News New watercraft 'Tradewinds' joins the motor cruiser fleet

[peter11435]

I saw tradewinds from a distance last week before the media press event started. At the time I assumed it was repainted, not a new addition.

Kind of exciting. Now I am wondering, how many cruises does Bay Lake have and are there more on the way.

Also can we get a friendship? They are okay traversing the WS lagoon but for WS to DHS feels like a three hour cruise, a three hour cruise.

Tradewinds makes 4 of these cruiser vessels. There are also 6 of the smaller launch vessels.

 

[RichKermitFan]

That is accurate yes. And if you're the only party trying to board and have an ECV, it can be tricky, as I've witnessed.

That’s unfortunate because it seems like 8 million people have ECVs now

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Glad they’re adding new boats to the fleet, really and truly.

But…they couldn’t come up with a more original name than Tradewinds?

 

[Jambo Dad]

Page and a half of postings and we already have someone who doesn’t like the name and someone who wonders darkly about cuts to monorails. Hard to enjoy this site anymore.

 

[Notes from Neverland]

Feels sort of odd for Disney to mention publicly they haven't added a new boat in about 30 years. It's great to see, but that fact doesn't come off as well as they think it does...

 

[denyuntilcaught]

What a lovely add!

 

[zulemara]

Very much needed on the gold route. I’m so glad they finally ordered one.
looks like the design is much like the mermaid on the inside.
The cruisers can always accommodate ECVs and previously there was no accommodation on that route on a regular basis(only when the monorails went down). Water levels are the main reason why getting on can be tricky for an ECV at certain times of the year.

I wanna see the touch controls! Next time I go to MK I’ll have to take a ride. Once a craftie always a craftie!

 

[themarchhare]

Looks great!

 

[kevlightyear]

Tradewinds makes 4 of these cruiser vessels. There are also 6 of the smaller launch vessels.

Just curious, do you happen to know the names of any of the other vessels?

 

[peter11435]

Just curious, do you happen to know the names of any of the other vessels?

These vessels are the Bon Voyage, Mermaid 1, Castaway, and now Tradewinds.

 

[fngoofy]

So will they still use the launches on this route as well? We love the little Wonka Boats, they are open air and fun to sail on.

 

[COProgressFan]

So will they still use the launches on this route as well? We love the little Wonka Boats, they are open air and fun to sail on.

There is nothing better than riding one of the small open air boats between the MK and Poly.

When people talk about intangible "magical" feelings at WDW, that's probably it for me!

 

[JIMINYCR]

Once the crew has all the guests move to one side of the boat, the roll on and off.

When DW who is in a motorized W/C has utilized Disney water transportation on previous trips Ive seen they have had portable ramps positioned nearby if needed, like those at the monorail stations. Once several years back when FL had a drought condition in place the water level was down and the only way she could access the boats was by using a ramp. I dont know if Disney has one available for Tradewinds, she wasnt with us on our most recent trip and I didnt use the boats.

 

[wdwmagic]

So will they still use the launches on this route as well? We love the little Wonka Boats, they are open air and fun to sail on.

Currently the new cruiser only. But I guess that could change at any point.

 

[Clamman73]

What’s the story as far as who manufactured it? Is it a stock hull from a company that makes something similar and just customized for Disney?

 

[peter11435]

What’s the story as far as who manufactured it? Is it a stock hull from a company that makes something similar and just customized for Disney?

It’s a custom build from a third party Florida shipyard. It was designed and modeled off of the existing fleet of cruisers with several enhancements made.

 

[optjay]

Rode it on first day of service, Sept 30. Magic kingdom to Wilderness Lodge. So nice.

 

[castlecake2.0]

Currently the new cruiser only. But I guess that could change at any point.

Wait, they don’t use the open air launches at all anymore?

 

[castlecake2.0]

Tradewinds makes 4 of these cruiser vessels. There are also 6 of the smaller launch vessels.

Will they still use the launches to get around 7 seas lagoon? That’s one of my favourite things to do when I need “a break”. Any word on if WL/FW/Contemporary route till return?

 

[peter11435]

Will they still use the launches to get around 7 seas lagoon? That’s one of my favourite things to do when I need “a break”. Any word on if WL/FW/Contemporary route till return?

Yes the launches will still be necessary to support all of the routes