WDW Magazine December 2016 - 2017 Crowds at WDW | Page 50
Liberty Belle
Riverboat POV
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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.