Magic Kingdom is a fan-favorite theme park, especially during the holiday season. This iconic park is what many people immediately think of when they start planning their Disney World vacation. There’s the magnificent Cinderella Castle, Main St., U.S.A., and the classic Disney rides.
Magic Kingdom
One thing to consider when you’re planning your trip to Magic Kingdom is your transportation. Unfortunately, unlike the other Disney World parks, you can’t park your car right near the entrance. You either have to jump on the Monorail at one of the surrounding hotels, take a bus from the other hotels, or park at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), where you’ll then either take the Ferryboats or the Monorail. If you’re planning to park at the TTC on your way to Magic Kingdom in the coming months, we have some bad news about the Ferry you’ll want to think about before hopping on the boat.
The other day, one of our reporters was at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This reporter uses a wheelchair, and most often takes the Ferry instead of the Monorail to Magic Kingdom because of the very large hill to the Monorail. If someone is there to push her, it’s not usually an issue, but that’s not typically the case for her, so she takes the Ferry, which she can ride independently. However, on the day that she was at the holiday party, though, she ended up wishing she had taken the Monorail!
The entrance to the Ferryboat.
What our reporter noted about the Ferry will affect all of us who typically enjoy the Ferry ride to Magic Kingdom — it was COLD. Even though the time it takes to get to Magic Kingdom on the Ferry and the Monorail is generally about the same (we’ve timed it 😉), the Ferry in the winter months can be way too cold to enjoy, even in Florida. The fewer people on the Ferry might entice you every other season of the year, but you might want to think twice in November through January.
The Ferry
This is especially true at the end of the night after the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. By midnight, the temperature has likely dropped, plus being on the water in an open Ferry makes it nearly frigid. If you do want to ride the Ferry, we highly recommend packing some warm layers with you!
Behold, the Ferryboat!
When you’re making your transportation plans to Magic Kingdom this winter, be sure to take this warning into consideration and pack appropriately!
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I am surprised to hear of this as I have always felt that Disney did an excellent job of accommodating guest needs prior to being requested. Having ridden the ferry many times, never lat even(no on a winter night. The fact that Disney did not include some type of heating element to those guest who may need it is surprising to me. Especially when you see that both ends of the vessel are wide open and subject to wind chill on the colder winter season nights. I am surprized.
I’m glad to see that the reporter that uses a wheelchair is continuing to go to the parks. Someone might want to let her know that when going alone as a disabled person a ECV works much better. Take it from one who knows.
At least you guys don’t have snow, so be grateful for small mercies🤪