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Liberty Square Riverboat

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/* Attraction Plot */
{{Template:Infobox Disney ride |
| image= LibertySquare3Libertyday.jpg| caption='''The Liberty Square Riverboat in Liberty Square (Photo: Disney)Belle on the Rivers of America.''' | themeland=Colonial AmericaLiberty Square
| park= Magic Kingdom
| opened=October 12, 1971| duration=25:00| custom_label_1 = Number of AttractionsPrevious Name| custom_value_1 = Three Admiral Joe Fowler (October 2, 1971- Fall 1980) (Retired) <br> Admiral Richard F. Irvine (1973-1996)|custom_label_2= FastPass +|custom_value_2= No}}The Liberty Square Belle Riverboat is land inside the an attraction located in [[Magic KingdomLiberty Square]].==Attraction History==The concept of Liberty Square began as an expansion idea for Riverboat is one of the few attractions that can trace its history back to before Walt Disney even created Disneyland known as Liberty Street. Spearheaded by In fact, Walt Disney, Liberty Street was to be initially came up with an idea for a road that ran parallel to Main Street USA <Ref name= "mouseplanetMississippi Steamboat"/>. The new area was attraction to be set during housed at the era of the Revolutionary War and it would have featured colonial architecture and a cobblestone road. In factDisney Studio in Burbank, some designs for the street featured 13 buildings, one representing each of the original colonies California <Ref ref name= "hillJack1"> http://jimhillmedialand.comallears.net/editor_in_chief1blogs/bjackspence/jim_hill/archive/20052010/03/15/563liberty_belle_riverboat_part_1_1.aspx html</ref>. After walking down Liberty Street Although it was soon apparent that the Burbank Studio did not have the land necessarily to build the attraction, guests would arrive at Liberty Squarethe idea was carried over to Disneyland. In order to create the square, guests would be able riverboat attraction (which was soon called the Mark Twain Riverboat) Disney had to see a blacksmith shopconstruct the first American made, a glassmakerworking steamboat in 50 years <ref name="Jack1" />. With funds coming directly from Walt himself, a weaverAdmiral 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, a print shopwith the hull being constructed in San Pedro, Paul Revere’s silversmith shop California and a cabinetmaker 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= "mouseplanet"Jack1 /> https<ref> http://www.mouseplanet.com/8167guide/308/Disneyland-Resort/Disneyland-Park/Frontierland/The_Liberty_Street_Story_1959 Mark-Twain-Riverboat </ref>.
The real draw of Like many other Disneyland's Liberty Square howeverattractions, the Mark Twain Riverboat was selected to be Liberty Hall (also called Independence Hall in some concept art). This colonial meeting hall was to house two major attractionsduplicated for Walt Disney World. The first was to be found in The Hall East Coast version of The Declaration of Independence. Here, guests would see the dramatic story of America’s struggle for independence come to life. The second attraction was to be found renamed the Admiral Joe Fowler in The Hall of American Presidents. This attraction was tribute to be titled [[One Nation Under God]] and it would have been a presentation of “the mighty cavalcade of American History" <ref name= "mouseplanet"/>. Also found in Liberty Square would be a recreation of the Liberty Bell man who had helped to create Disneyland and Walt Disney World (as well as the Liberty Tree, complete with the 13 lanterns Riverboat attractions) <ref name= "hillFowlerDatedWorld"/>. Although initially advertised as opening in 1959, Liberty Street would never reach fruition, as much of the company’s resources ended up being used to update Tomorrowland <ref> httphttps://disneyparks.disney.gowaltdatedworld.com/blog/2013/07/a-look-back-liberty-street-at-disneyland-park/ id141.html</ref>. [[Image:LibertyHall.jpg|400px|thumb| The Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square. Photo by tcwmatt.]]Although never used in Disneyland, Liberty Street returned to the limelight when Imagineers began working on designs not quite ready for the Magic Kingdom. Due to the close proximity of New Orleans to Floridaopening day, Imagineers did not think that guests would be all that interested in a version of Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. Instead, Imagineers turned to the old Liberty Square expansion idea as a solution to their problem. As opposed to a version of New Orleans Square, Imagineers decided to create an entire land set in Joe Fowler Riverboat opened one day after the Revolutionary War era. Liberty Square would take its inspiration from east coast colonial architecture. Besides getting its theming from the old Liberty Street ideapark, Liberty Square also featured the Liberty Treeon October 2, the Liberty Bell and a brand new attraction based on the One Nation Under God concept- [[The Hall of Presidents]] <ref name= "hill"/>. ===Changes Since Opening Day===Liberty Square opened with the rest of the Magic Kingdom in 1971. Besides After the aforementioned Hall of Presidents, Liberty Square also opened with the [[Haunted Mansion]], the [[Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat]] (which actually opened one day later than , live entertainment could often be found on the rest ship’s deck (due to the fact that there were not that many sights for guests to see on the Rivers of the landAmerica) and the Mike Fink Keel Boats <ref> http:name=FowlerDatedWorld//thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/disneyworldgrandopening.html </ref>.
