A heads-up if you're staying at Disney's Old Key West Resort in the next few weeks: the resort's boat to Disney Springs is going away temporarily. Disney has confirmed that the Sassagoula River Cruise will be unavailable for Old Key West guests from Monday, July 20 through early August, due to refurbishment work along the boat route. Complimentary bus service to Disney Springs will run in its place.
What's actually closing — and what isn't
This is specific, so let's be precise about it:
- Affected: boat service between Old Key West and Disney Springs, July 20 to early August.
- Not affected: the other resorts on the same waterway — Port Orleans Riverside, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Saratoga Springs — have no announced interruption. This is an Old Key West closure, not a whole-route shutdown.
- Your alternative: Disney is running complimentary buses to and from Disney Springs for the duration. There's also a walking path, but skip it — it runs around 45 minutes and is brutal in July heat.
The work itself is infrastructure along the waterway — boundary and seawall repair that began back in March. Disney's notice describes it as enhancing the guest experience but stops short of specifics.
Losing the boat is a real downgrade — the Sassagoula cruise is one of the most relaxing rides on property, and for a lot of Old Key West regulars it's half the reason to book here. But it's temporary, and the bus fills the gap.
It's not the only work at Old Key West right now
If you're staying here this summer, the boat is one of a few things under refurbishment, so it's worth setting expectations:
- Hospitality House — the resort's central hub, home to the lobby, concierge, and Olivia's Cafe — is undergoing exterior maintenance. Expect to see and hear daytime work, and to occasionally be routed along alternate paths.
- Lake Buena Vista Golf Course, which wraps around the resort, is also being refurbished. If you booked a golf-course-view room, that view may be affected, reportedly through around October.
One thing to watch: the app dates may be wrong
Worth flagging — there have been reports that Disney's own app hasn't fully caught up with these dates, in some cases still showing older or shorter timelines. If you're staying at Old Key West soon, don't rely solely on the app for what's open. Check with the front desk when you arrive, and treat the boat as unavailable through early August unless you're told otherwise.
The bigger context
This lands during a stretch of transportation changes across the resort area. Earlier this summer, Disney closed a long-standing loophole that let non-guests use Disney Springs buses and boats to reach the parks — boarding now requires proof of eligibility. That's a separate change from this refurbishment, but together they've made Disney Springs boat access a moving target this season. And over at the Polynesian, we covered a permanent intersection closure and new bus loop as part of that resort's own overhaul — it's a busy year for how guests get around Walt Disney World.
What to do
If your Old Key West stay falls between July 20 and early August, plan on the bus for Disney Springs trips and build in a little extra time — buses run a fixed loop rather than the boat's direct hop. If the relaxing boat ride was a specific part of why you booked, it's worth knowing before you go rather than discovering it at the dock.
Details accurate as of July 18, 2026, and confirmed by Disney. Refurbishment timelines are subject to change; verify current transportation status with the resort during your stay.