New Magic Kingdom Ferry Boat Hull Assembly Nears Completion in Latest Aerial Photos

27 days ago in "Magic Kingdom Ferry boats"

Gallery / 4 Photos
Magic Kingdom New Ferry Boat Hull Construction Update July 2026

Posted: Friday July 17, 2026 2:17pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The latest aerial photos from @bioreconstruct on X show significant progress on Magic Kingdom's fourth ferry boat, with the full hull now assembled at the service marina near the Contemporary Resort.

Magic Kingdom New Ferry Boat Hull Construction Update July 2026

The hull is fully formed, showing the wide, flat-bottomed profile typical of the existing Magic Kingdom fleet. Several deck openings are visible on the top of the hull, where staircases and superstructure will eventually be fitted. The vessel remains in bare metal, with painting and fit-out still ahead.

A Victoria Marine trailer is visible on site, along with heavy construction equipment including a crane and lift vehicles actively working around the boat.

The 120-foot vessel fills a substantial portion of the yard area next to the marina building, showing of its size when outside of the water.

Magic Kingdom New Ferry Boat Hull Construction Update July 2026

Disney previously indicated the assembly process would take approximately one year after the hull sections arrived on property. The boat is targeted for a 2027 launch on Seven Seas Lagoon.

Magic Kingdom New Ferry Boat Hull Construction Update July 2026

Once complete, the vessel will be named the Meg Gilbert Crofton, after Walt Disney World's fourth president. It will join the Admiral Joe Fowler, the General Joe Potter, and the Richard F. Irvine — expanding the Magic Kingdom ferry fleet to four boats for the first time since 1976.

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celluloid23 days ago

I get excited at the thought of increasing capacity and such and while the name choice is not anywhere in a realm I would pick, I get more anxious because I wonder if the goal will end up negating any common benefit and being a focus on selling more firework upgrade capacity or assisting to service the new DVC nearby.

zulemara26 days ago

I get excited every time I see updates until I’m reminded it’s the freaking Meg “the cleaning woman” Crofton. I would definitely have fun with those radio calls: Crofton, watercraft 3 Cleaning woman by I would steadfastly refuse to say her name on open channels.

DCBaker27 days ago

Latest aerial photos from bioreconstruct:

DCBakerJun 22, 2026

Aerial photos from bioreconstruct:

lazyboy97oMay 16, 2026

Frank Well lead the company during significant expansion of Walt Disney World that included multiple hotels, two water parks and two theme parks. Card Walker was Roy’s COO who oversaw the initial building of Walt Disney World and then lead the company to build EPCOT Center. Marty Sklar lead Walt Disney Imagineering from the late 70s into the 00s. Was a major figure in the creative development of EPCOT Center and then supervised all of the hotels, parks and other offerings added in the 80s and 90s. Duck Nunis was a major figure in the initial development of Walt Disney World and went on to lead operations of Disneyland and Walt Disney World for years while, including the aforementioned expansion of the 80s and 90s. John Hench was a lead creative on Magic Kingdom, including Cinderella Castle and Space Mountain. He then lead creative development on EPCOT Center and continued to be a senior creative at Walt Disney Imagineering through the 80s and 90s.

lazyboy97oMay 16, 2026

None of those you list were major influences on Walt Disney World. Kim Irvine’s career was almost entirely at Disneyland.

TrainsOfDisneyMay 16, 2026

Do you mean the design of it?

Mr. SullivanMay 16, 2026

Only two of these people really had any hand in WDW

FettFanMay 16, 2026

Just because one is the first at something doesn’t necessarily mean they are good at it. It’s sad that we honor empty corporate lackeys because “first woman!” instead of true visionaries. Mary Blair? Harriet Burns? Alice Davis? Kim Irvine? Nope, name it after the first female board room member who helped start mucking things up at the behest of Darth Iger.

FettFanMay 16, 2026

More importantly we see our beloved Liberty Belle still intact and just waiting.

FettFanMay 16, 2026

Should have named it the Frank Wells, given the role he played in shaping the Disney Renaissance… I would also accept the E. Cardon Walker, the Marty Sklar, the Richard Nunis or the John Hench.

DCBakerMay 15, 2026

In a new aerial photo from bioreconstruct, you can spot the new ferry boat starting to be assembled:

Jon81ukMay 06, 2026

I think this is the key thing, I think it seems like they wanted to avoid four men's names across the boats and were keen to acknowledge a woman strongly connected with WDW. A lot of people are suggesting other men they could have used and there was a few women of Imagineering that were named in this thread but the first woman to lead WDW seems fitting.

SirwalterraleighMay 05, 2026

That’s probably not much of a concern…more ferries would likely be replacements more than adds. That’s probably what this one is coming in medium to long term