Walt Disney World Water Transportation (The Complete Guide)
Walt Disney World has a tremendous number of transportation options. You can hop on a bus, board the monorail, and take to the sky in a gondola. Then, you have boat transportation. Walt Disney World’s water transportation is unique because of the numerous routes and types of vessels that run them. Boats range from tiny to immense.
Boating is one of the most pleasant travel methods. Aside from walking, it is our favorite way to get around. There’s nothing like feeling the warm breeze of the open air, sparking the spirit of adventure as you set sail for your destination. Even if it’s only a ten-minute ride, you’ll feel refreshed when you arrive.
Below, we’ll preview the various types of water transportation available at Walt Disney World. We’ll discuss each boat route and the color flags that identify it. We’ll also preview the types of boats that run each route and what to expect. So when the time comes for your vacation, you’ll be ready to set sail!
Types of Boat Service at Walt Disney World
Here is a list of the boat services at Walt Disney World and how to identify them by their flags.
The Magic Kingdom Ferry
- The Magic Kingdom Ferry sails across Seven Seas Lagoon between the Transportation and Ticket Center and the Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom Resorts Boat Service
Gold Flag
- The gold flag boat runs between Magic Kingdom, the Grand Floridian, and the Polynesian.
Red Flag
- This boat runs between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Magic Kingdom.
Green Flag
- This boat runs between Disney’s Fort Wilderness and the Magic Kingdom.
Blue Flag
- This boat runs between Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness. It only runs between 3:00 p.m. and 10:45 p.m.
FriendShips (Commonly called Friendship Boats)
- Epcot Resorts Route: These boats run between Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They service Disney’s Boardwalk, Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club (combined stop), and Disney’s Swan and Dolphin (combined stop includes Swan Reserve).
- Internal World Showcase Lagoon: A FriendShip travels across the World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot. Guests can take a boat from the Morocco Pavilion to the World Showcase Plaza near the Canada Pavilion or vice versa. (A similar boat service formerly ran between the Mexico side of the Plaza and Germany. However, it ceased operation years ago.)
Water Taxis
Blue Flag
- This boat service runs between Disney’s Saratoga Springs (The Springs boat dock) and Disney Springs (The Marketplace boat dock).
Green Flag
- This boat service runs between Disney’s Old Key West (Hospitality House) and Disney Springs (The Marketplace boat dock).
Yellow Flag
- This boat service runs between Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort and Disney Springs (The Marketplace boat dock).
Purple Flag
- This boat service runs between Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and Disney Springs (The Marketplace boat dock).
Yellow and Purple Flag (Combined)
- This boat service stops at Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside on the way to and from Disney Springs (The Marketplace boat dock).
*Disney Springs formerly had three boat docks. The other two docks (The Landing and West Side) have not been open since early 2020. Formerly, guests could take water taxis across Disney Springs instead of walking. But that is no longer an option. The only boat services that currently service Disney Springs are from Disney Springs Area Resorts and the Marketplace boat dock.
Magic Kingdom Ferry
Three ferries run between the Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). They are two-story vessels, each with a staircase toward the front and back. The lower level is accessible for guests with strollers, wheelchairs, and ECVS.
The TTC serves as the parking lot for Magic Kingdom. When guests park at the TTC, they can take the ferry or monorail to the Magic Kingdom. (They also have the option to monorail to the surrounding resorts or Epcot.) The ferry boards to the far left after you pass through security.
Here is a photo of the upper level of the Magic Kingdom ferry. Each ferry can hold approximately 600 guests, significantly more than the monorail, at approximately 360 guests. However, the express monorail to Magic Kingdom is much faster than the ferry. The journey across the water takes approximately 10 minutes.
Magic Kingdom Resorts Boat Service
The Magic Kingdom Resort boats are our next Walt Disney World water transportation option. These boats run from the Magic Kingdom to the resorts we listed above. Each route has a specific color flag. Two types of boats run this route. One is the water taxi shown in the picture below.
This boat seats approximately 30 guests. About 8-10 seats are available toward the front of the boat. This boat requires a step-down, so it’s not accessible for ECVs and anyone who isn’t ambulatory. If you have a wheelchair or stroller, it must be collapsed (folded) before boarding. This boat type regularly runs between the Grand Floridian, the Polynesian, and the Magic Kingdom. (This route is shared.)
The water cruiser pictured below also services the Magic Kingdom Resorts. It’s substantially larger and can accommodate guests with ECVS. This type of boat regularly runs between the Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, and the Magic Kingdom. (These routes are separate and not shared between the resorts.)
Here is a look at the inside. (Both types of boats (the water taxi and cruiser) service the Magic Kingdom Resort routes we’ve discussed.)
FriendShips Boat Service
Disney’s FriendShips service the Epcot Resorts Area. Guests can take the boats to park hop between Epcot and Hollywood Studios. These boats are primarily interior, with one row on the back exposed to the elements. The back row is pretty popular and often the first to fill up. The FriendShips have a dedicated interior area for guests in wheelchairs and ECVs. However, Disney notes that circumstances like the water level can sometimes affect access.
The Friendships run in the following order before returning in the exact opposite order:
- Epcot’s International Gateway
- Disney’s Boardwalk
- Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club
- Disney’s Swan and Dolphin
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios
A walking path is also available between both parks and the resorts. If there’s a long line for the boat, the walking path will likely be the quicker option. See walking between Epcot and Hollywood Studios for the park-hopping distance if you walk.
As mentioned earlier, this same boat type also services the World Showcase Lagoon inside Epcot. You can use it to travel from the Morocco Pavilion area to the Canada Pavilion area (World Showcase Plaza). However, you’ll skip many countries along the way. But if you have someone who’s grown weary or needs to minimize walking, this route is a good option. Additional docks are available along the promenade in the Germany Pavilion and the Mexico Pavilion. (Note: Some of the docks within Epcot might not always be operational.)
Disney Springs Resorts Water Taxis
Our last set of boats is the water taxis that service Disney Springs. These open-air boats run between the following Disney Springs area resorts and Disney Springs:
- Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
- Disney’s Old Key West
*A walking path is available between Saratoga Springs and Disney Springs. That article details both walking paths from the resort to the Marketplace and the West Side. Example: If you’re at The Springs boat dock and going to the West Side of Disney Springs, you would have a much shorter walk if you took the walking path to the West Side. If you took the boat, you would end up at the Marketplace. Then, you would have to walk to the West Side, which would be considerably longer.
The water taxis have bench-style seating, as shown in the photograph below. Two people are asked to sit on the benches on the left side of the boat, and three are asked to sit on the longer bench on the right side.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this Walt Disney World water transportation overview helps set your sails in the right direction. Knowing your options is half the battle for getting around the resorts and theme parks! For more on how to get around Disney World, see our beginner’s guide to Disney World Transportation.
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In the Comments
Do you have any questions about water transportation at Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments below.
If you are at Disney Springs, where do you catch the water taxi to the resorts? I have been to Disney Springs many times and have never seen it.
Also, how long is the wait and is there a cost? Can you get to all the resorts such as Contemporary and Polynesian Hotels?
The boat dock is at the far end of the Marketplace. You would exit Disney Springs at the old Marketplace entrance, past Goofy’s Candy Kitchen. From there, you would walk down to the dock. There is boat service to Saratoga Springs, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter, and Disney Springs. It’s a complimentary transportation option. If you would like to leanr more, we have a guide that shares how it all works: https://www.resortsgal.com/disney-springs-water-taxis/