As Magic Kingdom undergoes its largest expansion ever, Walt Disney World will prepare for more guests with a fourth ferryboat, confirming a years-old rumor.
Fourth Magic Kingdom Ferryboat
This is the first ferryboat added to the fleet since 1976. The boats transport guests across the Seven Seas Lagoon between Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center.
The 120-foot-long boat will set sail in 2027.
A team of engineers and craft workers have been hard at work designing and building the new ferryboat. It’s actually been under construction at a marina in Florida, and they’re getting ready to ship it – in pieces – to Walt Disney World over the next couple of weeks.
It’s still going to take some time, expertise and a little bit of Disney magic before it’s ready. They have to assemble the pieces, paint, and put on all the final touches. This process will take about a year.
In 1997, to honor three individuals who were instrumental in making the resort a reality, Disney World rechristened the existing ferryboats as the Admiral Joe Fowler, the General Joe Potter and the Richard F. Irvine.
They’re the legacy of honoring individuals who’ve had a significant impact on Disney World by calling the fourth ferryboat the Meg Gilbert Crofton, named after Disney World’s fourth president. Meg started her Disney career in 1977 as a marketing manager and, after several roles in the company, took the helm as president of Walt Disney World from 2006-2013.
Just like the other ferryboats, Meg’s portrait will be found on the first deck of the new vessel. It was developed by Walt Disney Imagineering, and it will be accompanied by a plaque that will share Meg’s story with generations of guests as they glide across Seven Seas Lagoon.
“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.”
Meg Crofton’s Disney Legacy
During her tenure as president, Meg ushered in Disney World’s first major theme park expansion since the opening of Animal Kingdom: New Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom. That expansion brought to life fan-favorite experiences like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Be Our Guest Restaurant.
She also contributed to Disney World’s Resort hotels, opening Art of Animation in 2012. The family-friendly resort surrounds guests with stories like Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid, complete with oversized characters and a Big Blue Pool for extra fun!
Just as impressive was the legacy she left with the people she led along the way. Guided by the belief that what truly lasts is how you make others feel, Meg always had – and continues to have – a genuine interest in the dreams and aspirations of cast members from across the company.
When Meg received her window on Main Street, U.S.A. in 2015, it identified her as the founder of the “Center for Leadership Development,” adding, “We start leaders on their journeys.”
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