This is the first in a series of posts that will serve as a tour of the Magic Kingdom (both past and present) from A to Z.
The Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat was, as you might have guessed, named after Disney Legend U.S. Naval Admiral Joe Fowler. In 1954, Admiral Fowler was invited by Walt Disney to lead the Disneyland construction efforts (he subsequently managed the park’s operations). In the 1960s and 70s, Admiral Fowler was charged with planning and building Walt Disney World, at one point simultaneously holding three positions: senior vice president, engineering and construction for Walt Disney Productions; chairman of the board of WED Enterprises; and director of construction for Disney’s Buena Vista Construction Company.
On October 2, 1971 (the day after Magic Kingdom opened), the Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat journeyed the Rivers of America as a D ticket attraction. In 1980, the Admiral Joe Fowler was taken to dry dock for scheduled refurbishment. While being lifted by a crane, the riverboat slipped and the hull was completely destroyed. As a result, the riverboat was retired and taken to the backstage boneyard; sometime later the riverboat was buried somewhere on Walt Disney World property.
In 1999, the Magic Kingdom I, one of the ferries that transports guest from the Magic Kingdom across the Seven Seas Lagoon to the Ticket and Transportation Center, was renamed the Admiral Joe Fowler in his honor.
This is the first in a series of posts that will serve as a tour of the Magic Kingdom (both past and present) from A to Z.
The Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat was, as you might have guessed, named after Disney Legend U.S. Naval Admiral Joe Fowler. In 1954, Admiral Fowler was invited by Walt Disney to lead the Disneyland construction efforts (he subsequently managed the park’s operations). In the 1960s and 70s, Admiral Fowler was charged with planning and building Walt Disney World, at one point simultaneously holding three positions: senior vice president, engineering and construction for Walt Disney Productions; chairman of the board of WED Enterprises; and director of construction for Disney’s Buena Vista Construction Company.
On October 2, 1971 (the day after Magic Kingdom opened), the Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat journeyed the Rivers of America as a D ticket attraction. In 1980, the Admiral Joe Fowler was taken to dry dock for scheduled refurbishment. While being lifted by a crane, the riverboat slipped and the hull was completely destroyed. As a result, the riverboat was retired and taken to the backstage boneyard; sometime later the riverboat was buried somewhere on Walt Disney World property.
In 1999, the Magic Kingdom I, one of the ferries that transports guest from the Magic Kingdom across the Seven Seas Lagoon to the Ticket and Transportation Center, was renamed the Admiral Joe Fowler in honor of the Disney Legend.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any photographs or postcards of the Admiral Joe Fowler, but Walt Dated World has one here.
Related posts:
- Magic Kingdom A-Z: Enchanted Grove
- Magic Kingdom A-Z: Zazu
- Magic Kingdom A-Z: Grand Prix Raceway
- Magic Kingdom A-Z: Rivers of America
- Magic Kingdom A-Z: X-S Tech
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riverboat,
rivers of america,
seven seas lagoon,
tokyo disneyland,
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