Parasailing and trail rides??

[TDS373X]

I would like to do one or both of these activities on our upcoming trip with DD10.(part of my do something new every trip goal) She takes riding lessons, I've not ridden in a while. Parasailing we wanted to do it last summer at the beach but the day we were supposed to go it stormed and it was the last day of our trip so it didn't happen. Has anyone done either of these? Do they take pictures of you parasailing? Does the trail go thru the woods at Ft. WIlderness? Any info would be helpful. Thanks

[disneybliss2]

Bump. Would love to know about both as well.

[BradyBz12]

I found some info on horseback riding at FW on THIS SITE (http://www.kingdommagictravel.com/disneyworld/beyond/horseback_riding.htm)

[Teacher03]

We LOVED parasailing! I am terrified of heights, but it was so much fun! I don't remember them taking pictures, but you could leave your camera with someone on the boat to take photos.

[hsmamato2]

it's always too cold for parasailing when we're there:confused3 but we did the trail ride last year,and we all had a blast! it goes through the campground- takes about an hour. We all had fun!

[TDS373X]

Thanks for the input!!! I think we will stick to the horses and do the parasailing in the warmer summer....

[lphillip459]

FYI - When you do parasail, they do not take your pictures, but I've had someone go with me (sometimes they will let you do that if the boat isn't full) and take pics. Also, I take a camera up there with me - you can get some great pics of epcot ball, space mountain, on a good day tower of terror! If they don't let you take someone with you, I've traded taking pics of one another with other "parasailers" in the boat. I've never met anyone who wasn't willing to help!! Enjoy the horse riding too!

[brekin67]

I would love to parasail. We will be there for my sons birthday, he would enjoy that. I need to check out the minimum age requirements.

[Zuzu03]

We did the trail ride when DD was 11. I was a trainer at the time and DD and I were pretty heavy into showing (hunter/jumpers), but we thought this would be something different for us. Just know that it's really, really slow. DD got bored really fast - I had her working on her 2-point position most of the time! :lmao:

[kristenrice]

I went parasailing on our honeymoon in 2002 and horseback riding this past October.

I can comment a little on the parasailing.... let's just say that I didn't hate it, but I will never do it again! There were some breathtaking views, except I was too anxious to enjoy them. Although you are on a boat and flying over water, you do not get wet. You launch and land from a platform on the boat so no need for swimwear. We almost did not get to go because of the wind. If the wind is measured above a certain speed, it is not safe and they will not take you up. So keep in mind that even on a clear sunny day, you may not get to go. I went first when we went and I was hit by a few gusts and that was enough for me to determine that I did not need to do it again. When my husband went up after me, the guides on the boat said that they probably shouldn't have let him go up because the winds were at the maximum allowed when I went up. But since we hadn't gone back to check before it was his turn, they let him go too. He loved it! IIRC, you can choose from two different "heights". We were on the "platinum plan" (or whatever it was called) so we took the most expensive rides available. You can also do a tandem, but I think the weight limit essentially restricts it to an adult/child or child/child pairs. I can't recall the minimum age, but I know there was a 10 year old with us when we went.

As far as the horseback riding goes, it was an experience....nothing spectacular. It certainly wasn't exciting or thrilling. I can't really call it relaxing either since I was using muscles I didn't know I had to try and stay on the horse:laughing:. I would do it again, but I will wait until my kids are older and can go with me.

[Teacher03]

I went parasailing on our honeymoon in 2002 and horseback riding this past October.

I can comment a little on the parasailing.... let's just say that I didn't hate it, but I will never do it again! There were some breathtaking views, except I was too anxious to enjoy them. Although you are on a boat and flying over water, you do not get wet. You launch and land from a platform on the boat so no need for swimwear. We almost did not get to go because of the wind. If the wind is measured above a certain speed, it is not safe and they will not take you up. So keep in mind that even on a clear sunny day, you may not get to go. I went first when we went and I was hit by a few gusts and that was enough for me to determine that I did not need to do it again. When my husband went up after me, the guides on the boat said that they probably shouldn't have let him go up because the winds were at the maximum allowed when I went up. But since we hadn't gone back to check before it was his turn, they let him go too. He loved it! IIRC, you can choose from two different "heights". We were on the "platinum plan" (or whatever it was called) so we took the most expensive rides available. You can also do a tandem, but I think the weight limit essentially restricts it to an adult/child or child/child pairs. I can't recall the minimum age, but I know there was a 10 year old with us when we went.

As far as the horseback riding goes, it was an experience....nothing spectacular. It certainly wasn't exciting or thrilling. I can't really call it relaxing either since I was using muscles I didn't know I had to try and stay on the horse:laughing:. I would do it again, but I will wait until my kids are older and can go with me.

I know what you mean...when that wind picks up it's a little scary!

Tandem isn't limited to adult/child. I went with my adult daughter and my teen went with her best friend.