Disney has finally announced the closing date for the Rivers of America, including the Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island, at the Magic Kingdom.
Closing Date for Rivers of America
The last day of operation for all these offerings will be July 6, 2025. Starting July 7, guests will no longer be able to access the Rivers of America or its attractions. Construction walls won’t be erected for a few weeks after that, and a representative from Imagineering said that when walls are in place, they will not obstruct guest pathways or parade viewing areas for the immediate future. The demolition permits were approved earlier this year.
The Rivers of America was part of the Frontierland landscape since opening day, but the Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island didn’t open until May 1973. The boat gives a scenic tour of the Rivers with narrations guiding guests through the history of the American frontier of old. Show scenes along the riverbanks add to the story.
Other Rivers of America attractions did exist previously at the park, but have long since been removed. The Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes closed back in 1994, while the Mike Fink Keelboats were shuttered in 2001. The original dock of the Mike Fink Keelboats in Liberty Square will be demolished as part of the project as well, even though it has been constantly used as extended queue for The Haunted Mansion in recent years.
The Magic Kingdom even had another Liberty Square Riverboat in the early years of the park. The then-Admiral Joe Fowler (now a name for one of the ferryboats from the Transportation and Ticket Center to the Magic Kingdom) operated from October 2, 1971 until it was destroyed in a dry dock accident in 1980, leaving the Liberty Belle the sole offering.
Watch our full POV video aboard the Liberty Belle below.
At this time, Imagineering is still talking with their partners at Walt Disney World to figure out what to do with the Liberty Belle Riverboat, but it’s unclear what the fate of the entire vessel will be.
Rafts carry guests over to Tom Sawyer Island, where they can embark on a self-guided tour of the Missouri wilderness, including bridges, caves, mines, and forts.
The area, including the Rivers of America and both attractions, is being replaced by a “Cars” themed expansion of Frontierland. Rather than Radiator Springs and Route 66, the new attraction will take place in a fictional National Park in the Rocky Mountains. It will feature a river and water features, keeping some of the Rivers of America aesthetic.
The Frontierland Railroad Station will also close, but the Walt Disney World Railroad will continue operating in “shuttle mode” during construction.
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