Disney FriendShips Boats Guide (Routes, Hours, and Tips)

Often called the Friendship Boats, Disney’s FriendShips navigate two routes at the Walt Disney World Resort. They are one of the most pleasant forms of Disney transportation available. Below, we’ll discuss the Friendship Boats at Walt Disney World, including their routes, hours of operation, and a few tips for utilizing the boat service. Those staying in the immediate area or with plans to park hop between Epcot and Hollywood Studios will likely want to use the boat service.

One set of Friendship Boats services the Epcot Resort Area. This route takes guests between Hollywood Studios and Epcot, stopping at the resorts in between. Another set of Friendship Boats travels across the World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot. This route takes guests between the World Showcase Plaza and docks at the Morroco Pavilion.

Here is a photo of the newer paint scheme of the Friendship Boats. They have a dark bottom, which is not supposed to show as much dirt.

Friendship Boat Schedule (Hours)

Per Disney’s website, hours of operation vary subject to water and weather conditions. At the time of this update, Disney’s Friendship Boats begin running in the Epcot Resorts area around 7:00 a.m. and continue until about one hour after the parks close.

That said, we recommend checking the boat service’s operating hours after you arrive at the hotel. Hours fluctuate based on the park’s opening hours and should be posted at your hotel, along with hours for other transportation options.

Special Circumstances:

We recently stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club and attended After Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where the park remained open until approximately 12:30 a.m. Since this was a special ticketed event, the Friendship Boats closed at their regular time.

Since the boats were not available, guests in the Epcot Resorts Area could walk or take a bus back to their resorts. So, if you are staying in the area with plans to attend After Hours at Epcot or Hollywood Studios (or a similar event), know that the Friendship Boats might not be available afterward.

Friendship Boats Accessibility

The FriendShips have a dedicated interior area for guests in wheelchairs and ECVs. However, as you can see in the statement below, existing water levels could be a concern with some resort boat services. Most transportation options at Disney World accommodate guests with accessibility needs. Disney provides an overview of each form of transportation on their website. Learn More: Transportation and Mobility Disabilities at Disney World

Per Disney, “Watercraft access varies depending on the type of watercraft and the existing water levels and conditions. Please contact a Disney Cast Member at the watercraft dock for information and assistance.”

Resorts with Disney Friendship Boats

Guests of the following resorts have immediate access to the Disney Friendship Boat service:

• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
• Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
• Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Resort
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

As noted above, the Friendship Boats run in two directions. Therefore, when boarding a boat from your resort’s dock, you’ll want to be careful to get in the correct line.

It is not uncommon for two boats to dock simultaneously at any of the resorts. Therefore, each resort dock has two sides.

Friendship Launch at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club

Disney’s Beach and Yacht Club guests share a boat dock at the Yacht Club’s lighthouse. It’s a reasonably large area. A sign indicates where guests should line up on each side of the lighthouse.

In the picture below, you can see a boat docked at the Yacht Club. At each stop, guests onboard are allowed to disembark. Then, guests waiting can board the vessel. The boat has arrived from the Swan and Dolphin Hotels and will travel to Disney’s Boardwalk next. After that, it will continue to Epcot.

Guests going to Epcot or the Boardwalk will line up on the left-hand side. When the boat leaves, it will stop at the Boardwalk before Epcot.

Note: Most guests staying at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club will want to walk to Epcot. The walk ranges from 5-10 minutes and will take less time than the boat service.

So, if you’re leaving the Beach or Yacht Club and going to Disney’s Boardwalk, you’ll want to take the Epcot Friendship Boat. This route is an excellent alternative for walking to Disney’s Boardwalk.

For instance, if you’re dressed up for dinner, you might not want to work up a sweat by walking to the restaurant. Instead, you can take the boat and then enjoy a casual stroll around Crescent Lake on your way back in the evening.

Related Resort Reviews:

• Disney’s Beach Club Review
• Disney’s Yacht Club Review

Boardwalk Inn Boat Dock (Promenade Pier)

Our next stop along the Friendship Boat route is Promenade Pier at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn. Below is a look at the boat dock during the evening. It sits in the center of the Boardwalk.

