Disney’s Richard F. Irvine ferryboat has returned from refurbishment with a fresh paint job. The boat is one of three that transports guests between Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Richard F. Irvine Ferryboat
The ferryboat is still red and white with golden brown trim but all the colors are looking shiny and new. The trim also appears to be a little bit darker than before.
The “Richard F. Irvine” signs on the boat have all been painted red with the lettering and filigree in brown. Before, the signs were completely brown and the lettering only stood out because it was carved.
Trash cans are still bolted together around a support pole. Last year, trash cans and recycling bins were temporarily removed from ferryboats after the General Joe Potter crashed into the TTC’s dock during a storm. The accident reportedly caused injuries and several guests spoke out about the bad experience. Though never officially confirmed, some said a trash can hit a guest. A man had also previously sued Disney regarding a 2023 ferryboat accident in which he was thrown into a trash can.
Inside the boat, the lower half of the walls and the window frames are red. Red lines the staircases.
The brown railings have clearly been refreshed. There’s no peeling or other signs of frequent guest use. The steps are cleaner than ever.
The ceiling, walls, railings, and poles are off-white. The funnel running through the ship is black.
The ceiling lights are black and some may have been replaced.
Benches are red with brown seats. Life vests are stored inside the benches in case of emergency.
The pilot houses are all red with golden brown trim. They are topped with the repainted signs.
For reference, above is the Richard F. Irvine today alongside a photo of how it looked before refurbishment.
Richard Irvine was an art director who helped construct Disneyland in the 1950s. He was in charge of the design of all Disneyland attractions from 1952 until his retirement in 1973. He was named a Disney Legend in 1990.
His name was first used for the Liberty Belle Riverboat, which entered service in 1973. After a 1996 refurbishment, it was renamed the Liberty Belle and Irvine’s name was adopted for the ferryboat.
The other two ferryboats are the Admiral Joe Fowler and General Joe Potter, which were refurbished in 2024 and 2023 respectively. There have been rumors Magic Kingdom would add a fourth ferryboat, but this has not yet come to fruition.
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