Stitch's Great Escape! is an attraction located in [[Tomorrowland]].
{{Template:Infobox Disney ride |
| land=Tomorrowland| image=StitchLibertyday.jpg| caption='''The entrance sign for Stitch's Great Escape!Liberty Belle on the Rivers of America.'''| land=Liberty Square
| park= Magic Kingdom
| duration=18| opened= November 16October 2, 20041971| height_requirementduration=4025:00| based_oncustom_label_1 =Lilo and StitchPrevious Name| audiocustom_value_1 = Admiral Joe Fowler (October 2, 1971-animatronics=4Fall 1980) (Retired) <br> Admiral Richard F. Irvine (1973-1996)
|custom_label_2= FastPass +
|custom_value_2= No}}The Liberty Belle Riverboat is an attraction located in [[Liberty Square]].
==Attraction History==
Stitch's Great Escape opened on November 16, 2004. The attraction replaced the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter which closed in 2003. Stitch's Great Escape (like the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter) Liberty Square Riverboat is a theater-in-one of the-round attractionfew attractions that can trace its history back to before Walt Disney even created Disneyland. If In fact, Walt Disney initially came up with an idea for a "Mississippi Steamboat" attraction to be housed at the theater and many of the special effects and Animatronics that are used Disney Studio in the attraction were also used in its predecessor Burbank, California <ref name=Passport"Jack1"> "http://passport2dreamsland.blogspotallears.comnet/2014blogs/11jackspence/stitchs-great-escape-ten-years2010/03/liberty_belle_riverboat_part_1_1.html/" </ref>.Following Although it was soon apparent that the opening of Stitch's Great Escape, Burbank Studio did not have the attraction proved land necessarily to be unpopular with guests. Beginning in January of 2005build the attraction, Imagineering began to alter the attraction in an attempt idea was carried over to make it more appealingDisneyland. One of In order to create the first things that they did riverboat attraction (which was have soon called the Stitch Audio-Animatronic figure reappear just before Mark Twain Riverboat) Disney had to construct the power is turned back onfirst American made, working steamboat in 50 years <ref name="Jack1" />. NextWith funds coming directly from Walt himself, Imagineers added a new effect which allowed guests to see StitchAdmiral Joe Fowler oversaw the construction of both the attraction's shadow on riverboat and dry dock (located in the ceiling above themRivers of America). This effect The Mark Twain itself was removed shortly after installationbuilt in two separate pieces, with the hull being constructed in San Pedro, California and deck being built at the Disney Studios in Burbank. Finally, the ship was put together in Disneyland (with the pieces fitting together perfectly) and The Mark Twin Riverboat was up and running on July 17, 1955 (the opening day of Disneyland) <ref name=PassportJack1 /><ref> http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/308/Disneyland-Resort/Disneyland-Park/Frontierland/Mark-Twain-Riverboat </ref>.
A third attempted change that Imagineers triedLike many other Disneyland attractions, was adding the voice of two children Mark Twain Riverboat was selected to be duplicated for Walt Disney World. The East Coast version of the attraction's audience. These kids would then was renamed the Admiral Joe Fowler in tribute to the man who had helped to create Disneyland and Walt Disney World (as well as the Riverboat attractions) <ref name="narrateFowlerDatedWorld" > https://waltdatedworld.com/id141.html</ref>. Although not quite ready for opening day, the attractionJoe Fowler Riverboat opened one day after the park, telling guests what was happening around themon October 2, 1971. This too did After the Joe Fowler Riverboat opened, live entertainment could often be found on the ship’s deck (due to the fact that there were not last longer than a few weeks. that many sights for guests to see on the Rivers of America) <ref name=PassportFowlerDatedWorld/>.