Unlike the many of the lands Since Walt Disney World did not yet have enough attractions to meet demand, in the Magic Kingdom, Liberty Square has only had 1973 a few major changes since opening daysecond steamboat was built. The first of these was Known as the addition of the [[Richard F . Irvine Riverboat]] in 1973 <ref name="dated"> http://waltdatedworld.com/id141.htm </ref>. Unfortunately, the Joe Fowler new steamboat was damaged in 1980 named after Richard Irvine who oversaw the planning and never returned to active duty <ref name= "dated"/>construction of Walt Disney World. In 1996 Besides their names, the only difference between the two steamboats was that Admiral Joe Fowler had two smokestacks, while the Richard F. Irvine Riverboat was renamed the Liberty Belle only had one <ref> https:name= Jack1//www>.mouseplanet.com/guide/761/Walt-Disney-World/Magic-Kingdom/When they ran together, Liberty-Square/Liberty-Square-Riverboat </ref>'s riverboats were staggered in their departure times, so that when one boat was circling Tom Sawyer Island the other boat would be unloading and loading new guests.
The next first major change in to the Liberty Square Riverboats came with in 1980. Disaster struck the attraction when the closure hull of the Mike Fink Keel BoatsAdmiral Joe Fowler was badly damaged while entering a backlot, dry dock <ref> http://www. The Mike Fink Keel Boats were free floating boats based on wdwradio.com/2007/09/liberty-square-riverboat/ </ref>. Although the popular Disney television show Davy Crockettcircumstances of the accident are unclear, one source says that the hull was damaged while being lifted by a crane. The Keel Boats allowed guests to take off Another source states however, that it was split while water was being drained from Liberty Square the dry dock. Either way, Disney decided that they would not repair the broken ship, and circle around 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 [[Tom Sawyer IslandWalt Disney World Railroad]]. ===Name Change===In 1997, one of 1996 (following a refurbishment) the Disneyland Mike Fink Keel Boats capsized with guests on boardRichard F. After Irvine was renamed the accidentLiberty Belle, and the attraction itself was renamed the Liberty Square Riverboat. The name change was done to both make the Disneyland 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 versions of , in 1999 two ferries that run from the attraction Ticket and Transportation Center to the Magic Kingdom were permanently closed renamed in their honor <ref> http://waltdatedworldwww.wcdept478.com/id184AbouttheFB.htm </ref>.
==Ship Structure==The only other changes to occur in Liberty Square have happened in The Hall of Presidents. In 1993 President Bill Clinton was added to the attraction and the show received Belle Riverboat is a new narration which focused more on slavery and other issues three deck working steamship that has a maximum capacity of race relations then it had in the past 450 people <ref> http://waltdatedworldwww.wdwinfo.com/id223wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/lib-riverboat.htm </ref>. The attraction was once again changed in 2009 with Guests enter the election of Barack Obama. At this time ship on the attraction was once more given middle deck, which features a new narrationsitting room, an outside wheelhouse, and the captain's quarters. Another addition during Sometimes one lucky family is selected to ride the refurbishment was boat in the inclusion of Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address and a montage of Presidential speeches <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/hall-of-presidents/news/27jun2009-hall-of-presidents-offically-reopens-july-4.htm </ref>captain's quarters.
On October 2, 2016the bottom deck of the boat, guests can see the ship's boiler and pistons. The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History opened in Liberty Square lower deck is also the location of a recently added "viewing platform" <ref name= "parks"> httpshttp://disneyparksland.disneyallears.go.comnet/blogblogs/2016jackspence/092010/the-muppets-present-great-moments-in-american-history-debuts-october-2-at-magic-kingdom-park03/ liberty_belle_riverboat_part_2.html </ref>. The new interactive show takes place primarily above the Heritage House Located at various times throughout the day. The Muppets Present... Great Moments in American History, actually consists front of two different shows which are performed at different times. One show features the Muppets telling ship, the platform allows guests the story to get great views of all the signing of attraction's scenes. Finally, on the Declaration of Independencetop deck, while guests get the second show involves best view of the midnight ride of Paul Revere <ref name= "parks"/>various sights. There is also limited seating available here.
