Resort Hopping 101 – Epcot Area Ferry Hop

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Resort Hopping 101 – Epcot Area Ferry Hop

One of our focuses on the website the past few months has been Quick Tips. We like to prepare you for the parks and offer up tips and tricks to making your vacation more enjoyable.

If case you missed our last Resort Hopping 101 – The Monorail Express check it out at the link here. Today I want to talk to you about something outside the DisneyWorld Theme Parks and that is the Disney World Resorts, specifically the Epcot Area Resorts.

This is one of my favorite Resort Hopping experiences as you get to use the Friendship Ferry Boats. There is no way you can fit this resort hop into one day unless you took the whole day to do it. We like to split them up into 2 days but for this article I will publish them together. Also I find that this resort hop is better around dinner time or in the evening as the sunset on the BoardWalk is breath taking.


There are 5 Resorts that make up the Epcot Area Resorts, and 2 Vacation Club Villas.

Here are they:

Resorts

  • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
  • Disney’s Beach Club Resort
  • Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
  • Walt Disney World Dolphin
  • Walt Disney World Swan

Vacation Club Villas

  • Disney’s BoardWalk Villas
  • Disney’s Beach Club Villas

Since our Resort Hop today has more of a nautical theme to it, just imagine your Friendship Boat is a Pirate ship and your sailing the high seas in search of treasure. Trust me you will find it at these Disney Deluxe Resorts!

This resort hop works best if you are in either Epcot or Hollywood Studios. Driving by car is very tedious and I would not recommend it. But if you must park your car at Disney Board Walk and just go from there as parking will be free.

Day 1

However you chose to get there lets start today’s Resort Ferry Hop from Epcot. If you take the Friendship Ferry from Epcot your first stop will be at Disney’s Board Walk. Here you can walk the BoardWalk, take in the sights and sounds, stop off for a bite to eat, or even check out the street performers. A visit to the BoardWalk is a must for us on every visit.

While here you can also check out the BoardWalk Inn and the BoardWalk Villas. Both resorts capture the charm, whimsy and elegance of 1940s Atlantic City. Sitting along a boardwalk packed with amusements, the Resorts offers dynamic views of the BoardWalk and of the glittering waters of Crescent Lake.

Be sure to walk around and explore. There are literally hundreds of points of interest to check out. Be sure to bring your camera for pictures, and a stroller for little ones. The walk around the BoardWalk is perfect for couples and for families too as it is no where near as packed as Downtown Disney or some of the other resorts.

Take your time and just soak up the whole experience. You will spend hours absorbing the culture and elegance Disney put into making you feel like you have traveled back in time. Try sitting on a park bench and watching the couples and families walk hand in hand down the walk.

Day 2

After a nice stroll down the boardwalk and around the resorts the day before jump back on the Ferry to Hollywood Studios to our next stop across Cresent Lake to the Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Beach Club Villas, and Yacht Club Resort. All of these resorts have a New England feel to them. I would say probably for me some of the best looking on Disney property. I love the crisp colors with white contrast on all the buildings.

I suggest when you are walking through Disney Beach Club Resort stop off at Beaches & Cream Soda Shop. My favorite place to get Ice Cream at Walt Disney World. We have no set way to walk around these Resorts we usually just start at the Yacht Club and work our way down to the Beach Club taking in the beautiful surroundings.

After you have taken in the sights and sounds of New England its time to jump on the Ferry again for a stop off at the Disney Swan and Dolphin Resorts. While not owned by Disney I consider them as much Disney’s as anyplace else on site. Be sure to take plenty of pictures! I have never eaten at any of the restaurants at the Swan and Dolphin but I hear they are very good.

If you want to check out a map of the Resorts and Ferry Route check it out here.

So that’s it for the Epcot Area Ferry Hop. You can jump back on the Ferry and head back to Epcot or Hollywood Studios for Extra Magic Hour or to take a bus to your resort. If you are lucky enough to stay at one of these Disney Deluxe Accommodations then your already home 🙂

So that concludes this weeks Resort Hopping 101. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family and I do. Stay tuned next time as I discuss the Animal Kingdom Safari Hop.

If you have anything little tips or suggestions on things to do and see at these resorts be sure to let us know in the comment section below.


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Chip is the owner, editor, and writer of Chip and Company. When he is not writing about Disney News or Planning Tips, you will find him counting down the days to his next Disney Vacation.
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2 thoughts on “Resort Hopping 101 – Epcot Area Ferry Hop

  1. Made this resort hop last month on a mini “mommy retreat day” by myself. Had so much fun finding little spots for snacks & people watching. The Beach Club’s Solarium is a perfectly quiet and lovely spot to read a book. (I brought in a sandwich from their snack/gift shop – amazing basil mayo on it!) Then I headed to Martha’s Vineyard Lounge for a delicious glass of wine … but noted for future reference that somebody said their Sangria was sensational. Like this post said, I could have spent all day exploring all the sights – great gift shop, lots of Disney nostalgia, etc. Ended my day with an incredible chocolate croissant at the Boardwalk Bakery, which I believe has the best coffee of any Disney establishment. A very relaxed and cheap day of Disney!

  2. I really like this post…great way to check out the resorts. And I appreciate the linked map showing the path of the ferry. 🙂

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