These 4 Disney World Resorts Offer Boat Transportation to Magic Kingdom

Sailing across Seven Seas Lagoon is the perfect way to travel between your resort and the Magic Kingdom. We’ve had a good deal of coverage of the monorail resorts on the Magic Kingdom loop. But we rarely discuss that some resorts offer boat transportation to the Most Magical Place on Earth. So below, we’ll review each resort that offers boat service to and from the Magic Kingdom. If you have plans to stay at any of these resorts or visit them for dining, we encourage you to take the boat. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “It’s not the destination; it’s the journey.” This is one journey you won’t want to miss!

Resorts with Boat Service to Magic Kingdom

The following resorts offer boat service to and from Magic Kingdom.

• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground

*Disney’s Contemporary Resort offers a boat service (after 3:00 p.m.) to Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness. However, the Contemporary does not have a boat service to the Magic Kingdom. You can easily walk to Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary or take the monorail.

Disney’s Grand Floridian and Polynesian Resort Boat Service

Disney’s Grand Floridian and Polynesian share a boat service to and from Magic Kingdom. This boat route is known as the Gold Flag launch. When you exit Magic Kingdom, the boat dock for Disney’s Grand Floridian and Polynesian is to the right past the monorail entrance. The walkway to Disney’s Grand Floridian sits adjacent to the boat dock. The boat service between Magic Kingdom and both resorts is shared, so there is only one line. When a boat arrives at the dock, the captain will allow guests to disembark, and then waiting guests can board. It travels to the Grand Floridian first and then the Polynesian before returning to Magic Kingdom.

When you arrive at either resort, you can follow the signage to the lobby or your accommodations if you’re staying at the resort. Both lobbies are a short walk from the boat dock. For more on this route, we have a separate article with pictures highlighting the boat ride to Grand Floridian. The picture below shows the golden flag at the boat’s bow. This boat service typically begins half an hour before the park opens and continues until 45 minutes after the park closes.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Boat Service

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge offers boat service to and from Magic Kingdom. Guests can walk to the boat dock behind the resort and take the Red Flag launch. The boat services have signage indicating that the boats run a half-hour before the park opens until a half-hour after it closes. This is pretty standard, but it might begin running a little earlier. Bus service is also available from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom. (The bus service is shared with Fort Wilderness. It stops at Wilderness Lodge first on the return trip.)

When you leave Magic Kingdom, the boat dock for Wilderness Lodge is directly front and center. The Wilderness Lodge shares a boat dock with Fort Wilderness, so ensure you get in the correct line. They are not a combined route like the Grand Floridian and the Polynesian. See taking the boat from Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom for more specifics.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort Boat Service

Disney’s Fort Wilderness is the last resort with boat service to and from Magic Kingdom. This service is the Green Flag launch. It docks next to the Wilderness Lodge at Magic Kingdom. However, the boat service is direct (not shared). An alternative bus service runs between the Settlement at Fort Wilderness and Magic Kingdom. The bus service is shared with the Wilderness Lodge.

When you arrive at Fort Wilderness from Magic Kingdom, you’re on the lakeside of the Settlement. Hoop Dee Doo Revue, Crockett’s Tavern, and Trail’s End are only a short walk away. The resort’s primary stables are near the Settlement bus stop. However, if you’re visiting for Chip and Dale’s Campfire Sing-Along or horseback riding, you’ll need to take a bus from the Settlement to the Meadow or the Outpost. See our Fort Wilderness Transportation Guide for specifics about getting around this resort. It’s massive.

Boats that Service the Magic Kingdom Resorts Area

Two types of boats run between the resorts in the Magic Kingdom area and the theme park. The boat below is the larger of the watercraft. It has interior seating and can accommodate guests in wheelchairs and ECVS. This boat also has exterior seating on the front and partially covered seating at the stern.

Here is a photo of the boat’s interior.

This photo shows the covered seating area at the back. We usually grab a seat here for shade and fresh air when possible.

These smaller boats service all of the routes we’ve discussed. The boat pictured below holds up to approximately 30 guests. These boats require a step-down. So, they cannot accommodate guests in ECVS. If you are ambulatory, you can fold your wheelchair and bring it on this type of boat. Strollers will also need to be folded before boarding.

Here is a look at the boat’s seating arrangement. The captain will ask that you make room for everyone. Seats are also available toward the front of the boat.

Final Thoughts

We hope this overview of the Magic Kingdom boat service helped plan your routes. For more on transportation at Disney World, you might enjoy:

• The Quickest Way Between Epcot and Magic Kingdom
• Everything You Need to Know about Disney Springs Water Taxis Service
• Taking the Friendship Boats Between Epcot and Hollywood Studios
• How and When to Take the Magic Kingdom Ferry

Or you might like our complete guide to Walt Disney World Water Transportation.

More Planning

Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Explore our resources, including our Disney World Resorts Guide. It provides an overview of everything you need to know about the Disney Resort Hotels. For dining, our Disney World Dining Guide is an excellent place to start. Our Disney World Transportation Guide is a wonderful resource for planning your routes. It’s one of our most popular resources. If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we have an updated list of Disney World Characters. It includes every available character meet-and-greet in the parks and where to find rare characters throughout the year. Lastly, our Disney Parks Guide provides a complete overview of all four theme parks and water parks.