Liberty Square Riverboat Rehab Extended until SPRING 06

[mikeymouse]

Yes there is a Richard F. Irvine ferryboat that runs between TTC & Magic Kingdom. The other 2 ferryboats are the Adm. Joe Fowler & The Gen. Joe Potter.

Weren't they originally named Kingdom Queen, MK 1, MK2 ?

 

[peter11435]

Weren't they originally named Kingdom Queen, MK 1, MK2 ?

Yes they were. IN 1999 they were renamed to honor some of those who were important in building Walt Disney World.

The "Magic Kingdom I" was renamed the "Admiral Joe Fowler" and has green panels.
The "Magic Kingdom II" was renamed the "Richard F. Irvine" and has red panels.
The "Kingdom Queen" was renamed the "General Joe Potter" and has blue panels.

 

[tk421-sw]

No "Halloween Dance Cruise" for MNSSHP, of well...

 

[Derrick]

Blimey,, something else that won't be running on my trip. With all the rehabs, it sounds like Disney will be a construction site by the time I get there in 3 weeks.

 

[peter11435]

With all the rehabs, it sounds like Disney will be a construction site by the time I get there in 3 weeks.

What are you talking about. The only things down for rehab are the Living Seas, the Riverboat. The only other things under rehab are the imagination fountains, and the MS train station although I doubt either will affect your stay as both attractions will still be open.

 

[celestia]

The Liberty Belle is still (as of 8pm on 9/20) behind the Swing Bridge by Thunder Mountian. Any rumors that she has been moved to dry dock are false. The riverboat can travel across Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon under her own power with the assistance of a tug (usually a pontoon boat or in the past a Keelboat). Her single smokestack is just able to clear the underside of the monorail beams between MK & GF.

As Celestia mentions there was a rehab incident with one of the original boats "The Joe Fowler" she was outfitted with a Fiberglass hull that did in fact break beyond repair during sudden change in altitude during that rehab. The boat was scrapped from the hull up and some of the pieces were used as decoration and theming around the parks.

The 2nd boat Richard F. Irvine/Liberty Belle has a steel hull. The Liberty Belle is a new boat built on the original Irvine hull. There is still an Irvine tribute deep in the "heart" of the Belle.

Thank you for clearing things up! I have a bone to pick with some river boat friends who are stuck at Pirates right now for their misinformation..

 

[rainfully]

Here's a quick snapshot of our friend hiding out taken from the train on Friday:

 

[bgraham34]

Nice pic. But how do we know they are actually fixing it and not just having parties all day long on it.

 

[CAJUNWDWFAN]

I'm another one that is upset it will be down for rehab that long. I'll miss it in December. Didn't get to ride it in May 2003 and was hoping to have some time this trip.

Oh well!

 

[mikeymouse]

I can also confirm that is where she still is .. right past the swing bridge, backstage. Its sad to see it sitting back there abandoned. Anyone know where the controls are to swing the bridge and switch the boat track underwater?

 

[shmmrname]

Aww, that's one of the WDW attractions I have yet to be on... Oh well, time for World Showcase movies for me this trip... And this mysterious hidden AK trail.

 

[SpaceRacer2003]

I can also confirm that is where she still is .. right past the swing bridge, backstage. Its sad to see it sitting back there abandoned. Anyone know where the controls are to swing the bridge and switch the boat track underwater?

The Swing Bridge is controlled by a large "key" that inserted over the pedestal the bridge sits on. Once the train tracks are disconnected from the bridge, two guys can turn the key to move the bridge to allow passage of the Riverboat.

The switch is located between Thunder Mountian and the Burning cabin, I'm not sure exactly where the control is, but the deer and stumps on by the cabin are hold points and indicators used during the switching process. When the boat comes back into the park, divers go down to check the alignment of the switch and the guides on the boat to make sure everything is where it needs to be.

 

[Dukeis#1]

Since the subject of the switch and the old riverboats came up, I found this photo of the Richard F. Irvine docked at Big Thunder Mountain (under construction) in 1979:

http://coastertown.com/Disney/BTMC/BTMC011.htm

It was obviously taken from the passing Admiral Joe Fowler. Apparently back when there were two riverboats, on days that only one was being used the other one was parked at the RR swing bridge so it wouldn't be in the way.

Also found this photo, which is an aerial view of Frontierland druing BTMRR construction. Both boats are visible- Admiral Joe is at the train bridge, Irvine is at Liberty Square:

 

[mikeymouse]

awesome! Now the paddlewheel isn't really powering the boat, is it?

 

[Scruffy]

awesome! Now the paddlewheel isn't really powering the boat, is it?

All of the Disney Parks have tracks for their paddle wheels.

 

[Bill Smugs]

Paddle weheler

The Paddle wheel does actuall move the boat but it is guided by an underwater rail.

 

[Cruiser237]

As of Nov 5th (today), does anyone know of it's still docked behind BTMRR??

 

[SpaceRacer2003]

Yup still there, waiting for a berth in the drydock.

 

[mrtoad]

I remember there being paddle wheelers on Seven Seas Lagoon when I was a kid in the 1970s. I don't know if I was ever on them though but remember seeing them when in the water mice. I assume they are gone, does anyone know what happened to them?

 

[Amber]

I just saw it from the train today and was all excited because I had an update - then I re-read this thread and realized that it's almost the exact same picture that Rain posted. Oh, well. At least I can confirm that it is still there!