In this post we give an overview of Liberty Square Riverboat, a leisurely boat ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience before closing with an FAQ. Read on to learn more!
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This post is a quick guide to Liberty Square Riverboat, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in deep. The Magic Kingdom Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Magic Kingdom.
Liberty Square Riverboat Basics
Liberty Square Riverboat is a leisurely boat ride at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The ride
does not offer rider switch
does NOT have a Lightning Lane
does not have a single rider line
is NOT a part of Early Entry at Magic Kingdom
is about 15 minutes long
Where is Liberty Square Riverboat located?
Liberty Square Riverboat is located in the Liberty Square land at Magic Kingdom. Entering the park, you’ll head to the hub and take your second left—not the first left going to Adventureland, but the second left going into Liberty Square. Passing by Sleepy Hollow (a snack stand) and Hall of Presidents on your right, you’ll come to a fork where left goes to Frontierland and right goes to Haunted Mansion. Straight ahead is the dock for the riverboat. Since the boat goes around the Rivers of America, it won’t always be there when you arrive.
How to Ride Liberty Square Riverboat
Liberty Square Riverboat has no Lightning Lane, is not a part of Early Entry, and usually has no wait throughout the day except that it only departs at select times, usually the top and bottom of the hour. It operates on more limited hours than the rest of the park, usually starting a few hours after park open and closing a few hours before park close.
My approach is usually to try and get there just a few minutes before the boat is scheduled to depart. If you have, say, 15 minutes, it’s probably just as reasonable to go try and get some rides or shows in and then come back at a different time.
If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom with small children, Liberty Square Riverboat is one of our favorite options. Basically, we think it’s a great escape from the crowds. Truthfully, it doesn’t offer much unique for kids, and the youngest ones might not appreciate being on a cool boat, but we just find that whenever we’ve got a little one in tow we really appreciate a nice leisurely ride around the Rivers of America. We’ve never had any issues with this ride scaring our baby.
Liberty Square Riverboat Ride Experience
We find Liberty Square Riverboat to be a bit underrated. The ride has no queue, you simply have to board the large boat before it departs, typically at the top and bottom of the hour. Once aboard, the boat takes a 15-minute journey around the Rivers of America. You can view a video of the ride here.
While there are a few scenes along the way, the real highlights of this experience are three. First, there’s the ship. It’s a steam-powered riverboat with three decks. It isn’t huge, but it’s fun to walk around a bit.
Second, there’s the views. You get to see new angles of the park, particularly Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Maybe it’s just me, but I like seeing any theme park from a new angle.
And third, there’s the escape. I like to ride Liberty Square Riverboat midday, when I’m hot and tired and sick of crowds. The boat itself can be crowded, and if you stand in the sun you’ll still be hot. But even if it’s just because I’m standing or sitting instead of walking around, this ride has always been a nice escape during a busy day.
Liberty Square Riverboat FAQ
Is the Liberty Square Riverboat a Real Boat?
Yes! The Liberty Square Riverboat is a real steam-powered riverboat. Of course, it runs on a track around the Rivers of America, for obvious safety reasons.
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Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
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