Feel the brisk wind upon your face as you explore the Rivers of America aboard a full-scale replica of the first American ship to sail around the world. Sail boldly forth into the wilderness on a full-scale replica of a majestic 3-masted ship from the 18th century. Sailing Ship Columbia recreates the grand pioneering adventures of the famous vessel that discovered the Columbia River and became the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe.
Board the 110-foot-long, fully rigged Columbia and feel the wind and sun upon your face. Marvel at the towering 84-foot mainmast or inspect the merchant ship's 10 cannons and 2 deck-mounted swivel guns - necessary to repel the attacks of ruthless pirates. Imagine what it must have been like to challenge the ocean aboard the Columbia with a determined crew of skilled sailors. It took the original Columbia 3 years to sail around the world, but your voyage will only take about 15 minutes.
The Sailing Ship Columbia takes you in a full circle around Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. Along the banks of the Rivers of America, you'll see many intriguing sights and sounds across 3 different lands - including the backwoods of Frontierland, the wrought-iron railings of New Orleans Square and the peak of Chick-A-Pin Hill towering over Critter Country. Below the main deck you'll find historical displays recreating the living conditions of 18th-century sailors. The maritime museum celebrates the dedication and sacrifice of the brave explorers who filled in the final details of the world's map.
Ride Experience
Passengers wait for the 84-foot-tall ship, which departs every 25 minutes, inside a sheltered area called Frontier Landing, located in the Frontierland section of the park. The waiting area, which the 110-foot-long (34 m) Columbia shares with the Mark Twain Riverboat, is made to resemble a real dock, with cargo deliveries sharing space on the dock. Historic United States flags are displayed at the attraction's entrance.
Passengers board the full-scale replica of the original sailing ship Columbia by climbing steps, also known as the "brow", up onto the main deck. Once on board, they can visit a nautical museum below deck, which shows what life was like for the 1787 crew. In addition to the galley, pantry, dry stores, and sick bay, there are quarters for the crew, bosun and bosun's mate, first mate, captain, and surgeon.
Once the ship casts off, it begins its voyage around the Rivers of America. The ship, which has three masts and rigging but does not unfurl its sails, is powered by a compressed natural gas engine. It runs along the same track, hidden by the green dye in the water, as the Mark Twain.
The captain provides a tongue-in-cheek running commentary as he calls orders to his crew, while recorded background music plays a selection of nautical songs, such as "Blow the Man Down". As the ship passes Fort Wilderness on Tom Sawyer Island, a Columbia cast member fires two 12-gauge blanks from one of the ship's ten cannons. The Fort also had a cannon that used to fire back.
The sailing ship Columbia operates only on the park's busiest days, or when the Mark Twain is not operating. The attraction usually opens at 11am and closes at dusk. On evenings when Fantasmic! is being performed, the ship, which plays the role of Captain Hook's pirate ship in the show, will also close at dusk. When the ship is not operating, it is docked at Fowler's Harbor, near the Haunted Mansion attraction.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Facts
- The Sailing Ship Columbia attraction opened in 1958.
- The Sailing Ship Columbia, located at the Disneyland park in Anaheim, California, is a full-scale replica of Columbia Rediviva, the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe.
- When it was constructed in 1958, it was the first three-masted windjammer to have been built in the United States in more than 100 years.
- The Columbia follows the same path as the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes.
- The Columbia has entertained park visitors for nearly fifty years, including its continued role of Captain Hook's pirate ship in the park's popular Fantasmic show.
- 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.
History
When Walt Disney decided that the Rivers of America needed more river traffic and wanted another large ship to join the Mark Twain, he asked Joe Fowler, who was Disneyland's construction supervisor and a former naval admiral, to pick a historic sailing ship for inspiration. After examining every maritime museum in the country, Fowler recommended the first American sailing ship to go around the world: the Columbia Rediviva. However, there is only one known picture in existence of the original windjammer. WED researchers used it, along with research materials from the Library of Congress, to design the Columbia.
Architect Ray Wallace was commissioned in 1957 to work with Fowler in creating the construction plans. The ship was constructed at Todd Shipyards in San Pedro, California, where the Mark Twain 's hull was built a few years earlier. After Fowler told Disney that it was customary to put a silver dollar under each mast before it was set, Disney personally put a silver dollar under each of the Columbia's three masts.
For the ship's christening on June 4, 1958, Fowler was dressed as a sailing captain of the 18th century, while the Mousketeers appeared as his crew. Since then, the sailing ship Columbia has had many extensive refurbishments, but the only major change has been the addition of the crew quarters exhibit in 1964.