Trumbo Ferry replacement

[TDC Nala]

There's a report that the Trumbo Ferry service from OKW to Downtown Disney will be replaced with a larger Sassagoula-type boat that will service both SSR and OKW.

I agree that the OKW boats were too small, but I bet your odds of getting on the bigger boat depend on which resort the boat stops at first.

[freediverdude]

Darn, I liked the OKW boat. It felt much more private and personal than the Port Orleans style boats. Plus now I guess there will be a stop at SSR both ways if you're staying at OKW.

[WebmasterDoc]

I will also miss the current boats if this is true.

The Sassagoula Steamship Co boat operations were paid for by the DD merchants association and not by those resorts. Perhaps that will also be the case if this change is made.

For most SSR guests, it will be a shorter walk to go directly to DD instead of taking the boat (the SSR marina is farther from DD than any of the SSR buildings- if you choose to walk to the marina and wait for the boat you could almost be at DD before the boat arrives). The change would certainly benefit OKW guests, since there will be more capacity with the larger boats.

[DVC-Don]

I'd like to see bigger boats. We have stayed at OKW twice and have never made it on a boat. Not for lack of trying though. Seems there were always more people waiting for the boat than capacity. To wait 20 minutes for the next boat, we could drive there quicker.

[timC]

Being an BWV & WVL owner, I wasn't familiar with what you meant by "Sassagoula-type boats". I founds Sue Holland's helpful article which looks at the various types of boats thats can be found at WDW. Pics included.

Boating at WDW - Transportation and Recreation (http://www.mouseplanet.com/sue_holland/boating_at_wdw.htm)

[Simba's Mom]

Count me in as another one that will miss the old boats. Nice big comfy seats and yes, much more friendly, personnal feeling. Although you can fit more people on a bigger boat, we only used it in the afternoon, so never had a problem getting on. One time DS and I were the only ones on it from DTD back to OKW. If this is true, I'll be sure to make a "farewell" trip on the Trumbo Ferry in December.

[BillPA]

TimC thanks for the link. And thanks for the great photos and info to Sue Holland.

[ScottOKW2K]

I too would miss the Trumbo Ferry is they changed it. I have used both the Trumbo Ferry and the Sassagoula-type boats, and while you feel like you are seated on a bench on the Sassagoula you feel like you are sitting on a comfortable leather couch on the Trumbo. I remember it as one of those "life-is-sweet" moments.

[freediverdude]

So the SSR marina is going to be way over by the golf clubhouse then?? Seemed like it would make much more sense to put it more over towards DD, like on the lake on the DD side of the Spa parking lot there or something. Would be a much quicker little boat ride over to the marketplace dock from there, and it could just make quick hops back and forth. Although that's probably the monorail "right of way" or something LOL.

[tvwalsh]

Don't expect a bigger boat at OKW any time soon. We (OKW people) get to use the present size of boat free of charge from the manufacturer because of the exposure/advertizing. The bigger boats would cost a lot more and would need to be maintained, rather than returned each year and replaced with new free boats!

[DeeP]

Originally posted by tvwalsh
Don't expect a bigger boat at OKW any time soon. We (OKW people) get to use the present size of boat free of charge from the manufacturer because of the exposure/advertizing. The bigger boats would cost a lot more and would need to be maintained, rather than returned each year and replaced with new free boats!
Where did you hear this? When I was at WDW 3 weeks ago we ate lunch at Olivia's and then took the boat to DTD and we were also told the boats were being replaced with bigger boats like POR has and the boats would service both SSR & OKW. A CM at the dock and the boat captain both said the same thing.

[WebmasterDoc]

Originally posted by tvwalsh
Don't expect a bigger boat at OKW any time soon. We (OKW people) get to use the present size of boat free of charge from the manufacturer because of the exposure/advertizing. The bigger boats would cost a lot more and would need to be maintained, rather than returned each year and replaced with new free boats!

The current pontoon boats are paid for by OKW owners thru the recreation budget.

The POR boats are paid by the DD Merchant's Association. I would hope that new, larger boats would also be covered by DD or would certainly prefer the comfy, cozy boats we presently enjoy.

[Pa@okw95]

The boat ride to DD from OKW was always one of my favorite attractions at all of WDW. I will miss the boats we had. I rode on those bigger boats a few times when I stayed at dixie Landings years ago, they were ok, but they will not be as comfortable as the ones we have now.