Walking from Epcot to YBC??

[cd&kids]

We booked a "specialty cruise" for our first night....a pontoon boat ride to watch Illuminations.
We're planning a late afternoon visit with dinner at Epcot...and then will catch the boat from Yacht & Beach Club for boat ride.
My question is, how easy a walk is it from Epcot to where we pick up the boat? Keep in mind, our party includes my 91-year-old aunt and 6-year-old daughter! Are we better off parking at Epcot then driving to YBC?
Thanks!

 

[Rajah]

I haven't ever done the cruise so can't help on that part of it, but I've done the walk many times and it's not bad. There's also the option of riding a boat -- there's a boat that goes fromt he International Gateway at Epcot to the Yacht and Beach. My DH and I usually end up walking because it's much faster than the boat, but if you have people who have a hard time making that walk, it'd be worth the time the boat takes. As far as I know, the boat would be running when it's time for you to get to the Y&B. Just give yourself lots of time to get there if you take the boat.

Walking, it usually takes DH and myself...oh...10 minutes maybe to get to the Y&B? We usually stay at the Swan and Dolphin and that's even farther.

 

[swilphil]

You will do much more walking I think if you have to walk to/from the parking lot at Epcot and then to/from the parking lot at Yacht & Beach Club. The boat ride from the Gateway to Beach Club is real easy. I'd recommend that, unless the cruise boat dock is far from or different from the regular transportation boat dock. If your aunt has a hard time getting around, you might want to see if you can get a wheelchair for her at Epcot. It is such a big park and there's lots of walking.

 

[Alison Wonderland]

The walk would be easy on all of you, but probably not your 91 yo aunt.

 

[SueM in MN]

The distances involved in a trip to WDW are surprising to most people. Just to go around WS is a little over a mile and I would estimate that it's probably almost that far to get from the park turnstiles to entrance area to WS. So, if you haven't already thought of it, you probably would want to consider renting a wheelchair for the 91 yr old. You can get info about doing that by following the link in my signature to the disABILITIES Board.

The walk from the YC/BC to the Epcot area is not that far, but it is uphill toward Epcot and would be a long way for a 91 year old to walk. BC is closer to Epcot, but YC is closer to the docks.
This link to a map of YC/BC should help.
From the lobby at YC, it's a straight shot out to the docks. DH and I were just at BCV in July and the docks listed on the map were the only ones we saw. The ones listed on the map as the Transportation dock by the Lighthouse are where the shuttle boats leave and dock. I'm not sure, but I think the Illumination Cruises probably sail from the ones that are listed on the map as the Marina.

I can think of 3 alternatives:
1) Make your visit to Epcot to eat, then all leave Epcot, drop your guests off at YC lobby and have them wait inside the lobby while you park the car. Walk straight thru the lobby to the docks. You can also valet park; it's quite a hike from the parking area to the hotel lobby. Because the parking lot is far from the lobby, valet parking is free for people with wheelchairs or handicapped parking stickers.
After Illuminations, reverse the process to get back to your car.

2) Have most of your party walk or take the boat to YC while the car driver transfers the car to YC. Meet at the dock and go on your cruise. Then afterwards, most of the party can wait outside the lobby while the driver pulls the car up.

3) Park at Epcot, take the boat from Epcot and back after your Illuminations Cruise. The thing I don't know about this is whether the baots leaving YC to go back to Epcot will take passengers there after the park is closed. This might put more stress on the 91 yr old to hurry because everyone would be worried about getting back to the parking lot.

whoops, link repaired!

 

[Danauk]

I would deffinalely walk to EPCOT as it is far quicker than the boat. I would also recommend a wheel chair for your aunt. One thing that amazed me when we were there last week was the number of people using wheel chairs or the electric carts so she would not look out of place.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Originally posted by SueM in MN

I can think of 3 alternatives:
1) Make your visit to Epcot to eat, then all leave Epcot, drop your guests off at YC lobby and have them wait inside the lobby while you park the car. Walk straight thru the lobby to the docks. You can also valet park; it's quite a hike from the parking area to the hotel lobby. Because the parking lot is far from the lobby, valet parking is free for people with wheelchairs or handicapped parking stickers.
After Illuminations, reverse the process to get back to your car.

2) Have most of your party walk or take the boat to YC while the car driver transfers the car to YC. Meet at the dock and go on your cruise. Then afterwards, most of the party can wait outside the lobby while the driver pulls the car up.

3) Park at Epcot, take the boat from Epcot and back after your Illuminations Cruise. The thing I don't know about this is whether the baots leaving YC to go back to Epcot will take passengers there after the park is closed. This might put more stress on the 91 yr old to hurry because everyone would be worried about getting back to the parking lot.

I would do the 2nd option and valet park. They don't charge you until you pick up the car. When they see you have a person in a wheel chair, they will not charge you.

The Illuminations cruise sails from the marina (not the dock where the Friendship boats tie up). the marina is at the far end of the YC.

Ed

 

[Deb & Bill]

Are you staying on Disney property? There is a good chance you can borrow a wheelchair from your resort instead of renting one at Epcot. I have done it at OKW for my elderly mother. Then you can have the wheelchair to transport your aunt from the car to the boat as well.

After the fireworks are over, it's a much easier trip back to the YC or BC parking lot than the Epcot parking lot with your aunt. I'd move the car to the YC parking lot.