Earlier today, we exclusively reported a rumor that assembly had begun on a fourth ferryboat for Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. Now, new aerial construction photos from Bioreconstruct provide visual confirmation that the project is actively underway near the Seven Seas Lagoon.
Aerial Photos Confirm Fourth Magic Kingdom Ferryboat Under Construction
In This Article
- New aerial photos confirm our earlier rumor that a fourth Magic Kingdom ferryboat is under construction
- Disney has officially announced the new vessel will debut in 2027, expanding the Seven Seas Lagoon fleet from three to four
- The fourth ferryboat will be named the Meg Gilbert Crofton, honoring Walt Disney World’s fourth president
- The 120-foot vessel will match the existing fleet in capacity, look, and feel
- The expansion comes ahead of Magic Kingdom’s largest growth era ever, including Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land
Our Rumor, Now Visually Confirmed
We first reported that assembly had begun on a fourth Magic Kingdom ferryboat earlier today, noting that a new boat was reportedly being assembled backstage near Magic Kingdom. At the time, Disney had not officially confirmed that work was underway. Now, new aerial photos from friend of the site Bioreconstruct show construction activity is, in fact, underway.
What Disney Has Officially Confirmed
Disney confirmed that the fourth ferryboat will be 120 feet long and designed to fit seamlessly alongside the existing fleet: the Admiral Joe Fowler, the General Joe Potter, and the Richard F. Irvine. The new vessel will carry a similar capacity, look, and feel to the three boats that have been serving guests for decades.
The new boat had been under construction at a marina in Florida. Disney is now shipping it in pieces to Walt Disney World property, where it will be assembled, painted, and finished. The entire on-site process is expected to take approximately a year, with a debut on the Seven Seas Lagoon planned for 2027.
This is the first time the Magic Kingdom ferryboat fleet has grown since 1976, making it a genuinely historic moment for one of Walt Disney World’s most beloved transportation experiences.
Introducing the Meg Gilbert Crofton
In keeping with the tradition established in 1997, the fourth ferryboat will be named after a Disney legend. The new vessel will carry the name Meg Gilbert Crofton, honoring Walt Disney World’s fourth president.
Meg began her Disney career in 1977 as a marketing manager and held several roles across the company before serving as president of Walt Disney World from 2006 to 2013. During her tenure, she oversaw New Fantasyland, the first major Magic Kingdom expansion in decades, which introduced Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Be Our Guest Restaurant. She also contributed to the opening of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort in 2012.
Her portrait will hang on the first deck of the new vessel alongside a plaque sharing her story with guests for generations to come. The Meg Gilbert Crofton will also be the first ferryboat in the fleet named after a woman.
“I was humbled to learn that my name would be on this new ferryboat,” Meg said. “It means so much to be recognized by the cast members I had the privilege of working with for so many years.”
Why This Makes Perfect Sense Right Now
As we noted in our original rumor report, the timing of this project is no coincidence. Magic Kingdom is entering the most transformative era in the park’s history, with Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land both actively under construction. Those new lands will bring thousands of additional guests to the park, putting even more demand on Magic Kingdom transportation.
By growing the ferryboat fleet from three to four, Disney can theoretically reduce wait times at the Transportation and Ticket Center and improve the flow of guests heading to and from Magic Kingdom, especially during the peak post-fireworks exodus that tests the current fleet’s capacity nightly.
OUR TAKE: It’s great to get quick visual confirmation of our rumor. We’re excited to see the assembly progress in the coming months. As we understand it, the ferry will be substantially assembled outdoors before being transported indoors for the finishing touches.
As for what those finishing touches are, each ferryboat has its own unique color scheme. I believe that the purple in Crofton’s official portrait is no accident, and that we’ll see a purple ferryboat on the Seven Seas Lagoon next Summer, but time will tell!
Beyond that, we’re encouraged to see Disney investing in expanding transportation ahead of the arrival of thousands and thousands of additional guests per day. We’re also hopeful that Disney will continue to invest in the “duct tape” monorail system, ensuring that it can reliably handle the surge in capacity coming in the next 3-5 years.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!