disney riverboat track

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 .

Download the PDF

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

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Liberty Square Riverboat

See the wild frontier.

Steam into American history aboard the majestic, Colonial-era Liberty Belle riverboat and enjoy a relaxing half-mile tour around Tom Sawyer Island .

Along the way, listen to a recorded narrator—in the voice of iconic American author and humorist Mark Twain—sharing memories of Twain’s time on the Mississippi.

It’s full steam ahead on this historic, nostalgic trip back to the past!

Along the River’s Edge

During this charming, 17-minute trip, you’ll encounter a rarely seen side of Magic Kingdom park . Behold a bevy of sights from the early days of the American frontier, including:

• An early American settlement
• An idyllic Native American village
• Harper’s Mill
• Fort Langhorn
• Wilson’s Cave Inn
• Woodland animals

You’ll also be treated to unique views of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Haunted Mansion .

Aboard the Liberty Belle

Featuring meticulously detailed wood craftsmanship, the 47-foot tall Liberty Belle is a working reproduction of the historic vessels that ferried people up and down the mighty Mississippi.

An actual steam engine converts water from the river into steam that powers the large paddle that in turn propels the boat.

There are 4 decks with limited seating available on each.

Guests Also Viewed

Safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for liberty square riverboat.

Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom

This article discusses the Liberty Square Riverboat ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

“Welcome aboard the Liberty Belle!” That’s how the narration begins as you embark down the Rivers of America on the Liberty Square Riverboat.

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.

Here are a few quick reference details:

Additional Info:

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.

Liberty Square Riverboat

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 Splash Mountain, soon to be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, in the distance.

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

About this time, the Liberty Belle’s boat dock comes into view. As always, it was a nice reprieve from the theme park’s 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.

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
• Country Bear Jamboree
• The Hall of Presidents at Disney World
• Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom

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Liberty Square Riverboat Ride Review

The Liberty Square Riverboat is a classic attraction located in Liberty Square at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom theme park. This charming riverboat takes guests on a peaceful 12-minute journey around the Rivers of America, offering beautiful views of Frontierland and unique perspectives of classic Magic Kingdom attractions. With  a ride aboard an authentic 19th century-style steamboat and narration by the iconic Mark Twain, the Liberty Square Riverboat celebrates the nostalgia of riverboat travel’s golden era. It’s a perfect way to take a break from the high-thrill rides and enjoy a relaxing voyage back in time.

Table of Contents

• Average Wait Times
• Height Requirements
• Single Rider
• Ride Duration
• Genie+ and Lightning Lane
• Rider Switch
• Early Entry Ride

Best Times to Ride

• Original Boats
• Current Boat
• Disembarking

Special Events

Tips for riders.

• Tokyo Disneyland
• Hong Kong Disneyland
• Shanghai Disneyland
• Disneyland Paris

General Ride Information

Average Wait Time: The Liberty Square Riverboat typically has short wait times, averaging 10–20 minutes on moderate and busy days.

Height Requirement: There is no height requirement for this slow-moving boat ride.

Single Rider: The Liberty Square Riverboat does not offer single rider lines.

Ride Duration: The total ride duration is approximately 12 minutes as the boat navigates the Rivers of America.

Genie+ and Lightning Lane: Genie + and Lightning Lane access are not available for the Liberty Square Riverboat.

Rider Switch: Rider switch is also not offered as there is no height requirement.

Disability Access Service: Guests with disabilities can take advantage of the Disability Access Service (DAS) to receive a return time.

Ride Location: The Liberty Square Riverboat is located in Liberty Square, just across from The Hall of Presidents.

Early Entry: The  Liberty Square Riverboat is not included as one of the attractions available for Early Theme Park Entry.

The best times to ride the Liberty Square Riverboat are during the middle of the day when wait times for more popular attractions peak, first thing in the morning after riding a few headliners, and at night during the fireworks shows. Riding  when crowds are lower, especially during mealtimes and the Electrical Water Pageant, can also mean shorter wait times. Avoid exiting immediately after a performance of The Hall of Presidents, when crowds flood the area.

History and Design

The Liberty Square Riverboat has a long history, dating back to Walt Disney’s original vision for Disneyland . Walt incorporated a riverboat attraction into his plans for Disneyland, using the iconic Mark Twain Riverboat on the Rivers of America as inspiration. When  designing Magic Kingdom, Imagineers brought a similar riverboat to life on the park’s Rivers of America. The original Liberty Square riverboat was named the Admiral Joe Fowler. It operated for over 7 years before being damaged beyond repair.

The Admiral Joe Fowler was replaced in 1973 by the boat currently in operation – the Richard F. Irvine. After an extensive refurbishment in 1996, the Richard F. Irvine was renamed the Liberty Belle. The Liberty Belle is an exact replica of a 19th century paddle wheel riverboat. It stands 47 feet tall and weighs 100 tons. The boat has a maximum capacity of 450 guests over three levels. The  Liberty Belle is powered by a working steam engine that rotates the rear paddle wheel to propel the boat during its journey. While the steam engine is fully functioning, the boat does follow an underwater track for guidance and safety.

Ride Experience

The Liberty Square Riverboat ride experience begins at the loading dock in Liberty Square. Guests board the boat from the middle, second deck, while ramp access for wheelchairs and ECVs is offered on the first deck. As the boat departs, guests are welcomed aboard by a pre-recorded spiel from Captain Horace Bixby. He introduces the pilot guiding this journey – none other than Samuel Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain.

Twain shares memories of his many adventures traveling along the Mississippi River as the Liberty Belle passes by Frontierland and approaches Tom Sawyer Island. Along the way, riders can spot wildlife, mining structures, and old settlements along the shores. The narration highlights various sights along the river, including abandoned mines at Cutthroat Canyon and Fort Langhorn on Tom Sawyer Island.

As the boat completes its loop around the island, the majestic facade of The Haunted Mansion comes into view. Twain remarks on legends of the Haunted Mansion being built on sacred native burial grounds as the Liberty Belle returns to dock in Liberty Square, concluding the 12-minute journey. Guests  exit the boat on the first deck and can browse photos taken during the ride that are available for purchase.

In addition to its regular operation, the Liberty Square Riverboat offers special cruises for certain hard ticket events and holidays throughout the year. During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the Liberty Belle is decorated with Halloween theming. The boat hosts Happy HalloWishes Dessert Parties that coincide with the special Halloween fireworks show. Guests are served desserts while enjoying premium views of the fireworks bursting over Cinderella Castle. For the holidays, the Liberty Belle gets a festive Christmas overlay and operates during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. It offers Holiday Wishes Dessert Parties to pair with the Christmas fireworks spectacular.

Pirates of the Caribbean Ride Review | Disney World

The Liberty Square Riverboat also occasionally has evening cruises during Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular fireworks with unique viewing opportunities for Star Wars fans. Outside the special events, guests might catch the Liberty Belle testing its steam whistle after refurbishments and at other random times. When the steam whistle blows, it makes for an unforgettable part of the Liberty Square atmosphere. So  beyond its regular operation, the Liberty Belle delivers even more magic through special holiday cruises and one-of-a-kind experiences like the steam whistle that delight guests.

• Arrive to board the Liberty Belle 5–10 minutes before the scheduled departure time printed on the sign at the entrance. This will ensure you get a spot and don’t have to wait for the next boat.
• The top deck offers the best views but can get very hot in the sun. Seek shade underneath the overhangs on the lower decks if needed.
• Bring your camera or phone to snap photos of unique magic kingdom views along the river.
• Keep an eye out for live entertainment along the shores of Frontierland and special decorations during holidays.
• Stop by the Liberty Square Riverboat sign near the exit after disembarking to browse onboard photos available for purchase.
• There are no restrooms on the boat, so make sure and use the bathroom before riding

Comparison to Other Disney Riverboat Rides

The Liberty Square Riverboat ride bears many similarities to riverboat attractions across Disney theme parks worldwide. Each boat offers a scenic tour of an artificial river with references to Mark Twain and American history. However , there are some variations in narration, sights along the river, and overall ride experience between the different versions. Here’s how Walt Disney World’s Liberty Belle compares to riverboats at other Disney Parks:

Disneyland  – The Mark Twain Riverboat is a nearly identical ride experience to the Liberty Belle, complete with Twain narration and a relaxing voyage around Tom Sawyer Island and Frontierland. One key difference is Disneyland’s Columbia Sailing Ship that also navigates the river.

