Friendship Boat - Boardwalk to DHS

[AWilliams]

Hello,

Do the Epcot area friendship boats all go in the same direction/loop. Are there 2 boats that each do a single loop or different boats for Epcot and DHS?

Would it be faster to walk to the Swan/Dolphin stop if we are going from Boardwalk to DHS?

Thanks!

Amy

 

[goofy4tink]

There are usually two boats running...one in each direction. Is it faster to walk over to S/D? If you see the boat departing from BW, on it's way to YC/BC, then probably. It takes about 8 mins to get from BW to S/D by boat. But, if the boat is just coming in to the dock, from Epcot, then I would hop on the boat. I will say that I have left Epcot at the same time as the boat, having just missed it (they had just closed the gates), the CMs on the boat yelled that another boat would be there soon. Nope, we yelled back, we'll beat you to DHS. The CM just laughed at us. We reached BW about a min after the boat, but the last we saw of the boat was it heading to YC/BC, until we got to DHS and saw it coming around the corner!! We beat it by about 5 mins!!!
So, either walk over to the S/D if the boat is just leaving the dock. If you can get on the boat, it won't be any faster if you walk over to the S/D since you'll get on the same boat.
As for two boats, one will be making the DHS to Epcot run, the other will be going from Epcot to DHS...so be careful which boat you get on!!

 

[PCFriar80]

Hello,

Do the Epcot area friendship boats all go in the same direction/loop. Are there 2 boats that each do a single loop or different boats for Epcot and DHS?

Would it be faster to walk to the Swan/Dolphin stop if we are going from Boardwalk to DHS?

Thanks!

Amy

Here's the Friendship boat route: Epcot > BW > YC/BC > Swan/Dolphin > HS. Simply reverse that for HS to Epcot trip. There are at least 3 - 4 boats [maybe 5] operating at once. My screensaver is a picture of crescent lake which shows 3 boats. IMO it is quicker to walk from BW to HS, since you'll make 2 additional stops on the boat before actually heading there. It should take you no more than 20 minutes to walk.

 

[AWilliams]

Thanks for the info! I love the walking path over to DHS and that is usually what we do, but we are traveling with another family and will need to use the boats this trip.

 

[hsmamato2]

I don;t think those boats are fast lol...I like to walk. but my Dh likes the boats...they're pretty slow and relaxing which is why he likes them!

 

[tobikaye]

I just did this in June. They had just shut the gates to let people on the boat at BW when we got to the ramp. My sister was on her ECV and I needed a break from the rest of our group, so she and I decided we would walk/scoot to DHS. The rest of our party chose to wait for the next boat, as I expected them to do. So, my sister and I started off about 30 seconds after the boat pulled away at BW.

That boat docked at DHS about the time my sister and I hit the bus area at DHS and we took our time. In fact, I figure we probably hit bag check about the same time as those on the boat. Bag check was crazy at that time since it was just after the park had officially opened so that took a little longer.

The rest of my family had to wait about 10-15 minutes for the next boat, but the bag check was not as crazy when they arrived so we meet up about 15 minutes after my sister and I were in the park.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

There are usually two boats running...one in each direction. Is it faster to walk over to S/D? If you see the boat departing from BW, on it's way to YC/BC, then probably. It takes about 8 mins to get from BW to S/D by boat. But, if the boat is just coming in to the dock, from Epcot, then I would hop on the boat. I will say that I have left Epcot at the same time as the boat, having just missed it (they had just closed the gates), the CMs on the boat yelled that another boat would be there soon. Nope, we yelled back, we'll beat you to DHS. The CM just laughed at us. We reached BW about a min after the boat, but the last we saw of the boat was it heading to YC/BC, until we got to DHS and saw it coming around the corner!! We beat it by about 5 mins!!!
So, either walk over to the S/D if the boat is just leaving the dock. If you can get on the boat, it won't be any faster if you walk over to the S/D since you'll get on the same boat.
As for two boats, one will be making the DHS to Epcot run, the other will be going from Epcot to DHS...so be careful which boat you get on!!

We stay at the BWV two or three times per year (always January and March, sometimes June as well). I have tracked the boats for the 17 years we have been DVC and had many interesting conversations with the boat captains (usually with the co-captain, since the captain is busy steering the boat, but they all play both roles at one time or another). There are usually three or four boats running at one time on the continuous loop. I have not seen only two boats on the circuit in a number of years. The boats usually take 25 to 30 minutes to make a one-way transit, so approximately one hour for a round trip from the International Gateway at Epcot to DHS and back to the IG (IG-BW-YC/BC-S/D-DHS-S/D-YC/BC-BW-IG). The IG is the hub for these boat operations, so that's where you will see a lot of extra cast members in their nautical gear. It takes 3 active boats to achieve the "scheduled" 20 minutes between boats (60 minutes/3 boats). This drops to 15 minutes when four boats are operating. At park closing at Epcot, they may add another boat to accommodate the traffic.

As noted, it's possible to walk from resort to park in about the same or less time as the boat ride. I've done both, since I usually walk when heading to EP or DHS by myself and ride when I go with DW. The walk between DHS and BW is particularly pleasant. When staying at BWV and exiting the building at the end nearest to the Studios, the walk may be much quicker since it can be a pretty good hike from your room to the BW boat dock and the DHS dock is not right next to the park entrance either.

In either case, enjoy the trip. You're on vacation.

 

[goofy4tink]

Here's the Friendship boat route: Epcot > BW > YC/BC > Swan/Dolphin > HS. Simply reverse that for HS to Epcot trip. There are at least 3 - 4 boats [maybe 5] operating at once. My screensaver is a picture of crescent lake which shows 3 boats. IMO it is quicker to walk from BW to HS, since you'll make 2 additional stops on the boat before actually heading there. It should take you no more than 20 minutes to walk.

We stay at the BWV two or three times per year (always January and March, sometimes June as well). I have tracked the boats for the 17 years we have been DVC and had many interesting conversations with the boat captains (usually with the co-captain, since the captain is busy steering the boat, but they all play both roles at one time or another). There are usually three or four boats running at one time on the continuous loop. I have not seen only two boats on the circuit in a number of years. The boats usually take 25 to 30 minutes to make a one-way transit, so approximately one hour for a round trip from the International Gateway at Epcot to DHS and back to the IG (IG-BW-YC/BC-S/D-DHS-S/D-YC/BC-BW-IG). The IG is the hub for these boat operations, so that's where you will see a lot of extra cast members in their nautical gear. It takes 3 active boats to achieve the "scheduled" 20 minutes between boats (60 minutes/3 boats). This drops to 15 minutes when four boats are operating. At park closing at Epcot, they may add another boat to accommodate the traffic.

As noted, it's possible to walk from resort to park in about the same or less time as the boat ride. I've done both, since I usually walk when heading to EP or DHS by myself and ride when I go with DW. The walk between DHS and BW is particularly pleasant. When staying at BWV and exiting the building at the end nearest to the Studios, the walk may be much quicker since it can be a pretty good hike from your room to the BW boat dock and the DHS dock is not right next to the park entrance either.

In either case, enjoy the trip. You're on vacation.

I should have said 'at least' two boats running. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[scrapquitler]

My husband and son usually walk, and I take the boat. They always arrive first, regardless of the starting point and destination.

 

[toocherie]

What time do the Friendship Boats start in the morning?

 

[joelkfla]

What time do the Friendship Boats start in the morning?

Used to be 1 hour before park opening.

 

[joelkfla]

What time do the Friendship Boats start in the morning?

I asked some Friendship Boat cast today. They still start 1 hour before park opening, including DHS 6am openings.