Changes in WDW Watercraft Operations on 7 Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake

[Endeavour105]

Please note the following changes in WDW Watercraft operations on 7 Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. The WDW Watercraft boat routes to the WL and FWC from the MK have changed effective 11/18/07. Boats to the WL and FWC leave for the World Cruise dock (center dock) at the MK. They now are as follows (See *** below):

Ferry boats operate from the TTC to the MK and return. Depending on the time of day 1 to 3 ferry boats operate. Ferry boats run from 0830 to 45 minutes after the MK closes.

There are 2 Motor Launches (GOLD FLAG) that run from the MK to the GF and Poly before returning to the MK. These launches run from 0830 to 45 minutes after the MK closes.

***The WL is now serviced by 1 Motor Cruiser and 1 Motor Launch (RED FLAG) and begin running each day at 0830 and terminate operations about 1 hour after the MK closes. These 2 RED FLAG boats run only between the MK and the WL.

*** The FWC is now serviced by 2 Motor Cruisers (GREEN FLAG) running each day from 0830 until about 1 hour after the MK closes. These boats run only between the MK and the FWC.

RED Flag and Green Flag boats begin operations early for morning EMHs and run later on those days with evening EMHs.

The 2 Motor Launches (BLUE FLAG) on Bay Lake serving the CR, WL and the FWC begin service at 0645 daily. They both run clockwise until 3 p.m. and then reverse direction at 3 p.m. These launches run until 2330...no later.

***NOTE: If you want to go to the GF/Poly from the WL, CR or FWC by boat, you will have to go to the MK and then get the Gold flag launch. In addition, there is no boat that goes directly from the CR to the MK, GF or Poly. Additional boats may be added to the Gold, Green, Red and Blue routes during periods of exceptionally high demand - like at heavy MK closings - to alleviate the guest lines at the docks. Additionally for all motor launches, strollers and wheel chairs must be folded prior to boarding and ECVs cannot be accommodated on motor launches under any circumstances.

 

[helenk]

I think the change for the watercraft going just to the WL or the FWC is a good idea. It will certainly make it faster to get to the camp ground by not having to stop at the WL first.

 

[NHLFAN]

Just so I'm reading this right...Can you still catch a boat from WL to FWC and back (Blue Flag)?

 

[Mason7AK]

[Additionally for all motor launches, strollers must be folded prior to boarding and ECVs cannot be accommodated on motor launches under any circumstances. [/QUOTE]


Will the motor launches to FWC take manual wheelchairs? And if so, must they be able to fold?
We are going from MK to FWC for the hoop de doo and wondered if we can take the boat or if we will need to take the bus since we have two wheelchairs in our party. TIA
Angela

 

[agnes!]

I'm glad to see that (at least for now), there are direct boats from the WL to the MK and from the FWC to the MK.

Slightly off-topic for this thread, but... I am not fond of route-sharing and transpo from deluxe resorts being shared with other locations (for instance the last-time we stayed at the WL...the bus routes are shared with the Campground). The route-sharing makes what could easily be a short WL/MK trip (maybe 5 or 10 minutes to the MK?) into a 20 or 25 minute trip - and the trip I took one time from the WL then through the Campground and finally to MGM took ages.

agnes!

 

[fla4fun]

Do they have separate lines for the FW and WL boats at MK? Do the boats dock at opposite ends of the platform? I know at the end of the day, they used to just have one long winding line for both.

 

[Gary M]

I have stayed at the WL many times over the years. At one time the WL had its own boats to MK and the FWC had their own boats. Looks like it's going back to the way it was, which I liked much better. It was frustrating to wait for the MK boat coming from FWC in the morning and finding it full or nearly full when it stopped at WL.

 

[Endeavour105]

[Additionally for all motor launches, strollers must be folded prior to boarding and ECVs cannot be accommodated on motor launches under any circumstances.

Will the motor launches to FWC take manual wheelchairs? And if so, must they be able to fold?
We are going from MK to FWC for the hoop de doo and wondered if we can take the boat or if we will need to take the bus since we have two wheelchairs in our party. TIA
Angela[/QUOTE]

Wheel chairs must be folded if using the motor launches and the user must be able to walk on board. However, they can be wheeled aboard the motor cruisers.