Tokyo Disneyland  – The Western River Railroad at Tokyo Disneyland features similar sights along the Rivers of America but follows a different path around the entire Critter Country area.

Hong Kong Disneyland  – Mystic Manor is visible from Hong Kong Disneyland’s Jungle River Cruise, offering a view of one of the park’s most popular attractions during the ride.

Shanghai Disneyland  – The Voyage to the Crystal Grotto winds through rocky caves with dazzling effects as part of its tour around Fantasyland, a very different sight from Liberty Square and Frontierland.

Disneyland Paris  – No riverboat ride exists at Disneyland Paris. Guests can walk through a full-scale replica of a frontier steamboat outside the Disneyland Railroad station.

The Liberty Square Riverboat continues to be a beloved classic, inviting guests of all ages to embark on a peaceful cruise back in time. For over 50 years, across Disney theme parks worldwide, these iconic boats offer an opportunity to recharge and appreciate the magic of Disney from a new perspective. A  ride aboard the Liberty Belle showcases Disney’s knack for blending nostalgia, nature, and storytelling into an attraction experience that stands the test of time. So be sure to hop aboard for a relaxing voyage across the Rivers of America on your next visit to the Magic Kingdom!

Nearby Attractions

• The Hall of Presidents – Located directly across from the Liberty Square Riverboat in Liberty Square.
• The Haunted Mansion – A short walk from the Liberty Square Riverboat, next to the Hall of Presidents.
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – Located in Frontierland, opening this summer 2024!
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Also located in Frontierland, offering a unique view of the coaster from the riverboat.

The Riverboat Returns to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom

February 5, 2021, 1:22 PM · The Rivers of America are back at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom . Disney refilled the Rivers and returned the Liberty Belle riverboat to its rebuilt track under the waterway this morning.

The Rivers have been drained since October, during which time the riverboat was in dry dock at Disney's maintenance facility on the northern shore of Bay Lake, getting a refurbishment. But that meant that the Liberty Belle had to sail across Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon and then up the canal that runs behind Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain and Bug Thunder Mountain and connects to the Rivers of America.

You can zoom in on this Google Map to see what I'm talking about. And Disney has put out a video showing highlights of that trip.

Once back in Liberty Square, the riverboat has to be connected to the track on the riverbed, which requires divers. Just so you know, the riverboat is the only watercraft on the Rivers of America that runs on a rail. The rafts to Tom Sawyer Island float freely and are driven by their cast members, as were the keelboats and canoes that used to run on Walt Disney World's Rivers of America, too.

I tell plenty of stories about working on the Rivers of America in Stories from a Theme Park Insider . And I worked there during a previous draining of the Rivers, which led to a, uh, messy situation . Don't throw turkey legs into the water!

* * * We wanted you to read this article before we make our newsletter pitch, unlike so many other websites. If you appreciate that — and our approach to covering theme park news — please sign up for our free, twice-a-week email newsletter . Thank you.

Replies (2)

A question for you Insiders who know: Could the Riverboat have theoretically traveled across the Seven Seas Lagoon under its own power instead of being towed?

I think it's more a question of navigation than propulsion. But I wasn't trained on Riverboat, so I defer to anyone who was.

This article has been archived and is no longer accepting comments.

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Disney News » Disney Attraction » Magic Kingdom Park » Liberty Square Riverboat 

Liberty Square Riverboat | Disney World

Last Updated on: January 21st, 2024

Posted By: Craig Smith

Here is everything you need to know about Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square Riverboat ride including history, fun facts, photos and more. I hope you find this listing informative and helpful!

Contents of this article:

About Liberty Square Riverboat

Important liberty square riverboat details.

• Liberty Square Riverboat News

Liberty Square Riverboat, also known as the Liberty Belle, is a classic and iconic attraction located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World Resort , Florida. This charming steam-powered riverboat takes guests on a leisurely cruise along the scenic waters of the Rivers of America.

The Liberty Square Riverboat is designed to resemble an authentic 19th-century steamboat, reminiscent of the vessels that navigated America’s waterways during the time of Mark Twain.

The attraction provides guests with a relaxing and nostalgic journey as they step aboard the riverboat and embark on a scenic voyage. As the Liberty Belle sets sail, guests can enjoy breathtaking views of Frontierland , Tom Sawyer Island , and the Haunted Mansion , all while being immersed in the ambiance of a bygone era.

The riverboat’s open-air decks and classic design offer plenty of space for guests to move around, take photos, and soak in the picturesque scenery along the riverbanks.

During the ride, a recorded narration by Mark Twain himself recounts fascinating tales and stories about the history of America’s rivers and the era of steamboat travel, adding an educational and entertaining element to the experience.

The Liberty Square Riverboat operates at a leisurely pace, making it an ideal attraction for guests seeking a break from the excitement of the park’s thrill rides. It’s an opportunity to slow down, enjoy the gentle breeze, and appreciate the beauty of the Magic Kingdom from a different perspective.

Please note that attraction experiences and offerings at Walt Disney World are subject to change, and operational schedules may vary. To confirm the availability and operating hours of the Liberty Square Riverboat during your visit, I recommend checking the official Walt Disney World website or consulting with Disney Cast Members at the park.

The Liberty Square Riverboat is a beloved and timeless attraction that allows guests to step back in time and experience the magic of a riverboat journey through America’s storied past. So, come aboard the Liberty Belle and embark on a delightful voyage along the Rivers of America for an unforgettable experience at Magic Kingdom!

Liberty Square Riverboat Fun Facts

• The ride was not technically an opening day attraction as it actually made its debut a day later on October 2, 1971.
• Until 1980, there were actually two boats in operation – The Richard F Irvine and the Admiral Joe Fowler. The Richard F Irvine was renamed to the Liberty Belle in 1996.
• The boat has a capacity of 450 guests.
• The boat is propelled by its paddle wheel and powered by its steam engine, but guided by an external I-Beam track.
• Disney Resort: Walt Disney World Resort
• Disney Park: Magic Kingdom Park Info News and Attractions
• Park Area: Magic Kingdom Liberty Square
• Attraction Type: Ride
• Official Page
• Year Opened: 1971
• Replaced: Original Attraction
• Location on Map

Liberty Square Riverboat Reviews

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Liberty Square Riverboat

An Attraction in Magic Kingdom

Last updated: March 20, 2024

At a Glance

• May Remain in Wheelchair/ECV
• Sign Language

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

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7 totally cool things about liberty square riverboat at walt disney world.

Posted by: Jason Dick April 17, 2018

Walt Disney World knows how to create nostalgia.  And a great example of this is the Liberty Square Riverboat in Disney’s Magic Kingdom.  It’s a beautiful, colonial, steam-powered riverboat, and it’ll instantly transport you to a simpler time, as you cruise along the Rivers of America.  Here are our favorite things about the Liberty Square Riverboat.

7. Come One, Come All

We love the exclusivity of the Liberty Square Riverboat!  Because it’s a slow-moving boat ride, there are no height or age restrictions, and it’s a family-friendly attraction.  It might not keep thrill-seekers entertained, but we think it’s a brilliant way to take a break from the chaos of a busy day in the parks.  Wheelchairs and ECVs can board the boat, and there is even sign language interpretation offered at certain times of the week.

