LibertyBelle Riverboat almost done

[CDSTapisRouge]

Hey all, just wanted to give an update on the Liberty Belle as I know there have been alot of posts about her since she was taken down for rehab last September.

The rehab is coming to a close. They still have some work left to do, but she was moved last night back to the park. She has been undergoing rehab at the Dry Dock facility (behind the Contemporary) and was returned to wet dock (behind Big Thunder Mountain) last night where they will finish the rehab. Though an exact date for her return to Liberty Square has not been set yet, she is due to be back in service sometime in September.

Also, just a side note, they have said that the Liberty Belle will be used for the Pirates and Princess' Parties coming up next year. It is said to be kinda like the MNSSHP and MVMCP (which both use the boat) where they will have storytelling and such onboard during the ride. Will be fun to see if they do cool decorations for the party.

 

[jcemom]

Thanks for the update! I'm looking forward to storytelling about the Liberty Belle during MNSSHP this year. We missed it last year!

 

[disneymama73]

Thanks for the update!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thanks for the update! I'm so looking forward to going on the Riverboat when I go to WDW next month.

 

[mickeysaver]

I personally am hoping that the Operational Updates page on the official Disney site is correct in that it says the Liberty Belle will return to service on 9/07/06. Maggie

 

[chigirl]

Good news!
I was sad to see that it wasn't running during my trip last year!!!

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

Thanks for updating, we're looking forward to it being back in service.

 

[HumphreytheBear]

WHAWHO!!!!! Thanks for the info... Can't wait to see the boat come back, it is like something has been missing in Liberty Square....

 

[PattnFmly]

This is truly good news! We're going in October and it is one of my DBro favorite rides! He's a quadriplegic and loves the ease of boarding as well as the scenery on the riverboat!

 

[canda]

how did they move a boat that large through the parks and out the door?

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

how did they move a boat that large through the parks and out the door?

It is actually an elaborate process. First they have to swing the Train bridge that goes over the river by Big Thunder Mountain. The boat can then pass through from the River in the park to the wet dock area that is behind Big Thunder. While at the wet dock they have to remove the smokestack so that the boat can fit underneath the monorail beam. Then, there is a series of Locks (not as extravegant as the Panama Canal, but the same concept). The locks lead out to the Channel which connects to the Seven Seas Lagoon (the channel is where they store the Electric Water Pageant floats, you can see it from the monorail between MK and the Grand Floridian.). Once they get it into the channel they bring it up to the Seven Seas Lagoon and then they have to get a Ferry boat to assist across the lake (they use to use the Keelboats to tow it, but since they are no longer in use, they are using the Ferry Boat.) The ferry boat is connected with towing lines and they tug the riverboat, slowly, across the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake to get it back to dry dock (which is sort of behind the Contemporary), more like to the side of it off of Bay Lake. Would have loved to have seen it tuged across the lakes, but they do it very late at night. I have seen it brought from the park to wet dock, through the swing bridge, that was cool....

 

[tripplanner2]

I am really confused. I know someone who was there in July and she said that she rode a Riverboat that went past Big Thunder Mountain. I asked if she boarded it in Liberty Square because I know that it has been under refurb for quite some time and she said yes. Is there another boat replacing this so people can still take a tour of the lake? Maybe something smaller and not so elaborate? I can't think of any other boat ride that is over there. Any suggestions?

 

[jcemom]

Maybe she rode the raft/boat over to Tom Sawyer Island?

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I am really confused. I know someone who was there in July and she said that she rode a Riverboat that went past Big Thunder Mountain. I asked if she boarded it in Liberty Square because I know that it has been under refurb for quite some time and she said yes. Is there another boat replacing this so people can still take a tour of the lake? Maybe something smaller and not so elaborate? I can't think of any other boat ride that is over there. Any suggestions?

Nope...The LB has been out of service since last September (it will be just over a year when it returns). The only river traffic is the Tom Sawyer Island rafts, but they only go from the main dock to the TSI dock. There is nothing that would take guests all the way around the river (since the keelboats were removed a few years ago and the Riverboat has been out of service).

 

[DisneyLover1091]

Liberty Belle Riverboat was supposed to be closed for refurbishment for a year or from Sept to Sept.

 

[HumphreytheBear]

Liberty Belle Riverboat was supposed to be closed for refurbishment for a year or from Sept to Sept.

Yes, it went out of service last year I believe it was September 3 or 4th (or around there) and as of right now is on schedule to return Septmeber 8th this year. The original post was giving an update on the rehab, and advising that it had been moved back to the park from dry dock...

 

[tripplanner2]

I thought it had been out of the water for awhile. I was confused when she said that she rode it. Maybe we got our wires crossed and she was speaking of the raft to Tom Sawyer Island.