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Plaza Swan Boats

4,325 bytes added, 18:12, 6 September 2020
{{Template:Infobox Disney ride |
| image=SwanBoat.jpg
| caption='''A Swan Boat floating in front of Cinderella Castle'''
| land=Main Street USA
| opened= May 20, 1973 (official opening)
| closed= August 1983
| custom_label_2 = Capacity
| custom_value_2 = 26
| type= Boat Ride
| park= Magic Kingdom
}}
The Plaza Swan Boats were an attraction on [[Main Street USA]] in the [[Magic Kingdom]]
==Attraction History==
Unlike many of the Magic Kingdom's attractions, the history of the Plaza Swan Boats is shrouded in mystery. While the Plaza Swan Boats would eventually open in in 1973 (supposedly), the attraction seems to have been originally intended as an opening day attraction<ref name="passport"> http://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/2013/03/snapshot-plaza-ice-cream-boat-shuffle.html </ref>. Herb Ryman concept art from 1970, and the Paul Hartley map of the Magic Kingdom both feature references to the attraction<ref name="passport"/>. Although non-operational on Opening Day, the Plaza Swan Boat's original loading dock could be seen just outside of the [[Plaza Ice Cream Parlor]], and two large swan topiaries stood nearby <ref name="dated"> https://waltdatedworld.com/id42.htm </ref>.
While, when Disney has always stated that the park opened opening of the Plaza Swan Boats came in 1971 1973, photographic evidence seems to indicate that the attraction actually ran in 1972, from its original dock <ref name="passport"/>. This version of the Plaza Swan Boats may have run on an underwater electrical guidance system, that was nowhere rumored to be foundhave been replaced with the jet guidance system that the 1973 version of the Swan Boats opened with <ref> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/psb.htm </ref>. Based on photographs of the time, it also appears as if the Swan Boats originally traveled counter clockwise around the hub, which made the expedition around the [[Swiss Family Treehouse]] the attraction's loading dock was present just outside of climax <ref name="passport"/>. While the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, as boats were two large swan topiariesclearly used for promotional photographs and testing at this time, it is unclear if guests rode the attraction.
The Plaza Swan Boats opened Despite a stated goal of a 1974 opening <ref name= "retro"> https://www.retrowdw.com/podcast/podcast-episode-40-skyway-swan-boats/ </ref>Nevertheless, on May 20, 1973 on Main Street USA, the Plaza Swan Boats were officially open <ref name="D23"> https://d23. These elegantly shaped boats allowed guests to take com/a leisurely tour around the Magic Kingdom's canals-to-z/plaza-swan-boats/#:~:text=Plaza%20Swan%20Boats%20Attraction%20on,peak%20periods%20until%20August%201983. </ref>. Traveling clockwiseAt this time, Disney repurposed the boats would tour original Swan Boat dock as seating for the Hubextremely popular [[Plaza Ice Cream Parlor]], and also jet out for a lap around The Swiss Family Treehousenew dock was constructed for the attraction near the Tomorrowland bridge <ref name="passport"/>. While aboardthe reasons for moving the attraction are unclear, guests would be treated to the new dock had a live narration much longer queue, which combined with the new location, would help alleviate some of the sights that could be seen from crowd by the crafts[[Plaza Ice Cream Parlor]] and the [[Plaza Restaurant]].
In 1973The Swan Boats ran seasonally until 1983, Disney repurposed when the original Swan Boat dock as seating for the extremely popular Plaza Ice Cream Parlorattraction was permanently closed <ref name="D23"/>. At this time, a new dock was constructed near many of the Tomorrowland bridgeattraction's boats were sold off to private collectors <ref name="dated"/>. While Following the reasons for moving closure of the attraction are unclear, the new Swan Boat loading dock had a much longer queue, which combined with became the new location, would help alleviate some entrance to the Magic Kingdom's Rose Garden. During the 2014 refurbishment of the crowd by park's hub however, the Plaza Ice Cream Parlorstructure was demolished and part of the canal was filled in <ref> https://insidethemagic.net/2014/02/walt-disney-world-announces-cinderella-castle-plaza-expansion-with-new-gardens-more-fireworks-viewing-at-magic-kingdom/comments/</ref>.
While Disney has always stated that the opening of the ==Description==The Plaza Swan Boats came in 1973opened on May 20, photographic evidence seems 1973 on Main Street USA. These elegantly shaped fiberglass boats allowed guests to indicate that take a leisurely tour around the attraction actually ran in 1972Magic Kingdom's canals. Traveling clockwise, from its original dockthe boats would tour the Hub, and also jet out for a lap around the [[Swiss Family Treehouse]]. This version While aboard, guests would be treated to a live narration of the sights that could be seen from the crafts.  The Plaza Swan Boats may have run on an underwater electrical guidance systeminitially featured twelve boats, that which each sat twenty six guests. Shortly after the attraction opened however, one of the boats was rumored converted to have been replaced with a "vacuum boat" which was used to clean the jet guidance system that canal. By the 1973 version end of the Swan Boats opened with. Based on photographs of the timeattraction's run, it also appears as if the Swan Boats originally traveled counter clockwise around the hubfleet only had six working boats.
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
[[Image:SwanBoatAdventureland.jpg|thumb|400px|A Swan Boat traveling through Adventureland]]
* The creation of the Plaza Swan Boats was pushed by Disney CEO Card Walker, who wanted additional capacity at the Magic Kingdom <ref name="widen"> http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/psb.htm </ref>,
 
* Like Disneyland's Storybook Land Canal Boats, each of the Swan Boats were named after a different Disney heroine such as Snow White and Maid Marion <ref name="retro"/>.
 
* In many ways, the Plaza Swan Boats were the spiritual successor to Disneyland's Storybook Land Canal Boats, which also featured crafts named after various Disney heroines <Ref name="widen"/>. While these names probably lined up, the only confirmed
 
* The gold adornments on the Plaza Swan Boats were real gold leaf <ref name="retro"/>.
 
* Disney had a patient for the original underwater electrical guidance system that was eventually scrapped for the Plaza Swan Boats <ref name="retro"/>.
 
* Unlike many early Walt Disney World boat attractions, the Plaza Swan Boats were constructed at Walt Disney World's Central Shops <ref name="retro"/>.
 
* Although the Plaza Swan Boats would remain open until 1983, it was not listed on the park's guide maps after 1975 <ref name="widen"/>.
 
* If you want to read the 1979 Swan Boat narration click [https://www.retrowdw.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Swan-Boat-Spiel.pdf Here]
 
* Near the bottom of the [[Swiss Family Treehouse]], guests can find a cannon that would have been pointed at the Swan Boats as they passed by <ref> https://www.parkeology.com/2010/04/protecting-your-treehouse-from-deadly.html </ref>.
 
* From 1997 until 2012, guests could race [[Shrunken Ned's Junior Jungle Boats]] in Adventureland on part of the Swan Boat canal.
 
* Inside the [[Jungle Skipper Canteen]], guests can find a book titled "The Grace of the Swan" by Plaza <ref name="dated"/>.
 
* Also inside the [[Jungle Skipper Canteen]], guests can see a classified advertisement for a boat that is described as "Gently Used...All White...Carved Swan on Bow". Another reference to the Swan Boat attraction <ref> http://www.mainstgazette.com/2019/09/carved-swan-on-bow.html </ref>.
 
* During the majority of the time that the Plaza Swan Boats ran, they were guided by female cast members.
 
==References==