Construction has started on a ferryboat dock expansion project at Magic Kingdom, an upgrade to one of Walt Disney World’s oldest transportation systems. The work began in early June 2026 near the Seven Seas Lagoon and marks a concrete step forward for a project planned since earlier this year.
What Is Being Built and Why
The ferryboat system has carried guests across the Seven Seas Lagoon since the park opened in 1971. Three boats operate today: the Admiral Joe Fowler, the General Joe Potter, and the Richard F. Irvine. In May 2026, Disney announced a fourth boat named after Meg Gilbert Crofton, Walt Disney World’s fourth president.
A new boat needs more than just the vessel itself. The dock has to grow to handle it, so the project includes a larger dock footprint and expanded queue space for guests waiting to board.
How the Project Came Together
Disney filed a construction permit in February 2026, and Florida’s water management district approved it in March. That review is a standard requirement for work near water and had to happen before crews could begin on site.
What the Current Construction Involves
The active zone sits near the east side of the Seven Seas Lagoon, close to the existing dock. Crews have cleared grass and shrubbery and used an excavator to start shaping the terrain.
Based on permit documentation, this phase appears tied to a floodplain compensation area rather than the dock itself. Floodplain compensation is required when construction reduces the natural drainage capacity of land near water, so a corresponding area must be prepared to make up for the loss. The dock and larger queue are part of the broader scope and may come in later phases.
Connection to the 2021 Ramp Additions
This builds on the 2021 addition of second-level unloading ramps, which let guests exit from two levels at once and reduced the time each boat spent docked. The current project takes a similar approach, focusing on infrastructure to ease bottlenecks at boarding and unloading as ridership grows.
When the Fourth Boat Will Be Ready
The fourth ferryboat is under construction backstage at Magic Kingdom and is not expected to be ready for guests until next year. Once it enters service, the fleet will have more flexibility to reduce gaps between crossings and handle higher guest volumes, which should mean shorter waits and more room at the dock during busy periods.
Conclusion
The ferryboat dock expansion is now in active construction near the Seven Seas Lagoon. Approved in March 2026, the project covers a larger dock, expanded queue space, and supporting site work to accommodate the fourth boat named after Meg Gilbert Crofton, expected in service in 2027. For guests who rely on the ferry, the upgrades should make boarding smoother and more comfortable once complete.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