6. Fun Facts

Spoilers ahead!  While the attraction is named the Liberty Square Riverboat, the vessel itself is called the Liberty Belle.  Your voyage will last around 20 minutes, and it will take you through the Rivers of America.  For those who are curious, the river is only about 6 feet deep, and the riverboat is actually on a track in the water, much like the boats on Jungle Cruise!  The water itself is dyed green, so that guests won’t be able to see the track, and have the magic ruined.

5. Unparalleled Views

Adventurers who want to explore Tom Sawyer Island can take the log raft over to the island and wander around to their hearts’ content.  But if you’re looking for the best views of Tom Sawyer Island, then you’ll want to ride the Liberty Belle!  The riverboat takes you around the entirety of Tom Sawyer Island, and along the way, you’ll also see unique views of several key Magic Kingdom attractions, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain and Haunted Mansion.

4. Delightful Decks

While you enjoy your journey on the Liberty Belle, you can choose from 4 decks to sit or stroll or explore.  The top deck, or pilothouse, contains the wheelhouse and Captain’s quarters.  Wander along the Promenade Deck to view photos and maps from a by-gone era, or enjoy the warm Floridian sun on the Sun Deck.  Of course, the real action is on the Main Deck, where you’ll find the workings of the boat itself, including the pistons that run the paddlewheel, and the boiler.  There’s a lot to explore on your river cruise!

3. Family of Riverboats

The Liberty Belle is in good company!  A riverboat named the Mark Twain debuted in Disneyland when it opened in 1955, and it was the first riverboat that had been build in the country in half a century.  Guests can now also enjoy riverboat attractions at Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris.  WDW originally had two riverboats, the Admiral Joe Fowler and the Richard F. Irvine; the latter changed its name to the Liberty Belle in the 1990s, and is now the sole riverboat in the Magic Kingdom.

2. Working Reproduction

History buffs and boat fans alike will enjoy learning about the Liberty Belle.  It’s almost 50 feet tall, with some beautifully crafted woodwork.  It’s actually a faithful replica of the types of boats that used to carry passengers up and down the Mississippi River, which means it’s a unique glimpse into the past.  How does it work?  The Liberty Belle’s steam engine turns water into steam, and it’s that steam that provides the power to turn the paddlewheel, which drives the boat.

1. Famous Voice

Your voyage on the Liberty Belle is narrated by several characters, and Disney fans might recognize one of the recorded voices: it’s none other than Thurl Ravenscroft, the famous voice behind Tony the Tiger (of Frosted Flakes fame).  Thurl provided the speaking and singing voices for many iconic Disney rides – you’ve probably heard his voice many times, even if you didn’t realize it!  He voiced the lead bust in Haunted Mansion, various voices in the Enchanted Tiki Room, Buff in the Country Bear Jamboree, and multiple pirates in Pirates of the Caribbean!

About Jason Dick

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Mark Twain Riverboat

• Water Rides

Steam into the Past

Board an old-fashioned steam-powered vessel for a half-mile journey into the heart of the American frontier. 

During the charming, 14-minute trip around Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island , spot delightful sights along the river’s edge, including: 

• The north bank of the Columbia Gorge, complete with a beautiful waterfront and 5 sparkling waterfalls 
• A rustic frontier cabin 
• An idyllic Native American village 
• A busy beaver at work chewing on the train trestle 
• Mountain lions relaxing in the sun 
• The Disneyland Railroad steaming into the wilderness 

Along the way, hear lively narration about a time gone by.

Along the Mississippi

The Mark Twain is an authentic reproduction of the historic vessels that ferried people up and down the mighty Mississippi River. A working steam engine converts the water from the Rivers of America into steam that in turn powers the large paddle that propels the boat. 

Featuring meticulously detailed wood craftsmanship, the 28-foot tall, 105-foot-long riverboat is comprised of 4 pristine decks: 

• Pilothouse , also known as the top deck, features the wheelhouse and Captain’s Quarters 
• Promenade Deck includes a salon and a collection of vintage photos and maps 
• Texas (or Sun) Deck is the perfect place to enjoy the outdoors as you float down the river 
• Main Deck includes the boiler and pistons that run the paddlewheel 

Limited seating is available.

A Tribute to America’s Writer

Walt Disney named the Mark Twain after the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens. The famed author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn —and Walt’s personal hero—Clemens was also a riverboat pilot as a young man. 

That experience inspired his pen name: “mark twain” is a boating term that means a vessel is at a safe depth.

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Frontierland, plan your day with disney genie service, safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for mark twain riverboat.

History of the Liberty Belle Steamboat in the Magic Kingdom

It’s no secret that Walt Disney, the man, loved all kinds of transportation. The Magic Kingdom ’s Liberty Square Steamboat attraction did not open on the first day, but it did sail for the first time on the second day of the park on October 2, 1971.

This Mississippi Steamboat replica takes guests on a 17-minute ride guided on an I-beam that is buried under the green and brown dyed water. The ride operator sits on the upper deck and is responsible for blowing the whistle, ringing the bell, and prompting the narration that accompanies the cruise on the Rivers of America.

An engineer, who controls the speed, is situated on the lower deck.

The boat cannot be steered, but it is propelled by the large paddle system on the rear of the boat, which is powered by an on-board steam engine. On the current ride, guests will hear narration as they pass by sites in Frontierland, Tom Sawyer Island, and Liberty Square.

The Liberty Belle hasn’t always been the only ship in town, though.

Admiral Joe Fowler

The Admiral Joe Fowler was the first ship to sail the Rivers of America. Its namesake is a retired Navy Admiral who oversaw the ship’s construction at the Tampa Ship Repairs and Dry Dock Company.

Richard F. Irvine

The Richard F. Irvine ship took six months to build on Walt Disney World property and was commissioned in 1973, just two years after the Fowler. For seven years, both boats ran together to accommodate the number of guests who wished to ride.

The Irvine was named after the Disney set designer with the same name. He also served as a liaison between the architectural firm and Disney Imagineer s during the construction of Disneyland and oversaw the planning and design of Walt Disney World.

When the Fowler and the Irvine first sailed, few other attractions existed. What would later become Tom Sawyer Island was undeveloped, and Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain were not yet built. Since there was little to look at outside, Disney provided on-board musical entertainment inside.

Also, the ships were originally loaded on the second deck and unloaded on the lower deck. This allowed guests to load and unload simultaneously to accommodate the huge crowds . When the demand decreased, the need for this two-tier boarding system was eliminated.

Both ships ran together for seven years. The Fowler was removed in 1980 for repairs and never returned. No official announcement was ever made, but many suspect that the hull was cracked either in moving or once in the dry dock. Parts of the ship were recycled though. The machinery was sent to Tokyo Disneyland, and guests can hear the whistle on the #4 Train Engine named Roy O. Disney.

In 1996, the Irvine was moved to a dry dock backstage. Although both of the original ships have been removed, these important names are not forgotten. Two of the ferries that run between the Ticketing and Transportation Center and the Magic Kingdom feature the names Irvine and Fowler.

Just a short time later, the Irvine was rechristened as the Liberty Belle. This new ship was retrofitted with vinyl and steel making it even stronger.

The Current Attraction

The Liberty Belle is a 3-tier paddle steamboat that can carry up to 450 passengers that sails from Liberty Square. The narration is done by a young man named Sam Clemens who is on his 100th journey on the Rivers of America. He tells riders stories of attractions as they pass by including the history behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, an unidentified Indian village, Cutthroat Corner where pirates are likely to be seen, and the Haunted Mansion , which is said to be built on an Indian Burial Ground where 999 ghosts haunt the area. Finally, both Sam and the captain bid farewell as the boat approaches the docks.

Do you ride the Liberty Square Steamboat in the Magic Kingdom? Leave your comments below.

Liberty Belle Track Emerges in Drained Rivers of America

in Walt Disney World

Peeking out of the drained Rivers of America waters at Walt Disney World is the Liberty Belle Track. Disney’s refurbishment is imminent as the river lies empty.

Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat have both been closed for quite some time as the Magic Kingdom refurbishments go through the end of the year. Having closed on October 5, 2020, the schedule appears to reopen around Jan 2nd according to the My Disney Experience calendar. What’s really neat is we are getting a sort of “backstage look” at the workings of the Riverboat.

Related: Photos Show Fantasmic! Lagoon Still Drained

The Drained Rivers of America

As the waters recede from the scheduled draining, you can see not only the sculpted banks giving way to a dirt riverbed but also the Liberty Belle Riverboat track. So many Disney guests are surprised to understand the boat is not free piloted but is guided along a track. The pilot guides the boat with the throttle and reverse functions, much like Jungle Cruise skippers do.

Below we see not only the track but one of the docks for Tom Sawyer Island . The ferries, modeled like river rafts, are indeed independently driven, with onboard motors and steerage. The ferries must wait for the Riverboat to pass, but it doesn’t take too long to reach the bankside docks for some island fun.

Disney describes the island to Guests saying, “Wander dusty dirt roads lined with tall trees, explore whirling mills and amble across creaky suspension bridges. Navigate narrow passages amid secret mined caves and uncover a frontier fort.”

Not only are Magic Kingdom guests getting a sneak peek, but the Liberty Square and Frontierland birds are getting a treat. Craning and wading into what little water is left, the birds (and possibly ducks ) forage for bugs and snacks in what reflects a natural habitat.

 Have you ever been able to ride the Liberty Square Riverboat? Leave us a comment about your sailing memories onboard. 

Mark Twain Riverboat

The Mark Twain Riverboat goes on a gentle cruise around Tom Sawyer Island. That's the same route that the Sailing Ship Columbia and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes take, and I'd suggest choosing only one of these three attractions. You don't need to see that same scenery three times.

What You Need to Know About the Mark Twain Riverboat

TripSavvy / Betsy Malloy Photography

We polled 131 of our readers to find out what they think about the riverboat. 74% of them said It's a must-do or ride it if you have time, making it one of the lower-rated things to do at Disneyland.

• Location:  Mark Twain Riverboat is in Frontierland
• Rating:  ★
• Restrictions:   No height restrictions. Children under age seven years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.
• Ride Time:   12 minutes
• Recommended for:   Everyone
• Fun Factor:  Low
• Wait Factor:  Low    
• Fear Factor:  Low
• Herky-Jerky Factor:  Low
• Nausea Factor:  Low
• Seating:   You just get on and ride, and you can move around while it's going
• Accessibility:   This ride is fully accessible, and you can stay in your wheelchair or ECV for the whole thing, but you'll only get onto the lower level. Go to the access gate on the right side of the turnstile or enter through the attraction exit and ask a Cast Member for help.  More about visiting Disneyland in a wheelchair or ECV

How to Have More Fun on the Mark Twain Riverboat

• If you want to  rest your feet , head for the seats in the front as soon as you get on.
• This ride  closes before dark
• Watch the kids.  They may be tempted to climb on the railings and could fall off.
• If you ask a cast member, the  pilot might let you ride inside with him . This is limited to just a couple of people per trip.

Next Disneyland Ride: Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes

More about disneyland rides.

You can  see all the Disneyland rides at a glance on the Disneyland Ride Sheet . If you want to browse through them starting with the best-rated,  start with the Haunted Mansion  and follow the navigation.

While you're thinking about rides, you should also  download Our Recommended Disneyland Apps (they're all free!)  and  Get Some Proven Tips to Minimize Your Disneyland Wait Time .

Fun Facts About Mark Twain Riverboat

Built in 1955, this was the first paddle wheeler built since shortly after 1900. It was built at the Disney Studios, except for the hull which was constructed at a shipyard in San Pedro. But don't let that fool you. It's a working reproduction of the historic vessels that ferried people up and down the mighty Mississippi, with a working steam engine that powers the large paddle, which in turn propels the boat.

The Mark Twain made its first voyage four days before Disneyland opened to the public, for Walt and Lillian Disney's 30th wedding anniversary. 

The Mark Twain was christened by actress   Irene Dunne who starred in the 1936 movie "Showboat" on Disneyland's Opening Day.

The boat is 28 feet tall and 105 feet long, with four decks.

The writer Mark Twain was a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi river when he was younger, and one of Walt Disney's personal heroes, which is why Walt named the boat after him.

A riverboat ride was in the plans from the earliest days, when Walt Disney started the first plans for building an amusement park near Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.

Every Disney theme park throughout the world has their own version of the Mark Twain riverboat. 

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News from around the world, how disney moves the liberty belle riverboat during maintenance.

• In Activities , Entertainment , News , Resorts and Travel , Walt Disney World
• February 5, 2021

This past October,  Tom Sawyer Island  in Frontierland and the  Liberty Square Riverboat  in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom closed to guests for an extensive refurbishment.

During the refurbishment, the Rivers of America was drained and cleaned and the entire track system was replaced. The attraction, along with the Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher rafts, were schedule to return on March 1. However, Disney was able to bring everything back into service on Friday, February 5, nearly a month ahead of schedule.

Cleaning the river and repairing the riverboat’s track is not an easy process. Disney has done incremental refurbishments throughout the years, but the last time the river was drained completely was in 1996.

In an interview with The Orlando Sentinel , Katrina Mutuc, a Disney World planned for facility asset management, told Dewayne Bevil, “We replaced the entire main loop and a little bit of the spur and the track switch between them … No one had drained the river in 25 years, so trying to pinpoint exactly what was the right time to bring her back here … here … and here — based on how high the river level was — was a little difficult.”

Adding to the complexity of the project is the fact that the Liberty Square riverboat, the Liberty Belle, has to be taken off the tracks and moved out of the area.

According to the Disney Parks Blog, “Last October, cast members drained the waters of the Rivers of America, sending the  Liberty Belle  to dry dock behind Magic Kingdom Park in order to replace her underwater track.  In preparing for her return, teams worked together overnight to sail her through Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, around Disney’s Contemporary Resort and crossing in front of Magic Kingdom Park.  They then towed her by hand through a narrow water channel before underwater divers reconnected her to the newly refurbished track and brought her home.”

Here is how Disney managed this feat –

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Liberty Square Riverboat Overview | Disney’s Magic Kingdom Attractions

Take a relaxing boat ride with rare sights on the Rivers of America when you ride the Liberty Square Riverboat!

Attraction Overview

Hop aboard the Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom for a relaxing boat ride. On this 17-minute trip on the Rivers of America, you experience this part of the park like never before. This tour of Liberty Square and Frontierland is about a half-mile long. Because this boat ride takes you around Tom Sawyer Island , it is narrated by the novel’s author: Mark Twain. During your ride down the river, the classic American novelist shares his own memories of growing up on the Mississippi.

In addition to nostalgic stories from Mr. Twain, the Liberty Square Riverboat provides views that you and your family just can’t miss! Experience the beginnings of the American frontier such as an early American settlement, an idyllic Native American village, and woodland animals. You will also come upon iconic locations from Tom Sawyer like Harper’s Mill, Fort Langhorn, and Wilson’s Cave Inn. On top of all these sights, you see news sides of Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain , and Haunted Mansion .

The Liberty Square Riverboat uses a real steam engine to give tours on the Rivers of America. The water from the river is converted into steam which provides power to the boat’s paddlewheel. Even though a steam engine is used, the Liberty Square Riverboat does operate on a track. With 4 decks on this 47-foot boat, it can move lots of guests around the river.

Location & Wait Times

The Liberty Square Riverboat is located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom. The entrance is located along the river next to the Haunted Mansion. It travels around Tom Sawyer Island on the Rivers of America. Along this path, you experience both Liberty Square and Frontierland. This ride is about 17-minutes long. Despite this, the Liberty Square Riverboat departs every 30 minutes (on the hour and half hour). With this schedule, the longest you will have to wait is likely 30 minutes or less.

