Introduction | Attraction | Touring Tips | Kids/Characters | Dining | Shopping | Interesting Facts

INTRODUCTION

Take a voyage around the Rivers of America on this 18th century sailing ship. The Sailing Ship Columbia is located in Frontierland just across from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It shares the dock with the Mark Twain Riverboat.

ATTRACTION

The Sailing Ship Columbia is a full scale replica of the first American ship to sail around the world. It has 10 guns, three masts, and is 84 feet tall. You board the ship by climbing up some rather steep steps up onto the deck. Once on board, be sure to visit the "museum" belowdeck. You'll see the crew, captain, and surgeon's quarters as well as the galley, and get some idea of what life was like for the crew in the year 1787.

Once your crew casts off, the ship begins its voyage around the Rivers of America. The captain provides a somewhat tongue-in-cheek running commentary as he calls orders to his (somewhat inept) crew. One of the ship's guns is fired at Ft. Wilderness - but don't worry, they never hit anything. Recorded background music plays a selection of nautical songs like "Blow the Man Down", and "Rolling Home".

TOURING TIPS

The Sailing Ship Columbia can be a bit elusive -- it operates only on the busiest days, or when the Mark Twain riverboat is down. It closes at dusk.

The trip takes about 15 minutes, and the ship leaves twice an hour. On days when both the Mark Twain and Columbia are operating, one of them
leaves the dock every 15 minutes.

Wheelchairs/ECV users enter through the exit gate to the left of the dock and talk to a Cast Member for boarding instructions. You must go up/down some steep steps to get on/off the ship.

The deck provides an interesting vantage point for photos around the Rivers of America area.

During Fantasmic! the Sailing Ship Columbia is transformed into Captain Hook's pirate ship, and is filled with excitement and action as pirates swing around the ship on ropes and Peter Pan and Captain Hook duel and chase each other around the ship.

KIDS AND CHARACTERS

Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Wendy, and Mr. Smee are sometimes found cruising on the Columbia - usually on one of the first voyages of the day. Woody and Jessie from Toy Story make frequent appearances in Frontierland near the Columbia's dock -- check the Times Guide for times and location.

DINING

Rancho del Zocalo, offering a selection of Mexican food, is located nearby in Frontierland.

The River Belle Terrace, serving southern specialties like catfish and barbecued chicken, is also close by.

SHOPPING

Nearby shops include:

Bonanza Outfitters - Western apparel for men, women, and children.

Pioneer Mercantile - Frontier-themed souvenirs such as Davy Crockett hats and Western style character merchandise.

Westward Ho Trading Company - Candy store with fudge, hard candies, boxes chocolates and cookies.

INTERESTING FACTS

The Sailing Ship Columbia attraction opened in 1958.

The original Columbia is the namesake of the Columbia River in Oregon - in 1792 Robert Gray sailed his ship, the Columbia, up the river and named it after his ship.

The U.S. flag on the ship's stern is the same U.S. flag that would have been used in 1787.

The cabin on Tom Sawyer's Island used to be perpetually burning. In those days, the Columbia captains would pretend it was the firing of the Columbia's gun that started the blaze. Oops.

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