The Mark Twain chugs around the Rivers of America in Disneyland and has done so since the park’s earliest days. The site of a legendary party the night before the park opened, it’s no wonder that this classic steamer paddle boat inspired imitators at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom when it opened in 1971. The Admiral Joe Fowler claimed the role first. Sporting two boss smokestacks, it was a sight to behold, but the Richard F. Irvine came in later with just one stack and would prove to be the more resilient of the two. Recently, this steamboat sailed the Seven Seas, far from the circular track that is normally her home.
Last October, the Rivers of America on the east coast were drained to allow for renovations to the rock work and paint around the area. The I-beam track on which the river boat runs was also replaced. Once everything was touched up, Imagineers filled up the river again and summoned the riverboat back to the park following a brief respite in dry dock.
The best part of this journey was the trip through the Seven Seas Lagoon. This was a rare opportunity for the Belle to chug through the open waters before it resumes its guided circle tour. Check out the video below to see a rare glimpse of the narrow channel that runs along the side of the Magic Kingdom. Not only is this the origin point of the Electric Water Pageant, this channel is the only waterway connecting the lagoon to the water in the park!
A Quick History
The folks at EarzUp discussed Disneyland’s Mark Twain way back in 2014 in an episode all about Frontierland. They sound so little back then, don’t they? Anyway, as mentioned a bit ago, the Liberty Belle did not start out with the same moniker. Disney originally named her the Richard F. Irvine. The Irvine came about in 1973, two years after the park opened. For a while, the Magic Kingdom had two riverboats on the Rivers of America.
In 1980, the Admiral Joe Fowler received makeover backstage. An incident at the dry dock caused enough damage that the boat was scrapped. The Irvine became the lone river boat on the waterway. Sixteen years later, Disney pulled her offline for an extensive refurbishment. She returned with a name change! For whatever reason, Disney rechristened her the Liberty Belle and there she remains to this day.
It’s interesting to note that these river boats really are worthy vessels. The Belle carries up to 450 passengers on each trip around Tom Sawyer Island. Even though she runs along a sunken I-beam in a few feet of water much like the Mark Twain, the Belle is a real steamboat that can navigate much more open areas like the Seven Seas Lagoon. It’s great to see her stretch out and show off a bit!
A Floating Tribute
And what about the tribute to Richard Irvine? When the name was pulled off the park’s boat, Imagineers added it to one of the giant ferries that guides guests into the Magic Kingdom from the parking area across the lagoon. It’s a fitting tribute to a major Disney figure, after all.
Dick Irvine’s father Alexander was the personal ophthalmologist of Walt Disney for many years. Dick joined Disney as an art director on some animation projects. He became one of the consultants involved with the original construction of Disneyland. Dick then served as a major designer on attractions like the Haunted Mansion, Pirates, and “small world.” As such, Disney considered Dick a top choice to head up the master plan for Walt Disney World.
Even after his death in 1976, Dick continued to influence the company he served for decades. His daughter Maggie joined Walt Disney Imagineering and his son married another Imagineer. You know Kim Thomas today as the very-influential and much-discussed Kim Irvine.
That’s a lot of history wrapped up in just one boat!