The final change Imagineers made was Since Walt Disney World did not yet have enough attractions to meet demand, in 1973 a second steamboat was built. Known as the attraction's endingRichard F. At Irvine, the finale of new steamboat was named after Richard Irvine who oversaw the original version planning and construction of StitchWalt Disney World. Besides their names, the only difference between the two steamboats was that Admiral Joe Fowler had two smokestacks, while the Richard F. Irvine only had one <ref name= Jack1/>. When they ran together, Liberty Square's Great Escaperiverboats were staggered in their departure times, Stitch so that when one boat was seen attacking circling Tom Sawyer Island the other boat would be unloading and loading new guests as . The first major change to the Liberty Square Riverboats came in 1980. Disaster struck the attraction when the hull of the Admiral Joe Fowler was badly damaged while entering a backlot, dry dock <ref> http://www.wdwradio.com/2007/09/liberty-square-riverboat/ </ref>. Although the circumstances of the accident are unclear, one source says that the hull was damaged while being lifted by a crane. Another source states however, that it was split while water was being drained from the dry dock. Either way, Disney decided that they rode would not repair the broken ship, and although the exact location of the ship’s hull and decks are unknown, we do know that the boats machinery was sent to Tokyo and used in their steamship <ref name= FowlerDatedWorld/> <ref> http://meettheworldinprogressland.blogspot.com/2010/02/walt-disney-world-steamboats-of-magic.html </ref>. Furthermore, the bell from the Admiral Joe Fowler was added to the #4 engine (the Roy O. Disney) on the [[Astro OrbiterWalt Disney World Railroad]]. This ending ===Name Change===In 1996 (following a refurbishment) the Richard F. Irvine was replaced with renamed the current endingLiberty Belle, where Stitch attempts and the attraction itself was renamed the Liberty Square Riverboat. The name change was done to get inside Cinderella Castleboth make the attraction's name easier to remember, and to tie the boat in with Liberty Square <ref name= Jack1/>. In order to make time for this changekeep the names of Joe Fowler and Richard Irvine alive in Walt Disney World, audio of in 1999 two of Galactic Federation employees (who ferries that run from the Ticket and Transportation Center to the Magic Kingdom were renamed in their honor <ref> http://www.wcdept478.com/AbouttheFB.htm </ref>. ==Ship Structure==The Liberty Belle Riverboat is a three deck working steamship that has a maximum capacity of 450 people <ref> http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/lib-riverboat.htm </ref>. Guests enter the ship on the middle deck, which features a sitting room, an outside wheelhouse, and the captain's quarters. Sometimes one lucky family is selected to ride the boat in the captain's quarters. On the bottom deck of the boat, guests can see the ship's boiler and pistons. The lower deck is also the location of a recently added "viewing platform" <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/03/liberty_belle_riverboat_part_2.html </ref>. Located at the front of the ship, the platform allows guests to get great views of all the attraction's scenes. Finally, on the top deck, guests get the best view of the various sights. There is also limited seating available here. Although a loss for words) was removedfunctioning steamship, the Liberty Square Riverboat is guided on an "I-beam" track that is hidden by the Rivers of America's murky water. The boat is also staffed by two crew members. The ride operator, who sits on the ship's top deck where he rings the bell, triggers the narration and blows the whistle. Down in the ship's boiler room, the engineer controls the ship's speed. As previously noted, the Liberty Square Riverboat is a working steamship, and thus the boat is propelled by the paddle wheel that is itself propelled by the steam engine <ref> http://www.disneydining.com/7-amazing-features-of-the-liberty-square-riverboat/ </ref>.
==Attraction Plot==
[[Image:BeaconJOe.jpg|thumb|360px|Beacon Joe as seen from the Liberty Square Riverboat. Photo by Lauren Javier]]
The Liberty Square Riverboat begins with the boats captain, Horace Bixby, making sure that everyone is aboard, before telling the crew to put the boat in motion. His leadsman then sounds off (to get a depth reading), before the engine room puts the boat in motion. Horace then addresses guests, saying:
{{Quotation| "Welcome aboard the Liberty Belle, I'm your captain Horace Bixby and my pilot with me here on the Texas Deck is a young cub that goes by the name of Samuel Clemens."}}
It turns out that this trip aboard the Liberty Belle is the 100th journey for young Sam Clemens, who claims to know the Rivers of America like the back of his hand. Before the Belle leaves port, Sam warns guests to stay behind the railings, as river pirates are known to lurk around these waters.
The first sight that guests can see from the Liberty Belle is [[Frontierland]]. Sam comments that Frontierland was once just a boom town, and although there are still a few trappers, prospectors, and Indians, the town is well on its way to becoming a big city. Sam also mentions that the large peak in the town is known as [[Chick-A-Pin Hill]]. It seems that the dam atop the hill has burst, and people have begun to ride carved out logs over the ledge. Continuing on, the boat passes Sam's "old stomping ground", [[Tom Sawyer Island]]. Sam says that the only way to get to the island is by raft, before pointing out parts of the island including: Muff Potter's Pond, Harper's Mill, Tom's Landing, and Huck's Landing (it seems that Tom, Huck and Sam used to explore the island quite a bit while looking for adventure).
