Guests staying at Disney’s Old Key West Resort will see a temporary transportation change this summer. Walt Disney World has announced that boat service between Disney Springs and the resort will be unavailable while refurbishment work takes place along the Sassagoula River Cruise route.
According to Disney, the closure begins July 20 and is expected to continue through early August 2026. The company has not announced a specific reopening date.
Disney Springs Boat Service Paused for Old Key West
The affected route is part of the Sassagoula River Cruise transportation system. It normally provides water transportation between Disney Springs and Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
Guests typically board the boats near Hospitality House before traveling to the Marketplace dock at Disney Springs.
Boat near Disney Springs – YouTube, Blog Mickey
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Disney said refurbishment work along the route requires the temporary suspension of service. The company has not released additional details about the project.
The temporary closure applies only to the route serving Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
At the time of publication, Disney has not announced similar interruptions for the Sassagoula River Cruise routes serving Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter, or Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.
Bus Transportation Will Continue
Guests can continue traveling between Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney Springs by bus while the boats remain unavailable.
Guests may want to allow extra travel time, especially during the evening when Disney Springs is often busier.
Refurbishment Work Continues Along the Route
Construction activity has been visible around sections of the Sassagoula River in recent months. There has been refurbishment near the West Side Sassagoula dock at Disney Springs. That dock has remained closed since the 2020 lockdowns.
A view of Disney Springs from the Coca-Cola rooftop lounge – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro
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Disney has not said whether those projects are connected to the current closure. The company has only confirmed that refurbishment work along the route requires the temporary suspension of the Disney Springs boat service to Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
Transportation Policy Remains in Effect
The temporary closure comes after Walt Disney World updated access requirements for transportation departing from Disney Springs.
Guests using buses or boats from Disney Springs to Disney Resort hotels must verify that they are registered resort guests or have an eligible dining or recreation reservation at their destination resort.
Disney Springs bus loop signs are now up ahead of the June 28 transportation verification change. From that date, resort buses and Sassagoula River water taxis are limited to guests with a hotel, dining, or experience reservation. pic.twitter.com/svmVYchGBH
— WDWMAGIC.COM (@wdwmagic) June 17, 2026
Those requirements remain in effect during the temporary suspension of boat service from Disney Springs to Disney’s Old Key West Resort.
What Guests Should Know
Guests visiting Disney’s Old Key West Resort between July 20 and early August should plan to use bus transportation when traveling to and from Disney Springs.
Disney has not announced a specific reopening date for the Disney Springs boat service. Guests planning visits during the affected period should monitor official Walt Disney World updates for changes to the refurbishment schedule.
What do you think of the boat closure between Disney Springs and Disney’s Old Key West Resort? Sound off and let us know your thoughts!
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