Tip: If you’re returning from Hollywood Studios and going to the Boardwalk Inn, you can exit at the Swan and Dolphin. You will have to walk over the bridge to the Boardwalk, but it’s only a five-minute walk at the most. This will eliminate having to stop at the Yacht and Beach Club next and save you approximately 10-15 minutes of travel time.

Here is a photo that shows the distance between the Swan and Dolphin Friendship Boat dock to the Boardwalk. The entrance to Disney’s Boardwalk is at the end of the bridge on the far left-hand side of the image.

Related: Disney’s Swan and Dolphin Review

Friendship Boat Dock at Hollywood Studios

After leaving the Swan and Dolphin Resort, our Friendship Boat continues to its last stop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This Friendship Boat will stop at Hollywood Studios to unload and reload before returning in the opposite direction.

Friendship Boats at Epcot

Last, we’ll examine the Friendship Boat dock at Epcot’s International Gateway. This boat dock is only a few short steps from the back entrance to the park. One of the great things about this location is that it rarely has long lines to enter the park.

The International Gateway is shared among guests of the Epcot Resorts or those arriving from the Skyliner Resorts. In addition, guests park hopping between Hollywood Studios and Epcot also use this entrance.

Alternatives to the Friendship Boats

If the Friendship Boats are unavailable or you don’t want to wait, there is a walking path between Hollywood Studios and Epcot. This path will pass by most of the resorts on the way. When you reach the Boardwalk, you can continue to Epcot via the Boardwalk side or the Beach and Yacht Club side. At this point, the Swan and Dolphin Hotels will be to the immediate left.

Related: Walking from Hollywood Studios to Epcot via Disney’s Boardwalk

Additionally, guests can take the Skyliner from Epcot to Hollywood Studios or vice versa. We discuss that route in detail in a separate article. However, note you will altogether bypass the Epcot Resorts when taking this route.

Related: Disney Skyliner Route

Disney Friendship Boats in Epcot

In addition to the boats in the Epcot Resorts Area, you will find a separate Friendship Boat transportation option within Epcot. These boats travel from the World Showcase Plaza across the World Showcase Lagoon and then to the Morocco Pavilion.

Unfortunately, these boats won’t save you much time unless you were to happen upon one that’s departing. However, they will save you steps. The only drawback is that you’ll miss touring a few countries in the World Showcase along the way. But if you find yourself in need of this service, by all means, take advantage of it.

You’ll want to remember that Epcot has a fireworks show on the lagoon each evening. On a standard schedule, these boats typically begin running around 11:00 a.m., and the last boat departs across the lagoon at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Final Thoughts on Disney’s Friendship Boats

Disney’s Friendship Boats are a great way to get around the Epcot Resorts area. They are an instrumental form of transportation if you aren’t familiar with the area or are a first-time visitor. While they aren’t the fastest transportation, the boats provide a solution for those traveling with small children or anyone not up for a long walk between the parks and resorts.

Knowing your transportation options at Walt Disney World will benefit your vacation tremendously. We hope this guide gave you a base knowledge of how, when, and why you might want to use Disney’s Friendship Boats.

For more about transportation, we have transportation guides for each of the Epcot Resorts:

• How to Get From Disney’s Beach Club To Other Destinations
• Tips for Traveling From Yacht Club to Disney Parks and Disney Springs
• Disney’s Boardwalk Transportation For Every Disney Park and More!
• Swan and Dolphin Transportation How To’s

Or you might enjoy these other popular articles:

• Magic Kingdom Ferry
• Disney World Monorail
• Disneys Springs Transportation Guide
• Using Disney’s Complimentary Bus Transportation

In the Comments

Hopefully, this review of Disney’s Friendship Boats will help you plan your upcoming trip. If you have any comments or questions about the Friendship Boats, please leave them below. We value your opinions and experiences, so feel free to share your thoughts.