Queue Experience

There is no true queue for the Liberty Square Riverboat. Instead, there is a small holding area where you can wait prior to boarding. To enter this waiting, look for the awning pictured below. This is the entrance to the attraction which can be found next to the queue entrance for Haunted Mansion.

Emily Murray

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Student athletes compete in 60th bob hayes invitational track meet at unf.

Khalil Maycock , Reporter , Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 60th anniversary of the Bob Hayes Invitational Track and Field meet wrapped up Saturday afternoon.

The Bob Hayes Invitational Track meet has stood as a central gathering for aspiring track and field athletes from the southeastern United States.

WATCH | Bob Hayes Invitational Track meet celebrates 60 years

This meet, held at the Hodges Stadium at UNF, includes competitors from all over, especially from Jacksonville.

Mariah Shuford, a junior at Riverside High School, was one of the competitors.

“I run a lot of events. I run the open four. The open eight, and as well as the relays for the four by four and the four by eight,” Shuford said.

Shuford said she has been competing in the invitational since middle school, and she said it’s something she looks forward to every year.

“My goal is just to run my PRs, my personal best,” Shuford said.

The invitational has some events for middle schoolers, attracts a lot of high schoolers and this year opened to collegiate runners.

The executive director of the track meet said this is beneficial for anyone who participates in it.

“The reputation of the Bob Hayes track meet has been second to none. If you can run and compete and if you’re a Bob Hayes Champion that means you’re at the top echelon in the South Eastern part of the country,” Executive Director Greg Coleman said.

In addition to running, this meet also serves as a chance for participants to learn more about the namesake of the event.

For those unfamiliar with history, Hayes, the renowned sprinter from Florida A&M, earned the nickname “Bullet Bob” for his unparalleled supremacy in sprinting events spanning from 60 to 100 yards.

Hayes grew up on Jacksonville’s Eastside and won gold medals in the Olympics and a Super Bowl ring.

While Shuford and her teammates were mentally and physically preparing for their other races, her coach — who also ran in the invitational in high school — had a message for them.

“We’re here to compete. So I want y’all to go out there and compete with no matter who’s out there even if they’re ten seconds better than you, cut it down, make it five,” Coach Chris Curry said.

The executive director said 12 scholarships were given to participants this year.

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Khalil Maycock joined the News4JAX team in November 2022 after reporting in Des Moines, IA.

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Porter’s Chapel gets back on track with rout of over River Oaks

Published 11:30 pm Tuesday, March 19, 2024

By Ernest Bowker

Porter's Chapel Academy's Gavin White hits the baseball Tuesday against River Oaks. White had four RBIs to lead the Eagles to a 15-0 victory. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Porter's Chapel Academy's Chad Fuson throws a pitch Tuesday against River Oaks. Fuson had four strikeouts in three shutout innings as PCA won 15-0. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Porter's Chapel Academy's Gavin Pugh scores a run during Tuesday's 15-0 victory against River Oaks. (Ernest Bowker/The Vicksburg Post)

Porter’s Chapel Academy got bashed at the beach, but came out punching when they got back home.

John Wyatt Massey and Gavin White had four RBIs apiece, and Chad Fuson pitched a three-inning shutout as Porter’s Chapel bounced back from a disappointing spring break week by crushing River Oaks 15-0 on Tuesday.

PCA lost all four of its games last week — two of them at the Battle at the Beach baseball event on the Coast — and had a total of two hits in the last three losses. It had six hits Tuesday, with three of them going for extra bases.

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“We hit the baseball. Last week we had one hit. Tonight we six or eight, I’ll have to look, and one error. We turned all that around,” PCA coach Rob Riggin said. “Last week we made errors and we didn’t hit. Tonight we hit and didn’t make errors.”

PCA (11-6, 3-0 MAIS District 4-3A) scored all of its runs in the second inning.

White hit a two-run single to break the scoreless tie, and three batters later Massey hit a three-run home run to make it 6-0 and open the floodgates.

Eleven of the Eagles’ first 12 batters in the inning reached base, and they ended up sending 19 men to the plate. Three runs came across on bases-loaded walks or hit batters, and Thomas Azlin ripped a two-run double just inside the third base line to make it 13-0.

An error on a grounder hit by Gavin Pugh brought in the last two runs.

“It was better, but we’ve still got to get better. We haven’t been playing great baseball. I know we can and I’m looking forward to that,” Riggin said.

Azlin, Chase Hearn, Evan Gordon and Brayden King scored two runs apiece for PCA. Massey had two hits and walked once.

Fuson allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four batters in an outing shortened to only three innings by the mercy rule.

PCA and River Oaks are scheduled to play a doubleheader Friday at 3 p.m. in Monroe, Louisiana, but the schedule is tentative because of the threat of rain.

“They were beat down last week when we left Gulfport. They should’ve been. But this helps with player morale. It gets our confidence up and hopefully we can start from here on out,” Riggin said. “We talked about are we going to be 10-7 tonight or 11-6? We’re 11-6 and we’ve got 10 more games to go. We’re going one game at a time. We’re trying to get better every day at practice and every game that we play. Hopefully we can be 21-6 when we get to the playoffs.”

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Ernest Bowker is The Vicksburg Post's sports editor. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post's sports staff since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured reporters in the paper's 140-year history. The New Jersey native is a graduate of LSU. In his career, he has won more than 50 awards from the Mississippi Press Association and Associated Press for his coverage of local sports in Vicksburg.

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The Billionaire Taking on Disney Just Wants Some Respect

The longtime corporate agitator feels misunderstood. Maybe his fight with Disney could change that.

Nelson Peltz, 81, has been battling the Walt Disney Company over its corporate strategy. Credit... Ahmed Gaber for The New York Times

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By James B. Stewart and Lauren Hirsch

• Published March 16, 2024 Updated March 19, 2024

At age 81, with over four decades of dealmaking and corporate cage-rattling under his belt, Nelson Peltz would seem to have pretty much everything.

He’s a billionaire. Until the hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin came to Palm Beach, Fla., Mr. Peltz had the largest property tax bill in town, with an oceanfront estate estimated to be worth $334 million. His 130-acre property in Bedford, N.Y., known as High Winds, has its own helipad, indoor ice rink and waterfall. He has use of his company’s jet. (But so far, he owns no yacht — he rents one instead.)

He also has an undeniably full life apart from his business: He has two children from his first marriage. He also has eight children (including two sets of twins) with his wife since 1981, the former model Claudia Heffner. His eldest child from that marriage, Matt, is a partner and co-chief investment officer at Mr. Peltz’s Trian Partners.

His photogenic younger children have thrust him into the tabloids and onto the Hollywood red carpet. Nicola, an actress (“Bates Motel,” “Transformers: Age of Extinction,” “Welcome to Chippendales”), married Brooklyn Beckham, son of David and Victoria Beckham, in a splashy wedding at the Peltz Palm Beach estate in 2022. Will is also an actor (“Unfriended,” “Euphoria,” “Manifest”). Brad played hockey for Yale and was drafted by the Ottawa Senators.

And yet Mr. Peltz yearns for something that continues to elude him: the respect from the corporate elite, which he craves and feels he deserves. Could admittance to the inner sanctum of one of the best-known and most respected companies in the world — the Walt Disney Company — deliver that?

On and off for almost a year and a half, Trian Partners has waged an intense corporate fight by controlling a $3.5 billion stake in Disney and pushing for two board seats and influence over the company’s strategy. Mr. Peltz’s ammunition is a barrage of criticism of Disney’s management and board: The stock has plunged; costs have spiraled out of control; a string of big-budget film flops has raised questions about the company’s creative engine — problems that Mr. Peltz says he can reverse with his operational skills and strategic insight. While he concedes he has no experience in entertainment, his opinions, he says, are informed by his children and their high-powered friends, including Elon Musk, who has been critical of Disney.

