Is Rierboat used for parade viewing party now?

[yorkieteacher]

On our last MK visit pre-Riverboat refurbishment, the ride would close about two hours before afternoon parade time and for about an hour afterwards for a Tiana themed ice cream party or some such. We are trying to plan our September visit and want to ride the riverboat to see if there are any changes. Is this party (hopefully!) a thing of the past, or does the riverboat close around parade time?

 

[monkyby87]

The Riverboat has been down for quite a while now, so I don't know if it will even be there at that time.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

The Riverboat is not down right now.

I’m not sure about the Tiana parade viewing package, I need to check, but I don’t think it’s being offered these days.

 

[yorkieteacher]

The Riverboat is not down right now.

I’m not sure about the Tiana parade viewing package, I need to check, but I don’t think it’s being offered these days.

Thank you-I thought I had read it had reopened but wouldn't find where I had seen that! Thank you for your help-

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thank you-I thought I had read it had reopened but wouldn't find where I had seen that! Thank you for your help-

No problem. I’m not seeing the Tiana’s party anywhere on Disney’s website, so looks like it’s not a thing anymore (unless it’s really buried somewhere I can’t find).

 

[monkyby87]

The Riverboat is not down right now.

I’m not sure about the Tiana parade viewing package, I need to check, but I don’t think it’s being offered these days.

When did the Riverboat come back up? I haven't been for a handful of weeks, but it's been closed for a while.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

When did the Riverboat come back up? I haven't been for a handful of weeks, but it's been closed for a while.

It reopened 12/22/18.

Prior to that it was closed for much of 2018.

 

[monkyby87]

It reopened 12/22/18.

Lol, wow, I must have really not been paying attention then. I know I've been back there many times since, but I swear it was still down all of those times.

 

[anne60]

We were there the first week of December and it was definitely running. I know because we were on Tom Sawyer's raft and our driver got very angry at the riverboat driver over some miscommunication.

 

[bryanb]

We were there the first week of December and it was definitely running. I know because we were on Tom Sawyer's raft and our driver got very angry at the riverboat driver over some miscommunication.

Interesting stuff. The raft must always give right of way to the riverboat. The riverboat is very heavy, and therefore takes a long time to stop. Rafts, by comparison, are nimble. When the riverboat departs from its dock, it rings its bell and blows its whistle and the rafts must yield. That's pretty much all the communication that needs to happen between them for safe operation.

 

[cgattis]

Interesting stuff. The raft must always give right of way to the riverboat. The riverboat is very heavy, and therefore takes a long time to stop. Rafts, by comparison, are nimble. When the riverboat departs from its dock, it rings its bell and blows its whistle and the rafts must yield. That's pretty much all the communication that needs to happen between them for safe operation.

Cool tidbit; thanks for sharing! I was stunned to learn that the buses in Denali have no radio comm between them—just hand signals and protocol (guy closest to the edge has the right of way LOL). Was a little unnerving meeting one around the bend on the side of a cliff once I knew that!

 

[bryanb]

Cool tidbit; thanks for sharing! I was stunned to learn that the buses in Denali have no radio comm between them—just hand signals and protocol (guy closest to the edge has the right of way LOL). Was a little unnerving meeting one around the bend on the side of a cliff once I knew that!

Oooo... yeah I can totally see why the side of the cliff leaves less room for error!

I should mention, as far as I remember, they rafts and riverboat do have radio, but you can go through multiple 8 hour shifts without needing to speak to each other once. This was years ago though, not sure if protocols have changed since. Perhaps with the parade viewing party that might be something where a notification needs to be made.