Boat between MGM & Epcot?

[MamaKate]

I thought I read somewhere there was a boat that stops @ both MGM & Epcot.

Is this true !

If so, would I be able to leave MGM, get on a boat, and go to Epcot? How long does it take?? Where else does it make stops??

Thanks!
,
Katherine

 

[clkelley]

Yes, there is a boat that goes between the Epcot World Showcase entrance and the Studios.

The boat trip takes about 40 minutes and stops at Yacht/Beach, Swan/Dolphin, and Boardwalk both directions.

It is actually faster to walk, but is a pretty hefty walk.

Carol

 

[din]

The EPCOT entrance for the boats is by France.

It is great if you stay at one of the resorts where it stops or making it over from one park to the other in the middle of the day. If you park your car at one of the parks, MGM or EPCOT, please check the boat schedule. If I re-call correctly the boat stops running between the two after a certain time. If you are staying at one of theother resorts, then catch the bus or monorial.

 

[TroyWDW]

The boats run a circular path between Epcot and MGM with stops at the three resorts. It is about a 25 to 30 minute ride from Epcot to MGM. It can be longer during busy periods with lots of passengers embarking/disembarking.

They cycle is: Epcot to Boardwalk to Yacht/Beach to Swan/Dolphin to MGM to Swan/Dolphin to Yacht/Beach to Boardwalk to Epcot...

If you are embarking from the Boardwalk, Yacht/Beach, or Swan/Dolphin there will be two separate lines. One for an Epcot boat and one for an MGM boat. They are all the same boats, it's just a matter of where the boat is headed next. The boats typically continue to run for an hour after the park closes.

The boats are air conditioned and have outside seating at the rear of the boat (the engine exhaust fumes can be strong though). The ride can be very relaxing and your feet will thank you.

Troy

 

[crisi]

The walk isn't that hefty by Disney standards - possibly twenty minutes - but the longest part of the walk is from MGM to the resorts, from there it isn't far to Epcot at all. If you want to save both feet and time, if the boat is there as you leave MGM - catch it - its a five minute boat ride to the Swan Dolphin landing. Get off, cross the bridge to the Boardwalk, walk the Boardwalk over to the International gateway - 10 minutes. You will beat the boat to the BW landing - and probably be in Epcot before it leaves the landing. Keep in mind if you hoof it, you are tucked back behind France and Great Britain in the WS - its another ten minutes to hoof it from their to Mission Space or Mexico.

If you want to try for Fantasmic and Illuminations on the same night, you will need your running shoes - the boat won't make it. But a fit young adult probably can (as can a fit not so young adult - but this is not something couch potatos or people with young children should try). Sit towards the back of the Fantasmic theatre as close to the entrance as possible. As soon as the show is over, get moving, head out of MGM as fast as possible. Walk as briskly as you can over to Epcot and go through the International gateway. It will be dark, so you may want to scope it out earlier in the day - park and Epcot and walk over to MGM. The best seats will have been taken 40 minutes ago, but you should arrive about five minutes before the show starts.

 

[MK Familystone]

Hi!
The Boat Water Shuttle is slow which enables you can take-in the many sites between MGM and Epcot , that's the way I veiw it.
Its a change to plan the next trip res in your mind as to which of the five resorts you would like to stay at on the WDW trip.
My favourite view from the right rear, outside of the main cabin of the shuttle, while traveling from Epcot to MGM, after dark is the wedding cake illusion of the clam shells at the Dolphin Resort.
ENJOY!!!

"THE MAGIC HAPPENS!!!" AARR!!!

 

[MamaKate]

Thanks for the wealth of Info !!

I will be actually going form MGM to Epcot at around 3:00 to go to our Candlelight Processional package at 5:00.

So do you guys think it's faster to hop on the boat, get off at the Boardwalk & walk the rest of the way. Or should I just take the boat the whole way??

At 3:00, should the boat be crowded and running slow??

Do you think leaving MGM at 3:00 will allow enough time to arrive at Epcot by 4:00 or should I leave a little earlier?

Thanks again for all the help !
Katie

 

[clkelley]

3:00 should be plenty of time. I would just guage it when you get to the boat. If there is a long line at the boat dock, then get off an start walking when you feel you are running out of time. It's not like once you get on the boat you have to commit.

Carol

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Originally posted by MamaKate
Thanks for the wealth of Info !!

I will be actually going form MGM to Epcot at around 3:00 to go to our Candlelight Processional package at 5:00.

So do you guys think it's faster to hop on the boat, get off at the Boardwalk & walk the rest of the way. Or should I just take the boat the whole way??

At 3:00, should the boat be crowded and running slow??

Do you think leaving MGM at 3:00 will allow enough time to arrive at Epcot by 4:00 or should I leave a little earlier?

Thanks again for all the help !
Katie

It may or may not be faster to hop on the boat and get off at the Swan/Dolphin. This will depend on whether the boat is waiting at the dock when you arrive. If you need to wait for the boat, it will be quicker to walk all the way from MGM to Epcot. If the boat is just arriving at the MGM dock (so you can be sure it won't leave while you're still walking down to the dock), you can save a few minutes by riding to the Swan/Dolphin dock and then walking from there to Epcot. If you stay on the boat all the way to the BoardWalk dock, you might as well ride the boat all the way to Epcot, since the BW is the last stop prior to Epcot. From the S/D, the boat goes to the Yacht/Beach Club dock and then on to the BW dock. Unloading and loading at each dock takes 3-5 minutes, so this slows the boat down. I think that the total time for the boat trip one-way (MGM to Epcot in this case) usually takes about 25-30 minutes depending on how many passengers are getting on and off. In busy times, there are usually four boats running so the wait is no more than about 15 minutes (the scheduled time between boats is 20 minutes, but at busier times this gets shorter because more boats are used).

In any case, if you leave MGM at 3:00, you should have no problem being at Epcot by 4:00. I walk from the MGM entrance to the International Gateway entrance of Epcot in 20 minutes without walking exceptionally fast. A 30 minute walk is an easy stroll.

Ralph