 

[Endeavour105]

Just so I'm reading this right...Can you still catch a boat from WL to FWC and back (Blue Flag)?

Yes. However, depending on the time of day, the Blue flag motor launches from the FWC may stop at the CR first before going to the WL.

 

[snoopywoodstockus]

We have to be at Mickey's Backyard BBQ in FWC at 8:15 for a Seqway tour and are staying at the WL. IF I am reading this correctly, we can take a boat (Blue Flag) over there from WL. We would just have to wait on it to get to our stop.

Please, correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks for the post. This is a great resource.

 

[clkelley]

This is pretty cool!! I hate having to stop at WL on my way to or from MK on the boat!!

The only thing is to go to WL from FW in an ECV will now require either the direct bus from the Settlement OR the walking path, OR a Motor Cruiser to MK, then transferring, and a Motor Cruiser to WL.

 

[clkelley]

OK, so I have another question.

Your post says the motor cruisers to MK do not start until 8:30am.

So to get to early EMH at MK you have to transfer if you are staying at Ft. Wilderness??

Or do the motor cruisers start earlier for morning EMH??

 

[Lesia]

The 2 Motor Launches (BLUE FLAG) on Bay Lake serving the CR, WL and the FWC begin service at 0645 daily. They both run clockwise until 3 p.m. and then reverse direction at 3 p.m. These launches run until 2330.

do you know why the boats are going the same direction now? Seems silly to me, we 've stayed at FW since 1997. I was there in early Nov and found that this new route is very silly.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

do you know why the boats are going the same direction now? Seems silly to me, we 've stayed at FW since 1997. I was there in early Nov and found that this new route is very silly.

The best thing to do is to write to Disney and tell them, as I have, that this seems to be a silly way to run the boats. If you complain here or to the CM it does little good. If Disney gets enough letters they may review the situation and put the boats back in opposite directions. With the new MK routes it would really make sense to have the CR boats going in both directions.

Heck, if enough people needing ECV or wheelchairs complain about the possibility of excessive waits or a ridiculous amount of transfers to get to MK, maybe the Fort will finally get a direct bus to MK.

 

[keishashadow]

great idea! should speed things along, although i enjoy the boat ride (nice way to decompress)

 

[agnes!]

The best thing to do is to write to Disney and tell them, as I have, that this seems to be a silly way to run the boats. If you complain here or to the CM it does little good. If Disney gets enough letters they may review the situation and put the boats back in opposite directions. With the new MK routes it would really make sense to have the CR boats going in both directions.

Heck, if enough people needing ECV or wheelchairs complain about the possibility of excessive waits or a ridiculous amount of transfers to get to MK, maybe the Fort will finally get a direct bus to MK.

I really dislike the shared buses between the WL and FW, it doesn't seem fair to either resorts's Guests. I think both resorts should get direct buses to all parks , especially at peak times or even for most of the day.

agnes!

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

I really dislike the shared buses between the WL and FW, it doesn't seem fair to either resorts's Guests. I think both resorts should get direct buses to all parks , especially at peak times or even for most of the day.

agnes!

I agree with you, especially since FW doesn't have ANY bus to MK, you must first ride a bus to WL then wait for the MK bus from there, very incovinient for ECV or wheelchair users to do with all the changing of buses.

 

[cigar95]

Your post says the motor cruisers to MK do not start until 8:30am.

So to get to early EMH at MK you have to transfer if you are staying at Ft. Wilderness??

Or do the motor cruisers start earlier for morning EMH??

My experience in our recent (September) visit was that the motor cruisers did begin running early for both EMH and LOMH to accommodate resort guests at WL and FtW.

However, it appears guests with early character breakfast reservations at MK will need to take the launch to the Contemporary and then walk or monorail to MK.

 

[Endeavour105]

 

[Gary M]

I just returned from a weeks stay at the WL a couple of days ago (Wed). I liked the boats from the WL to MK and not having to share with FW. They had two red flag boats to the MK. One boat was the smaller 40 seat or so boat and the other was the one that holds about 130. The actual boat ride itself takes about 10 minutes.