Liberty Square

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Liberty Square is land inside the Magic Kingdom.

Liberty Square
LibertySquare.jpg
The Liberty Square Riverboat in Liberty Square (Photo: Disney)
Magic Kingdom
Theme Colonial America
Opening date October 1, 1971
Number of Attractions Three

Conception

The idea for Liberty Square originally started as an addition for Disneyland's Main Street USA. Although never used in California, the idea was revisited in the late 1960's during the planning of the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Liberty Square was originally brought back up because Imagineers had a problem. In Disneyland they had a land called “New Orleans Square”, but Walt Disney World was so close to New Orleans that Disney felt the land would not hold the same appeal. Liberty Square was the perfect answer to their problem. Instead of being based on New Orleans, the Imagineers themed Liberty Square to be a colonial town, thus the land was similar to New Orleans square, but distinctive enough to hold the attention of the guests. Another difference between Liberty Square and New Orleans square was its architecture. In Liberty Square the architecture progresses through time. It starts by the Haunted Mansion (New York 1660-80) and travels through the colonial times before ending in Frontierland with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (California 1880).

History

Liberty Square opened with the rest of the Magic Kingdom in 1971. The land opened with four attractions- The Hall of Presidents, the Haunted Mansion, the Richard F. Irvine Riverboat (which actually opened one day later than the rest of the land) and the Mike Fink Keel Boats. Unlike the rest of the lands in the Magic Kingdom, Liberty Square has only had a few major changes. The first of these was the addition of a second riverboat the Admiral Joe Flower Riverboat in 1975. Unfortunately, the Joe Fowler was damaged in 1980 and never returned to active duty. In 1996, The Richard F. Irvine was renamed the Liberty Belle. The next closure in Liberty Square came with the closure of the Mike Fink Keel boats. The Mike Fink Feel Boats were free floating boats based on the popular Disney television show, Davy Crockett, which allowed guests to take off from Liberty Square and circle around Tom Sawyers Island. In 1997, one of the Disneyland Mike Fink Keel boats capsized with guests on board and after the accident both the Disneyland and the Walt Disney World versions of the attraction were permanently closed.

Besides the closing of the Mike Fink Feel Boats, the only other change to occur in Liberty Square happened at The Hall of Presidents. In 1993 President Bill Clinton was added to the attraction. Unlike the former presidents of the hall, Bill Clinton actually personally recorded his speech. Besides just adding the new president, when the show reopened in 1993, the tone of the attraction had also changed. The Hall of Presidents now focused much more on slavery and other racial issues then it had in the past. The attraction was once again changed in 2009. Besides the obvious inclusion of Barack Obama into the Hall of Presidents, the show also focuses a little less heavily on racial issues and slavery than before. Another addition features Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address and a montage of Presidential speeches.

Attractions

The Liberty Belle on The Rivers of America

The Haunted Mansion- This dark ride allows guests to board Doom Buggies and tour a spooky mansion. Along the way guests will meet 999 friendly ghosts, but there is always room for one more.

The Hall of Presidents- This show allows guests to see America grow through the eyes of its 43 Presidents. In the finale of the show all 43 presidents will appear on stage together.

Liberty Square Riverboat- A real authentic steam boat named the Liberty Belle allows guests to sail the Rivers of America with Samuel Clemens and Captain Bixby.

Past Attractions

The Mike Fink Feel Riverboats- These free floating boats allowed guests to travel the Rivers of America and go around Tom Sawyers Island before returning to Liberty Square.

Restaurants

Sleepy Hollow Refreshments-Located at the entrance to Liberty Square, Sleepy Hollow Refreshments serves funnel cakes, waffles and ice cream.

Liberty Tree Tavern-Located next to the Diamond Horseshoe, the Liberty Tree Tavern is a table service restaurant specializing in American cuisine.

Columbia Harbour House- Located across from the Haunted Mansion, the Columbia Harbour House is a quick service restaurant that sells fish, shrimp, chicken and sandwiches.

Liberty Square Market- Located by The Hall of Presidents, the Liberty Square Market is a stand that sells fruit and refreshments.

Former Restaurants

Fife & Drum

Shopping

Heritage House- Located near the Hall of Presidents, the Heritage House sells America memorabilia and souvenirs.

Ye Old Christmas Shoppe- Located near the entrance to Liberty Square near Fantasyland. Ye Old Christmas Shoppe sells Christmas merchandise year round!

Memento Mori- Located near the Haunted Mansion, this store sells Haunted Mansion themed merchandise.

Former Shopping

Yankee Trader Gourmet Shop- Located near the Haunted Mansion, this store sold (sometimes unusual) cooking and serving accessories. The Yankee Trader Gourmet Shop closed on July 27, 2014.

Fun Facts and Trivia

  • In the 1970's a daily ceremony was held in Liberty Square called "The Sons and Daughters of Liberty." The ceremony involved a fife and drum corps marching with a Cast Member in Revolutionary-era costuming.
  • The replica of the Liberty Bell in Walt Disney World's Liberty Square is the only one in existence made from the same authentic cast used for the original in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One the replica was created, the mold taken from the original was destroyed.
  • If guests look closely at the guard house on the Liberty Square Bridge, they can see a register featuring the names of other travelers who have entered the square.
  • The Liberty Square Christmas Shop in the Magic Kingdom is designed to look like three separate shops with the walls opened between them. They are supposed to be owned by three different colonial families a German family, a woodcarver's family, and a musician's family.
  • The live oak that serves as the centerpiece of Liberty Square is more than 130 years old, and was found on the southern end of the Walt Disney World property. In order to move the 38-ton tree, 2-inch holes were drilled through the trunk, then fitted with steel dowel pins. Once transplanted, the pins were removed and replaced with sections of Oak Hardwood. With careful observation, the plugs can still be seen today.

References

http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/1147/Walt-Disney-World/Magic-Kingdom/Liberty-Square/Sleepy-Hollow-Refreshments

http://www.mouseplanet.com/cgi/reviews/do/display.cgi?product-sku=wdwmkdiamondhorsehoe

http://www.florida-project.com/images/guidebook/MK/2011v3/magic-kingdom-40th-anniversary-guidemap-2011-04.jpg

http://www.yesterland.com/presidents.html

http://www.wdwradio.com/2007/09/liberty-square-trivia/

http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/WDW/MagicKingdom/Secrets/LS/General.html

http://www.disunplugged.com/2009/06/29/new-and-improved-hall-of-presidents-wdw-magic-kingdom/