Crescent Lake Friendship Boat service unavailable from today

By WDWMAGIC Staff · Wednesday September 13, 2017 12:46pm EDT · "Friendship Cruisers"

The Friendship Boat service on Crescent Lake has been suspended from today until further notice.

Operating between Epcot, the Epcot area resort hotels, and Disney's Hollywood Studios - the Friendship Boats are a popular choice for guests staying at Epcot area hotels.

Disney has not yet indicated the reason behind the suspension of Friendship Boat service.

Bus service continues to be available, along with walkways for those guests wishing to walk.

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Dangit I love using those
Declining by degrees, or a temporary after-effect of Irma? I guess we'll have to wait to find out.
↩ replying to Ransom
Unless and until we hear otherwise, I would have to assume this is a temporary Irma-caused problem, like a tree fell into the canal or something. If not, it's not declining by degrees, it just went off a very high cliff.
Debris in the waterways is likely. Not saying it's the likely reason for the boat suspension, but possible. Just saying it's likely there is debris that need be cleaned out.
Could this possibly be due to the issue of fuel supplies in Florida currently being strained after the hurricane?
↩ replying to cspencer96
IIRC, the Friendship boats operate on biodiesel blend, like the buses. Disney receives its own shipments of fuel (regular diesel to blend with the used cooking oil) by the truck load for their vehicles, and do not have to rely on individual stations, as they have their own distribution system. If running low on fuel were truly the consideration, you would see all watercraft service suspended, along with some bus service. Likely, this is an issue related specifically to these boats on this waterway, like there's an area its not safe/possible for them to navigate through a canal due to debris or a canal bulkhead failure.
Possibly since part of the bridge from Boardwalk to Swan and Dolphin was ripped off.IMG_1200 by haught85 posted Sep 13, 2017 at 1:25 PM
I believe this has to do with loose pieces on one of the Swolphin bridges and/or debris, but will double check.
↩ replying to Monorail_Orange
Makes sense. I knew they do not rely on the traditional supply chain for their fuel, but you never know what could be disrupted. It does sound much more likely that there are debris cluttering the shallow waterway.
↩ replying to haught85
Yes, this. Not a cost cut.
I'm surprised they stopped the entire service if it due to the bridge. They could still operate Epcot to some of the resorts.
↩ replying to wdwmagic
Ture, but you also know that there will be a non-zero number of people that will not read a single sign, grab the boat in Epcot to go to DHS and will head straight to guest services and demand a Minney Van when they find out Beach Club is as close as they can get.
Due to tree blocking marina and high water levels, not allowing enough safe clearance under bridges
↩ replying to dolphinforces
This makes perfect sense. These things just take a bit time to correct, service should be restored in a day or two, depending on their ability and speed to impact the water levels.
↩ replying to Ransom
I don't think we have to wait and find out. Logic would tell most that high water levels and a damaged bridge are to blame. I'm sure it's just stingy Disney bean counters though.