The Mark Twain Riverboat has returned to the Rivers of America at Disneyland Park, giving guests their first chance in days to once again cruise past Tom Sawyer Island aboard the historic steamboat.
A Brief Closure Comes to an End
Disneyland Resort first announced plans for this closure back in early August, confirming that the Mark Twain Riverboat would shut down for refurbishment starting September 8, 2026. The park originally targeted September 12 as a reopening date, though, as is typical of routine maintenance closures, Disney offered no specific details about the work being done to the attraction.
Guests Can Sail Once Again
As of September 15, the Mark Twain Riverboat is back in operation, sailing the Rivers of America for Disneyland Park guests. WDW News Today shared a photo on Facebook on Tuesday showing guests aboard the refurbished steamboat.
The attraction's current operating hours run from 9:00 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. Disney Park guests won't notice any dramatic changes upon its return. Both the steamboat itself and its loading dock appear largely unchanged following the refurbishment.
One Frontierland Attraction Remains Closed
While the Mark Twain Riverboat has reopened, guests still can't access Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island or the rafts that transport visitors there. That interactive attraction closed for refurbishment earlier this week and is expected to reopen on September 17. However, Disneyland Resort's website continues to encourage guests to “check back” for updates, since the timeline could still shift.
This marks the second temporary Frontierland closure in the past week, in stark contrast to the situation at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, which permanently closed its own version of the Rivers of America, including the Liberty Square Riverboat and Tom Sawyer Island, back in 2025.
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