Wheel Chair Access on Liberty Square Riverboat

[Dan1]

Hi,

Our family has been to WDW around 15 different vacations (yes, we have been blessed) and one ride we have never, ever taken is the above.

Now that it is just DD and I, and we will be in WDW for two weeks, I'm looking for certain things to 'spice things up'.

What information and experiences do y'all have to share regarding wheel chair access onto and within the Liberty Square Riverboat?

DD uses a manual wheel chair, BTW.

I thought that it would be a nice new thing to do, but am concerned about wheel chair access, etc.

Many thanks in advance for sharing your experiences,
Dan

 

[bouncycat]

Go thru the gated exit, they board you on the bottom level, and I usually have my DH park me along the side, so I can see at least one side. I always stay on the bottom, as stairs are NOT my friend!! Enjoy!!

 

[Dan1]

Go thru the gated exit, they board you on the bottom level, and I usually have my DH park me along the side, so I can see at least one side. I always stay on the bottom, as stairs are NOT my friend!! Enjoy!!

Will there be a CM there to (A) allow us through the exit and guide us on where we should go?

Thank you very much,
Dan

 

[RaySharpton]

Will there be a CM there to (A) allow us through the exit and guide us on where we should go?

Thank you very much,
Dan

Hi, Dan. If you are facing the Riverboat main entrance, there is an exit on the right side near the Haunted Mansion. There is also another exit on the left side near the special walkway along the lake that goes parallel to the main street, if that makes sense.

I usually don't see a Disney Castmember near the exit, but sometimes I use my cane to help me open the hinged wooden gate toward me so that I can enter.

Then I proceed down to the bottom and look for the accessible signs or just wait for the boat to return and for a Disney Castmember to arrive.

There is usually a Disney Castmember located here to help place a ramp to the Riverboat to allow a wheelchair or scooter onboard.

These ramps look similar to the ones used with the Monorail or boat launches.

I like to go to the very front of the boat next to the railing and enjoy the ride and view. I have never riden on the upper level before, but there are stairs for walkers to use.

So just go to one of these exits, open the wooden hinged gates toward you, head down to the bottom and wait for a Disney Castmember to help you or answer any questions for you.

 

[Dan1]

Hi, Dan. If you are facing the Riverboat main entrance, there is an exit on the right side near the Haunted Mansion. There is also another exit on the left side near the special walkway along the lake that goes parallel to the main street, if that makes sense.

I usually don't see a Disney Castmember near the exit, but sometimes I use my cane to help me open the hinged wooden gate toward me so that I can enter.

Then I proceed down to the bottom and look for the accessible signs or just wait for the boat to return and for a Disney Castmember to arrive.

There is usually a Disney Castmember located here to help place a ramp to the Riverboat to allow a wheelchair or scooter onboard.

These ramps look similar to the ones used with the Monorail or boat launches.

I like to go to the very front of the boat next to the railing and enjoy the ride and view. I have never riden on the upper level before, but there are stairs for walkers to use.

So just go to one of these exits, open the wooden hinged gates toward you, head down to the bottom and wait for a Disney Castmember to help you or answer any questions for you.

Thanks very much, Ray; this helps as well.

I like the idea of going to the front of the boat; hopefully the railing are such that my DD can see out beyond them.

Dan

 

[RaySharpton]

Thanks very much, Ray; this helps as well.

I like the idea of going to the front of the boat; hopefully the railing are such that my DD can see out beyond them.

Dan

You're welcome Dan.

I hope that she can see over the rails, too. They are see through rails, but it would be nice to see over them.

Here is link with a photo of the riverboat.

www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/lib-riverboat.htm

You might be able to see in the first photo someone standing and another person sitting down near the front.

 

[Mary976]

Hi,



Now that it is just DD and I, and we will be in WDW for two weeks, I'm looking for certain things to 'spice things up'.

Totally unrelated to the riverboat, but I thought I'd offer this since you're obviously going to be in the MK...

The night parade in the MK might be fun for your DD. I would try the later one if possible (and if two are offered). Stake out a spot for the early parade WELL in advance (like 45-60 minutes if it's busy) at the wheelchair viewing area in the castle/hub area (my DD recommends getting snacks in advance). Once you are in the spot and facing Tomorrowland, try to get your DD right up by the rope and towards the right part of the space. You will likely need to stand behind your DD's chair. This is right by where the floats come around the corner, and if you wave vigorously as the floats come by, your DD might get some waves from the characters. My DD thought it was the coolest thing ever when the princesses waved to her.

Mary

 

[Dan1]

You're welcome Dan.

I hope that she can see over the rails, too. They are see through rails, but it would be nice to see over them.

Here is link with a photo of the riverboat.

www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/magickingdom/lib-riverboat.htm

You might be able to see in the first photo someone standing and another person sitting down near the front.

Thanks for the link, Ray.

This will be interesting with the rail. DD's on the small side (5 foot nothin', 100 (pounds) and nothin' ) so sitting in the chair her eye level might just be at the top of the railing.

Yet, I'll try mostly anthing once at Disney. And, it will be a good break from the crowds.

Dan

 

[Dan1]

Totally unrelated to the riverboat, but I thought I'd offer this since you're obviously going to be in the MK...

The night parade in the MK might be fun for your DD. I would try the later one if possible (and if two are offered). Stake out a spot for the early parade WELL in advance (like 45-60 minutes if it's busy) at the wheelchair viewing area in the castle/hub area (my DD recommends getting snacks in advance). Once you are in the spot and facing Tomorrowland, try to get your DD right up by the rope and towards the right part of the space. You will likely need to stand behind your DD's chair. This is right by where the floats come around the corner, and if you wave vigorously as the floats come by, your DD might get some waves from the characters. My DD thought it was the coolest thing ever when the princesses waved to her.

