River Rogue Keelboats

Down by Smuggler's Cove along the Rivers of the Far West is the dock for the River Rogue Keelboats. Similar attractions, inspired by the 1956 film Davy Crockett and the River Pirates, once operated at Disneyland (1955-1997) and Magic Kingdom (1971-1997). Today, they're exclusive to Disneyland Paris.

Keelboats were common on the rivers of the old west as a means of transporting cargo. Not typically powered, they were pushed up and down river by means of oars and poles. The keelboats in the parks, however, have engines in back piloted by a captain happy to give a tour of the river to his guests.

During my visit to Disneyland Paris, the River Rogue Keelboats were only operating on peak days. We never got to ride, but I was able to snap this picture of the Coyote being brought around the bend (the other boat in the Paris fleet is named Raccoon). From a distance you can see the three passenger cabins open to the side of the boat, as well as the top deck where many prefer to ride.

While I was disappointed to have missed riding, it was nice to see a keelboat on the river again. It brought back memories from early in my Disney career, when I was a proud keelboater on the Rivers of America in the Magic Kingdom Park.

The keelboat dock is dressed with fishing nets, long oars for piloting the boats and a small crane used to load and unload cargo... assuming, that is, the cargo makes it to the dock. Keelboats were sometimes used and often attacked by river pirates, a gang of which are holed up in a cave just upriver. Their torches have been extinguished and scattered about, and as you pass by, you can hear them inside, raucously celebrating their ill-gotten gains.