What’s the fate of the Liberty Belle after the Magic Kingdom’s riverboat took its final cruise?
Liberty Square Riverboat
In early July of 2025, Disney controversially closed the Rivers of America, including Tom Sawyer Island and the aforementioned Liberty Belle riverboat. The opening day area and its attractions were shuttered to make way for Piston Peak, the expansion coming to the park’s Frontierland based on Pixar’s Cars franchise.
While work has already begun on draining the river and tearing down the island, many fans — including those like me who have been enjoying the Rivers of America for decades — have been wondering what happened to the Liberty Belle. Now, thanks to theme park photographer extraordinaire @bioreconstruct, we have our answer.
Aerial overview of the Magic Kingdom resorts backstage marina. Liberty Belle riverboat at the dock. pic.twitter.com/Yr6QDJZtNC
— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) August 16, 2025
The photographer, who excels at capturing photos of the Walt Disney World resort from above, recently shared some images of the ship, seemingly still assembled in the park’s backstage marina area.
@Bioreconstruct
Pulling back, the images reveal just how large an infrastructure the Magic Kingdom has for watercraft, which is always a fascinating sight for someone like me, who has been studying Disney parks for decades.
@Bioreconstruct
In addition to the photos of the riverboat, @bioreconstruct also shared some further images showing how quickly construction is happening at the park, in closing the already drained Rivers of America…
@Bioreconstruct
…and a full-park shot that displays not only the future sight of Piston Peak, but also the massive amount of land that has been cleared for Villains Land “beyond” Big Thunder Mountain.
@Bioreconstruct
The Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Belle Riverboat, one of the casualties of the park’s expansion, is still present backstage at the park… for now. Stay tuned to DFB for more on Disney World’s evolution.
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Miss the Liberty Belle? Very much so. A fixture for over 50 years. Newcomers may have little, if any, connection, but for many of us it is a bit of a gut punch. Disneyland still has it’s Mark Twain, thankfully, but who’s holding their breath?
My choice would be to dock the river boat somewhere and turn it into some kind of restaurant.
I was a guest at Magic Kingdom during its first year of operation – and every year thereafter (yes, I am that old!). I became a Cast Member and worked at Walt Disney World for twenty years. Losing the River of America and Tom Sawyer Island is the saddest thing I have seen happen there in all these years. Not that I need to ride the Riverboat or go to Tom Sawyer Island, but just the visual impact of what they did to the park was worth its weight in gold. There is concrete everywhere. But in Frontierland, all of that was balanced with water and trees and boats. It’s all so sad. I will probably not return. It would break my heart.
I’ll never get over what a horrible decision this is (closing ROA, etc.), but I’m glad the riverboat is still intact – for now, at least. I really hope it can be repurposed as a “shuttle boat” on Seven Seas Lagoon, or possibly a floating restaurant somewhere nearby.
Really interesting piece,with great pictures
I think they should move it to Disney Springs & repurpose it. I miss the Empress Lily!
Us “original mouseketeers ” are getting old.
Obviously current management is delighted we are dying off so we can’t decry the destruction of the original Disneyland concept.
Four “lands.”
Management is rapidly destroying Frontierland and Adventureland is in danger.
Just pathetic.
It’s good news that it is still intact and floating. Whether they turn it into something else for guests, or maybe something for Cast Members (like the Starcruiser became), I’m happy as long as they don’t destroy it. So much has been cast away and wasted, when there is so much room available.
I agree with everything J.E.D. said. With the destruction of the RoA, I will not be returning to any Disney park. I’ll be dumping my stock as well. The Disney Corp. has made one bad decision after another. And what’s really sad is they just don’t care. And quit calling Piston Peak an expansion – it’s a replacement. It doesn’t belong where they are putting it and it’s just more hot concrete. The poor critters that have called that area home…I thought Disney was supposed to be concerned with the environment – paving over a river with living things using it is proves otherwise. I hate what this company has become. I wish I’d known when I was there several years ago that it would be my last visit. I would have taken more time.
Liberty Belle is beautiful. Disney should put it on the Seven Seas Lagoon and make it a restaurant.
wow, Villains Land is going to be HUGE indeed. It’s the black section, right? What’s the huge rectangle of brown running alongside the left side of the park, then? Backstage/cast areas?
I agree with all the other commentators who’ve said that this is one of the worst decisions Disney has made. Not everything has to be concreted over, especially in Florida! The trees and the river were a welcome break. I’ve still got my Disney stock and I’m still a DVC member but it gets a bit harder to justify keeping both of them. My family has made over 100 trips to WDW but with our recent trips we’ve all agreed that it’s not the same as it used to be. Last year my wife and I went to see Gary Sinese at the Candlelight Processional and it was an amazing show. We also enjoy going to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Maybe taking a break from WDW is what we need.
I don’t think the new car’s attraction fits into that area. I just don’t understand why they can’t take some of the land that they have set aside and put it there. Coming from Washington State.I don’t know if I can justify the long Flight. And the expense of staying in even a moderate resort. I priced it out and i’m looking Nearly four thousand dollars Six nights At port Orleans riverside. I.
Have seriously looked at the vacation club renting points. It’s great however coming up with the whole purchase price within twenty four hours is a bit much. I like Walt Disney World.However compared to disneyland I find walt disney world to be chaotic expensive stuff and very stressful So next year’s vacation will either be a disney cruise or disneyland staying at a good neighborhotel. I will always miss the way walt disney world used to be back in twenty thirteen
Another spin on the rotisserie for Walt Disney as the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer move into the scrap heap of the MK. He is surely spinning in his grave. Question is, what it the cleared area on the photo to the west of the current expansion efforts. The land has been stripped so what is up with that. By the way, these are the best Ariel photos I have seen in years.
I am extremely sad that the Riverboat is gone. It was my late husband’s favorite attraction after Mr. Toad closed. However, I think a lot of people are going off on Disney without looking at what will be put in its place. The Cars area, according to reporting I’ve seen, will include water features and plenty of greenery. That might not make up for the loss of the peaceful Rivers of America, but it also indicates that how the area will fit in with what surrounds it has been carefully considered. In my 70s and having visited since 1972, I am just hoping to stay in good enough health I can experience the new lands and attractions.