References to the Mark Twain riverboat have been eliminated from the Disneyland Paris site, suggesting that there are no plans to restore the derelict vessel.
Disneyland Paris Riverboats
A long time ago, Disneyland Paris had two distinctive paddlewheel boats—a rare feature for a Disney theme park. One of these boats, called the Mark Twain, mirrored the design of the famous steamboat at California’s Disneyland. The second boat, known as the Molly Brown—named after a real-life survivor from the Titanic incident—is uniquely recognized as Disney’s sole sidewheel vessel.
In 2020, the Molly Brown needed to be completely reconstructed. After her return to service in 2011, the Mark Twain was sent to drydock supposedly for renovations. Nonetheless, this vessel has not come back since then.
Reportedly, the decision to park the Mark Twain was due to budget issues. These issues also prevented Disneyland Paris from maintaining the boats, and they rotted away in dry docks. When Molly Brown occasionally needed TLC, the Mark Twain would be moved to make way for the sidewheeler, but it never re-entered service. Over the years, guests have snapped photos of the boat falling apart.
In 2018, Disneyland Paris announced their intention to renovate the boat. One of the only remaining references to it is in a
press release
Starting from May 19, 2018, the document noted continuous refurbishment activities, indicating that “additional improvement projects will extend over several years, encompassing both Sleeping Beauty Castle and Mark Twain’s steamboat.” It had been projected that the vessel would be operational again sometime between 2020 and 2021. However, likely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these plans did not materialize. As an alternative measure, the steamboat was covered with tarps either to conceal it or prevent deterioration (via).
WDWMAGIC Forums
). It was then placed under a themed scrim cover (via
Reddit
).
Despite the boat not operating in approximately 14 years, the Mark Twain’s name was still on the
Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing
webpage — until just recently. The webpage now reads:
Head out onto the water in
Molly Brown
, an impressive 1800s-styled paddlewheel boat, explore the rivers of the Wild West region near Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing. As you travel, you’ll get a fresh perspective on Big Thunder Mountain and Wilderness Island, spotting numerous waterfalls as you go. Keep an eye out for hidden smugglers’ caves too!
Nevertheless, examining Google search results can reveal what information the webpage previously contained.
Take to the water in one of two majestic 19th Century-style paddleboats, Mark Twain and Molly Brown, and navigate the Rivers of the Far West…
There are no other references to the boat on the Disneyland Paris website. It seems Disneyland Paris has given up on the boat once and for all.
What are your thoughts on the Mark Twain riverboat at Disneyland Paris falling into disuse? Share them in the comments section.
To stay updated with the most recent Disney Parks news and information, follow
WDW News Today
on
Twitter
,
Facebook
, and
Instagram
.
The post
All Mentions of the Mark Twain Riverboat Removed From Disneyland Paris Website 14 Years Post ‘Renovation’ Start
appeared first on
WDW News Today
.
Leave a Reply