Skip Some Walking Time on the Friendship Launch – Epcot
As I was finishing my Croughnut the idea of a walk to the other side of the World Showcase Lagoon was sounding less and less desirable. Hard as it is to believe, the idea for lunch at Via Napoli, in the Italy Pavilion, was beginning to form just as the final bite of Croughnut was disappearing from the ducks view. In order to make myself feel better about the quick lunch, today’s Croughnut will be classified as an appetizer.
Almost directly across from The Refreshment Port is a dock for boarding the Friendship Launch. Disney refers to it as launching from Canada, but more accurately we will refer to it as the Croughnut Launch. From our seat at the Croughnut observation post we watched a couple of Friendship Launches make their way over to the other side of the lagoon.
This boat makes it way from the Croughnut Launch Dock to another dock situated between France and Morocco. I would estimate the cycle time for pick-up and departure for the Friendship Launch about every 20 minutes.
The boat is enclosed and air conditioned. It’s a nice change of pace when the sweat quits running down the small of your back. But don’t worry it’s only a short time until you reach the other side.
For those who prefer to maintain their outdoor swagger, there is a bench seat outside the cabin at the rear of the boat… or for you nautical types the stern. This is my favorite seat. Seating is very limited (see first picture). When you are on the water you should be outside absorbing the sea/lake/pond air, unless of course it’s the end of an evening on a cruise ship where shipmates will have uncomfortable glances while you are strolling the deck in your pj’s.
Where am I going with this you may be wondering.
It’s been years since the last voyage and I have forgotten how enjoyable this small excursion is across the World Showcase Lagoon. It may take more time than walking to your destination, but is it a race to each attraction? Is that any way to spend a vacation… racing from attraction to attraction. For some it is and I do admit we did the same thing, but eventually we decided to slow down and enjoy our trips at a different pace.
The boat ride along the lagoon provides a different perspective of the World Showcase. It gives you a little time to sit back and relax. So enjoy the ride and the view, it’s a short ride, but a nice change of pace.
Work in Progress Map – places visited and miscellaneous comments.
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