Boat from Epcot to MGM?

[nanlou]

How long does it take to ride the boat from Epcot to MGM? I'm thinking about using the boat to park hop, as that would be fun, but it it wastes a huge chunk of time I'd rather not. We'll have our car on site, so the other option is simply for us to drive between parks. The downside to parkhopping with the boat is that we'd have to make the return trip to retrieve our car. Do you think the fun factor would make this worthwhile, or would it be too much hassle and a time waster?

 

[buzz2400]

It takes about 25 minutes one way. It is good if you want to end up in the world showcase because that is where the boat ramp is. It is good only because you can sit and rest for that amount of time. The only thing I would warn you about is that you get back to the boat before the other park is closing. We went from mgm to epcot one time and almost missed the last boat back to mgm (where are car was). Fortunately there were a few more people in "the same boat" as us and they brought us back (but weren't happy about).

 

[kldmom2000]

It would be a big waste of time IMO.... you'd have to take the boat to one of the Epcot resorts (ie. Beach/Yacht Club, Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin) and then hop to the boat for MGM.... mind you the MGM boat stops at all 3 hotel docks. We always stay at the YC or BC and find that it's always quicker for us to walk to Epcot and if the ferry is right there, we'll take it to MGM-but to go from Epcot to MGM would be a hassle by boat.... since you have a car, I'd say definitely drive over OR walk to the Boardwalk/YC/BC and then take just one ferry to MGM.....

 

[3darlings]

Could anyone tell me where you pick up the boat at Epcot to go to MGM?

We are staying onsite so we would simply take the bus back from MGM to our resort.

Thanks!

 

[mwerner2]

It's at the International Gateway in the World Showcase between the United Kingdom and France.

You actually exit Epcot before you get to the boat landing.

 

[3darlings]

Thanks for the info!

 

[kaybird]

Just chiming in my opinion too! We love the boat, take it lots, it's a nice rest, no longer that the buses, and truly faster than parking, getting the car, driving, parking, etc. We even use this to run to epcot, get the monorail, then over to MK. Did I mention we like to park hop?!?

 

[spiceycat]

take the boat over - it can be fun - you realize it stops at all the Epcot resorts before it gets to studios.

I would take the bus back - a little faster and besides it lets you off where you park your car - no long walk from the boat to the front of the parks.

unless you are coming back to see Illiuinations. then take the boat. (or walk)

 

[PPFQP]

How long does it take to ride the boat from Epcot to MGM? I'm thinking about using the boat to park hop, as that would be fun, but it it wastes a huge chunk of time I'd rather not. We'll have our car on site, so the other option is simply for us to drive between parks. The downside to parkhopping with the boat is that we'd have to make the return trip to retrieve our car. Do you think the fun factor would make this worthwhile, or would it be too much hassle and a time waster?

How long? TOO long! At least from MGM to Epcot. We took the boat from MGM at about 6:45 pm on Friday night, 10/27. We were able to walk right up and board with no waiting. But then the boat stops at the Swan/Dolphin ... and then the Yacht & Beach Club ... and then the Boardwalk ... and then finally Epcot. It took us about 45 minutes.

I am not sure that they make all those stops at the resort on the return trip, but if so, it is slow-going.

I understand that you can walk between the two parks, but we couldn't figure out the route.

 

[spiceycat]

yes it always stops at all the Epcot resorts - the resorts are paying for the boats...

I would say more like 35 minutes - you can definitely walk there faster.

 

[Kick Save]

It would be a big waste of time IMO.... you'd have to take the boat to one of the Epcot resorts (ie. Beach/Yacht Club, Boardwalk/Swan/Dolphin) and then hop to the boat for MGM....

No boat hopping required, they all do the same loop: MGM to Swalphin to YC/BC to BW to Epcot to BW to YC/BC to Swalphin to MGM.

If speed is your main concern, then you can likely walk it quicker. If you're taking a "stop and smell the roses" approach, then the boat is a good choice. It's a nice trip.

 

[DavidHobart]

The fastest way if yuo don't have too wait long for the boat is to get off on the way from MGM to Epcot at Swan and Dolphin, and walk over the bridge to Boardwalk, and walk from there to Epcot. I love the boat, but the portion from S&D to Epcot drives me crazy with all the slooooow puttering around the little lake between S&D, YC/BC, Boardwalk, and Epcot....

 

[christinadei]

I'm trying to figure out the fastest way from Epcot to MGM and then back to Epcot after the late showing of Fantasmic. Will it be too late to catch the boat back? How do I figure out how to get from one park to the other? Is it a scary walk? It will be me, Dsis and 2 kids. Our car will be parked at Epcot, so we'll have to be able to get back after fantasmic.

