Magic Kingdom Resort Boat Transportation Route Changes: What You Need to Know

Disney has made a significant change to the Magic Kingdom water taxi service, impacting transportation to nearby resorts. Here’s what you need to know about the updated routes and how they may affect your travel plans.

New Boat Route Details

Previously, separate boats serviced Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. Now, a single boat route connects Magic Kingdom to both resorts, stopping at Wilderness Lodge first before heading to Fort Wilderness.

This change increases the travel time to Fort Wilderness from approximately 20 minutes to 35 minutes. Guests at Fort Wilderness may experience longer wait times at the dock due to this adjustment.

Why the Change?

The updated route is designed to accommodate more scooters and strollers. Large enclosed boats, which can handle scooters, now service both resorts, while smaller open-air boats follow closely behind. A third water taxi connects Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and Wilderness Lodge, but this route only operates in the afternoon.

Is This Permanent?

According to Cast Members, this change is currently being tested to determine its long-term viability. Seasonal demand and operational efficiency will likely influence whether this becomes a permanent policy.

Magic Kingdom Resort Area Boats

Ferry Boats

Service To: Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC), Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom ferries start running 30 minutes before the park opens, including during Extra Magic Hours. For instance, if Morning Extra Magic Hours start at 8:00 AM, the first ferry ride from the Transportation & Ticket Center to Magic Kingdom commences at 7:30 AM.

Each ferry can accommodate 600 guests and requires 3 crew members. Up to three ferries are in operation during opening and closing times. During the daytime and late-night hours, only two ferries run, typically resulting in wait times of up to 20 minutes. The ferry service continues until one and a half hours after the park closes, including during Extra Magic Hours.

Magic Kingdom Resort Area Ferry Boat Locations

Magic Kingdom Theme Park

Magic Kingdom Park (Ferry Launch)
Magic Kingdom Park (Red Launch)
Boat Launch – Magic Kingdom Park (Green Launch)
Magic Kingdom Park (Gold Launch)

Ticket & Transportation Center

Transportation and Ticket Center (Ferry Launch)

Water Taxis: Boat Launches & Cruisers

Four different routes are offered in the Magic Kingdom area, each identified by a unique color flag. All routes commence operation 30 minutes before the park opens, including Early Theme Park Entry hours, and continue until 90 minutes after the park closes.

However, the boat services may be suspended due to bad weather. Specifically, if there’s lightning nearby, the launches are halted. Here are each of the water taxi routes that are offered in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area:

Gold Flag

Service To: Grand Floridian, Polynesian, Magic Kingdom

The Gold Flag itinerary escorts visitors from the Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, then on to Disney’s Polynesian resort, before returning to the Magic Kingdom. This route operates in the opposite direction to the resort monorail.

The service begins 30 minutes prior to park opening, including Extra Magic Hours and continues until 1.5 hours after the park closes. Typically, two launches are available on this route. ECVs cannot be accommodated on this route. Wheelchair users must be able to transfer out of their wheelchair and step down 2 feet into the boat.

The journey around the lake takes about 20 minutes, with approximately 7 minutes between each stop. The wait time between boats is usually 10-15 minutes.

Red Flag

Service To: Wilderness Lodge, Magic Kingdom

The Red Flag route carries guests from the Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. This route usually operates one cruiser and one launch, which means guests with ECVs may have to wait for the cruiser. The journey from the Magic Kingdom to the resort takes roughly 8 minutes, and the wait time between boats is typically 8-12 minutes.

Blue Flag

Service To: Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, Contemporary

The Blue Flag route comprises two launches that ferry guests around Bay Lake, stopping at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, and Contemporary Resort. The two launches operate in opposite directions, meeting at the Contemporary.

Green Flag

Service To: Fort Wilderness, Magic Kingdom

The Green Flag route transports guests from the Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. This route generally operates two cruisers, both capable of accommodating ECVs and wheelchairs without needing a transfer. The journey from the Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness takes about 13 minutes once the boat has departed. The waiting time between boats is typically 10-20 minutes.

Magic Kingdom Resort Area Boat Launch Locations

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (Gold Launch)

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort (Gold Launch)

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (Blue Launch)
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (Red Launch)

Disney’s Fort Wilderness

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (Green Launch)
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (Blue Launch)

Travel Tips for Guests

Plan for Extra Travel Time: If you’re heading to Fort Wilderness, allow for the longer travel duration.
Check Boat Schedules: Be aware of the boat types and their capacity for strollers and scooters.
Stay Updated: Keep an eye on Disney’s transportation updates for any further changes.

Conclusion

While the new boat route aims to improve accessibility, it may require some adjustments for guests traveling to Fort Wilderness. With a little planning, you can still enjoy the convenience of Disney’s complimentary water transportation.

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.