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Orlando Car Rental Travel Guide - Liberty Square
“Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards - the things we live by and teach our children - are preserved or diminished by how freely we exchange ideas and feelings.”
- Walt Disney
“Past 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.”
- Sign Welcoming All To Liberty Square
Liberty Square “Must See” Rides & Shows
Liberty Square is, perhaps, the most laid-back land in the Magic Kingdom. The featured show is at the Hall of Presidents, which features life-like AudioAnimatronic robots delivering the messages that marked each featured president's time in office. The show is continually being updated as new leaders come into office in the United States and, yes, Barack Obama is now part of the show! The following, however, is this section of the theme park's only ride and is not to be missed:
The Haunted Mansion:
The Haunted Mansion has been a favorite at the Magic Kingdom since the park first opened in 1971. Even though it is an “older” ride, it is still so popular that it is a FastPass attraction. The Haunted Mansion sits eerily atop a hill, peering down at the rest of Liberty Square. It is said that it contains 999 different ghosts and that they are eagerly looking forward to making you the thousandth!
One of the longest rides at The Magic Kingdom, guests tour this old English Tudor-style home in “doom buggies” that frequently make many turns - sometimes even going backwards - to give riders the best views of the various permanent residents that live there. The ghosts are truly amazing and have to be seen to be ... believed?
The graveyard on the outside of The Haunted Mansion is a great spot for photos of your Orlando vacation. Make sure to check out the humorous sayings on the tombstones on your way into the attraction as well as the carriage that appears to be pulled by a ghost horse (check out the hoof prints in front of the carriage). There is also a pair of eyes on the last tombstone that are watching you as you pass by. When you leave the Haunted Mansion, be sure to see the pet cemetery on the hill to the left as well!
Liberty Square Secrets
The centerpiece of Liberty Square is a giant 135-year-old tree. The Liberty Tree - meant to replicate the communal meeting place of the Sons of Liberty - has thirteen lamps hanging from it’s branches that represent the original thirteen colonies and is a great backdrop for a photograph of your Orlando vacation. This tree weighed 35 tons when it was moved from another part of Walt Disney World to its present location in Liberty Square and its acorns are said to be responsible for more than five hundred trees which populate the Orlando theme park.
The buildings that line the streets of Liberty Square each have a different facade that represents a particular 19th century decade. By placing the number “18” in front of each house’s number, you can determine the decade that each one portrays.
You might think twice about hanging around in Liberty Square at night. If you look up at the top story window above the door at The Haunted Mansion, you will occasionally see the shadows of two people passing by with a lantern. The bodies that these shadows belong to are never seen, however. Will they be following you around for the rest of your Orlando vacation? Don't look in the trunk of your Orlando car rental!
The “Imagineers” went into excruciating detail when they created the ghost party in the large ballroom at The Haunted Mansion. The ghosts that you see are actually reflections of Animatronic figures that are projected off of a mirror and onto a screen. One detail was overlooked, however. Because a mirror shows an opposite image, it appears that the women are leading the men in their wild ghost dance. Oops!
Liberty Square Ride Restrictions:
The Haunted Mansion: Although this is intended to be a ride for the entire family, the fact that it is set in a haunted house can be upsetting to some children. Most of what is depicted at this Liberty Square favorite is humorous, in fact. All children have different fears, however, so parents should be warned about the darkness of the ride, the spooky noises and voices as well as the potentially upsetting scenes with bats, spiders, skeletons and ghosts. That is, unless you don’t mind your child waking you up all night long during your Orlando vacation!
There is no real rush to get to Liberty Square first thing in the morning. Although the lines for The Hall of Presidents may seem rather long, keep in mind that several hundred people are admitted to the show at a time and usually the entire throng gets in as the previous show empties out. The lines for the Haunted Mansion may seem rather daunting as well, but it is an extremely fast-moving line and there are tons of things to observe as you progress toward the ride, itself.
Don't forget to reserve your Orlando Car Rental; taxis in this town can be quite expensive!