Disney World Announces 2026 Closure of Yacht and Beach Club Resort Area
Guests with stays at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort in mid-August need to know about an upcoming transportation disruption that will change how they get to two of the most popular Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.
Five Days Without Boat Service
Walt Disney World Resort has confirmed that the FriendShip Boat dock at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort will close for refurbishment from August 17 through August 21, 2026. The watercraft service that the dock supports connects guests at the two sister Deluxe Resort hotels directly to EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios — one of the most convenient transportation arrangements anywhere on Walt Disney World property. For five days, that option goes away entirely.
Boat service continues normally through August 16 and is expected to return on August 22. Guests should confirm the reopening before relying on it, using the Walt Disney World Resort website, the My Disney Experience app, or a hotel cast member as their source.
How To Get Around During the Closure
Walt Disney World Resort has workable alternatives in place for both affected parks.
For Disney’s Hollywood Studios, direct bus service will be available from both Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort throughout the August 17-21 closure window — a straightforward substitution for the missing boat service.
For EPCOT, guests won’t need a bus at all. The International Gateway entrance to EPCOT — the secondary entrance tucked between the France and United Kingdom World Showcase Pavilions — is a short walk from both resort properties, reachable in under ten minutes, depending on your room location. It’s one of the more pleasant walks in the EPCOT Resort area, particularly in the morning before the heat of the day sets in.
Transportation to Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and Disney Springs is completely unaffected by the dock closure. Minnie Van service remains available for direct point-to-point transportation to all four theme parks and Disney Springs throughout the refurbishment period.
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