Sources indicate that a fourth ferryboat will be joining the fleet at Magic Kingdom sometime in the not-too-distant future.
Fourth Ferryboat Coming to Magic Kingdom
According to sources, this new ferryboat will be added as Magic Kingdom grows with its largest expansion in history, featuring a Cars-themed area with two new rides and a Disney Villains land. The “Cars” area is planned to take over the footprint of the Rivers of America. Construction has also begun to prepare the area “Beyond Big Thunder” for the expansion.
No further details have been shared, but progress is expected to take place over the next couple of years. Disney has not shared an official announcement with the public or a timeline for the new addition.
The current fleet consists of the Admiral Joe Fowler, Richard F. Irvine, and General Joe Potter. The Admiral Joe Fowler returned to service earlier this year after a refurbishment and repainting. In 2023, the General Joe Potter received a similar refresh.
The original riverboat sailing the Rivers of America was named Admiral Joe Fowler but was destroyed by a dry dock accident in 1980. The other riverboat, the Richard F. Irvine, was later renamed the Liberty Belle. The three ferryboats were renamed to their current monikers after that.
After retiring from the U.S. Navy, Fowler helped Walt Disney construct Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and served as General Manager of Disneyland for the park’s first decade of operation. He was later chairman of the board of WED Enterprises (Walt Disney Imagineering). Fowler retired from Disney in 1978 but continued as a consultant. He was named a Disney Legend in 1990 and passed away in 1993.
Irvine also helped construct Disneyland and worked at Walt Disney Imagineering. Walt Disney met Potter at the 1964 World’s Fair, where Potter served as executive vice president. He was then brought on to help construct Walt Disney World.
The Ferryboats are used daily to transport guests across the Seven Seas Lagoon, weather permitting.
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