Mark Twain Riverboat (Disneyland Park)

This article is about Mark Twain Riverboat at Disneyland Park. For versions of Mark Twain Riverboat at other locations, see Mark Twain Riverboat.

## Steamboat

The Mark Twain as decorated for Disneyland's 50th Anniversary

### Opened

* July 17, 1955; 68 years ago (1955-07-17) (Original)
* July 29, 2017; 6 years ago (2017-07-29) (Reopening)

### Closed

January 11, 2016; 8 years ago (2016-01-11) (Original)

### Theme

Mississippi steamboat

The ***Mark Twain* Riverboat**, located at Disneyland Park in the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, is a paddle steamer watercraft attraction operating on a track, on which passengers embark on a scenic, 12-minute journey around the Rivers of America. Originally named ***Mark Twain* Steamboat** when the park opened in 1955, the stately, 5/8-scale stern-wheeler was the first functional riverboat to be built in the United States for 50 years. Other Disney riverboat attractions now appear at Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.

Passengers wait for the 150-ton, 28-foot-high (8.5 m), 105-foot-long (32 m) riverboat, which departs every 25 minutes, inside a sheltered area in the Frontierland section of the park. The waiting area resembles a real riverboat loading area, with cargo deliveries sharing space on the dock. Historic United States flags are displayed at the attraction's entrance.

Upon boarding *Mark Twain*, passengers are free to move about her three levels. The lower deck's bow has chairs. The upper deck provides a vantage point for viewing landmarks during the voyage. The wheelhouse, where *Mark Twain'*s pilot is stationed, is located on the upper deck. The lower level of the wheelhouse features sleeping quarters and a sink to maintain the illusion of this being the captain's living quarters.

The pilot signals the departure and arrival of *Mark Twain* using a horn and bell system, along with various signals to other river craft attractions. Because the riverboat travels along a hidden I-beam guide rail throughout the ride, the pilot does not maneuver the ship. Instead, the pilot serves as lookout for other river traffic, such as Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes and the Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, and communicates his observations with the boiler engineer. The boiler engineer is stationed on the bottom deck towards the stern. This is where the throttle and reverser are located. From here, the boiler engineer controls the speed and forward or reverse direction of the riverboat. Steam from the boiler is used to power the paddle wheels which push the craft along its guide-way.

The voyage on the Rivers of America around Tom Sawyer Island features pre-recorded navigational commands by Jim Etchison and Peter Renaday. The captain is played by Disney voice actor Stephen Stanton, who speaks of his days piloting a riverboat.

On most days, *Mark Twain* begins operation when the park opens. On days when *Fantasmic!* is being performed, the riverboat, which plays a role in the show, will close a couple of hours before showtime. On other nights, *Mark Twain* will operate through the evening, using a rooftop spotlight to illuminate sights, with the final trip beginning approximately 30 minutes before park closing.