Turning guest's attention port side, Sam next points out [[Big Thunder Mountain]], before giving guests a little bit of history behind the attraction. Sam explains that the water gets so hot over by the attraction that geysers erupt. Indians used to the think that the geysers were spirits and they named the mountain “Big Thunder Mountain” because of the rain that would come from it. Later, when prospectors and settlers came to the area, the name stuck. Sam goes on to warn guests however, that there has not been blasting in the mountain in some time. Instead, all he hears now are ghost stories about spirits and runaway mine trains.
As the boat continues its journey, the next sight that guests can see is Beacon Joe and his dog Rufus in front of his bait shop. Sam informs guests that Beacon Joe has been marking the river for as long as he can remember. Further down the bank, Powhatan Indians are gathering, and Captain Bixby explains that although he has seen various Indian tribes, (including the Seminole, Black Feet, and Crow tribes) Powhatan Indians are not usually found this far west. Sam suggests that since there are so many animals in the area, they are simply following the food. [[Image:IndianVillage.jpg|thumb|380px|The Indian village as seen from the Liberty Square Riverboat. Photo by Daryl Mitchell]]
Continuing on, the boat passes an unidentified Indian village. The captain informs guest that the Indians were not sure what to make of the steamboat originally, and they called the ship a "fire canoe" and “comet of sun”. Scenes in the village include Indians cooking, trading, washing, and also two kids working on canoes. Past the village, guests see the Indian burial ground where the captain explains that the Indians lay their dead warriors on a "Bed of Death" and mourn them after nightfall.
Further down the river, the Liberty Belle reaches Cutthroat Corner. Sam tells riders that Cutthroat Corner, is the most likely place to find river pirates. Sure enough, pirates can be heard coming from Wilson's Cave; however Sam tells gusts that based on the sounds coming out of the cave, "their interests lie elsewhere". Looking back towards Tom Sawyer Island, guests can see Fort Laghorn, which Sam explains began as a trading post before becoming a port.
Before returning to port in [[Liberty Square]], the leadsman calls out one more time, and the Liberty Belle passes the [[Haunted Mansion]]. Sam informs guests that rumor has it that the mansion was built on Indian burial ground, and now 999 ghosts haunt it. He says however, that he does not believe in these stories (insinuating that the people who say they've seen ghosts, have been drinking). Finally, the Liberty Belle reaches port and Sam and Captain Bixby say goodbye as the boat docks.
If you want to hear the Liberty Square Riverboat narration, click below:
<flashmp3>Liberty.mp3</flashmp3>
==Changes in the Script==
The narration aboard the Liberty Belle has grown and changed with the expansion of Frontierland. References to [[Tom Sawyer Island]], [[Splash Mountain]], and [[Big Thunder Mountain Railroad]] have all been added to the script since Riverboats opened.
In 1992, the Powhatan Indians were added to the attraction in order to tie the ride in with the new Disney movie Pocahontas, as well as with the [[Walt Disney World Railroad]] <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/03/liberty_belle_riverboat_part_2.html </ref>
Before 2005, a burning cabin was seen beyond Fort Langhorn. Here guests would see the cabin on fire, and a settler lying on the ground with an arrow through him. The narration would comment on how the settler was a victim of an Indian attack. Later, the scene was changed so that the arrow was removed, and the narration commented that the settler had drank too much moonshine. Finally, in 2005 the effect was removed altogether, due to corrosion in the pipes that created the effect <ref> http://www.yesterland.com/burningcabin.html </ref>. Now when the Liberty Belle passes by, the cabin is deserted and no mention of it is made. In 2014, a new effect was added to the cabin, so that it now looks like it is smoking. Although this creates the illusion that the cabin is on fire, actual flames are now longer used in the effect <ref> http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/new-smoking-settlers-cabin-formerly-burning-as-seen-from-liberty-belle-riverboat.887061/ </ref>.
