Food, Grog and Ye Olde Shoppes

There are many shopping and dining experiences in Liberty Square! Either Columbia Harbour House or Liberty Tree Tavern are your best bet for eating a nice lunch. Both offer general lunch foods and are open all the time (as in, not seasonally).

A cute spot to eat that is (unfortunately) only open seasonally is Sleepy Hollow (pictured below). It is a quaint little eatery that offers beverages, snacks, fruit cobblers and cappuccino.

There are plenty of places to shop as well! Like the Heritage House, for example! The Heritage House is a great place to find gift items about the History of our Country. The Yankee Trader is a yummy shopping experience - it is chock full of yummy treats like pasta, jams, jellies as well as cooking supplies like pots and pans. Another fun shop is Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, where it's Christmas year round! I especially love this store because Christmas is my favorite holiday! What's best is that in addition to having Disney themed decorations, they also carry traditional decorations - for those who want the magic of Disney in their home, but aren't quite ready for Mickey and Donald to be on the tree!

Lastly, another unique "shopping" experience is at the Liberty Square Portrait Gallery. At this outdoor cart, Disney World guests can have their portrait professionally done - and they always look great! In addition, it's always fun to sit, relax and watch the artists at work!

Here is a pretty picture of Liberty Square at night!

Well, that's it for Liberty Square! Next stop, Fantasyland!

Would you care to join me for a boat ride, madam?

Come and enjoy your trip aboard the Liberty Square Riverboat. This attraction is a slow 17-minute cruise along the "Rivers of America" (the canal surrounding Tom Sawyer Island) narrated by Mark Twain himself!

This is a fantastic way to get away from the bustling sidewalks of the Magic Kingdom! While there are a few seats, the majority of the room on this boat is standing room only. You can escape the sun on the middle deck, but the top deck is a great place to get unique photos of Tom Sawyer Island, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and The Haunted Mansion.

Some Interesting trivia: The original boat used for this attraction was named after Admiral Joe Fowler, a man who helped with construction of both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. In 1973, the Richard F. Irvine was added as a second boat. In 1980, Admiral Joe Fowler went for dry-dock maintenance and never returned. Now, it is just the Richard F. Irvine who transports guests along the Rivers of America.

Boo!

"When hinges creak, in doorless chambers. And strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls. Whenever candlelights flicker, where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present. Practicing their terror, with ghoulish delight!" - Ghost Host

Welcome to The Haunted Mansion! The premisce of this beloved attraction is that you, the guest, are entering the abode of 9 hundred and 99 ghosts - but, there's always room for one more! *mwahahahaha*

Though this ride is supposed to be scary, it's often just eerie. There are some moments where things pop up, causing an immediate surprise, but nothing is really gory or especially disgusting. Young children may be frightened (I know when I was little, I rode through the ride the first time with my hat over my face!). Now that I'm older I still spook easily, but even I can handle this ride.

The attraction is a slow-moving dark ride; guests sit 2 to a "doom-buggy" (although, you can sometimes fit three in one doom-buggy) and ride through the old mansion.

As you leave the ride, make sure to listen for "Little Leota" who says:

"Hurry back, hurry back. Be sure to bring your death certificate if you decide to join us.
Make final arrangements now. We've been dying to meet you..."

After the inauguration, what do Presidents say?

"We're Going To Walt Disney World!"

And that's where many of them stay, for good - at The Hall of Presidents! The Hall of Presidents features a unique learning opportunity for all!

In this attraction a video illustrating important moments in history (mainly the Constitution and the founding of the presidency). Then, after the film, a curtain is raised revealing every one of our presidents. Each animatronic President moves, nods or waves a hand when their name is called. The program is concluded with speeches by current president (George W. Bush) and Abraham Lincoln.

This attraction will most likely be enjoyed by children ages 8 and up - it could be boring or too hard for younger children to enjoy and understand. It is a great supplement to any History class or anyone's general arsenal of knowledge!

3 Cheers for America!

As you continue through Frontierland, inching farther and farther away from Adventureland, you suddenly enter Liberty Square. The sights are relatively similar, but they change ever so slightly that it takes a minute to register the change in scenery. Since these two lands are from similar time periods, the shift is seemless . This land is significantly smaller than the other lands, but it certainly packs a punch!

Attractions in this land are:
1) The Hall of Presidents
2) The Haunted Mansion
3) Liberty Square Riverboat

Dining opportunities in this land are:
1) Columbia Harbour House
2) Liberty Tree Tavern
3) Sleepy Hollow

Shopping Opportunities in this land are:
1) Heritage House
2) Liberty Square Portrait Gallery
3) The Yankee Trader
4) Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe