Friendship Boats' schedule questions

[jorgeelizondom]

Hi,
I will be staying in the BWI from Sept. 19-28.

We plan to use the Friendship boats quite a lot and would like to learn about their frequencies and routes.

A few questions:

1) Are there two opposing routes in a loop that includes the same stops, only reversed? What is the correct sequence of stops?

2) If I see a boat leaving for Epcot, how long will the wait be for the next one in this time of year? should I walk instead? Same questions for the trip to DHS...

3) Do they run on a fixed time schedule (i.e. "at 00, 20 and 40 past the hour")? or do they come "every XX mins"?

4) One day we will park hop from Epcot to DHS to see Fantasmic, how long will it take gate-to-gate? Do I need to change boats at the BW stop?

5) Is there someplace on the internet with more general info related to this boat service?

6) Any other tips and strategies you might want to share?

Thank you very much

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

1) The boats run continuous loops from one park to the other. Along the way they stop at the Yacht/Beach Clubs, Boardwalk, and Swan/Dolphin.

2) To Epcot you will always want to walk. You are only ten minutes from the International Gateway.

3) It depends on the time of the day. At park openings and closings there is always more service.

4) Gate to gate is 25-35 minutes. Depends on the number of people getting off and boarding. They also lose time at the Swan/Dolphin. This stop only has one dock. All the other stops have two docks, one going to Epcot and the other to the Studios.

5) Not sure.

6) You are at almost at the mid-way point from the Boardwalk to the Studios. If you just miss a boat simply walk. If you have small children though I suggest you stick to the boat to the Studios. For Epcot the walk is shorter.

 

[Robert P]

Hi,
I will be staying in the BWI from Sept. 19-28.

We plan to use the Friendship boats quite a lot and would like to learn about their frequencies and routes.

A few questions:

1) Are there two opposing routes in a loop that includes the same stops, only reversed? What is the correct sequence of stops?

2) If I see a boat leaving for Epcot, how long will the wait be for the next one in this time of year? should I walk instead? Same questions for the trip to DHS...

3) Do they run on a fixed time schedule (i.e. "at 00, 20 and 40 past the hour")? or do they come "every XX mins"?

4) One day we will park hop from Epcot to DHS to see Fantasmic, how long will it take gate-to-gate? Do I need to change boats at the BW stop?

5) Is there someplace on the internet with more general info related to this boat service?

6) Any other tips and strategies you might want to share?

Thank you very much

I'll try to help. If others have better info, please correct me:

1 - I guess it is a loop, as they run from Epcot to DHS and back. Epcot to DHS stops at BW then YC/BC then S/D the on to DHS. Reverse order from DHS back to Epcot.
2 - I believe about 20 minutes, maybe 15, but I'd say 20. For Epcot, by all means walk. From BWI to Epcot IG entrance, figure 6-7 minutes. For DHS, it's up to you. The walk will be between 14 -20 minutes from the boat docks, depending on walking speed. The boat travel time is about the same from there, but you would skip the wait time for another boatr to pick you up.
3 - No fixed time slots, just every XXX minutes (roughly).
4 - From one park to another by boat is roughly 30 minutes. It's a nice ride. No need to switch boats.
5 - Can't say for sure. Others may know.
6 - a) Coming from DHS to BWI, exit at the Swan/Dolphin (first stop), and walk from there. It is quicker than the boat will be to get to the BW dock, by several minutes. b) Also, if you just miss the DHS boat, and it hasn't yet docked at YC/BC across the way, you could walk to the Swan/Dolphin dock and get on there. You can beat it over there, no problem. c) No boats in sight, then I would walk to whichever park I was going to.