The Liberty Belle has not been available the last few months for guests to sail around the Rivers of America. In October, the Rivers of America were drained and the Liberty Belle was sent to a dry dock behind the Magic Kingdom. Guests visiting Magic Kingdom recently noticed that the Rivers of America were again refilled with water. With that crucial step in place, it was time to bring the Liberty Belle back home.
To do this, the Liberty Belle had to go on a repositioning cruise through Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon as she made her way back to the Rivers of America. This journey took her all the way around Disney’s Contemporary Resort and then past the front of Magic Kingdom. She was then towed by hand through a narrow channel. Finally, divers reconnected the steamship to her underwater track and she returned to Liberty Square in time for guests to go on a half-mile cruise aboard her today.
The Liberty Belle riverboat passes Disney’s Contemporary Resort during an overnight repositioning as she nears the end of a four-month scheduled refurbishment at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. It was a rare sight to behold, as crews towed the 47-foot-tall classic steam ship back to her home in Magic Kingdom Park. (David Roark, photographer)
The Liberty Belle riverboat crosses the water bridge connecting Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon near Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The boat was repositioned overnight following a nearly complete four-month scheduled refurbishment of Rivers of America, which sent the classic paddle wheeler to dry dock behind Magic Kingdom Park. (David Roark, photographer)
The Liberty Belle riverboat crosses in front of Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., during an overnight repositioning following a nearly complete scheduled refurbishment. It was a rare sight to behold, as crews towed the 47-foot-tall classic steam ship back to her home in Liberty Square. (Kent Phillips, photographer)
The Liberty Belle riverboat crosses in front of Magic Kingdom Park during an overnight repositioning following a nearly complete scheduled refurbishment at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. It was a rare sight to behold, as crews towed the 47-foot-tall classic steam ship back to her home in Liberty Square. (David Roark, photographer)
Cast members oversee repositioning the Liberty Belle riverboat following a nearly complete scheduled refurbishment of Rivers of America inside Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The authentic paddle wheeler was returned to the park from a temporary dry dock. (Kent Phillips, photographer)
Since October, hundreds of Cast Members have been working on the refurbishment of the Rivers of America. The main project was the replacement of the track for the Liberty Belle but there were plenty of other things to work on as well. This included updating rockwork, landscaping, and adding fresh paint to places that needed it in the area.
The Liberty Belle riverboat sails Rivers of America through Frontierland at Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., following a scheduled four-month refurbishment to replace the authentic paddle wheeler’s underwater track. (David Roark, photographer)
The Liberty Belle riverboat returns to its dock in Liberty Square, following a four-month scheduled refurbishment of Rivers of America in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. While cast members replaced her underwater track and updated sections of the surrounding areas, the boat was sent to a temporary dry dock. (David Roark, photographer)
With the project now complete, the 47-foot steam-powered paddle wheeler can now take guests aboard for cruises around the Rivers of America. What do you think about the process of moving the Liberty Belle back to Liberty Square? How often do you ride the Liberty Belle when you visit Magic Kingdom? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
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