On Monday, August 4, 2025, Walt Disney World Resort reportedly relocated the Liberty Square Riverboat for the second time in the last month. The 52-year-old riverboat’s departure comes just weeks after the permanent closure of several beloved Magic Kingdom attractions, including Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America.
The closures of these Magic Kingdom Park attractions are paving the way for two Cars (2006)-themed rides in Frontierland. Inspired by the natural beauty of America’s national parks, Piston Peak National Park will feature a thrilling rally race and a family-friendly ride. Parts of the Rivers of America, including water features and the barrel bridge, will remain intact when the new area opens.
Shortly after these historic Magic Kingdom attractions closed on July 7, 2025, construction walls began to appear. Disney Park guests started to spot Walt Disney Imagineers surveying Tom Sawyer Island by boat and on foot. Some props were tagged for preservation, while others were marked for destruction. As of August 4, the Rivers of America is nearly drained, allowing guests to see the tracks previously used by the Liberty Square Riverboat.
Changes aren’t only happening within Magic Kingdom Park. Outside the park’s borders, crews have bulldozed hundreds, if not thousands, of trees to make room for an equipment staging area and temporary office trailers. This area is set to serve as a base for the construction of both Piston Peak National Park and the upcoming Disney Villains land, which will be developed “beyond Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.”
For the last month, the Liberty Square Riverboat has been parked in a backstage canal behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Walt Disney World Resort remained tight-lipped about the attraction’s future, leaving fans to speculate whether it would be repurposed or dismantled altogether.
However, on Monday, August 4, 2025, BlogMickey reported that the Liberty Belle was moved from its temporary staging area to a marina behind Magic Kingdom Park. This marina is where Disney performs maintenance and repairs on watercraft transportation from the Seven Seas Lagoon. While there is a dry dock for repairs, reports suggest that it is currently in use, and the Liberty Square Riverboat remains afloat in the water.
The boat was reportedly moved sometime between Sunday, August 3, and Monday, August 4. X (formerly known as Twitter) user @___Gestalt spotted the Liberty Belle in its previous location in the canal as recently as Sunday:
it's parked in the channel between the Floridian and MK where the water parade boats are, just saw it from the monorail yesterday.
There’s been no official confirmation from Walt Disney World Resort about the Liberty Square Riverboat’s future, or the opening dates for Piston Peak National Park and Disney Villains land at Magic Kingdom Park.
Have you noticed any other changes around Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments!