The proxy battle has pitted him against Disney’s chief executive, Robert A. Iger, one of the media industry’s most powerful executives and someone Mr. Peltz once considered a good friend. Mr. Iger and Disney’s board have pushed back hard, even enlisting the support of the Disney family , including Abigail Disney, who has long complained about Mr. Iger’s lofty compensation. The increasingly bitter contest is hurtling toward a climax on April 3, when Disney will hold its annual shareholder meeting and proxy votes will be counted.

That this fight is over far more than a couple of board seats, or even a multibillion-dollar stake in the company, was abundantly clear in a series of interviews with The New York Times at Trian’s offices on Park Avenue and in Palm Beach, and over the phone.

During the interviews, Mr. Peltz — who has had numerous similar run-ins with corporate giants such as Procter & Gamble, Heinz and Unilever — repeatedly lamented his reputation as a provocateur and “activist” investor, a thorn in the side of chief executives and their boards.

He hates being mentioned in the same company as a rogues’ gallery of activists, buyout operators and corporate raiders, as he often is. He thinks he should be compared to someone he admires and tries to emulate: Warren E. Buffett.

“Does Nelson feel misunderstood? He probably does,” said Arthur Winkleblack, who was chief financial officer at Heinz when Mr. Peltz waged a successful proxy contest there in 2006 and joined the board. “Not all activists are the same. There are activists who are not nice people. There are activists who are.”

Whatever label is attached to him, there’s little chance that Mr. Peltz will be embraced by the august members of the Business Roundtable, the Washington-based lobbying group of elite chief executives, given his long track record of public criticism of boards and chief executives, and his efforts, when rebuffed, to elbow his way into America’s boardrooms.

Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase and a former chairman of the roundtable, recently came out against Mr. Peltz in the Disney proxy fight, citing the disruption that activist investors can bring to a board. JPMorgan is advising the company in its proxy defense. Disney has paid JPMorgan over $160 million in fees since 2014 as a client, according to LSEG, a financial data provider.

One measure of Mr. Peltz’s continuing notoriety is the reluctance of many people who have worked with him to speak on the record — even people he counts as friends and admirers, some of whom he recommended The Times interview for this article. That’s especially true in the midst of the Disney fight; several people said they didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire between Mr. Peltz and Mr. Iger, let alone Mr. Dimon. Both chief executives cast long shadows in the entertainment and business worlds.

“He’s like the uninvited guest who crashes a dinner party,” said Charles Elson, a former director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware. “No matter how charming, he’s not going to be welcome.”

Ski Bum Turned Billionaire

Mr. Peltz can be funny and self-deprecating: He recently told The Times that he was the only person he knew who had gained weight while taking Ozempic, which seems to be popular in his Palm Beach neighborhood (The tanned, fit-looking Mr. Peltz shows no obvious need to lose weight.)

Mr. Peltz, who was born and grew up in Brooklyn, traces his social skills to his student years at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was president of his hard-partying Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. “Classes screwed up my day,” he said.

He left Wharton before graduating to pursue a passion for skiing, but en route to a job as an instructor at Oregon’s Mount Hood, he was pressed by his father into a two-week stint at the family’s small Bronx-based frozen food distribution company. He was soon brimming with ideas for building the business, investing in the stock market and staying. (He also shaved off his beard at his father’s request. He sports a neatly trimmed beard again today.)

In the decades that followed, Mr. Peltz’s career mirrored the history of modern dealmaking. His successful effort to buy out the notorious corporate raider Victor Posner from National Can in 1985 was the first all-junk-bond tender offer, using the low-rated, high-yielding bonds once shunned by conservative investors. It was also the start of Mr. Peltz’s relationship with the junk bond pioneer Michael Milken. (Mr. Peltz balked at Mr. Milken’s initial invitation, for a 5 a.m. meeting in Beverly Hills; Mr. Milken grudgingly moved the appointment to 6.)

Mr. Peltz forged a close friendship with another controversial raider, Saul Steinberg, who introduced him to Mr. Milken and whose own hostile run at Disney ended with a much-criticized greenmail payment in 1984. (Greenmail is a payment to a corporate raider in return for dropping a hostile takeover bid.)

After the National Can deal, Mr. Peltz’s Triangle Industries swallowed the rival American Can’s packaging division in 1986. He then sold Triangle to France’s Pechiney for $4.2 billion in 1988, including debt. The deal was widely acknowledged as one of the most successful leveraged buyouts, or deals largely funded by debt, and it established a model subsequently embraced by a generation of financiers.

Suddenly wealthy beyond his wildest dreams, and only 46, Mr. Peltz considered an early retirement. But he was quickly bored by golf. He went on to a series of other leveraged acquisitions, buying Snapple from Quaker for $300 million in 1997 and then selling it and some other brands three years later for $1.45 billion. (Mr. Peltz’s success at Snapple is the subject of a Harvard Business School case study .)

“He would often suggest new flavors — and he would push us to come up with different forms and different bottles,” said Ken Gilbert, who was Snapple’s chief marketing officer at the time. “We were spinning out new products every month — it was crazy. And he loved it.”

Mr. Peltz helped found Trian in 2005 to pursue businesses that “weren’t well run but were too big for us to buy,” he said. He and Peter May, his longtime partner, his friend and a former public accountant, courted outside investors and embraced a lucrative compensation model, taking both a management fee and a percentage of the fund’s gains, a model that soon swept the world of alternative investing and that has minted numerous billionaires.

A Builder, Not a Breaker?

For all Mr. Peltz’s business and financial success, not to mention longevity, his early associations with people like Mr. Posner (who pleaded no contest to tax evasion and fraud in 1988) and Mr. Milken (who pleaded guilty to multiple felonies in 1990 and was pardoned by President Donald J. Trump in 2020) no doubt tainted his reputation, fairly or not.

Even before then, he was turned down by the co-op board when he tried to buy an apartment at 740 Park Avenue in Manhattan, and not because he couldn’t pay in cash. The building, on the Upper East Side, is a residential haven for the corporate elite: His friend, Mr. Steinberg, lived there. And Blackstone’s Stephen A. Schwarzman subsequently bought Mr. Steinberg’s apartment, once home to John D. Rockefeller Jr. (The board later approved a purchase by Mr. May, Mr. Peltz’s partner and the president of the New York Philharmonic.)

On more than one occasion Mr. Peltz, who is Jewish, has encountered what he considered at least a whiff of antisemitism. He recalled that his arrival in London in the 1980s was greeted with a tabloid profile headlined “The Wild and Rocking World of Nelson Peltz.” The first sentence, he said, called him a “Jewish boy from Brooklyn,” and the British business establishment closed ranks against him.

Mr. Peltz, long a fierce critic of antisemitism, said he stepped down from his role as chairman of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in December because after 40 years in the position, it was time for a change. But The Wall Street Journal reported that he left after the center called for a boycott of Ben & Jerry’s. The center had deemed posts by the company’s chairman to be pro-Palestinian after the Hamas attack on Israel. Mr. Peltz is a board member of Unilever, the owner of Ben & Jerry’s.

His fellow billionaire Henry Kravis, the buyout pioneer, is one of the few Jewish members of Palm Beach’s old-money Everglades Club, but not Mr. Peltz. Mr. Peltz said he had “refused to set foot” in the club until it had a Jewish member and, now that it does, has had lunch there several times. (Mr. Peltz belongs to the Palm Beach Country Club, which has long accommodated members excluded from more restrictive Palm Beach clubs.)

Mr. Peltz’s reputation as a corporate troublemaker also cost him his longtime relationship with his Manhattan law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. In 2019, the firm cut ties with him even though he had been one of its biggest clients for decades. Paul Weiss handled his estate planning and other matters; a Paul Weiss partner left the firm to become his general counsel. But after Paul Weiss expanded its elite corporate practice in recent years, the firm told him that it could no longer represent activist investors, including him.