 

[canron]

its a long boring ride you would be better off to park at boardwalk and walk min we dom it 4 times every trip we eat at board walk thyen go in the back way when you laeve theres no crowds at all and its a nice 5 minit walk

 

[CPer'sMom]

How long? TOO long! At least from MGM to Epcot. We took the boat from MGM at about 6:45 pm on Friday night, 10/27. We were able to walk right up and board with no waiting. But then the boat stops at the Swan/Dolphin ... and then the Yacht & Beach Club ... and then the Boardwalk ... and then finally Epcot. It took us about 45 minutes.

I am not sure that they make all those stops at the resort on the return trip, but if so, it is slow-going.

I understand that you can walk between the two parks, but we couldn't figure out the route.

The boat trip between the 2 parks *should* be a 30 minute trip ~ that's the schedule. Yes, the boats always make the resort stops. Normally the Friendship Boats run very close to schedule, but can vary according to crowd size and other factors. The boat captains really do try very hard to get people on and off their boats as quickly as possible; they want to be on time too Sometimes you will find that the boats sit at the docks for a few extra minutes - that happens when they're ahead of schedule. Normally when the boats are behind schedule it's because the guests are slow loading and unloading.

The route between the 2 parks is really quite easy -- follow the path along the water

 

[PPFQP]

Normally the Friendship Boats run very close to schedule, but can vary according to crowd size and other factors. The boat captains really do try very hard to get people on and off their boats as quickly as possible; they want to be on time too Sometimes you will find that the boats sit at the docks for a few extra minutes - that happens when they're ahead of schedule. Normally when the boats are behind schedule it's because the guests are slow loading and unloading.

That was probably the case Friday night. It was nearly full leaving MGM, and then more people kept getting on with every stop - it was an EMH evening at Epcot. It was standing-room-only from the Boardwalk, and they had to leave people waiting on the dock because there simply wasn't room.

In our case, it took us about 45 minutes to get from MGM to Epcot.

 

[CPer'sMom]

That was probably the case Friday night. It was nearly full leaving MGM, and then more people kept getting on with every stop - it was an EMH evening at Epcot. It was standing-room-only from the Boardwalk, and they had to leave people waiting on the dock because there simply wasn't room.

In our case, it took us about 45 minutes to get from MGM to Epcot.

The captains hate to leave people behind But sometimes they have to ...... I certainly believe it took you 45 minutes, but *normally* it's not nearly that long.

 

[tink576]

Walking is also an option if you take the boat half way or walk the whole time...It's only one mile from epcot, which could be long or short if you compare it to how much you spend walking all day, but you just keep following the path...my family likes both options...

 

[Robo]

The captains hate to leave people behind But sometimes they have to ...... I certainly believe it took you 45 minutes, but *normally* it's not nearly that long.

You are absolutely correct.

The boat trip, either direction is exactly 30 minutes between MGM & Epcot docks.

I have personally timed it dozens of times at different parts of the day.

While its POSSIBLE for ANYTHING to happen (we got "stuck" waiting for another Friendship to leave the Epcot dock one night) its unlikely (given average conditions) that the trip would be much longer or shorter than the usual 30 min. (45 minutes would be quite possible, but unusual).
The Friendships' engines are "governed" to a pre-determined top speed, and the docking/unloading/loading averages out (with even heavy traffic) to be about the same time for each trip.

The walk, at a brisk clip, and the boat-ride will be nearly a "draw" at 30 minutes (yes, I've done both more than a few times).
The advantage of the walking would be if you just "missed" a boat and those at the dock had to wait for another boat to arrive.

 

[CPer'sMom]

You are absolutely correct.

The boat trip, either direction is exactly 30 minutes between MGM & Epcot docks.

I have personally timed it dozens of times at different parts of the day.

While its POSSIBLE for ANYTHING to happen (we got "stuck" waiting for another Friendship to leave the Epcot dock one night) its unlikely (given average conditions) that the trip would be much longer or shorter than the usual 30 min. (45 minutes would be quite possible, but unusual).
The Friendships' engines are "governed" to a pre-determined top speed, and the docking/unloading/loading averages out (with even heavy traffic) to be about the same time for each trip.

The walk, at a brisk clip, and the boat-ride will be nearly a "draw" at 30 minutes (yes, I've done both more than a few times).
The advantage of the walking would be if you just "missed" a boat and those at the dock had to wait for another boat to arrive.

Wow! I really like reading a post that I totally agree with! LOL