Bitterly Disappointed in BC water Transportation

[stargazertechie]

Today we learned the hard way that if you LOVE DHS and rope drop is important, the epcot resort area may not be right for you.

Got to the pier at 7:03 with an 8AM EMH at DHS (on the 4th busiest holiday of the year). A few couples had been at the pier since 6:40.

It took two calls to the Transportation Coordinator, another family walking to the YC front desk, and a call to the "front desk number" before the first friendship boat passsed by... at 7:40.


Needless to say I am on a boat of hostile parents at this point (LOL). We are taking it fairly easy this trip and my mantra has been "we've seen it all, we will see it all again, hakuna matata" but I really feel for the folks who are on a once in a lifetime trip who are now missing out on the prime benefits of EMH, especially after doing their due diligence and arriving at the boat dock 80 minutes prior to rope drop.


We considered walking... but after 6 days of park hopping and resort exploring, our legs are shot.

 

[HubbDave]

Was any reason given for the delays?

 

[buckeev]

Wow. That is so disappointing to hear. We have a few days reserved there for our Christmas trip, and the proximity to DHS was one of the two most important reasons we chose BC for our first stay at an Epcot resort.
Sorry you had a bad experience with that, but sounds like y'all are still having a great trip.

 

[rlovew]

I had always walked to DHS when I wanted to go to EMH- I thought that the friendship boats didn't start that early and that was my only choice. I haven't stayed at Epcot resorts that often though.

 

[OKW Lover]

Sounds like a pretty bad experience.

I've never been a fan of that boat service. I know I can walk to where I'm going faster than the boat will take.

 

[HubbDave]

Sounds like a pretty bad experience.

I've never been a fan of that boat service. I know I can walk to where I'm going faster than the boat will take.

I think the walk is 1.1 miles or so from BC? Doable in the morning but OP said they were beat
Good to know they start later

 

[stargazertechie]

No reason given for the delays- but it wouldn't surprise me if it was due to boat captains or support staff running into traffic issues- many of the attractions CMs mentioned they we're late arriving today due to traffic snarls.

We had asked at the boat dock intentionally yesterday with assurance that they would be running starting at 6:45 to accommodate holiday traffic...otherwise we would have been up earlier to slowly limp to DHS LOL!

It's been raining hard all week, so we've been in less than ideal shoes.

 

[Mousemommy1]

We took the boat service from YC exactly once during our 11 day stay. We found that it was much quicker to just walk to DHS, even with my tired 6 year old bringing up the rear.

The boat service was way too slow for us.

 

[Sue M]

I hope the boat service improves for August. Just getting over knee surgery, so want to save my knee for all the walking in the parks. And it's plain too hot in August to walk

 

[TJA]

I agree the boat service can be pretty slow. But what OP experienced was irregular. When we stay at BC, we walk to the swan/dolphin boat pick-up because its a straight shot to HS from there.

 

[patty57]

I would be disappointed too. The only time I take the Friendship Boats is when I'm not in a hurry because they take forever. They're a nice ride, but sloooow.

 

[cvjw]

We stay at the EPCOT resorts a couple of times per year, and never ride the friendship boats. They are just too slow. There are so many stops that it takes forever to get any where. We just walk.

A few weeks ago, we tried an experiment. As we were leaving DHS, a boat was waiting at the DHS dock. My DH and younger DS went to ride the boat home to the BWV. Me and older DS walked on the path to BWV. Needless to say, we were back at BWV, already in the villa by the time the boat docked at the Swan/Dolphin. That was the only time we used a boat on our stay at BWV.

 

[maxiesmom]

No reason given for the delays- but it wouldn't surprise me if it was due to boat captains or support staff running into traffic issues- many of the attractions CMs mentioned they we're late arriving today due to traffic snarls.

And that can cause transportation problems at any resort. So I don't think anyone should let something so random keep them away from one of the boardwalk area resorts, if that is where they want to be.

But yes, when those issues happen to you, they do stink.

 

[surferdave]

The only truly reliable means of being sure external things don't make you late for rope drop is walking (and that's only if you are staying in a resort where you can walk). Boats, buses and monorails can all run late, and parking lots at the parks can open late.

 

[sunsetbeachgal]

Wow...when you are up early to do rope drop, and have a transportation issue it is maddening. And just having returned from a June trip, to walk a mile plus with kids, in the heat and humidity, would not work for most.

 

[DisneyMim]

Yeah, we have found the transportation from BC (area) to be awful. We always rent a car. My husband HATES the boat, thinks it takes way too long. The buses were bad too. Just too many stops, too many people and way too slow. I think your best bet is to walk to DHS if you don't have a car. I just wanted to say that I totally agree with you, you are not alone. Hope you have a great trip despite the bad transportation.

Enjoy The Magic!!!

 

[cindym]

When we were there one year the boats didn't run because of fog. I totally understand that but no other form of transportation was offered. There were a few people who had to change plans as they were unable to walk to DS. We simply walked to the park. The fog didn't lift until around 11 am that day.

 

[Eastern]

Those boats actually travel at a slower speed than someone walking at a good pace (not running). If you (walking) and the boat leave at the same time, you will get there faster. That's how slow they are!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I would have walked after 10 minutes of no boat. It's a really fast walk.

 

[michelleiada]

We very rarely use the boats. We enjoy the walk to and from the studios. However, I totally understand that not everyone is up for the walking. That is too bad. I know it's frustrating when you are trying to make it somewhere and waiting for transport. I hate the buses at Beach Club, although when to we were there in June we had no issues!