Mr. Peltz countered that he wasn’t an activist, he was a “constructivist” — someone who worked with management, not against it. He had never mounted a hostile takeover, he said, or even fired a chief executive. Paul Weiss was unpersuaded. “They dropped me like that,” Mr. Peltz said. “I was probably their oldest living client.”

Vitriol for Disney

Mr. Peltz’s argument that he’s not an activist has also fallen on deaf ears at Disney.

Before the proxy fight, Mr. Peltz had breakfast with Mr. Iger at the Beverly Hills Hotel on occasion when Mr. Peltz was in Los Angeles, and Mr. Iger visited Mr. Peltz in New York. Disney’s pension fund also invested in Trian.

When Elliott Management, led by the activist investor Paul Singer, took a stake in AT&T in 2019 and agitated for change, Mr. Iger asked Mr. Peltz to address the Disney board. Topics on the agenda, according to records reviewed by The Times: “What made AT&T vulnerable?” and “Who will be the winners and losers” as big technology companies move into entertainment and media content production?

But early last year, after Mr. Peltz bought roughly $1 billion in Disney shares and threatened a proxy contest for a board seat if Disney rebuffed his proposals, Disney attacked Mr. Peltz, saying he did “not understand Disney’s businesses and lacks the skills and experience to assist the board in delivering shareholder value in a rapidly shifting media ecosystem.”

Even though Mr. Iger and the Disney board had seemed eager to tap Mr. Peltz’s expertise in 2019, Mr. Iger only grudgingly gave him 45 minutes on Jan. 10 last year to present his plans. Mr. Peltz’s reception was frosty — only Mr. Iger asked a perfunctory question.

Little more than a month after Mr. Peltz started his campaign, Disney pledged $5.5 billion in cost reductions (later raised to $7.5 billion) and said it would resume paying a dividend. Mr. Peltz said the changes aligned with Trian’s goals, and he backed off the proxy fight.

By December, he was back. Frustrated by the ensuing slide in Disney stock— from over $110 a share in February 2023 to below $80 in October— and what he deemed Disney’s failure to follow through with its pledges, Mr. Peltz and Trian renewed their campaign.

This time, Mr. Peltz increased the pressure by allying with two Disney veterans with intimate knowledge of the company: Ike Perlmutter and Jay Rasulo.

Mr. Rasulo, a former Disney chief financial officer and theme parks head, was considered a potential successor to Mr. Iger until he was passed over for the chief operating job in 2016. Mr. Rasulo and Mr. Peltz are Trian’s nominees for the Disney board.

Mr. Perlmutter is the sometimes irascible former chairman of Marvel Entertainment, which Disney bought in 2009 for $4 billion in cash and stock, making him one of Disney’s largest shareholders. He remained chairman of Marvel Entertainment after the deal, but Mr. Iger sidelined him in 2015 by revamping Disney management. Mr. Perlmutter was unceremoniously laid off last year and has since been a vocal critic of Mr. Iger.

Mr. Trump introduced Mr. Peltz to Mr. Perlmutter in 2016 at Mar-a-Lago, where Mr. Perlmutter usually commands a prime dining room table next to Mr. Trump’s. Mr. Perlmutter has been a prominent financial backer of Mr. Trump’s presidential campaigns. Mr. Peltz, too, was a Trump supporter and raised $10 million for him at his Palm Beach estate in February 2020. But the two stopped speaking after Mr. Peltz went on CNBC and denounced Mr. Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and incite violence on Jan. 6, 2021, as a “disgrace.” His antipathy has only grown since, and Mr. Peltz said he would not raise more money for Mr. Trump.

Still, the falling-out hasn’t dented Mr. Peltz’s friendship with Mr. Perlmutter.

Mr. Perlmutter has entrusted Mr. Peltz to vote his Disney shares, inflaming tensions with the entertainment company. In its defense against the Trian campaign, Disney accused Mr. Perlmutter of bearing Mr. Iger “personal animosity” and blaming him for being fired.

Disney has also suggested that Mr. Peltz is motivated by a grudge against Mr. Iger, a claim that Mr. Peltz has vehemently denied. The company recently told investors that the men were never close friends, and that Disney ended its investment in Trian in 2021, angering Mr. Peltz, because the fund had underperformed the S&P 500 on an annualized basis over eight years. A spokesman for Mr. Peltz and Trian said they didn’t comment on client matters.

Lacking the information that he’d be privy to as a board member, Mr. Peltz doesn’t purport to have a novel solution to the streaming losses that have bedeviled Disney and other media companies trying to make the difficult transition to the direct-to-consumer digital era. He has been frank about his lack of direct experience in entertainment — something Disney has highlighted. But he said experience wasn’t everything. “They just put out five movies in a row that were big losers,” he said.

In Disney, he sees a company with great assets. But he also believes it’s a business crying out for greater operational accountability, more efficiency and better board governance. He considers Disney to be not that different from consumer-facing companies that he has helped turn around, like Heinz and Procter & Gamble.

Mr. Peltz also has better visibility into Disney’s operations than most of his past targets thanks to his alliance with Mr. Rasulo. Many were surprised that Mr. Rasulo would go up against Mr. Iger, his former mentor, in such public combat.

But Mr. Rasulo said in an interview that Mr. Iger’s abrupt departure in 2020 and the choice of the little-known Bob Chapek to replace him left him (and many others) mystified. So did Mr. Chapek’s sudden ouster and Mr. Iger’s return in 2022. Streaming losses soared, and Disney stock plunged.

“I was always a Disney guy,” said Mr. Rasulo, who spent three decades at the company, and the decline was painful to witness. “Something obviously went radically wrong.”

Mr. Rasulo didn’t know Mr. Peltz when they met for breakfast in Los Angeles a year and a half ago, but he said he had liked what he heard. He conducted his own interviews with people who had dealt with Mr. Peltz, and his research bore out what Mr. Peltz had emphasized — that he was a long-term investor looking to fix the company, not break it up.

Mr. Rasulo said he had no ambition to take Mr. Iger’s place as chief executive. He said he believed he could be an objective “voice of clarity” on the board as well as someone with intimate familiarity with the company’s operations and legacy. (Disney has countered that Mr. Rasulo left eight years ago and is out of touch with a radically changed media landscape.)

Mr. Peltz, too, said he looked forward to working closely with Mr. Iger if he gained a board seat. But that hasn’t stopped him from publicly criticizing Mr. Iger’s leadership. Waging his campaign on CNBC, in other media and in a recent whirlwind of visits to major shareholders, Mr. Peltz has argued that Disney grossly overpaid for 21st Century Fox assets in 2019, a $71 billion deal that saddled the company with enormous debt; that Mr. Iger and the board have repeatedly bungled succession planning; and that Mr. Iger has overseen an alarming decline in quality and financial results at the company’s core Disney animation, Pixar and Marvel entertainment units.

“The fact is, the emperor has no clothes,” Mr. Peltz said.

There have been no invitations from Disney to address the board this time.

In a statement for this article, a Disney spokesman said Mr. Peltz “has failed to demonstrate that he comprehends Disney’s strategic position in the modern media business, or to offer any compelling ideas, and we believe his presence in the boardroom would be disruptive and destructive.”

History as a Guide

A recurring issue in the Disney proxy fight will be Mr. Peltz’s investment record, which remains a closely guarded secret. Various academic studies have found that activist investors, on average, don’t generate superior returns over time.

Trian maintains that federal rules prohibit it from publicizing its results. But the firm said that from the time Mr. Peltz joined a company’s board — 11 in all — through the end of 2023, Trian’s investments in those 11 companies generated a 17 percent annualized rate of return. The S&P 500 has returned an annualized 9.5 percent since 2005, when Trian was founded.

