News Liberty Square Riverboat closing for long refurb

[Lensman]

This might be no news, but bioreconstruct got another aerial of the riverboat docked still in refurbishment.

 

[Captain Barbossa]

I’m starting to think they uncovered more issues with the Liberty Belle and that might be causing the reopening delay.

 

[180º]

This might be no news, but bioreconstruct got another aerial of the riverboat docked still in refurbishment.

Relieved to see it’s not in splinters all over the dry dock. That’s the last riverboat we have!

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Relieved to see it’s not in splinters all over the dry dock. That’s the last riverboat we have!

or sunk because they left a whole in the hull and went on lunch break

 

[MaximumEd]

It's probably just my imagination, but it seems like the riverboat is 101 about every other time we go. We'll be there in 9 days, and it'll be down. Bummer.

 

[mikeymouse]

It's probably just my imagination, but it seems like the riverboat is 101 about every other time we go. We'll be there in 9 days, and it'll be down. Bummer.

No, that's pretty accurate. It is down about 3/4 of our trips.

 

[Demarke]

It's been down my last three (Jan 2016; March 2018; August 2018), I feel like I saw it my three previous times (but those were all in the late-80's-late-90's )

According to Touring Plans, these are the closures the past several years:

• January 8, 2018 to December 21, 2018
• August 1, 2017 to August 10, 2017
• January 3, 2017 to January 12, 2017
• August 1, 2016 to August 7, 2016
• January 18, 2016 to January 22, 2016
• January 3, 2016 to January 12, 2016
• August 4, 2015 to August 10, 2015
• January 23, 2015 to January 27, 2015
• August 4, 2014 to August 8, 2014
• January 21, 2014 to January 30, 2014
• August 5, 2013 to August 9, 2013
• February 1, 2013 to February 7, 2013
• August 4, 2012 to August 10, 2012
• April 16, 2012 to May 20, 2012
• February 1, 2012 to February 7, 2012
• January 28, 2012 to February 3, 2012
• November 9, 2011 to November 10, 2011
• May 2, 2011 to May 7, 2011
• January 29, 2011 to February 4, 2011
• August 15, 2010 to August 26, 2010
• February 1, 2010 to February 5, 2010
• February 19, 2009 to February 28, 2009
• September 6, 2008 to September 12, 2008
• February 24, 2008 to March 1, 2008
• September 17, 2007 to September 20, 2007

 

[jt04]

@marni1971 Why doesn't WDW have Columbia Sailing Ship equivalent?

 

[marni1971]

@marni1971 Why doesn't WDW have Columbia Sailing Ship equivalent?

I guess they didn’t want one. Or wouldn’t pay.

They never replaced the Fowler and they scrapped the canoes and keelboats.

 

[jt04]

I guess they didn’t want one. Or wouldn’t pay.

They never replaced the Fowler and they scrapped the canoes and keelboats.

It just occurred to me recently how much such a ship would complete the look of Liberty Square.

If they have to park the river boat, maybe this could be the replacement ride vehicle. Just a thought.

 

[Captain Barbossa]

I’d love to see Sailing Ship Columbia, or something similar, come to WDW. Then again it’s something you can find only at Disneyland, and that’s part of what makes it unique.

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

I always thought the Columbia should sail from Liberty Square and the Mark Twain from New Orleans Square (and not Frontierland).

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I always thought the Columbia should sail from Liberty Square and the Mark Twain from New Orleans Square (and not Frontierland).

DL's Columbia looks great in person. A shame it was never duplicated for WDW.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

I guess they didn’t want one. Or wouldn’t pay.

They never replaced the Fowler and they scrapped the canoes and keelboats.

So they actually were going to build the Columbia. However, they thought that the steamboats provided better shade when riding and built the Richard F. Irvine instead. The Admiral Joe Fowler was the original as you know.

 

[mgf]

or sunk because they left a whole in the hull and went on lunch break

Is this a thing that actually happened?

 

[steve2wdw]

So they actually were going to build the Columbia. However, they thought that the steamboats provided better shade when riding and built the Richard F. Irvine instead. The Admiral Joe Fowler was the original as you know.

Exactly this....very early pre-opening art shows a Columbia plying the RoA. After the MK opened, park ops realized that the Columbia (at DL) provided almost no shade or protection from rain. With central Florida's sporadic thunderstorms, a second steamboat was chosen. I would have loved to have seen a replica of the Columbia at the MK, but would definitely not enjoy being caught on an open ship in the middle of a downpour.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Is this a thing that actually happened?

Yes

 

[jt04]

Exactly this....very early pre-opening art shows a Columbia plying the RoA. After the MK opened, park ops realized that the Columbia (at DL) provided almost no shade or protection from rain. With central Florida's sporadic thunderstorms, a second steamboat was chosen. I would have loved to have seen a replica of the Columbia at the MK, but would definitely not enjoy being caught on an open ship in the middle of a downpour.

I'd be happy with any tall ship even if it was permanently moored on Liberty Square. The aesthetics would be amazing.

 

[steve2wdw]

I'd be happy with any tall ship even if it was permanently moored on Liberty Square. The aesthetics would be amazing.

I agree....especially with the MK's RoA being at a lower elevation than the surrounding walkways, it'd would've worked really well. I feel the steamboat at MK "looks" better than at DL, due to this design aesthetic.

 

[jt04]

I agree....especially with the MK's RoA being at a lower elevation than the surrounding walkways, it'd would've worked really well. I feel the steamboat at MK "looks" better than at DL, due to this design aesthetic.

The only way they build a tall ship is if it could be monetized. The interior doesn't need to be a replica like the one in Disneyland. Perhaps a gift shop, dessert bar or special event rental.