Taking the Magic Kingdom Ferry (With Resort Boat Service Tips)
Magic Kingdom’s Ferry is one of the most well-known forms of Walt Disney World water transportation. The ferry takes guests back and forth across Seven Seas Lagoon between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Magic Kingdom.
Additionally, several of the surrounding Magic Kingdom Resorts offer boat service to the Magic Kingdom and other resorts. These boats are smaller in comparison to the ferry.
This article will discuss the Magic Kingdom Ferry and the surrounding resort boat service. Whether you’re headed to the Magic Kingdom or want to visit a resort for dining or leisure, knowing the best way to travel to your destination is essential.
These tips and details are based on our travel experiences. Since we’re at the resorts and parks weekly, we intentionally practice these processes and take photos to share with you. This article has been updated to reflect a few recent changes that might benefit your trip, including the return of the resort watercraft launch between Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, and the Wilderness Lodge.
Magic Kingdom Ferry Boat
When visiting the Magic Kingdom, guests who drive must park at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), which serves as the park’s parking lot. Additionally, guests who take a bus from an off-property resort will be dropped off at a bus stop adjacent to the TTC.
After parking, you can take a tram from the lot to the Transportation and Ticket Center. If you prefer, you can use the walkway. However, depending on where you park, it might be a significant walk.
Tip: Take a photo or write down the row where you parked. The last thing you want is to spend 30 minutes looking for your car after a long day of standing in line. Disney also has a car locator tool in the My Disney Experience app. Instructions for using the tool are available here on Disney’s site.
When you arrive at the Transportation and Ticket Center, you have two options for getting to the Magic Kingdom: the ferry or the monorail. If you want to take the monorail, we have a separate guide covering its facets: Disney World Monorail Guide.
Before deciding which form of transportation to take, you’ll first head through security screening. Years ago, security was on the other side of the water near the park’s entrance. However, this security process is a tremendous improvement. After you clear the security area, you can continue to the ferry or monorail.
Two ferryboats run simultaneously across Seven Seas Lagoon. Each ferry docks and drops off guests. Then, new guests can board before it returns across the water. The Magic Kingdom Ferry runs approximately an hour before the park opens and continues up to an hour after the park closes.
If the Magic Kingdom is open for early theme park benefits, the ferry will begin running approximately 45 minutes before those hours. The same goes for extended evening hours for parties or after-hours events.
After going through security, you’ll see the signage for the ferry on the far left. If the ferry has just left, it takes approximately 10 minutes for the next ferry to arrive. Thankfully, most of the waiting area is partially covered, so there is some shade. However, you can expect a significant line if you arrive first thing in the morning.
After the ferry unloads, a cast member will open the gate for new guests to board. You can continue down the gangplank and board the vessel. Then, you can decide whether to stay on the main level or walk up to the second level. Here is a photo of the boarding ramp. Magic Kingdom’s ferry is wheelchair and ECV-accessible.
Seating is fairly limited on the ferry. A few benches are available on the main level.
We usually like to go up to the second level, where more seating is available.
A staircase is available at the front and back of the ferry. It’s roped off while the boat is in motion. We often ride on the top level. When the boat docks, we stay on our bench and let everyone clear out ahead of us. It makes for a much more peaceful experience.
From the ferry, you can see Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, which sits next door to the Transportation and Ticket Center.
Beyond the Polynesian sits Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
Finally, the Magic Kingdom will come into view. It’s a magical way to arrive.
The ferry is a pleasant open-air option, and the pace is enjoyable.
It takes approximately 15 minutes to board the Magic Kingdom Ferry, cross the water, and dock. You could easily spend the same amount of time waiting in line for the Express monorail. However, if there isn’t a line for the monorail, it is usually the faster of the two options. Unfortunately, I don’t know the exact specifics of how many guests can board each vessel. But it seems that the ferry has a higher capacity.
At the end of the day, you’ll return to the same dock outside of Magic Kingdom. This dock also provides a partially covered waiting area.