==Attractions=='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 Haunted Mansion]]-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' This dark ride allows guests to board Doom Buggies and tour a spooky mansions speed. Along As previously noted, the way guests will meet 999 friendly ghostsLiberty Square Riverboat is a working steamship, but there and thus the boat is always room for one morepropelled 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==[[The Hall of PresidentsImage:BeaconJOe.jpg|thumb|360px|Beacon Joe as seen from the Liberty Square Riverboat. Photo by Lauren Javier]]-''' This show allows guests The Liberty Square Riverboat begins with the boats captain, Horace Bixby, making sure that everyone is aboard, before telling the crew to see America grow through put the eyes of its 44 Presidentsboat in motion. In His leadsman then sounds off (to get a depth reading), before the finale of engine room puts the show all 44 presidents will appear on stage togetherboat in motion.Horace then addresses guests, saying:
'''[[Liberty Square Riverboat]]-''' A real authentic steam boat named {{Quotation| "Welcome aboard the Liberty Belle allows guests to sail , I'm your captain Horace Bixby and my pilot with me here on the Rivers Texas Deck is a young cub that goes by the name of America with Samuel Clemens and Captain Bixby."}}
'''[[The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History]]'''- Performed throughout It turns out that this trip aboard the day above Liberty Belle is the Heritage House100th journey for young Sam Clemens, The Muppets Present...Great Moments in American History features the Muppets telling guests who claims to know the story Rivers of either America like the signing back of The Declaration of Independence or his hand. Before the midnight ride of Paul RevereBelle leaves port, Sam warns guests to stay behind the railings, as river pirates are known to lurk around these waters.
==Past Attractions==The first sight that guests can see from the Liberty Belle is [[Image:MikeFinkFrontierland]].jpg|300px|thumb| The Mike Fink Keel Boats were located 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 Liberty Square from 1971 until 1997the 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'''The Mike Fink Feel Riverboats'''- These free floating boats allowed guests s "old stomping ground", [[Tom Sawyer Island]]. Sam says that the only way to get to travel the Rivers island is by raft, before pointing out parts of America the island including: Muff Potter's Pond, Harper's Mill, Tom's Landing, and go around Huck's Landing (it seems that Tom Sawyers Island before returning , Huck and Sam used to Liberty Squareexplore the island quite a bit while looking for adventure).
==Restaurants==''Turning guest's attention port side, Sam next points out [[Sleepy Hollow RefreshmentsBig Thunder Mountain]]'''-Located at , before giving guests a little bit of history behind the entrance attraction. Sam explains that the water gets so hot over by the attraction that geysers erupt. Indians used to Liberty Squarethe think that the geysers were spirits and they named the mountain “Big Thunder Mountain” because of the rain that would come from it. Later, Sleepy Hollow Refreshments serves funnel cakeswhen 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, waffles all he hears now are ghost stories about spirits and ice creamrunaway mine trains.
'''[[Liberty Tree Tavern]]'''-Located As the boat continues its journey, the next to 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. [[Diamond Horseshoe]], Image:IndianVillage.jpg|thumb|380px|The Indian village as seen from the Liberty Tree Tavern is a table service restaurant specializing in American cuisineSquare Riverboat. Photo by Daryl Mitchell]]
'''[[Columbia Harbour House]]'''- Located across from Continuing on, the [[Haunted Mansion]]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 Columbia Harbour House is ship a quick service restaurant that sells fish"fire canoe" and “comet of sun”. Scenes in the village include Indians cooking, shrimptrading, chicken 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 sandwichesmourn them after nightfall.
'''[[Liberty Square Market]]'''- Located by The Hall of PresidentsFurther down the river, the Liberty Square Market Belle reaches Cutthroat Corner. Sam tells riders that Cutthroat Corner, is a stand the most likely place to find river pirates. Sure enough, pirates can be heard coming from Wilson's Cave; however Sam tells gusts that sells fruit and refreshmentsbased 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.
===Former Restaurants==='''Fife & Drum''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.
==Shopping=='''Heritage House'''- Located near The Hall of Presidents, If you want to hear the Heritage House sells America memorabilia and souvenirs.Liberty Square Riverboat narration, click below:
'''Ye Old Christmas Shoppe'''- Located near the entrance to <flashmp3>Liberty Square near [[Fantasyland]], Ye Old Christmas Shoppe sells Christmas merchandise year round!.mp3</flashmp3>
'''Memento Mori'''- Located near the Haunted Mansion, this store sells Haunted Mansion themed merchandise. ===Former Shopping=Changes in the Script=='''Yankee Trader Gourmet Shop'''- Located near The narration aboard the Haunted Mansion, this store sold (sometimes unusual) cooking Liberty Belle has grown and serving accessorieschanged with the expansion of Frontierland. The Yankee Trader Gourmet Shop closed on July 27References to [[Tom Sawyer Island]], 2014[[Splash Mountain]], and [[Big Thunder Mountain Railroad]] have all been added to the script since Riverboats opened.
