The Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom is closed today, Wednesday, April 23, 2025.
Liberty Square Riverboat Closed
No operating hours are posted on the riverboat’s sign. Cast Members don’t expect the riverboat to open at all on Wednesday due to a boiler issue.
We don’t know if the Liberty Square Riverboat will return to operation on Thursday, April 24, or if the issue could take longer to fix.
The Liberty Square Riverboat is the Liberty Belle. It’s the park’s second riverboat, beginning its life as the Richard F. Irvine. It entered service in 1973, joining the Admiral Joe Fowler, which began service in 1971. The Admiral Joe Fowler was destroyed in a dry dock incident but the Richard F. Irvine continued service and was later renamed the Liberty Belle. The Richard F. Irvine name was then adopted for one of the ferry boats that transports guests between Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
The riverboat is set to close permanently as the entire Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island footprint becomes a “Cars” expansion to Frontierland. The new area will include an off-roading-inspired ride and a family ride. Disney hasn’t announced a permanent closing date for the riverboat but construction is imminent.
Disney will also expand Magic Kingdom to include a new Disney Villains land behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the latter of which is undergoing a lengthy refurbishment.
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