Disney World is the only Disney park to have a Liberty Square.
Imagineers wanted to include Liberty Sq. to recognize America’s bicentennial in 1976.
Many of the buildings have shutters that hang cooked, but this was no accident; in the Colonial period, leather straps were used to hang shutters to conserve metal for the Revolutionary War.
At the Columbia Harbor House Restaurant we see a transition from Liberty Square to Fantasyland. On the Liberty Sq. side we see a New England theme, but on the Fantasyland side, we see an old-world European theme.
The Liberty Tree was transplanted in 1970 but after developing an infection, some limbs had to be cut. Another tree was grafted on to replace the infected parts.
The bell is made from the same cast as the original in located in Philadelphia.
The Haunted Mansion Home to 999 happy haunts
- If you’re at the Haunted Mansion at night, keep an eye on the windows...you’ll notice a lantern pass by.
- The Haunted Mansion is19th century Dutch architecture, commonly found in New York State. This design was chosen to fit the theme of Liberty Square - taking place in New England and the Hudson River Valley.
- The stretching room appears to be an elevator and is one of Disney World’s best special effects. Yes, the room is stretching but you're not really going down. In the Disneyland version, an elevator is necessary to take guests underground. From there, they cross under the Disneyland Railroad tracks and into the show building.
- The singing bust in the graveyard scene of Thurl Ravenscroft is often mistaken for Walt Disney
- The attraction itself actually takes place in a large, warehouse style building backstage, the mansion is just a facade.
- Can you find the Mr. Toad statue in the pet cemetery? It can be found upon exiting the attraction on the left side. The statue is a nod to the former Mr. Toad's Wild Ride attraction in Fantasyland.
- Be sure to look Inside the hearse located outside for an amusing gag. Beside the dead flower bouquet is an invitation to be the 1,000th ghost by visiting the "ghost relations department” - a play on words with Disney’s Guest Relations Department.
- One of the most recognizable Hidden Mickeys can be found in the ballroom scene. Look for three plates that form a classic hidden mickey on the left side of the table.
- You can’t make this up - some of the actors who worked on the ride had some rather creepy last names. Your Ghost Host is voice actor Paul Frees. Leota Toombs modeled for the disembodied head of Madame Leota, and Thurl Ravenscroft did voice work on the attraction. He was also Tony the Tiger for Frosted Flakes.
- In 2011, an interactive queue was added to the Mansion that is full of tongue-in-cheek gags and references to former Disney Imagineers.
Liberty Square Riverboat - a steam-powered riverboat tour
- The riverboat was built on Walt Disney Property although it appears that it might have been restored steamer from years ago.
- It's original name was the Richard F. Irvine but it was changed in 1996 after a major refurbishment.
- The Liberty Square Riverboat is guided by a track but relies on a working steam engine for propulsion.
- Its sister boat, the Admiral Joe Fowler accidentally fell from a crane while in dry dock. It suffered extensive damage to it's bow and engine. It was then stored backstage for years before being dismantled.
- In early 2006, maintenance workers discovered serious hull damage caused by corrosion on the boat. It was immediately taken out of service and repaired.
- Walt Disney was so passionate about having a riverboat in Disneyland, that many thought it would become the icon of the park, instead of the Cinderella Castle.
Hall of Presidents An Audio-Animatronic stage show featuring the Presidents of the United States
- The "Great Seal of the United States" is displayed in the lobby and make of fine 100% wool carpeting. The seal looks almost identical to the Presidential Seal that contains the words, "Seal of the President of the United States." Because it is unlawful to present the Presidential seal without the President; Disney’s version says. “The Great Seal of United States” The seal is cleaned periodically by White House appointed staff.
- The Hall of Presidents is a federally recognized presidential museum.
- Former President Bill Clinton was the first president to record his own voice for the show.
- President George W. Bush wears a Timex watch inscribed with his inauguration date: Jan. 20, 2001 and was designed in Middlebury, Connecticut.
- Hall of Presidents is based on Disneyland's Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. It first appeared in the in the Illinois building of the 1964 Worlds Fair in New York.
- The new A-100 Presidential animatronics are designed to simply "sit down" in the event they malfunction to preserve the integrity of the show.
- Click here to watch how Imagineers make animatronics for the Hall of Presidents.
