If you’re looking to explore Disney World in a different way on your next trip, you should consider using Disney water transportation! Disney has lots of water transportation options to take you around the resorts and parks, and see them in a completely different way.
We’ve taken all the different types of Disney water transportation, and we love the ease and beauty of it. It’s a beautiful way to see Disney World, and we think you’ll love seeing it from the water!
Types of Disney Water Transport
Disney World offers several different kinds of water transport to get around between the parks and resorts. There are ferryboats, which are larger and carry more passengers, and are only found near the Magic Kingdom. The other boats are all either water taxis/friendship boats, which are smaller boats that take you back and forth between resorts and parks, or resorts to other resorts.
Why Use Disney Water Transportation
We loving use Disney water transportation because it allows you to see Disney in a much more scenic way. It’s also great for locals and annual passholders who may not be in as much of a hurry, or looking for a different way to see Disney World. Or even for a non-park day, and you want to take the boats to either resort hop or head to Disney Springs.
I also personally love the water transportation because I find it more relaxing than the monorail or the buses. You don’t feel as cramped, it’s more leisurely, and you can catch a breeze off the water on a warm day! They’re a great alternative to the buses, monorail, and skyliner, especially for those who want to take their time.
Magic Kingdom Water Transportation
The different boats that travel the water near the Magic Kingdom either take you across Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake. These boats run at 15-30 minute intervals, and they will either take you to the Magic Kingdom, the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), and the Magic Kingdom resorts.
Water Launch/Water Taxis
The smaller boats that are used by the water launch/water taxis will take you between the Magic Kingdom park and the surrounding resorts:
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
These are the best option for resort hopping the Magic Kingdom resorts, and for visiting some of the resorts on a non-park day.
Ferryboats
The ferryboats at Magic Kingdom only take you from the Magic Kingdom park to the TTC, and back. This is a great option for those who stay off-site, or for the locals who have driven to the TTC. These are much larger boats, with more space for passengers, and it might be easier to take one of these boats on a busy day than the monorail.
EPCOT Water Transportation
The EPCOT boats are also known as the Friendship Boats, and these take you across Crescent Lake and Lake Hollywood. Departures are even 15-30 minutes, and riding on this loop will take you a full 30 minutes traveling one-way. The loop takes you from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios, stopping at the Boardwalk, Yacht Club & Beach Club, and the Swan & Dolphin Resorts in between.
This is a beautiful and relaxing trip, and my favorite way to travel between these two parks, but also just to enjoy resort hopping or visiting the Boardwalk! We love the Boardwalk, and have great tips for visiting it here! Take the Friendship Boats to go grab a great bite to eat and see some beautiful and unique resorts.
Disney Springs Water Transportation
The boats that travel to Disney Springs use the Sassagoula River, and they only travel between the resort and Disney Springs. They also depart every 15-30 minutes and the travel time takes between 15-30 minutes as well. The resorts that use the Disney water transportation to get to Disney Springs are:
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter and Riverside share a boat
If you’re staying at one of these resorts, this is the best way to travel to Disney Springs if you want to feel more relaxed and not rushed. It’s also a great way to resort hop, leaving from Disney Springs. If you want to know more about what to do at Disney Springs, we got you! Check out our favorites here.
Disney Water Transportation Tips
If you plan on using Disney water transportation while on your next trip, we do have some tips that will help you out and make your water travel a little bit easier.
Remember that not all of these are direct and have multiple stops, so make sure you plan accordingly with time. In general if you’re any of the water transport, give yourself extra time if you are trying to make a restaurant reservation or get to a park at a certain time.
On the smaller boats like the taxis and Friendship Boats, strollers must be folded up just like on other Disney resort transportation.
Unlike some other Disney transportation, the boats will continue running in inclement weather as well, making it a great choice for rainy days.
Most of the boats start running about 30 minutes before park opening and for about 90 minutes after closing. But this is just a guideline! Make sure you check with the boat captain or posted hours so that you don’t miss your boat!
And like you’ll be reminded once you board a boat, these are real free-floating vessels. All the boats are real boats, with a crew, and you will feel boat motions while on. If you have issues with riding boats, these might not be the best choice for you, because you will feel boat motions and movements.
We hope that on your next trip you check out some of the Disney water transportation! It makes for such a different and more relaxing travel experience between parks and resorts, and it’s a great way to enjoy the beauty that surrounds the parks.
Do you love taking the boats at Disney World? Or do you have another favorite type of transportation? Let us know in the comments!
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