Friendship boat to LSS? - How about outside vendors?

[NicknNancy]

Hey guys! I was looking over our transportation options and, while reading the Disney Wedding Passporters, I saw that there is a boat that can go between boardwalk inn and venues in Epcot. My question is: If our reception starts at 4, would our guests be able to take a friendship boat to Epcot and taken straight to our reception at LSS? Or does the boat option only apply to non-park hours? Or worse...would they have to use park tickets?

Cause it is way cheaper for us to just send them on a boat one way for 250$ and then one way (plus a stop) on a Motor coach back to their resorts for 375$ (Total 625$). Whereas we budgeted around 800$ to charter a motor coach for the day. I really hope it's possible!

 

[NoOrdinaryPrincess]

I'd be interested in this information too

 

[lurkyloo]

The Friendship Boats can only be hired when World Showcase is closed to the public. Also, the boat would only drop your guests at the entrance to WS—they would still have to hike all the way through Future World down to Living Seas. If you have fewer than 50 guests, there may be smaller, cheaper options for transportation than a motorcoach, though—check out the chart in the Transportation section for prices and capacities.

 

[NicknNancy]

Thanks for the reply...now I have another question...since the boat is not an option...I am looking into hiring an outside vendor for our transportation...where do my guests get dropped off for a reception at LSS? Does Disney allow outside vendors to drop off/pick up people from events at LSS? Thanks for the help!

 

[lurkyloo]

Unfortunately, no—if you're doing an event inside the park, you must go through Disney for everything. No outside vendors are allowed. Seriously, though—check out the transportation section of the PassPorter Guide. Even if you do need a motor coach for the size of your group, you may not necessarily need to charter it. A roundtrip or multi-stop one-way trip may work and cost less.

 

[NicknNancy]

Thanks Carrie!