Roughly four months after Walt Disney World filed plans for an expansion of the Magic Kingdom ferryboat dock area, work has begun on the project. While riding the ferryboat to Magic Kingdom recently, we noticed construction underway at the Magic Kingdom side of the Seven Seas Lagoon, as part of work for an expanded ferryboat dock. Here’s a look at where things stand and what the plans call for.
New Construction Underway Near Magic Kingdom For Expanded Ferryboat Dock
In This Article
- An in-person look at the construction now underway at the dock
- A breakdown of what the approved permit actually calls for
- How the new dock ties into the fourth ferryboat arriving in 2027
CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN
While visiting Magic Kingdom recently, we noticed that work has started along the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon. The construction sits at the Magic Kingdom side of the lagoon, near the existing dock where guests board the ferryboat to and from the Transportation and Ticket Center. For now, this early work is land clearing for a water management “floodplain compensation” area tied to the dock expansion project.
Until now, we hadn’t seen any visible progress since Florida’s water management district approved the permit in late March.
WHAT THE PLANS CALL FOR
The permit calls for minor hardscape improvements, a dock expansion at the Seven Seas Lagoon, and a floodplain compensation area. In our review of the plans, the centerpiece appears to be a new wooden boat dock. That dock would run about 6 feet wide, from the upper portion of the project site down to where boats currently sit against the seawall.
Right now, Cast Members dock boats against the seawall and access them through swinging gates within the railing. A new wooden dock would let them manage those docked boats more easily, without blocking the guest walkway between the ferryboat dock and the park. As a result, we don’t expect substantial changes to the existing guest queue area in this portion of the work.
The plans also point to a possible expansion of the ferryboat queue itself. A portion of the Magic Kingdom bus security area could be repurposed for additional queue space, though that piece is less clearly defined than the new dock. To offset the minimal impact to the water area, Disney will also create a wetlands offset area along the nearby shoreline.
A FOURTH FERRYBOAT ON THE WAY
The dock work arrives as Walt Disney World prepares to grow its ferryboat fleet for the first time since 1976. Disney confirmed in May that a fourth ferryboat is on the way. The Meg Gilbert Crofton will join the Admiral Joe Fowler, the General Joe Potter, and the Richard F. Irvine. Crews built the new vessel in pieces at a marina in Florida, and we later confirmed via aerial photos that assembly had begun at a backstage marina on property. The boat is expected to debut in 2027.
Between the new dock and the fourth ferryboat, Disney appears to be preparing the Transportation and Ticket Center corridor for the higher guest volume coming with Piston Peak National Park and Villains Land.
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!