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:
| Liberty Square Riverboat | Magic Kingdom |
|---|---|
Location: | Liberty Square |
Height Requirement: | NA |
Lightning Lane: | No |
Ride Type: | Slow-Moving Boat |
Duration: | Approx 17 minutes |
Seats Per Vehicle: | 3 Levels/Large Capacity |
Rider Switch: | NA |
Early Theme Park Hours: | No |
Extended Evening Hours | No |
Good For: | Taking a Break, Nostalgia |
Scare Factor: | None |
Must-Do List: | Medium |
Perfect For: | All Ages |
| Special Mention: | 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.
Red Light
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?
