jumps by.

• To pay homage to the Samuel Clemens connection, in Disneyland the attraction is known as the Mark Twain Riverboat.
• Crates located on the banks of Frontierland are imprinted with “Tell City Tool Co.” Tell City is a real town located in Indiana on the banks of the Mississippi River. It was one of the United States’ first “planned cities.” Another crate has “71” on it to honor the year the Magic Kingdom opened and another says “Russel’s Falls” after Davy Crockett’s sidekick, George E. Russel.
• The attraction’s landing building is one of the few in the Magic Kingdom that does not employ forced perspective. This may be to hide the riverboat from guests in Liberty Square where a steam-powered riverboat would not fit the land’s theming.

Other Attractions in Liberty Square

• The Hall of Presidents
• Haunted Mansion
• Liberty Square River Boat

park • speed

Ride guide to liberty square riverboat.

Board a vintage steamer ship for a gentle ride circling Liberty Square and Frontierland, while hearing charming tales of American life in the days of Mark Twain.

Know Before You Go

What you will - and won't - find in this attraction

Ride Vehicle

Attraction Overview

As you step onto the spacious decks of the riverboat, you'll be transported to a bygone era of elegance and leisure. The ship's grand exterior, complete with ornate details and towering smokestacks, evokes a sense of adventure and discovery. Take a moment to admire the craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into recreating this iconic vessel.

Once on board, find a comfortable spot on one of the open-air decks or venture into the elegant cabin, where you can relax and take in the picturesque views. As the Liberty Belle sets sail, you'll be treated to breathtaking sights along the riverbanks, including lush landscapes, charming scenes of Americana, and iconic landmarks like Tom Sawyer Island and the Haunted Mansion.

Listen to the soothing sounds of the steam engine chugging along, as the paddlewheel propels the boat forward. Feel the gentle breeze against your face as you meander along the river, immersing yourself in the tranquility of the surroundings. The journey is accompanied by a recorded narration that shares interesting tidbits about the history and significance of the areas you pass by.

The Liberty Square Riverboat offers a serene and leisurely experience, allowing you to unwind and soak in the ambiance of an era long past. It's a wonderful opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the park, while still enjoying the enchantment and storytelling that Disney is known for.

Let the rhythmic motion of the paddlewheel and the timeless charm of the river transport you to a simpler time, where the spirit of adventure and the beauty of America's heartland await.

This gentle journey is generally suitable for all ages. There is seating and there are shaded areas to escape the sun.

Be aware that on the bottom deck, there is a lot of noise from the ship's engine, and occasionally, the captain blows the whistle, which is loud from pretty much everywhere on the boat.

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Liberty Square Riverboat

An Attraction in Magic Kingdom

Last updated: July 22, 2024

At a Glance

• May Remain in Wheelchair/ECV
• Sign Language

Touring Tips

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The Haunted Mansion

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Journey Into Imagination With Figment

Here's roughly how many minutes you'll wait for Liberty Square Riverboat at each Magic Kingdom Crowd Level.

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Take a leisurely ride down the Rivers of America on this authentic, steam-driven sternwheeler!

Quick Links:

The Liberty Belle takes you on a relaxing tour around Liberty Square and Frontierland. Along the way you’ll see some great views of the Haunted Mansion, Thunder Mountain, and Splash Mountain. You’ll get an especially good look at Tom Sawyer Island—it’s a great way to check it out if you haven’t been there yet.

You’ll also catch a glimpse of what life was like for the frontier settlers (including some of the dangers that they faced!).

Magical Moments

• The views from the Riverboat are fantastic, and are unlike those you’ll see wandering around the park (particularly for the Haunted Mansion and Tom Sawyer Island).
• Visit the Liberty Square Riverboat at night when its lit by hundreds of brilliant white lights.
• Listen closely to the ship’s captain as you tour the Rivers of America. You’ll hear some funny tales about life along the river (you’ll even hear how Mark Twain got his name!)

Hidden Mickeys & Other Secrets

• Some folks point to the padlocks on the stocks outside of the Liberty Square Riverboat as examples of Hidden Mickeys. Is it a case of wishful thinking? Take a look and judge for yourself!

Did You Know...?

• The Liberty Square Riverboat holds up to 450 passengers.
• Walt Disney strongly believed that the Riverboat was a vital part of Disneyland, so much so that he funded part of the construction himself when funds threatened to fall short.

Touring Tips

• The Riverboat is a great way to get photos of the Haunted Mansion, Tom Sawyer Island, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain.
• Don’t neglect the Riverboat itself, you can wander around and do some exploring! There are lots of authentic details to discover.
• When leaving the Liberty Square Riverboat, keep in mind that many folks will wander over to the Haunted Mansion. If you follow you may find yourself in a long line. If that’s the case just try back later after the crowd dies down.

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• Slow moving 20 minute boatride aboard a real steam-powered riverboat
• Take a lap around the Rivers of America, with great views of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Haunted Mansion
• Perfect for a relaxing break during the middle of a busy Magic Kingdom day

Introduction | Attraction | RIde Logisitics |  Interesting Facts

INTRODUCTION 

Enjoy a slow cruise down the Rivers of America aboard an authentic steam-powered sternwheeler. The Liberty Square Riverboat is located in Liberty Square across from the Hall of Presidents and to the left of the Haunted Mansion .

 The Rivers of America wind their way around Tom Sawyer Island . The half-mile journey takes just under 20 minutes to travel. The Liberty Belle departs several times a day from the Liberty Boat Landing . Although there are some seats, most areas are standing room only.

From on board the Liberty Belle, you’ll spot great views of Tom Sawyer Island, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, along with some sights of Frontierland natives — which can only be seen from the boat.

RIDE LOGISTICS

 This is a good place to go for a break from the hectic walkways of the Magic Kingdom . Kids can walk around on board and burn off a bit of energy — though this is usually more loved by adults.

Accessibility: Guests may remain in wheelchair/ECV.

INTERESTING FACTS

The original boat, an authentic sternwheeler steamboat called the Admiral Joe Fowler , was built in dry dock at Walt Disney World and set afloat when the attraction opened on May 20, 1973. The Richard F. Irvine was later added as a second boat. After its extensive rehab in the ’90s, the boat was renamed the Liberty Belle in 1996.

In 1980, the Admiral Joe Fowler was sent to dry dock maintenance and never returned.

Admiral Joe Fowler was in charge of construction at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World .

Dick Irvine worked as an art director at Disney in the 1940s and was an early executive of WED Enterprises . His projects included planning and design for the theme parks and the World’s Fair projects.

How long is Liberty Square Riverboat?

The ride takes 16 Minutes Find all the attractions by their length

Will Liberty Square Riverboat make me motion sick?

The motion level is Low. Gentle boat ride Details on handling motion sensitivity on your visit

Is Individual Attraction Selection available for Liberty Square Riverboat?

No Liberty Square Riverboat is not eligible for Individual Attraction Selection Find Individual Attraction Selection attractions

Is Liberty Square Riverboat included in Genie+?

No Liberty Square Riverboat is not included in Genie+ Find Genie+ attractions using our search

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