Before I plunge into today’s photo tour, I thought a few words about my return to MousePlanet may be in order. Way back in 2000, my wife Barbara started an online scrapbooking store called MouseMemories.Com, that specializes in Disney-licensed (and vacation-themed) products. Three years later we were faced with a decision. Either we put more effort into MouseMemories and develop it into a serious business, or else we let it grow more slowly and just use the profits to help pay for our Disney vacations. In the Spring of 2003 I decided to leave my position in the automotive industry as well as MousePlanet and we made MouseMemories our full-time job. Since then, we sold off our Disney Vacation Club membership to provide money to fund our business expansion and moved from Michigan down to Kissimmee, Florida. That’s right… we now live just a few minutes from Walt Disney World (and we enjoy the parks a LOT, as you can probably imagine).
So our status is pretty good. We love our new church (Bible Baptist, in Kissimmee), the boys have settled well into their new school, we’ve just moved into our new home, and our business is growing steadily.
So that takes me back to MousePlanet. I said, when I left MousePlanet back in the Spring of 2003, that if and when I ever returned to write about Disney on the internet that I would do so through MousePlanet. Now that MouseMemories is doing so well, my own schedule has settled down a bit and I felt it was time to come back. I won’t be as involved in MousePlanet as I was two years ago. A growing business and family doesn’t allow for that amount of a time commitment, but I’ll be providing a few pieces each year now. I hope you enjoy!
Now, on to the photo tour!
Welcome to Liberty Square! Liberty Square is one of the Magic Kingdom’s original lands. It’s located right off the hub, just to the left of Cinderella’s castle. Here are a few pictures of the entry way to this land.
The dedication plaque for Liberty Square reads, “From this gateway stirs a new nation waiting to be born. Thirteen separate colonies have banded together to declare their independence from the bonds of tyranny. It is a time when silversmiths put away their tools and march to the drums of a revolution, a time when gentlemen planters leave their farms to become generals, a time when tradesmen leave the safety of home to become heroes. Welcome to Liberty Square!”
As you cross the bridge from the Magic Kingdom’s hub into Liberty Square, the Sleepy Hollow refreshment stand can be seen on the right-hand side. Sleepy Hollow is named from the small town in which Mr. Ichabod Crane had some hair-raising experiences. The Walt Disney Studios produced a cartoon short back in 1949 called, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” It was released as part of “The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad” that year.
On the opposite side of the bridge is row of shops that used to sell antiques, custom-made perfume oils, and silver trinkets. The custom made perfume oils were really fun. There were a couple of dozen bottles of perfume oils that could be mixed according to your own preference. After you decided on your mixture, a small bottle of oil made up according to your custom formula, could be purchased for less than $20 or so. On our honeymoon, Barbara made up her own mixture of “0916,” as she named it (to honor our wedding date). The name and the formula were recorded in the store for future reference (so we could reorder the mixture when Barb ran out). Unfortunately, the perfume oils and the recipe book are now longer there.
Behind the shops is a small garden area that is sometimes used as a character meet and greet area. A portion of it has also been designated as a smoking area.
The nice thing about this part of the park, though, is the attention to detail in the buildings. You can see several different examples of colonial and early-American building construction. Brick, fieldstone, and wood-sided facades are all on display. The effect is excellent! You really do feel like you’re looking at buildings that could have been in the colonies 250 years ago or so.
Oh, and the silver trinkets that used to be for sale in the shop in front were there because the shop was supposedly the establishment of a certain silversmith named Johnny Tremain, from the Esther Forbes book (and the Disney movie) of the same name. Young Mr. Tremain, according to the storytellers, lived in Boston in the early 1770’s, was a friend of Paul Revere and other Sons of Liberty and, well, you get the picture.
Now that same shop has been turned into a Christmas shop. I have nothing against Christmas or even against Christmas shops… but it’s a shame that themed merchandise is so rare in the parks nowadays.
Opposite the “Silversmith’s shop” is another shop that does sell patriotic merchandise. Reprints of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights as well as lots of red, white, and blue products are the mainstays here.