==Fun Facts and Trivia==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>
*In Before 2005, a burning cabin was seen beyond Fort Langhorn. Here guests would see the 1970's cabin on fire, and a daily ceremony settler lying on the ground with an arrow through him. The narration would comment on how the settler was held 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 Square called "The Sons Belle passes by, the cabin is deserted and Daughters no mention of Liberty"it is made. The ceremony involved In 2014, a fife and drum corps marching with a Cast Member 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 Revolutionary-era costuming the effect <ref> http://allearsforums.netwdwmagic.com/aethreads/issue394new-smoking-settlers-cabin-formerly-burning-as-seen-from-liberty-belle-riverboat.htm 887061/ </ref>.
*==Historical References On The replica of Attraction==[[Image:Libertynarratorsjpg.jpeg|400px|thumb|Horace Bixby (left) and Samuel Clemens (right) serve as the narrators on the Liberty Bell found in Liberty Square was cast for the same mold as the real Liberty Bell. The cast was created for Walt Disney World in Annecy-le Vieux, France by the Paccard Fonderie<ref> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/07/let-freedom-ring-on-independence-day/ </ref>.Riverboat]]
* If guests look closely at Sam Clemens the guard house pilot on the Liberty Square BridgeBelle, they can see is better known as American writer Mark Twain. Twain was known as a register featuring the names lover of other travelers who have entered steamships (specifically those on the square <ref> http://wwwMississippi River) and did actually captain some steamships himself.wdwradio.com/online-shop/audio-guide-4-liberty-square/ </ref>. *Ye Old Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square In Disneyland, the attraction is designed to look like three separate shops with known as 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 <ref> http://www.wdwradio.com/2007/09/liberty-square-trivia/ </ref>Mark Twain Riverboat.
*The live oak that serves as Captain Horace Bixby, the centerpiece of Liberty Square is more than 130 years oldBelle's captain, and was found a real steamboat captain on the southern end of the Walt Disney World propertyMississippi. In order to move Horace Bixby and Sam Clemens met aboard the 38-ton treePaul Jones (a steamboat), 2-inch holes were drilled through the trunk, then fitted with steel dowel pinsand Bixby agreed to take Sam on as his apprentice. Once transplantedSome 21 years after this meeting, the pins were removed and replaced now famous Mark Twain reunited with sections of Oak Hardwoodthe captain in St. Louis. With careful observationTwain talks about Captain Bixby in his book, "Life on the plugs can still be seen today Mississippi" <ref> http://www.disneyhistoryinstitutetwainquotes.com/2009/11/liberty-tree-storyonly-god-can-make19020608.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 rocks that guests see after crossing only stipulation for the bridge land was that settlers had to enter Liberty Square were quarried from build a location 6 miles from where George Washington crossed house worth at least $125. In the Delaware River 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> Realitylandhttp: true-life adventures at Walt Disney World//www. David Koenig williamtellantiques.com/history- Bonaventure Press of- 2007 tell-city.html </ref>.
*Wilson's Cave is a reference to the real river pirate Jim Wilson. In the 1790's Jim Wilson opened Wilson's Liqueur Vault on the Ohio River in Illinois. Wilson would lure guests into what is now known as the "Cave-In-Rock" cave, and 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>.
 
*The Leadsman was a crew member who would call out the depth of the water, when the water got shallow. One fathom equals six feet, two fathoms equal Mark Twain (on the attraction at least)<ref> http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/marktwain.htm </ref>.
 
==Sam Clemens' Sayings==
 
Throughout the narration on the Liberty Belle, Sam Clemens gives various philosophical sayings. Although these phrases were not actually spoken by Mark Twain, they are written to give the character a similar personality. Sayings Sam Clemens says on the attraction include:
 
*"Well now I always figure it is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid, then to open it and remove all doubt."
 
*"It seems to me that when I was younger, I could remember everything whether it happened or not. But as I grow older I seem to remember only the things that never happened at all."
 
*All my life it seems I could never tell a lie that anybody could doubt, nor a truth that anybody could believe."
 
*"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's worn off."
 
*"I believe we ought never to do wrong captain, especially when others are looking."
 
*"My feeling is these days there's a lot less frontier and a lot more civilization than is truly necessarily."
 
==Trivia==
*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!==
 
If you want to see the sights that the Liberty Square Riverboat has to offer, click below. The narration is not included in the video.
 
{{#ev:youtube|lQ4zeBzfJuw|420}}
 
==Official Website==
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/magic-kingdom/liberty-square-riverboat/
==References==