Everything You Need to Know About Disney Springs Resort Water Taxi Service
If you’re staying near Disney Springs or plan to visit one of the resorts in the Disney Springs Resort Area, you’ll want to be aware of the Sassagoula River Cruise. This boat service runs between the Walt Disney World-owned and operated resorts near Disney Springs and the venue. It’s a pleasant ride that guests can enjoy as a means of transportation or for pure enjoyment.
Don’t be surprised if you take one of the water taxis and a couple of guests stay on board for the return trip. We see it all the time. It’s a pretty ride, day or night. Below, we’ll discuss each destination, where to find the boat docks, and a few tips.
Disney Springs Water Taxis Schedule
The water taxis generally start running from the resorts around 10:00 a.m. each morning, so they don’t begin departures from Disney Springs until approximately 10:30 a.m. I mention this if you’ve parked at or bussed to Disney Springs and plan to take a water taxi to one of the resorts in the morning. The boats do not begin running as early as the buses. So you want to ensure you’re at that 10:30 a.m. mark or later for a Disney Springs departure. I’ve made this mistake and had to wait an extra 30 minutes.
Here is a list of the Disney Springs Resort Area boat services with their flags.
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (Blue Flag)
- Disney’s Old Key West (Green Flag)
- Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside (Yellow Flag)
- Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter (Purple Flag)
- Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter (Dual Yellow/Purple Flag)*
*The dual flag stops at Port Orleans French Quarter and continues to Port Orleans Riverside. It will stop again at French Quarter when it leaves Port Orleans Riverside. If the boats are full on departure, they will not make the second stop unless someone is taking the boat from Riverside to French Quarter.
If you’ve visited in the past, Disney Springs formerly had three boat docks: The Marketplace, The Landing, and the West Side. The Landing and West Side Boat docks are indefinitely closed. The Marketplace is now the sole boat dock at Disney Springs. Buses drop off at Town Center, about halfway between both sides of the venue. See our Disney Springs Transportation Guide for an overview of all transportation available.
Disney Springs Water Taxis
Before we discuss the individual boat docks, I wanted to preview the water taxis and what to expect. Each water taxi holds approximately 32 guests. They are all cream-colored boats with blue trim and gold accents. Each water taxi has a name. For example, the one in the photo below is the Florida Queen. One cast member captains the boat and acts as a tour guide along the route. This varies based on which vessel you board. Some cast members talk the entire way and point out the various resorts and areas of Disney Springs. Others might welcome you, provide brief instructions, and remain silent for the rest of the journey.
When it’s busy, the captain asks everyone to fill in the available seating. The water taxis have bench-style seating, as shown in the photograph below. Two people are asked to sit on the benches on the left side of the boat, and three are asked to sit on the longer bench on the right side.
A few fold-down seats are available toward the front of the boat. These are the designated handicap areas. Anyone can sit in this area but will be asked to move if someone needs to board an ECV or wheelchair. Disney’s water taxis accommodate most wheelchairs and ECVs. However, the water level can affect boarding under certain circumstances. A cast member usually lays down a ramp for guests to use when boarding. Additionally, strollers must be folded and cannot block the aisle. Disney’s site has an excellent resource for learning more about visiting with mobility issues: Transportation and Mobility Disabilities at Disney World.
Disney Springs Marketplace Boat Dock
The Marketplace Boat dock sits outside the Marketplace section of Disney Springs. You’ll exit Disney Springs at the Marketplace Entrance. The exit is in an alley between the Art of Disney and Disney’s Days of Christmas. This area is directly behind the Rainforest Cafe. So, instead of trying to figure it out on a map, walk toward the volcano. Every couple of minutes, you’ll see flames leaping from it. (Alternatively, preview the interactive map here or in the My Disney Experience app.) When you exit Disney Springs, you’ll take an immediate left, and the boat dock will soon come into view.
If you continue along the bridge past the Marketplace Boat Dock, you’ll soon arrive at the Congress Park section of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. We have a separate article that details both walking paths from Saratoga Springs to Disney Springs.
Here is a photo of a water taxi arriving at the Marketplace entrance. You can see guests waiting under a long, covered walkway. The middle of the waiting area is left open for guests exiting the boat dock. Guests on one side of the walkway are waiting for the Port Orleans Resorts, while guests on the opposite side are waiting for Old Key West and Saratoga Springs.