==Historical References On The Attraction==
[[Image:Libertynarratorsjpg.jpeg|400px|thumb|Horace Bixby (left) and Samuel Clemens (right) serve as the narrators on the Liberty Square Riverboat]]
*Sam Clemens the pilot on the Liberty Belle, is better known as American writer Mark Twain. Twain was known as a lover of steamships (specifically those on the Mississippi River) and did actually captain some steamships himself. In Disneyland, the attraction is known as the Mark Twain Riverboat.
*Captain Horace Bixby, the Liberty Belle's captain, was a real steamboat captain on the Mississippi. Horace Bixby and Sam Clemens met aboard the Paul Jones (a steamboat), and Bixby agreed to take Sam on as his apprentice. Some 21 years after this meeting, the now famous Mark Twain reunited with the captain in St. Louis. Twain talks about Captain Bixby in his book, "Life on the Mississippi" <ref> http://www.twainquotes.com/19020608.html </ref>.
*Crates located on the banks of Frontierland have the name "Tell City Tool Co." on them. Tell City is real town located on the banks of the Mississippi River in Indiana. Tell City was one of the United States' first "planned cities", and attracted many settlers with free land. The only stipulation for the land was that settlers had to build a house worth at least $125. In the early days of the town, steamship was the only mode of transportation available, so the town was an obvious choice for addition to the attraction <ref> http://www.williamtellantiques.com/history-of-tell-city.html </ref>.
Stitch’s Great Escape! takes place before the events of *Wilson's Cave is a reference to the movie Lilo and Stitchreal river pirate Jim Wilson. In the attraction, 1790's Jim Wilson opened Wilson's Liqueur Vault on the Ohio River in Illinois. Wilson would lure guests have been recruited into what is now known as guards for the Galactic Federation"Cave-In-Rock" cave, and it is their job to keep an eye on Experiment 626 (Stitch)rob or even kill them <ref> http://thesouthern.com/progress/section3/pirates-ruled-the-river-at-cave-in-rock/article_c7f2efcc-f411-11e0-a81c-001cc4c03286.html </ref>.===Preshow===
*The preshow begins with guests being recruited by The Grand Councilwoman, to be guards for the Galactic Federation. For day one of their orientation, they are then ushered into the next room, where Leadsman was a robot named Sergeant C4703BK2704-90210 (Sarge) briefs them about their duties. He explains that prisoners come in two types, "your level ones, and your level twos". Since it is guests first day on crew member who would call out the job, Sarge explains that they are only ready for level prisoners. Level 1 prisoners, are "common criminals depth of the cosmos"water, an example which is shown in when the teleportation tube on Sarge's rightwater got shallow. After presenting the Level One Prisonerfathom equals six feet, Lieutenant Sludge appears two fathoms equal Mark Twain (on a screen above Sarge. He informs the robot that he is teleporting another level one prisoner into the compoundattraction at least)<ref> http://www. This alien, (who Sarge calls "the doughnut guy") has apparently once again broken into a bakery and eaten all of the doughnutsboatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/marktwain.htm </ref>.
After Sarge laments that he never gets any level two prisoners, the "doughnut prisoner" is transported into a tube on his left. Just as the prisoner enters his tube, Captain Gantu appears on the screen above Sarge to warn him that they are about transport a level 3 prisoner into the facility. Because of the danger of the new prisoner, Gantu informs Sarge that they are going to have to move to the high security chamber next door. When Sarge is then told that he is going to have to go with the new recruits into the high security chamber, he begins to panic before fainting Pleakley (from Lilo and Stitch) then tells guests to enter the next room and prepare for duty.==Sam Clemens' Sayings==
==Main Show==When guests enter Throughout the main theaternarration on the Liberty Belle, Sam Clemens gives various philosophical sayings. Although these phrases were not actually spoken by Mark Twain, they are seated in chairs that encircle a large prison tube. After being seated, a harness (which is themed written to look like a DNA scanner) lowers and straps guests into their seats. After guests have been fastened into their seats, Stitch teleports into a large teleportation tube in give the center of the room. At first, the prison guards question how something as small and cute as Stitch could possibly be character a level 3 prisoner and After a DNA scan is done, Captain Gantu leaves guests in charge of Stitch while he goes to "straighten all this out" (as he believes that some mistake has been made regarding the danger posed by Stitch)similar personality. After Gantu exists however, Stitch begins to size up Sayings Sam Clemens says on the cannons that are keeping him in check. After spitting at them, Stitch is able to not only cause the cannons to malfunction, but he also disables the power and escapes his tube (by shorting out the system). attraction include:
With guests *"Well now completely in the dark, I always figure it is better to keep your mouth shut and Stitch on the looseappear stupid, Pleakley and a female guard leave then to go try open it and restore the powerremove all doubt. Guests are left the instructions to "stay where they are" and "not let the prisoner out of their sight", although they are now alone in the dark with the escaped Stitch.
