MGM to/from EPCOT boat ride?

[PieInYourEye]

Is there a MGM to/from EPCOT boat ride? I was sure there was one but haven't ever ridden it. At each park, where does it land? I'm trying to keep the walking as short as possible (for my mom with arthritis).

I also have a Disney Dining Experience and can valet park. Our goal is to get to MGM for a brief stop to pick up an annual passholder gift, then to EPCOT for the Flower & Garden Fest with as few steps as possible.

Thanks for any input you may have.

 

[MickeyMike]

Yes, there is a boat that you can take from MGM to EPCOT. At MGM, walk to the right of the entrance gate to find the dock. The boat will make several stops at the various resorts in between. The entire boat ride will take about 20 minutes. One note, we have ridden this boat from one park to the other several times, however, at least one time we had to change boats at the Boardwalk. Maybe adds 10 more minutes onto the ride but it is a very pleasant way to get around. You will arrive at EPCOT near the International Gateway. Right next to France.

 

[rcyannacci]

When we were there last, we were initially confused because they weren't advertising the boat as transport inbetween the parks but as resort boats (which they are, primarily). But if you ask the cast members at the dock, they will point you in the right direction.

 

[nowellsl]

We just took this boat ride Tuesday. If you're going to get the free coin, it's worth the trip - it's a nice coin on heavy cardboard sealed in plastic. If your mom can't make the walk just take her pass with you - they'll stamp the back of both of your passes and give you the coins.

 

[pattison]

What is the coin that you are referring to?

Thanks!

 

[Suzanne033]

My Mom also has arthritis. She got a motorized wheelchair. At first she was apprehensive about the 'wheelchair' stigma, but let me tell you I was the best idea she had.

For a nominal fee per day (compared to the pain she would be in from that much walking), she had the wheelchair for the entire (7-day) trip.

She had it delivered to our hotel. It was there when we checked in.

We were more tired than she was. Mostly, from trying to keep up with her. And an added bonus, when my daughter got tired she would ride with Mom. DD got such a kick out of that.

Also, there was never a problem with Disney Transportation. The drivers were all VERY helpful.

DO THE WHEELCHAIR, you won't regret it. Even if it is only for one day.

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by Suzanne033
My Mom also has arthritis. She got a motorized wheelchair.
DO THE WHEELCHAIR, you won't regret it. Even if it is only for one day.

I just wanted to make a distinction between a power (motorized) wheelchair and an electric/motorized scooter (also called ecv). It sounds like what Suzanne's mother had was an ecv. Most people don't realize that power wheelchair and power scooters are not the same thing. If you ask for a power wheelchair, you might be told they don't rent them, when what you really wanted was an ecv.
The WDW parks and off-site medical equipment companies do rent ecvs and manual (push) wheelchairs. Only some of the off-site companies rent power wheelchairs and , in general, will only rent them to people who have a power wheelchair, but don't want/can't travel with it.

ECVs are fairly easy to drive and with a little practice, most people can become quite comfortable driving them. The steering is usually controlled by a tiller (similar to steering a bike). The speed is controlled by a throttle on the tiller. They also have a speed setting - often you can choose between Turtle for slow and Rabbit for fast. There really isn't any individualized set up of them - sort of like a car; you just get in and drive. If you can drive one ecv, you can pretty mcuh drive any other ecv.

Power wheelchairs are controlled by a joystick (or sometimes another type of access for someone not able to use a joystick). The joystick actually controls a computer which controls the speed and steering of the wheelchair. The computer controller is actually programmed specifically for the person who will be driving the wheelchair. For example, my DD's controller can have up to 5 programs and each program can be set up with 6 different parameters (things like how quickly it accellerates, how quickly it decellerates, top and slowest speed, how much the joystick needs to be pushed in each direction to turn). Two identical power wheelchairs might be programmed totally differrently.
It takes a lot more practice to drive a power wheelchair, they are much more expensive than ecvs, and they need to be individually set up for the person who will be driving it. So that's why they are usually only rented out to people who already are familiar with driving them.

 

[nowellsl]

There is a special coin available at MGM for all annual passholders (I think it's for their 15 year celebration). You just show your pass at the pin store under the big hat and they will give you one. It's only available for a certain time and I can't remember what that was but we picked one up on May 4. It's a really nice coin.

 

[Eljay]

Here's the scoop on the boat. At Epcot, you catch the boat at the International Gateway, which is located between Great Britain & France. They come about every 15 minutes, sometimes more often. From Epcot, you will stop at (in this order) the Boardwalk, the Yacht & Beach Clubs, the Swan & Dolphin and then on to the Studios. The trip from Epcot to the Studios, (or Studios to Epcot) takes about 30 minutes. No changing of boats is necessary and the trip from the Studios to Epcot goes, Swan/Dolphin, Yacht/Beach, Boardwalk, Epcot. As you are leaving the Studios, exit the gate & bear left to go to the boat dock. I love the ride, it's very restful. If you opt to walk any leg of the trip, you arrive just about when the boat does. It's not fast, but it does save steps & is very scenic.
Great photo ops, also!

 

[Eljay]

Oh, I forgot to add that you can drive the electric scooters right onboard the boat, no problem!

 

[clkelley]

If they do have an electric scooter and the rest of the party can walk it is much faster to forgo the boats and scoot/walk between the Studios and Epcot.

Carol

 

[McCall]

Originally posted by MickeyMike
Yes, there is a boat that you can take from MGM to EPCOT. At MGM, walk to the right of the entrance gate to find the dock. The boat will make several stops at the various resorts in between. The entire boat ride will take about 20 minutes. One note, we have ridden this boat from one park to the other several times, however, at least one time we had to change boats at the Boardwalk. Maybe adds 10 more minutes onto the ride but it is a very pleasant way to get around. You will arrive at EPCOT near the International Gateway. Right next to France.

That would be to the right if you are ENTERING MGM, but the LEFT LEAVING MGM.

 

[McCall]

Originally posted by clkelley
If they do have an electric scooter and the rest of the party can walk it is much faster to forgo the boats and scoot/walk between the Studios and Epcot.

Carol

No it is not, my husband and I Just returned last night. both on scooters, at full speed the scooters just about tied the boat just from the Swan to the INternational gateway, we never would have kept pace on the rest of the ride from swan to MGM. and anyone with the scooters would have had to run briskly to keep up with the scooters the entire way.
the boats take scooters and save time and energy. and are air conditioned.