In the event of rain, water taxis continue to run to and from the resorts. However, they do not run during inclement weather or when lightning has been detected in the area. It’s important to note that buses always run from all the Disney Springs Resorts to Disney Springs. I mention this a good bit on the site, but I need to stress this point. You could walk to the bus stop at Port Orleans Riverside and see the wait times sign for Disney Springs says, “Use watercraft.” Most guests turn around and are off to find the boat dock. Meanwhile, the bus arrives for Disney Springs, and they could have been well on their way.
Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort Boat Dock
Saratoga Springs is the closest resort to Disney Springs. The boat dock is at The Springs, behind the resort’s lobby, golf club, and The Turf Club restaurant. The water taxis run from The Springs to the Marketplace entrance.
If you prefer to take the boat over walking, you can take a bus from your resort section to The Springs and then take the boat to the Marketplace. The Springs is the last stop (except the Disney Springs bus) before the theme park buses leave the resort. If unsure, you can ask the bus driver if he will stop at The Springs.
For example, say you’re staying at The Paddock section of the resort and want to take the boat to Disney Springs. Board the bus for Magic Kingdom at The Paddock. Then, exit the bus at The Springs. Tell the bus driver you plan to exit at The Springs so they will know. Saratoga Springs is a vast resort, and many guests use the bus service to get between stops at the resort. See our transportation guide for Disney’s Saratoga Springs if you plan to stay there.
Here is the sign for the boat route at Saratoga Springs. Since Saratoga Springs and Old Key West are Disney Vacation Club Resorts, these routes are called the Disney Vacation Club Ferry Cruise. You’ll also note that Saratoga Springs is the blue flag. So, if you’re at the Marketplace and see the blue flag boat arrive, you’ll know it’s your boat.
Disney’s Old Key West Boat Dock
Disney’s Old Key West typically has two boats running back and forth between Disney Springs and the resort. This is the green flag boat service. As stated above, you can also take a bus to Disney Springs. Technically, you can walk from Old Key West to Disney Springs, but it’s a long walk and not for everyone. The boat dock for Old Key West is at Hospitality House.
The last water taxi for Disney’s Old Key West typically departs Disney Springs at 11:30 p.m. However, note that time can fluctuate depending on operational hours. The boat captain will announce a time for the final boarding call before you exit the boat. So note it if you plan to stay out that late.
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Boat Dock
The boat dock at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside is behind the resort’s lobby. Depending on crowds, this boat often stops at Port Orleans French Quarter along the way. The cast member will make it clear if the boat will not stop at the French Quarter. If that is the case, you’ll have to wait for the next boat, or you can walk or bus to the French Quarter. An extra boat runs the direct route between Riverside and French Quarter during busier times. You can usually tell if the boat will make both stops by the flag. A boat that makes both stops typically flies a combined yellow and purple flag. Like the other resorts, the cast member will announce the final boat departure from Disney Springs before you exit.
Related: Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Transportation Guide
Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Boat Dock
Our last boat dock is at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort. It is along a walkway directly behind the Doubloon Lagoon Pool, and the resort’s lobby is opposite the pool area. Don’t be surprised if the walkway in the picture below has a long line when you arrive. If the line were exceptionally long (50+ guests) with no boats in sight, we would walk to the bus stop, which sits outside the front of the lobby. Remember, each boat can hold about 32 guests. The purple flag boat is exclusive to the French Quarter. It also shares the combined purple/yellow flag boats with Riverside. Again, the boat captain will share any important details with guests about timing before you exit the resort. If you miss the announcement, ask them when you exit the boat.
Related: Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Transportation Guide
Final Thoughts
We hope you found this overview of the water taxis at Disney Springs helpful. You might also enjoy these other transportation articles and routes:
- Taking the Boat Between Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian
- The Two Quickest Routes Between Epcot and Magic Kingdom
- Taking the Friendship Boats Between Epcot and Hollywood Studios
- How to Get to ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Want to save time and energy on your vacation? Get a copy of our 5 best transportation tips for Walt Disney World.
In the Comments
Have you ever taken the water taxis at Disney Springs? We’d be happy to answer any questions based on our experience. Leave us a comment below.
