News Liberty Square Riverboat closing for long refurb

[Disone]

Here's my support for its location and direction. In the below pic. The blue oval is the monorail beam at waterbridge by Contemporary. Red oval is the monorail pilling fender. The waterbridge has an S curve in it. instead of the straight shot. The yellow oval shows the tow strap attached to SSL Cruiser Boat, specifically Castaways.
View attachment 297540

Canal on west end of SSL. Same fender shown protecting monorail beam pilar.
View attachment 297547

East end of SSL at Waterbridge showing no wooden fender for Monorail Beam Pilar.
View attachment 297548

Nope. That is definitely the canal connecting Bay lake to Seven seas. In this picture the man is standing on the contemporary side the LB is heading towards seven seas. One give away in the manicured grass and another is The monorail pillar, that is not a pipe on the side it is a slot because it is actually a double pillar and this is only done at this monorail water crossing. Slighty ahead of the castway cruise, and to its right, you can see the wind sock and the hard sides, and the hand rails of the canal water bridge that World Dr. passes under.

If the LB was going out to Seven Seas from the back stage access canal, that would mean the man is standing on the west shore line, and there is no manicured grass on that shore line.

On your red circles, the wooden barrier is on the LB Port side, what would be she is heading into the backstage canal or from Bay lake to Seven seas. This picture predates your google map 2018 picture. The waterbridge canal use to have a wooden barrier protecting the monorail pillar, it upgraded in 2016.

 

[crxbrett]

Don't believe this guy. He's incorrect. The reason for the delay, as it's been stated in this thread, is that they had to do some unexpected work on the track in the RoA. As far as I know, the Liberty Belle's overhaul is finished and she's ready to return to the RoA. Just waiting for the track work to be completed.

I knew someone on here had the right info. Thanks for the update, Captain!

 

[WDWMPrincess]

Don't believe this guy. He's incorrect. The reason for the delay, as it's been stated in this thread, is that they had to do some unexpected work on the track in the RoA. As far as I know, the Liberty Belle's overhaul is finished and she's ready to return to the RoA. Just waiting for the track work to be completed.

Thank you! Glad to hear it is coming back even if not quite as early as might have been hoped for.

 

[Disone]

Thank you! Glad to hear it is coming back even if not quite as early as might have been hoped for.

Remember..... Lilly Belle steam engine was out for WAY longer than anticipated. So there is definitely a very recent precedent for this. The reasons for the delay there vary depending on who you ask but regardless it was much longer than anticipated.

 

[BwanaBob]

They start draining the RoA tonight.
Gonna smell great in about 48 hours

 

[Biff215]

They start draining the RoA tonight.
Gonna smell great in about 48 hours

Sounds like fun. That closes TSI, right? Any idea how long will this take?

 

[geekza]

They start draining the RoA tonight.
Gonna smell great in about 48 hours

But...But.... That will uncover Walt's frozen head!!!

 

[Captain Barbossa]

They start draining the RoA tonight.
Gonna smell great in about 48 hours

You sure about that? They sent divers to repair the track. Guess they could have found that the issue was too big and they need to drain the RoA. If so, that would definitely explain why the refurb has been extended.

 

[BwanaBob]

You sure about that? They sent divers to repair the track. Guess they could have found that the issue was too big and they need to drain the RoA. If so, that would definitely explain why the refurb has been extended.

Very sure

 

[geekza]

Someone who is able should make an effort to go over there and take some photos of the drained RoA. It is definitely not an everyday occurrence, so it would be nice to have some photos for posterity. Not that there would be a whole lot to see, but still.

 

[Monorail_Red_77]

Nope. That is definitely the canal connecting Bay lake to Seven seas. In this picture the man is standing on the contemporary side the LB is heading towards seven seas. One give away in the manicured grass and another is The monorail pillar, that is not a pipe on the side it is a slot because it is actually a double pillar and this is only done at this monorail water crossing. Slighty ahead of the castway cruise, and to its right, you can see the wind sock and the hard sides, and the hand rails of the canal water bridge that World Dr. passes under.

If the LB was going out to Seven Seas from the back stage access canal, that would mean the man is standing on the west shore line, and there is no manicured grass on that shore line.

On your red circles, the wooden barrier is on the LB Port side, what would be she is heading into the backstage canal or from Bay lake to Seven seas. This picture predates your google map 2018 picture. The waterbridge canal use to have a wooden barrier protecting the monorail pillar, it upgraded in 2016.

Thanks for clarification. Guess I was focusing too much on the fenders in the pic vs current aerial pic. That's why for me the manicured grass and double pilar didn't sit right with me at first. But I went with it since I was focused more on the fenders.

I rolled back to Jan 2014 and I can see what you are talking about with the older wood fenders at waterbridge area.

 

[griffin ferrari]

Went was the last time the rivers of America was drained?

 

[peter11435]

Went was the last time the rivers of America was drained?

I believe the mid 90s.

But unless things change again this won’t be a full draining.

 

[DisAl]

The Liberty Belle engines are not antiques, they are authentic reproductions. The LB, originally the Richard F. Irvine went into service in1973, but was renamed The Liberty Belle in 1996 after everything except for the hull, boiler, and engines was stripped off, and an all-new superstructure was constructed from aluminum and vinyl. (according to Wikipedia)

 

[EricsBiscuit]

I think only part of the river is being drained. I'll make the trek over tomorrow to see what the deal is

 

[trainplane3]

Off topic for Disney steamboats but I have a feeling some of you guys in this thread might like this:

The American Queen made a stop in Pittsburgh last week. That's one big boat.

 

[Figment2005]

Anyone have any information on ‘what the heck’ happened? It was to be a long refurbish to start with and now extended once again for an undetermined span of a season. Just odd to be that far off twice. Or is the refurbishment possibility understaffed?

Feel bad for the guests that planned on doing the Challenge through Parkeology.

The boats been complete for a while now. However the track system needed some unforseen refurb. LB been sitting at dry dock completed just waiting.

 

[BwanaBob]

Update:
Partial drain, yes.
Also found out this morning that due to ‘other circumstances’, pushed back to mid August (week of 8/12... ish )

There’s a lot happening, especially behind Park 3 so...

 

[Captain Barbossa]

I think only part of the river is being drained. I'll make the trek over tomorrow to see what the deal is

If you make it over, let us know what's going on. And maybe you can snag a few pictures.

 

[geekza]

Partial drain, yes.

Not as interesting, but also not as smelly. It's a win, I suppose.