Looking back to the right is a display that gives Liberty Square a lot of its’ historic atmosphere. A Liberty Tree and a reproduction of Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell are reminders of what our forefathers did when they broke away from the British Empire.
A sign and a brass plaque provide some background on the tradition of the Liberty Tree. Here are some quotes from the sign:
“The original Liberty Tree, a stately elm, was a rallying point for pre-revolutionary activities. The open space under its’ branches was called “Liberty Hall” and a flag pole was erected through its’ branches with a hoisted flag the symbol for action.
“Countless inflammatory cartoons and verses were nailed to its’ trunk and many Tories hung in effigy from its’ branches. Perhaps its’ proudest moment was the repeal of the Stamp Act when innumerable lanterns blazed among its’ branches for all to see.”
And the brass plaque states:
“Under the boughs of the original liberty tree in Bostin in 1765, patriots galling themselves “The Sons of Liberty” gatahered to protest the imposition of the Stamp Act. In the years that followed, almost every American town had a liberty tree – A living symbol of the American Freedom of Speech and Assembly. Our Liberty Tree is a Southern Live Oak, Quercus Virginiana, more than 100 years old.”
Just beyond the Liberty Tree is the Liberty Bell. A brass plaque near the bell states:
“For over two centuries, the Liberty Bell has symbolized liberty to most of America. Cast from the same mold, this bell is a ?Second Generation? of the original bell that hangs in Philadelphia. It was cast for Walt Disney World Resort in 1989.?
Surrounding the bell is a set of flagpoles, each one proudly bearing the colors of the original thirteen states. The poles are marked with the year that each state ratified the Constitution and thus joined the United States of America.
Just beyond the flags, straight ahead, you can see the Hall of Presidents.
Inside the Hall of Presidents is a fantastic show that tells the story of the framing of the Constitution. The Constitutional Convention finished its’ work in 1787, as you can see from the notation on the Hall. The show concludes with an Audio-Animatronic roll-call of the all of the men that have held the office of President of the United States from George Washington and down to George W. Bush. It’s a wonderful show and a great reminder of our heritage as Americans.
Behind the Hall of Presidents building is a very interesting “design flourish.” Note the round turrets and compare them to the next picture.
This is a picture I took of the Capitol building in Williamsburg, Virginia. This is the building in which the House of Burgesses, the Virginia colonial legislature, met during the years that led up to the Revolutionary War.
The building features are a classic example of the level of detail that Disney is famous for.
Looking back toward the Rivers of America, there’s a riverboat formerly known as the Richard F. Irvine.
Liberty Belle, by the way, was renamed after an overhaul in the early 1990’s. Richard F. Irvine, by the way, was one of the principle builders of the Magic Kingdom. His name now graces one of the ferryboats that ply the waters of Seven Seas Lagoon.
Taking a ride on Liberty Belle is a fun way to spend a few minutes during a cool afternoon. If you have little ones, you can ask permission from the Captain to “come on up” and join him in the pilot house. If permission is granted, and it usually is unless someone else has already asked, you’ll be able to pilot the boat during it’s journey, blow the whistle, and get a riverboat pilot’s license!
Back to land… as you continue walking Columbia Harbor House is on the right…
…and The Yankee Trader shop is on the left.
The Yankee Trader now sells a mix of scrapbooking products…
…kitchen utensils, cookbooks, and the like…
…and plush toys.
It’s an odd combination to say the least.
Next, between Yankee Trader and the river is the old Gracey mansion. You might find that it looks a bit familiar, but it’s not a place where I like to spend too much time. It’s a bit creepy… and the howling sounds make my hair stand on end. Hmmmm… I just might have to come back to take a closer look sometime soon.
From near the Gracey place there’s a good view of the riverfront.
The last little bit of Liberty Square is the Liberty Tree Tavern. Located around the corner from the Liberty Tree and Liberty Bell, the Tavern serves up hearty faire for lunch and is the venue for a great all-you-can-eat character meal at dinner time.
Off in the distance, you can see a couple of Mountains that might be fun to visit some time. Chickapin Hill is to the left…
…and Big Thunder Mountain is on the right.
But those are both in Frontierland, which is another topic for another photo tour.