Tip: If you wait until after the evening fireworks to leave, you’ll be packed in this area like a can of sardines. We usually like to find a seat in the park and let the crowds clear before we attempt to leave.
My favorite time to take the ferry is on a leisurely day when the sun is shining, and it’s nice outside. When I arrive at the Transportation and Ticket Center, I nearly always take the ferry over the monorail.
Magic Kingdom Resort Boats
Next, we’ll look at the different resort boats serving the Magic Kingdom area. If you’re staying or visiting one of the Magic Kingdom Resorts, you will have several options for traveling to the theme park.
The following resorts offer boat service to the Magic Kingdom:
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
The boats that service these resorts are substantially smaller than the ferry. However, fewer guests use them. These boats can be identified by flags.
- Gold Flag (Grand Floridian to Polynesian to Magic Kingdom)
- Blue Flag (Contemporary to Fort Wilderness to Wilderness Lodge)
- Red Flag (Wilderness Lodge to Magic Kingdom)
- Green Flag (Fort Wilderness to Magic Kingdom)
When you exit the Magic Kingdom, you’ll see three boat launches.
- Magic Kingdom Ferry Service
- Boat Dock 1 (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness)
- Boat Dock 2 (Disney’s Grand Floridian and Disney’s Polynesian)
Boat Dock (1) is on the left side of the two resort launches. Guests returning to and coming from Disney’s Fort Wilderness and Wilderness Lodge Resorts will use this dock. This boat dock has a separate line for each resort, so make sure you get in the correct one.
Boat Dock (2) is on the far right-hand side of the dock. It services guests coming from and returning to Disney’s Grand Floridian and Polynesian.
This resort launch only has one line. The boat travels in a triangular pattern from Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian. It then continues to the Polynesian before returning to Magic Kingdom.
Tip: A walkway from Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian begins directly behind this dock. If you leave during the mass crowds at night and are headed to the Grand Floridian, this walkway is an excellent option.
Boat Service (Disney’s Grand Floridian and Polynesian)
Even though the Grand Floridian and Polynesian share the same route to Magic Kingdom, they each have their own boat dock. Here is a photo of the resort boat dock at Disney’s Grand Floridian.
This boat travels from the Grand Floridian to the Polynesian, then to Magic Kingdom, before returning to the Grand Floridian. Here is a photo of the boat dock at Disney’s Polynesian Resort.
Related: Transportation Options at Disney’s Grand Floridian
Boat transportation between the resorts and Magic Kingdom begins one-half hour before the park opens and lasts until 45 minutes after the park closes.
You’ll want to fold any strollers before boarding. Additionally, most of these smaller boats require a step down into the boat. So, they may not be accessible for wheelchairs or ECVS.
*Details for those with mobility issues (e.g., wheelchairs and ECVs) can be found on Disney’s site.
The boat launches are fairly easy to see from the shoreline. So head toward the water, and you should be able to locate the path to the nearest boat dock. If you’re visiting the Polynesian for a meal or shopping, you’ll want to head to the Great Ceremonial House after you dock. This is where you’ll find the Polynesian’s major dining and retail areas.
Boat Service (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge)
Next, we’ll examine the boat service from Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Some of these boats are larger than those that run between the monorail resorts. However, as of late, we’ve seen some larger boats servicing all the resort launches. These boats have an interior and exterior seating area. They are also usually accessible for guests with wheelchairs and ECVS.
When you reach the Wilderness Lodge, you are greeted by a scenic walkway through a wooded area.
Plenty of directionals will help you get to the right place. Don’t forget that the resorts are large. If you haven’t visited before, it can be easy to get turned around. Some of my favorite moments on Disney property are the quiet, relaxing moments at the resorts, especially my time spent at the Wilderness Lodge.
Another resort watercraft is provided between Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, and the Contemporary. This boat service runs between 3:00 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. This boat has a blue flag and docks on the right side of the Wilderness Lodge’s boat dock. Usually, two boats run this route simultaneously. They travel to the same destinations but in opposite directions.
