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
Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom (A Resorts Gal Guide)
“Welcome aboard the Liberty Belle!” That’s how the narration begins as you embark down the Rivers of America on the Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom. This beloved steamboat attraction has quite a history. Walt Disney originally came up with the idea to build a steamboat for Disneyland. He enlisted the help of Admiral Joe Fowler, who oversaw the construction of the steamboat. That first boat was named the Mark Twain.
A duplicate attraction was built for Magic Kingdom Park. While it wasn’t an original opening day attraction, it was close. The Admiral Joe Fowler opened on October 2, 1971, a day after the park’s grand opening. Walt Disney World’s version was named to honor the man Walt hired to oversee the attractions.
Funny enough, in its first few years, Magic Kingdom didn’t have enough attractions to meet the demands of guests. So, a second boat was added in 1973, the Richard F Irvine. Unfortunately, the original Admiral Joe Fowler was damaged at some point, leaving Richard F. Irvine as the sole steamboat attraction. Then, in the 90s, Richard F. Irvine was renamed the Liberty Belle to make the name more relatable to the surrounding Liberty Square.
So, the current riverboat is the Liberty Belle. Fun Fact: now Magic Kingdom’s two ferries are named Admiral Joe Fowler, in honor of the retired navy admiral, and Robert F. Irvine, the construction overseer of Walt Disney World. Let’s look at a few details about taking your own Liberty Square Riverboat voyage.
Update : It was announced at the 2024 D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event that a new expansion was coming to Frontierland at Magic Kingdom. Days later, the Disney Parks Blog announced that Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America would be part of this expansion. Therefore, the Liberty Belle might not be available in the very near future.
Here’s a quote from the Disney Parks Blog:
It’s time to leave Radiator Springs and head west into exciting new locations. To make way for this completely new frontier, the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island will be transformed into vast and rugged terrains for a rally race with some of the world’s most iconic racers.
Here are a few quick reference details:
: | NA |
No | |
Slow-Moving Boat | |
Approx 17 minutes | |
3 Levels/Large Capacity | |
: | NA |
No | |
No | |
Taking a Break, Nostalgia | |
None | |
Medium | |
All Ages | |
| The boat circles around Tom Sawyer Island offering tremendous views. |
Accessibility: Guests may remain in a wheelchair or ECV to experience this attraction. A separate waiting area is available on the lower level of the boat.
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Liberty Square Riverboat Review
Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square Riverboat attraction is in Liberty Square past The Haunted Mansion and across the walkway from Columbia Harbour House.
There’s a large covered entrance in front of the boat dock. If you were to see the boat docked and guests waiting to board, you can usually join the line and walk on in a matter of minutes.
Liberty Belle departs every hour on the hour and the half hour. Typically, this attraction is open from 9:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. (or dusk).
Here is a view of the waiting area from the boat. Most guests will board on the second-floor deck. Guests with wheelchairs load on the first floor. All guests will unload on the first-floor deck.
When you board the Liberty Belle, you can go upstairs, downstairs, or stay on the middle deck.
If it’s not too busy, you might like to explore the steamboat.
However, if you want to stay in the shade, you’ll want to secure a spot quickly.
Or you might prefer a spot in direct sunlight.
Whatever you decide, it’s important to stand along the railings when possible. You’ll see several scenes during your trip down the river.
It takes approximately 17 minutes to travel full circle around Tom Sawyer’s Island. One of the first sights you’ll see is Harper’s Mill.
On the opposite side of the boat, you can see Frontierland.
As soon as you set sail, the narration begins. You’ll hear a recording of Captain Horace Bixby announcing that you’re setting sail. He then introduces you to Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain. Samuel Clemens tells the story of his time on the Mississippi River.
Another fun fact, the Liberty Belle Riverboat runs on an underwater track. Unfortunately, she doesn’t run off steam. But you wouldn’t notice this unless the attraction was under refurbishment. When that happens, Disney drains the water from the river, and you can see the track.
After passing Harper’s Mills, you’ll see Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in the distance.
The Liberty Belle continues past Big Thunder Mountain Railroad .
If you’re on this side of the steamboat, it’s exciting to see the train cars racing past.
Some of the other sights include:
- An early American settlement
- Native American village
- Fort Langhorn
- Wilson’s Cave Inn
- Woodland animals
There’s a nod toward Native American history.
There are also a few places to see some of the fun activities offered on the island.
As you return to the dock, a familiar sight comes into view.
Not only is the Liberty Belle a relaxing boat ride, but it also offers an exceptionally unique perspective of the Haunted Mansion.
Related: Haunted Mansion Ride Review
At about this time, the Liberty Belle’s boat dock came into view. As always, it was a nice reprieve from the theme park crowds.
Sadly, it’s time to disembark.
Hopefully, this review encourages you to ride the Liberty Square Riverboat on your next vacation. She is a beautiful vessel.
The Resorts Gal Spin on the Liberty Square Riverboat
While we enjoy the Liberty Square Riverboat, it’s not necessarily a must-do attraction, so we’re giving it the red light. Now, if you’re visiting on a busy holiday and need a place to escape with a shorter line than everywhere else, this is an excellent option. We enjoy charting the waters of the Rivers of America, but it does take up what some might consider valuable touring time.
Resorts Gal Traffic Signals
Green Light
We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. Therefore, the lines continuously move and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.
We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.
For more information, we have an entire list of rides at Magic Kingdom . Or you might like these individual rides:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Ride
- The Hall of Presidents at Disney World
- Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom
Are you planning a visit to the Disney Parks? You might enjoy browsing our list of Disney Hotel reviews . That article gives a brief overview of every resort at Disney. For planning dining reservations, these are our most popular guides:
- Disney World Dining Handbook
- Disney World Character Dining Guide
- Disney Signature Dining Restaurants
- Best Restaurants at Disney Springs
- Best Table Service Restaurants at Disney
If you plan to meet characters in the parks, there’s an updated list of characters at Disney World . That review links to every meet available in each park.
In the Comments
Have you ever taken a voyage on the Liberty Square Riverboat? Will you do this on your next vacation?
Hi, I'm Amber the owner of Resorts Gal . We have stayed at every single Disney Resort Hotel. Our philosophy? We believe you can have an incredible time at the resorts without ever setting foot in a theme park. We visit the resorts and parks regularly and would love for you to follow along!
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