Canoe Tipping

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes look really fun and it's little diversions like this that make Disney so special. I'm not worried about the canoe tipping or anything like that but I am curious to know if it ever happened. I think it would be funny to see 20 or so people take a dive into the dirty lake.

 

[DangerMouse]

Nope, never seen or even heard of a canoe tipping. I'm pretty certain it is a possibility though, otherwise, why would they make the little ones wear life jackets? Oh, and the thought of that water . . . ewwwww.

 

[pumpkin5156]

A while back we had our whole family (2 entire canoes!!) on the lake in a race. Some of my older cousins started to get a little crazy and it almost went. But I doubt they do tip unless you really forced them to.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I was wondering about life jackets. It's just the kids who wear them?

There must be one story out there in the history of the canoes where a little tipping happened.

 

[DangerMouse]

I was wondering about life jackets. It's just the kids who wear them?

There must be one story out there in the history of the canoes where a little tipping happened.

Hmmmm, now that I think about it, I think everyone was wearing life jackets. I'm sure since the canoes aren't on a track and can tip, insurance insists everyone wear a floatation device. I just remembered securing all three kids which was much more of a chore than putting my own on.

 

[jlima]

This happened back in 1990; there were pictures in the LA Times. One of the canoes just sank; it was overloaded. Trust me, the picture was priceless.

This is all I could find on the LA Times:

15 Dumped in Drink at Disneyland Mishap: No one is injured, but it was `total chaos' as canoe sank. Patrons blame overloading, but park officials cite splashing and rocking by riders.
[Orange County Edition]

Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext) - Los Angeles, Calif.
Author: DAVID REYES; LISA MASCARO
Date: May 31, 1990
Start Page: 1
Section: Metro; PART-B; Metro Desk
Text Word Count: 822

Abstract (Document Summary)

None of the canoe riders were wearing a life preserver. [Bob Roth] said life preservers are kept aboard each canoe and could be passed out by operators if they felt that they were necessary. A spokesman for the U.S. Coast Guard said a federal requirement that all boats must carry flotation devices does not apply on private waterways, including those in amusement parks.

Roth acknowledged that the accident angered some of the canoe riders who lost jewelry or had belongings damaged in the dunking. But he said the ride operators aboard the canoe did not cause the accident by either racing or overloading the boat.

Roth said 15 people were in the canoe, which is part of a ride known as Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes. The ride is regarded as one of the more popular attractions because participants paddle the canoes themselves. Each canoe has two ride operators, one of whom steers the boat.

 

[eduk8r26]

The only ones who wear life jackets are kids under 50 or 60 pounds, I think. I guess adults can wear them if they want. But it's not mandatory. We ride the canoes all the time.

 

[actionvaughn]

Adults have the option of wearing one if they want, but like the other posters mentioned- it's unlikely that it'll tip over, even though it is possible. If anyone does decided to tip over thier canoe- let me know. I always enjoy a good show.

 

[MUDisneyCouple]

I had been wondering about this too...which is why I acted really sad for my DMom and DH when they weren't operating in Oct when we were there. That water is disgusting!!!

 

[Diznygrl]

Okay, am I the only one who read the title of this thread and immediately thought someone was wondering whether or not they should offer a gratuity to the canoe guide CMs?





(P.S. sometimes I think they would deserve a tip. That's a lot of hard work!)

 

[DevilDuckie]

Okay, am I the only one who read the title of this thread and immediately thought someone was wondering whether or not they should offer a gratuity to the canoe guide CMs?



(P.S. sometimes I think they would deserve a tip. That's a lot of hard work!)

They aren't allowed to accept them. Not that I found out firsthand or anything....

 

[pixiewings71]

I've never seen one tip or heard of it either but I bet it could happen. When we've gone on the canoes we have not worn life jackets, our kids have but we have not.

 

[DoomBugger]

They used to have "cow tipping" at Frontierland back in the day but after several children were squashed from being on the worng side of the tip WDC decided to pull the beloved attraction.

I made that up. Total bunch of "bull".

They did have mules kids could ride back in the 50s and 60s though.

 

[TripHHH]

I don't remember mules at Disneyland, but they did have them at Knott's Berry Farm into the 1970s....they were my favorite ride as a young girl!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

This happened back in 1990; there were pictures in the LA Times. One of the canoes just sank; it was overloaded. Trust me, the picture was priceless.

Just picturing it slowly sinking with all these tourists just sitting their patiently thinking it was part of the ride is priceless!

 

[S. S. Columbia]

FWIW, back in '97 a Mike Fink Keel Boat tipped over. There were some minor injuries, but thankfully no one was seriously hurt. But the keel boats have not been operational since that accident.