Boat Service (Disney’s Fort Wilderness)
Another resort watercraft launch runs between Fort Wilderness Campground and Magic Kingdom. This boat is identified by a green flag. This boat docks at The Settlement within walking distance of Pioneer Hall and Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue.
Another resort watercraft is provided between Fort Wilderness, the Wilderness Lodge, and the Contemporary. This boat service runs between 3:00 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. This boat has a blue flag and docks on the right side of the Wilderness Lodge’s boat dock. Usually, two boats run this route simultaneously. They travel to the same destinations but in opposite directions.
If you are visiting for horseback riding, you will want to locate bus transportation after exiting the boat. Fort Wilderness is a massive resort that has an internal bus service. The resort has two stables. The one with horseback riding is at the front of the resort near The Outpost, which isn’t anywhere near the bus stop.
We did this a few years back, and the cast members were very confused about where we were going, so we ended up in the wrong place. It took us a while to get good directions after initially docking at Disney’s Fort Wilderness. Since then, I’ve spent a good deal of time at the resort. It’s taken a lot of wandering the resort to learn my way around.
Related: Disney’s Fort Wilderness Transportation Options
Boat Service (Disney’s Contemporary)
Lastly, Disney’s Contemporary is the only Magic Kingdom Resort without boat transportation to the theme park. However, you can easily walk between the Magic Kingdom and the Contemporary.
However, guests can take the blue flag launch from Disney’s Contemporary and travel to either Fort Wilderness or Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. It is a convenient way for guests of any of these resorts to travel to the other for dining or recreation. This boat service is available between 3:00 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
Final Thoughts
Magic Kingdom’s Ferry and surrounding boat service provide an efficient and fun way to travel. A warm sunny day sailing across the Seven Seas Lagoon can improve even an already cheerful mood.
For other Disney Water transportation, the Friendship boats travel across Crescent Lake between Epcot’s International Gateway and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They stop at the Yacht Club and Beach Club, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, and the Swan and Dolphin on the way. An additional set of Friendship boats travel across the World Showcase Lagoon between Morocco and World Celebration.
Water taxis also travel between Disney Springs and Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter, and Disney’s Old Key West Resort. They dock at the Disney Springs Marketplace.
If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World, I can not reiterate enough the importance of learning the best ways to get around Disney property. Here are a few other transportation reviews we’ve yet to discuss:
- Disney’s Skyliner with Travel Times and Routes
- Friendship Boats at Disney World
- Tackling Transportation at the Disney Resort Hotels
- Disney Springs Transportation Options and Tips
Additionally, we specialize in resorts, characters, and dining. We have a complete list of reviews for each resort:
Not for sure if you want to stay on Disney property? We also have a guide to finding the best off-site hotels near Disney World. Some of our favorites include:
- Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Review
- Wyndham Grand Orlando Review at Bonnet Creek
- Waldorf Astoria Orlando Review
- Signia by Hilton Bonnet Creek Review
- Flamingo Crossings Hotel List (Affordable Near Disney)
Or browse over our list of the Best Marriotts near Disney World.
You’ve probably heard that sometimes the most fun is in the journey. And let’s face it, where else can you take a scenic boat ride, a highway in the sky, or a gondola for free while on vacation?
In the comments:
Have you ever taken the Magic Kingdom Ferry or one of the resort boat launches? Did you find this article helpful? Do you have questions about using any of these boat services? Leave a comment below and let us know!
MK closes at 6PM and the Electrical Water Pageant starts at 8:30. I would like to go to Fort Wilderness to watch the water pageant and eat at a quick service restaurant there. Can I catch a boat there and one back to the parking lot at MK after the water pageant?
Hi Sharon,
My best guess would be probably not. BUT your best bet would be to ask the cast member at the boat service before heading over that way. From my experiences, Disney’s transportation times have been drastically reduced given shorter theme park operating hours. You might have to take a taxi or car service to get back to your car. Good luck, I’ve never watched the pageant from Fort Wilderness. I’ll have to check that out sometime!