Mary

Hi Mary, nice to meet you.

DD usually goes to bed very early (needs her sleep) so we have never seen the night parades. Yet, with 2 weeks on our hands, we do plan to sleep in late (at least her......my idea of sleeping in late is getting up at 7 am) ) so she can stay up to see a few some of the Park's night activities.

I'm intrigued by the Electric Parade so that one is definitely on our radar.

Thanks for the reminder about that spot. That is where she was sitting about 15 years ago for the Christmas parade and yes, some of the CM's in the parade waved at here (much to the chagrin of her sister who was on the other side with her Grandma ).

Dan

 

[Bete]

in my opinion can be hard to spot. I think it's a little awkward how you need to get to the boat landing; it's not too direct. It's not that bad or far just a bit awkward. Our first time I was looking everywhere near the boat and you have to look downward to see the boat landing. By doing this I went with my eyes in reverse and then I found the pathway to get down there. If you're lucky you will see others using it and then that will make it easier to spot. Wheelchairs from the previous ride have to get out that way.

There will be CMs at the regular entrance. Get there a little early and they can direct you if you have some issues finding the path down for the handicap entrance.

I really like this ride. We get an ice cream and enjoy the ride. This is a very slow paced ride. It takes you away from the crowds.

I've seen the boat crowded and uncrowded. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. Anyway, I would get close to a rail; so, no one standing will block your view to see out of the boat. I like the front of the boat, too.

If your daughter can take naps well sometimes it's better to do one in the afternoon and then you can enjoy the night activities. It's very different looking at night at the parks. I think a refresher nap in the afternoon does more than a late wake up in the morning.

 

[Dan1]

Thanks, Bete.

I hope you and your mom have a very nice time when you go down.

Part of your thougths made this question come up.

How long is the ride? Is there only one boat? is there a schedule somewhere we can see so we can time our 'waiting' (i.e. so we get there about 10 minutes or so until the next scheduled boat departure?)?

Many thanks,
Dan

 

[Bete]

There's one riverboat. I've not noticed a schedule, but there could be one. I would check at the regular entrance and/or ask a CM there.

The boat ride once it starts moving is a 13 minute ride. I would add double that for the boarding and unboarding process.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thanks, Bete.

I hope you and your mom have a very nice time when you go down.

Part of your thougths made this question come up.

How long is the ride? Is there only one boat? is there a schedule somewhere we can see so we can time our 'waiting' (i.e. so we get there about 10 minutes or so until the next scheduled boat departure?)?

Many thanks,
Dan

The only directions that WDW has for the boat access is "Liberty Square Riverboat:Enter through exit on RIGHT or LEFT”


Every time we have gone, there has been a CM at the entrance who will direct you to the correct place to go. If you look, you can see the ramps coming out of the boat area on each side, with a gate at the end. Just open the gate and go in there and follow the ramp down to the boat. It is a switchback ramp, so may not be totally obvious as Bete posted.

There is a permanently installed ramp just at the point where guests enter the boat. All the CM has to do is flip the end of the ramp into position and it is ready to use. I will post some pictures in the next few weeks that show the ramp/access.

It is a 17 minute trip, but with loading and unloading, expect to spend about 25-30 minutes. The boat does leave on a schedule - which is posted on the sign in front of the boat. I believe it leaves on the hour or half hour, but it will be posted on the sign in front of the attraction. There is only one boat.

Link to Disney official website page about Riverboat with several pictures.

My DD is 5 feet tall, about 85 pounds. If you are right along the rail, it may be at eye level for someone in a wheelchair or ECV. We chose a spot in from the rail a bit and she can see over the rail when she is not so close to it.

 

[RaySharpton]

Hi, again, Dan. I'll try to answer your questions. I see Sue just beat me with her post with her excellent advice, but I thought that I would add my personal experience, too, if it might help.

How long is the ride?

The Liberty Square "Liberty Belle" Riverboat takes about 17 minutes to travel about a half mile from start to ending But then the time it takes for the Liberty Belle to arrive, load and unload everyone may take about the same time or less as the ride itself.

It is a beautiful view everywhere you look since you are up higher above ground level. I find most walkers like to go to the upper levels to be even higher.

But I like to go to the very front tip of the Liberty Belle, then park sideways so that I can lean my left arm on the side rail. But I go to the very front tip mainly to see an unobstructed view on the front and both my left and right side. I felt like the the movie quote, "...king of the world...".

On the trip around Tom Sawyer's Island, I could see Tom Sawyer's Island, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Haunted Mansion, and people as they walk around the streets.

Is there only one boat?

Yes there is only one Liberty Belle Riverboat.

Is there a schedule somewhere we can see so we can time our 'waiting' (i.e. so we get there about 10 minutes or so until the next scheduled boat departure?)?
Many thanks, Dan

The last schedule listed on the front of the main entrance that I saw was that it started at the top of the hour and on the half hour. And one day in December it said that it was open from 8am to 8pm, but I am sure those times change depending on what is going on and park schedules.

I think that the one time that I saw it was very busy was when the Hall of Presidents show just ended and most of those folks went straight to the Liberty Belle Riverboat to make it busier than any other time that I can remember.

It is a quiet, relaxing, shaded area to wait for the Liberty Belle Riverboat to arrive at the accessible area.

 

[SueM in MN]

The park schedules for October 16-22, 2011, list the Liberty Belle operation times as follows:
Sunday, Tues, Thursday: 11 am to 5 pm
Monday, Wednesday: 11 am to 6 pm
Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 8 pm

You will want to pick up a schedule when you arrive in the park. They are with the park maps. Some attractions and restaurants may have shorter hours than the rest of the park. The hours will change based on how late the park is open and other things going on in the park.