Guests staying at Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Disney's Beach Club Resort have their full transportation perks back. FriendShip boat service returned to the shared dock at both resorts on August 21, hitting Disney's projected reopening date after a five-day maintenance closure that began August 17.
The route is one of the more generous transportation options on Walt Disney World property. From the Yacht and Beach Club dock, FriendShip boats serve EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's BoardWalk, and the Swan and Dolphin hotels — all at no extra charge and just steps from either resort's entrance.
While the dock was down, Disney kept guests moving with direct bus service to Hollywood Studios from both resorts' bus stops. EPCOT remained walkable via the International Gateway entrance, roughly 10 to 15 minutes away, though that walk carried extra weight during a stretch of August heat advisories when Central Florida's heat index climbed past 110 degrees.
The timing of the restoration matters for guests with upcoming stays. The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival opens August 27, and the ability to boat directly into World Showcase is a big part of why the EPCOT Resort area commands the nightly rates it does. As of now, Disney has not announced any follow-up closure for the Yacht and Beach Club dock. Guests should note that construction work continues at other nearby resorts, including Disney's BoardWalk Inn, where the Village Green closed August 10 through September 4 with lobby corridor work extending into November.
Planning Your Trip
Undercover Tourist is an authorized seller of Orlando theme park tickets, often at a discount off gate price.
This story was first reported by Inside the Magic.