In the dark room, guests can feel Stitch has he moves around the room. The sound of the alien’s voice moves, as he steals a cell phone, eats someone’s chili dog (which causes him to *"belch" on guests) and causes “terror”. Shortly after Stitch's belch, Captain Gantu returns, only It seems to be informed me that when I was younger, I could remember everything whether it happened or not only has the power gone out, but Stitch has also escaped. Gantu orders that the aliens turn on the emergency power (which they had apparently forgotten about in the confusion) before ordering that the cannons also be brought back online. Stitch however seems unconcerned by the return of the cannons, But as he continues I grow older I seem to taunt Gantu. As remember only the cannons try to hit Stitch, he begins to counterattack by spitting things that never happened at guests, which causes Gantu to deactivate that cannonsall. Stitch then makes his escape by "jumping" on guests’ heads and running around the room, before he returns to his teleportation tube. Although this would seemingly play into Gantu's hands, Stitch is able to "hotwire the controls" and teleport out of the building (and into the [[Magic Kingdom]]).
On *All my life it seems I could never tell a screen above guests, Stitch is trying (unsuccessfully) to enter [[Cinderella Castle]], who quickly realizes lie that he is not her Prince Charming. At this pointanybody could doubt, Gantu realizes nor a truth that there is no more that the guests can do, and he releases them from their harness. Guests then exit the attraction into one of two shops, [[Mickey’s Star Traders]] or [[Merchant of Venus]]anybody could believe."
==Cast=='''Sergeant C4703BK2704-90210'''-Richard Kind*"Believe me when I tell you, truth is the most valuable thing we have, so I make sure I only use it with economy."
*"I was born humble captain, but mostly it'''Stitch'''- Chris Sanderss worn off."
'''Captain Gantu'''- Kevin Michael Richardson*"I believe we ought never to do wrong captain, especially when others are looking."
*"My feeling is these days there'''Pleakley'''- Kevin McDonalds a lot less frontier and a lot more civilization than is truly necessarily."
'''Grand Councilwoman'''- Zoe Caldwell==Trivia==<ref> http://www*One of the crates on the Frontierland bank says "71" in honor of the year the Magic Kingdom opened.imdb.com/title/tt0451213/ </ref>
==Watch the Show==*Another crate says Russel’s Falls, this crate is named after Davy Crockett's sidekick George E. Russel<ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/03/liberty_belle_riverboat_part_2.html </ref>.
If you want to see Stich’s Great Escape! click play below:*An Audio Animatronic dog outside of Beaker Joe's will turn its head as a fish jumps by.
{{#ev*The Liberty Belle Riverboat's landing building is one of the few buildings in the Magic Kingdom that does not use forced perspective. This may have been done to hide the riverboat itself from guests in Liberty Square (where a steam powered riverboat would not fit the land's theming). <ref> http:youtube|MlY59b85mso|420}}//www.wdwradio.com/2014/10/show-382-rivers-america-virtual-trip-history-details-recorded-live-walt-disney-world/ </ref>
==Fun Facts and Trivia==*Inside the Liberty Belle's Salon, you can find a copy of The Stitch Audio Animatronic was Adventures of Tom Sawyer by the first Animatronic to ever spit <ref> http://wdwnews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/pdf/audio-animatronics-timeline.pdf?t=1443721582 </ref>attraction's narrator Samuel Clemens.
*The Stitch Audio Animatronic stands 39 inches tall.==Watch the Attraction!==
*The alien language used throughout If you want to see the Prisoner Teleport Center was inspired by designs from sights that the opening scene of Lilo and Stitch <ref> http://allearsLiberty Square Riverboat has to offer, click below.net/tp/mk/mk_sge.htm </ref>The narration is not included in the video.
*The plasma cannons were also inspired by the movie.{{#ev:youtube|lQ4zeBzfJuw|420}}
==Official Website==
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/liberty-square-riverboat/
==References==
