Friendship Boat Dock at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club to Temporarily Close for Refurbishment in August
Walt Disney World has announced that the Friendship Boat dock at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club will be closed for maintenance between August 17th and the 21st. Resort guests will be able to use the walkway from the resort to Epcot. An additional bus service will be provided to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Here is the official announcement:
“From August 17-21, 2026, the FriendShip Boat dock at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort will be closed for maintenance. During this closure, there will be direct bus transportation available to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests visiting EPCOT will be able to use walkways from Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort to the EPCOT International Gateway.“
Statement: Walt Disney World
Options During the Boat Dock’s Closures
As far as getting to Epcot, walking will be your only option. For Hollywood Studios, we’ve tested the quickest way to get from Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club to Hollywood Studios. Since the Friendships won’t be available, you might compare walking or taking the Skyliner versus the bus.
- The total walking distance from the resorts to Hollywood Studios is 0.85 miles and takes approximately 20 minutes at an average pace. (I tracked that route from the lighthouse, which sits immediately in front of Yacht Club.)
- The average time to take the Skyliner to Hollywood Studios is about 28 minutes. That route includes walking from the resort to Epcot’s International Gateway, the travel time to Caribbean Beach, and transferring to Hollywood Studios. (This average does not include waiting in line, which can make the timing vary greatly. This route is more about taking the Skyliner for fun on your way to the park or back.)
As for the temporary bus route from the resorts to Hollywood Studios, it shouldn’t take more than 10-12 minutes. You’ll just want to remember that the bus will stop at both Yacht Club (1st) and Beach Club (2nd) on the way to and from the park. (Again, the time doesn’t include how long you’ll have to wait for the bus. If you’re visiting during this time, you should be able to see the wait time for the next bus in the My Disney Experience app.)
If you still want to take the boats during this time, you’ll have to walk to those boat docks. You can take them to and from any of the following locations:
- Epcot International Gateway
- Disney’s BoardWalk
- Disney’s Swan and Dolphin
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
As an example, you could take the Friendship from Hollywood Studios to the Swan and Dolphin, and then just walk back to the Beach and Yacht Club. For more on how the route works, see our overview of the Disney Friendship Boats Route.
For more details, see our page dedicated to refurbishments at the Yacht Club. Or you might like to preview the schedule of resort refurbishments at Disney World. Check back with ResortsGal.com for more updates.
In the Comments
Will this boat dock closure at the Beach and Yacht Club affect your upcoming vacation dates? Let us know below in the comments.
