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Liberty Square Riverboat

3,276 bytes added, 23:41, 14 June 2021
/* Attraction Plot */
The Liberty Belle Riverboat is an attraction located in [[Liberty Square]].
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|custom_label_1 = Previous Name
|custom_value_1 = Admiral Joe Fowler (October 2, 1971- Fall 1980) (Retired) <br> Admiral Richard F. Irvine (1973-1996)|custom_label_2= FastPass +|custom_value_2= No
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The Liberty Belle Riverboat is an attraction located in [[Liberty Square]].
==Attraction History==
The Liberty Square Riverboat is one of the few attractions that can trace its history back to before Walt Disney even created Disneyland. In fact, Walt Disney initially came up with an idea for a "Mississippi Steamboat" attraction to be housed at the Disney Studio in Burbank, California <ref name="Jack1"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/03/liberty_belle_riverboat_part_1_1.html</ref>. Although it was soon apparent that the Burbank Studio did not have the land necessarily to build the attraction, the idea was carried over to Disneyland. In order to create the riverboat attraction (which was soon called the Mark Twain Riverboat) Disney had to construct the first American made, working steamboat in 50 years <ref name="Jack1" />. With funds coming directly from Walt himself, Admiral Joe Fowler oversaw the construction of both the attraction's riverboat and dry dock (located in the Rivers of America). The Mark Twain itself was built 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=Jack1 /> <ref> http://www.mouseplanet.com/guide/308/Disneyland-Resort/Disneyland-Park/Frontierland/Mark-Twain-Riverboat </ref>.
The Liberty Square Riverboat is one of the few Like many other Disneyland attractions that can trace its history back , the Mark Twain Riverboat was selected to before be duplicated for Walt Disney even created DisneylandWorld. In fact, Walt Disney initially came up with an idea for a "Mississippi Steamboat" The East Coast version of the attraction to be housed at was renamed the Disney Studio Admiral Joe Fowler in Burbank, California. Although it was soon apparent that the Burbank Studio did not have the land necessarily tribute to build the attraction, the idea was carried over man who had helped to create Disneyland. In order to create the riverboat attraction and Walt Disney World (which was soon called as well as the Mark Twain Riverboatattractions) Disney had to construct the first American made, working steamboat in 50 years<ref name="FowlerDatedWorld"> https://waltdatedworld.com/id141. With funds coming directly from Walt himselfhtml</ref>. Although not quite ready for opening day, Admiral the Joe Fowler oversaw Riverboat opened one day after the construction of both the attraction's riverboat and dry dock (located in the Rivers of America). The Mark Twain itself was built in two separate piecespark, with the hull being constructed in San Pedroon October 2, California and deck being built at 1971. After the Disney Studios in Burbank. FinallyJoe Fowler Riverboat opened, live entertainment could often be found on the ship was put together in Disneyland ship’s deck (with due to the pieces fitting together perfectly) and The Mark Twin Riverboat was up and running fact that there were not that many sights for guests to see on July 17, 1955 (the opening day Rivers of DisneylandAmerica)<ref name=FowlerDatedWorld/>.
Like many other Disneyland attractions, the Mark Twain Riverboat was selected to be duplicated for Walt Disney World. The East Coast version of the attraction 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). Although not quite ready for opening day, the Joe Fowler Riverboat opened one day after the park, on October 2, 1971. 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 that many sights for guests to see on the Rivers of America).  Since Walt Disney World did not yet have enough attractions to meet demand, in 1973 a second steamboat was built. Known as the Richard F. Irvine, the new steamboat was named after Richard Irvine who oversaw the planning and construction of Walt 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 Square's riverboats were staggered in their departure times, so that when one boat was circling Tom Sawyer's Island the other boat would be unloading and loading new guests.  The first major change to the Liberty Square riverboat’s came in 1980. Disaster struck the attraction when the hull of the Admiral Joe Fowler was badly damaged while entering a backlot, dry dock. 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 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. Furthermore, the bell from the Admiral Joe Fowler was added to the #4 engine (the Roy O. Disney) on the [[Walt Disney World Railroad]].
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 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 [[Walt Disney World Railroad]].
===Name Change===
