After months of absence, The Molly Brown, one of the two riverboats from Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing at Disneyland Paris, has finally been spotted sailing again on the Rivers of the Far West!
The beloved boat disappeared into its maintenance bay earlier this year, shortly after Big Thunder Mountain closed for a major technical refurbishment that ran from January 6 to June 21, 2025. During that period, Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing also remained closed. Originally, the Molly Brown was expected to return just a few weeks after Big Thunder Mountain’s reopening, but the comeback was delayed several times. Now, the long-awaited reopening is officially set for October 18.
Spotted on the Water Again
On October 6, 2025, fans noticed the Molly Brown back on the water for the first time, as Cast Members carried out test runs around the Rivers of the Far West. A few things stood out during these tests, some of the broken light bulbs on the ship still hadn’t been replaced (hopefully something that could be fixed before reopening day), and the moving part on the upper deck wasn’t functioning yet.
However, the boat looked cleaned, suggesting it may have received a new coat of paint.
What About the Mark Twain?
Disneyland Paris actually owns two riverboats for this attraction: the Molly Brown and the Mark Twain. Sadly, the Mark Twain has been out of service for years and is reportedly in poor condition. It remains hidden away in the backstage area, only brought out when the Molly Brown needs maintenance and even then, the Mark Twain stays well out of sight from guests.
Information about the Mark Twain riverboat was also erased from the official Disneyland Paris website.
In April, Disney announced plans to enhance the Rivers of the Far West with new scenes inspired by the original drawings of Imagineer and Disney Legend Marc Davis. Additions such as a buffalo on the prairie and deer drinking from a waterfall were mentioned as part of the update. It’s unclear if these changes will still happen this year. So far, no new scenes have been spotted.
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