Trian said it used that measure — from the date Mr. Peltz joined a board to the present — because the fund took a long-term approach and often continued to own shares after Mr. Peltz or one of his Trian partners left a board. If returns were measured until the date they stepped down, the returns would be slightly higher, it said.

Annualized returns in those companies range from 47 percent (Legg Mason, acquired by Franklin Templeton in 2020, a year after Mr. Peltz joined the board) to 3 percent (Unilever, which was Trian’s most recent investment before Disney and whose board Mr. Peltz joined in 2022).

Trian argues that these returns are what’s relevant to shareholders of the target companies, including Disney. Trian’s own investors haven’t reaped annualized gains that large, in part because the fund isn’t always fully invested and holds cash and shares in other companies.

One investor said Trian gained 12 percent in 2023 (well below the S&P 500’s 24 percent rise) and lost 10.6 percent in 2022 (when the S&P dropped over 18 percent). Disney said Trian’s annualized returns for its pension fund trailed the S&P 500 by 500 basis points, or 5 percent, over eight years. (Trian said that it offered multiple investment and fee options, and that individual investor results therefore varied.)

Still, many investors have been satisfied: Trian’s assets have gone from less than $1 billion when it was founded in 2005 to over $10 billion. Mr. Peltz attributes his investment success to his operational skills and long-term perspective.

“We’re not activists,” he insisted. “We’re not private equity. We’re not looking to just leverage up a business and sell. We’re looking to build a business over the long term. That’s what’s fun.”

Mr. Peltz noted that the average holding period for a Trian position was six years— long by activist standards, though about the same as private equity funds. Some holdings, like Wendy’s, have been much longer.

The Times interviewed a dozen former executives at companies targeted by Mr. Peltz, and all said he had bolstered results, even those who said they had no particular fondness for him and declined to be quoted.

Mr. Winkleblack, who orchestrated Heinz’s defense in the proxy contest, thought it possible, even likely, that he’d be fired once Mr. Peltz gained a board seat. On the contrary, he stayed in his role after he met Mr. Peltz one on one.

“We fought a good fight,” Mr. Peltz told him. “Now let’s go make money for shareholders.” That, in essence, is Mr. Peltz’s philosophy, Mr. Winkleblack said.

After an extensive listening tour, Mr. Peltz backed Heinz’s chief executive, William Johnson, and his turnaround plan. Mr. Peltz subsequently proposed Mr. Johnson, whom he now calls a “great friend,” for the PepsiCo board, and Mr. Winkleblack now serves as a Trian representative on Wendy’s board.

Mr. Peltz’s battle against DuPont was in some ways the beginning of modern-day activism: evolving into a full-blown fight in which an influential proxy firm, ISS, sided with Mr. Peltz while index funds, decisively, sided with the company’s management.

Though Mr. Peltz lost the proxy fight in 2015, DuPont’s chief executive, Ellen Kullman, stepped down not long after. Her successor, Edward D. Breen, developed a warm relationship with Mr. Peltz and embraced much of his strategy.

Mr. Peltz said Trian intended to remain a major Disney shareholder and keep up the pressure even if it lost the proxy battle, and pointed to DuPont as a precedent.

Procter & Gamble put up a spirited defense to Mr. Peltz’s proxy campaign but, after a narrow loss, reluctantly welcomed Mr. Peltz into the boardroom in 2017. Two years later, Mr. Peltz and the company’s chief executive, David Taylor, were heaping praise on each other.

“We’d rather be rich than right, and David has that same attitude,” Mr. Peltz said at a conference sponsored by CNBC and Institutional Investor. “That’s why we’re getting along so well.”

Several executives who have faced Mr. Peltz’s attention said they saw a common theme: He accelerated existing recovery plans, and then reaped credit for the success. Chief executives who get along with him have to swallow their egos — something that might prove difficult for someone as prominent as Mr. Iger, especially given all the recent vitriol.

Many also said that the care and feeding of Mr. Peltz was time-consuming. After Mr. Peltz joined the board of the snack food maker Mondelez International, then-chief executive Irene Rosenfeld created a new executive position to handle some administrative duties while she dealt with Mr. Peltz and other activist shareholders. Still, Mondelez shares rose an annualized 11 percent while Mr. Peltz was on the board, Trian said.

No one The Times interviewed could recall Mr. Peltz’s arriving on a board with bold ideas that no one else at the company had ever thought of.

“He’ll offer thoughts. He’ll have a thesis,” as one former chief executive said. “But the reality is no one can come from the outside and really know a well-managed company. They’re not going to walk in and tell them something they’ve never thought of.”

Still Rocking the Boat

Which is why, when all is said and done, Mr. Peltz may never escape the unsavory reputation that still dogs him, at least in some quarters, and why it’s unlikely he’ll ever be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway acquires companies only in friendly deals.

Mr. Peltz seems oblivious that even when he is invited onto a board, it’s often under duress: better to have him on the inside, with a director’s duty to shareholders, than on the outside waging a proxy war.

Mr. Peltz “may be a very smart investor and a very savvy operator, but he rocks the boat,” Mr. Elson the governance expert said. “People who rock the boat are naturally going to cross swords with the establishment.” (Mr. Elson’s family is also a pillar of Palm Beach high society; his father, Edward, was U.S. ambassador to Denmark in the 1990s, and his mother, Susie, was chair of Palm Beach’s Society of the Four Arts.)

“No one likes to be told you’re doing something wrong. That’s just human nature,” Mr. Elson continued. “When that happens, you’re viewed as a dissident, an irritant. Irritants aren’t loved.”

Loved or not, Mr. Peltz has Mr. Elson’s admiration, he said, even if he doesn’t always agree with Mr. Peltz’s approach. “Irritants,” he said, “are important to the proper functioning of a capitalist society.”

A previous version of this article misidentified Charles Elson. He is a   former director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, not its director.

How we handle corrections

James B. Stewart has been a reporter and business columnist for The Times since 2011, focusing on the human drama of the business world and the struggle for corporate power. More about James B. Stewart

Lauren Hirsch joined The Times from CNBC in 2020, covering deals and the biggest stories on Wall Street. More about Lauren Hirsch

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Cincinnati Health provides form to trace possible measles spread from 'Disney on Ice' show

If you or your child attended the March 8 “Disney on Ice” show at the Heritage Bank Center, where a measles case was reported, Cincinnati public health officials hope you will fill out a form to let them know. 

The Cincinnati Health Department put out the form Monday to help with contact tracing, a way to identify people who've been near someone who has been diagnosed with an infectious disease, and ultimately, track the disease.

Were you at 'Disney on Ice'? Don't run to the hospital for measles test. Here's what to do

Arminda Allen, a nursing supervisor for the health department, encouraged all attendees – regardless of their vaccination status – to use the form to ask for resources, such as additional information and measles testing. 

Measles can be identified by a fever, a cough, red eyes, and as the disease progresses, a rash. 

“If they use the form to report that they had symptoms consistent with measles, they could expect a same day response from the city health department,” said Allen, who works with the department's communicable diseases unit.

Residents who would like more immediate help can call the city’s disease helpline at 513-357-7462 during business hours, or 877-774-4636 after 5 p.m.  

The form is primarily for people who are most at risk to get measles, such as infants or people who are unvaccinated, Allen said. “We’re also using the form to identify anyone that might work at high-risk settings, such as a school, daycare or healthcare facility."

The infected person at the show was not a Cincinnati resident, according to Allen, and the city has had no measles cases so far in 2024. Still, Cincinnati Public Schools’ measles, mumps and rubella vaccination rates lag behind what is required to keep the community healthy.  

While missing documentation could affect the data, “the numbers that we do have are not adequate for herd immunity,” Allen said.  

As of March 14, there were already 58 cases of measles nationwide in 2024 , matching the count for the entire year of 2023 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least five of those cases were from Ohio.