Walt Disney World has ordered a new passenger ferry to move guests between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Magic Kingdom.
For the first time since the 1970s, Walt Disney World will soon add a new ferry boat to its fleet. The new boat, the fourth of its type to operate on the Seven Seas Lagoon, is to be named the Meg Gilbert Crofton. Crofton served as president of the Magic Kingdom from 2006 to 2013. She spent 35 years with the company, also serving in marketing positions. In 2015, Crofton was honored with a window overlooking Main Street U.S.A. declaring her "Founder of the Center for Leadership Development."
The Meg Gilbert Crofton will be the fourth ferry boat in Disney's fleet, joining the Admiral Joe Fowler, the General Joe Potter, and the Richard F. Irvine.
The 120-foot vessel is already being constructed at a Florida-based marina. It will be shipped to Walt Disney World in pieces, and assembled at the theme park complex.
The move comes as Disney begins work on a significant expansion to the Magic Kingdom. The Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island permanently closed in mid 2025 to make way for a 'Cars'-themed expansion in Frontierland. A new land featuring Disney villains is also being constructed to the north of that site. These expansions are expected to debut sometime around 2030 - 2031.
Enhancements to the ferry boat dock have also been planned in recent years. The Transportation and Ticket Center is within walking distance of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, leaving the ferry system as a viable alternative for guests moving between the resort and theme park.
