For the first time since 1976, Walt Disney World is adding a brand-new vessel to its ferryboat fleet.
Disney confirmed that a fourth ferryboat will begin service in 2027, increasing the fleet that carries guests across Seven Seas Lagoon between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Magic Kingdom.
The new ferry has already been under construction at a Florida marina. It will be transported to Disney property in sections before being fully assembled, painted, and completed on-site. Disney estimates the finishing process will take about a year before the ferry officially enters service.
The expansion also continues a long-standing tradition of honoring key figures in Disney history. Since 1997, the existing ferries have been named after individuals instrumental to the resort’s creation: the Admiral Joe Fowler, the General Joe Potter, and the Richard F. Irvine.
The new ferry will carry the name Meg Gilbert Crofton, recognizing the fourth president of Walt Disney World. Crofton began her Disney career in 1977 as a marketing manager and later served as president of Walt Disney World from 2006 to 2013.
“I was humbled to learn that my name would be on this new ferryboat,” Crofton said. “It means so much to be recognized by the cast members I had the privilege of working with for so many years.”
During her leadership, she oversaw the transformation of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. She also played a role in expanding Disney’s hotel portfolio with the opening of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort in 2012.
Like the rest of the fleet, the new ferry will feature a portrait of its namesake on the first deck. The artwork, created by Walt Disney Imagineering, will be accompanied by a plaque detailing Crofton’s contributions, giving guests a chance to learn about her story as they travel across the lagoon.
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