 In 1996 (following a refurbishment) the Richard F. Irvine was renamed the Liberty Belle, and the attraction itself was renamed the Liberty Square Riverboat. The name change was done to both make the attraction's name easier to remember, and to tie the boat in with Liberty Square<ref name= Jack1/>. In order to keep the names of Joe Fowler and Richard Irvine alive in Walt Disney World, in 1999 two 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, and an outside wheelhouse , and the captains captain's quarters. Sometimes one lucky family is selected to ride the boat in the captains captain's quarters.
The On the bottom deck of the boat, is where guests scan can see the ships 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 attractions 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 functioning 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's Island]]. Sam says that the only way to get to the island is by raft, before pointing out parts of the island including: Muff Potters 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 guests 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 hat 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 the 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:
==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.
The narration aboard the Liberty Belle has grown and changed with the expansion of Frontierland. Tom Sawyer IslandIn 1992, Splash Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad have all been the Powhatan Indians were added to the script since the attraction openedin 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>
In 1992Before 2005, a burning cabin was seen beyond Fort Langhorn. Here guests would see the Powhatan Indians were added to cabin on fire, and a settler lying on the attraction 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 order to tie 2005 the ride effect was removed altogether, due to corrosion in with both 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 Disney movie Pocahontaseffect was added to the cabin, as well as with so that it now looks like it is smoking. Although this creates the Walt Disney World Railroadillusion 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>.
Before 2005, a burning cabin was seen beyond Fort Langhorn==Historical References On The Attraction==[[Image:Libertynarratorsjpg. Here guests would see the cabin on fire, jpeg|400px|thumb|Horace Bixby (left) and a settler lying on Samuel Clemens (right) serve as the ground with an arrow through him. The narration would comment narrators 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 drunk too much moonshine. Finally, in 2005 the effect was removed altogether, due to corrosion in the pipes that created the effect. Now when the Liberty Belle passes by, the cabin is deserted and no mention of it is madeSquare Riverboat]]
==Historical References On The Attraction==
*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*Crates located on the banks of Frontierland have the name "Tell City Tool Cotwainquotes." on themcom/19020608. 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 $125.000. 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 attractionhtml </ref>.
*Wilson's Cave is a reference to Crates located on the real river pirate Jim Wilson. In banks of Frontierland have the 1790's Jim Wilson opened Wilson's Liqueur Vault name "Tell City Tool Co." on them. Tell City is real town located on the Ohio banks of the Mississippi River in IllinoisIndiana. Wilson would lure guests into what is now known as Tell City was one of the United States' first "Cave-In-Rockplanned cities" cave, and rob or even kill themattracted 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>.
*The Leadsman was Wilson's Cave is a crew member who would call out reference to the depth of real river pirate Jim Wilson. In the water, when 1790's Jim Wilson opened Wilson's Liqueur Vault on the water got shallowOhio River in Illinois. One fathom equals six feetWilson would lure guests into what is now known as the "Cave-In-Rock" cave, two fathoms equal Mark Twain (on and rob or even kill them <ref> http://thesouthern.com/progress/section3/pirates-ruled-the attraction -river-at least)-cave-in-rock/article_c7f2efcc-f411-11e0-a81c-001cc4c03286.html </ref>.
[[Image:Libertynight.jpg|thumb|A close-ups *The Leadsman was a crew member who would call out the depth of the Liberty Belle water, when the water got shallow. One fathom equals six feet, two fathoms equal Mark Twain (on the attraction at nightleast)<ref> http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/marktwain.]]htm </ref>.
==Sam Clemens' Sayings==
*One of the crates on the Frontierland bank says "71" in honor of the year the Magic Kingdom opened.
*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>.
*An Audio Animatronic dog outside of Beaker Joe's will turn its head as a fish jumps by.
 
*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://www.wdwradio.com/2014/10/show-382-rivers-america-virtual-trip-history-details-recorded-live-walt-disney-world/ </ref>
 
* Inside the Liberty Belle's Salon, you can find a copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by the attraction's narrator Samuel Clemens.
==Watch the Attraction!==
{{#ev:youtube|lQ4zeBzfJuw|420}}
==ReferencesOfficial Website==
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/liberty-square-riverboat/
 http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2010/03/liberty_belle_riverboat_part_2.html http://www.twainquotes.com/19020608.html==References==