The Liberty Belle runs on a track and has no ability to steer. It also loads from the side and could not utilize the existing dock. It also runs on actual steam. The Liberty Belle would require so many prohibitively expensive modifications it would be cheaper to build a new boat from scratch.
I don't know why that even had any traction. There's videos of them moving it with full towing because it can't steer. It's well covered it can't do anything but move along a track.
Unfortunately, it does sound like they’ll destroy the Belle while building a new ferry…
They would rather destroy the Belle than permanently dock it somewhere?
Maybe they'll try to make the new boat look like the Liberty Belle and they'll just call it the Liberty Belle even if it won't be the original boat?
It’s not over until it’s over and I’m still hoping it gets saved in some way…..
They already sort of did that. Liberty Belle was originally named Richard F. Irvine.
The Liberty Belle has too small of a capacity to function in that role. If they do save it for service on the SSL and BL, it would be for evening cruises or service to the resorts. It is unlikely because it would require extensive modifications, such as adding steering. Real steamships used to operate at WDW on the SSL and Bay Lake. They were absolutely beautiful but have been lost to time. Here is a picture from Google:
So do you mean destroy the Belle TO make the ferry, or destroy the Belle AND make a separate ferry that has nothing to do with the Belle?
Well yeah but make it look as much like the Liberty Belle as possible but give it a higher capacity and all the other things needed for a ferry across SSL to honor it rather than just having the current looking ferries with the Liberty Belle name. That's what I think they should do if there really is no way to convert the current boat into a ferry.
I knew about the Ft. Wilderness Railroad and even the semi trucks they used for bus service but didn’t know about these!!! I’ll be doing some research!
It’s a fascinating and often forgotten part of WDW history. The reason the resort launch dock is shaped the way it is was to allow these steamers to dock.
Impossible to say. If monsters is going in Grand Ave, but if MV3D is turning into a Monsters Inc show, the show could survive until about 10ish months before the land opens (probably 2028, so would close in 2027). If the building were to be destroyed as part of the new land, I would expect it to close next year (personal guess is after Labor Day, but that's not really based on anything).
Great! Then there is still hope Muppets will stay
That's all we can do at this point.Great! Then there is still hope Muppets will stay
