WDW Magazine December 2016 - 2017 Crowds at WDW | Page 50

Liberty Belle Riverboat POV 2011 HD Magic Kingdom - Walt Disney World iThemePark Click Here For Video During the half-mile ride, we love hearing tall tales (and not so tall tales—there are plenty of fun facts about the 1800s to keep adults interested and kids enthused), and there are a variety of sights to see, including a Native American Village, an early American Settlement, and a few of those audio animatronic animals for which Disney is well-known. While the paddleboat does use steam for power and speed, the Liberty Belle sits on an I-beam style track, so there’s no need for the captain to steer. The captain does have a couple of jobs though: to blow the whistle, ring the bell, and queue the narration at points of interest. I love fun Disney facts like these! As for the narration, it’s my favorite (and first!) travel writer, Mark Twain. Listening to him describe life over a century ago is so fascinating as you hear him speak about discovering new land and people. The Colonial-inspired boat offers fours decks with seating and viewing areas (the top tier is definitely the most popular, so if you are adamant about seeing the sights of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, and Splash mountain from a different point of view, make sure you queue up early as seating is limited). And the attraction is one of those classic pieces of Magic Kingdom that really hasn’t been updated drastically, other than swapping out boats and changing routes. The slow-moving boat ride is ideal for folks of all ages, and offers wheelchair and ECV access. The boat loads on the second level and unloads on the first, allowing for a faster guest turn-around and more trips per day. It’s particularly good for parents trying to get the wee ones to sleep—the constant hum of the steam engine is a fabulous lullaby.