Cautions for renting Searaycers and other watercraft

[iluvmickeytown]

We haven't rented at Disney yet,but my husband is a boater. It never ceases to amaze me when we go boating how clueless people are to boat etiquette. You see these people driving boats and the are clueless to what they are doing. It would be fine if they were the only ones on the water. But they don't know who has the right away. Anyway just thought I'd put my 2cents. Know that I think of it, that would be neat to rent a mouse.

 

[Donna]

Pardon me if I've misunderstood, but a DL isn't required to drive, just rent. I know this because my 13yo niece wanted to drive a Searaycer and I told her that you need a license. She persisted and I said she could check & if you didn't need a license we could go. Well they rented to me with her as the driver. They even gave her the safety talk. I didn't catch a minimum age, but 13 is OK with them.

The min. age is 12, as we just did this last month. I was shocked my son was allowed to drive. Luckily, there weren't too many craft on the water that day and of course, i was with him. Still, this is MUCH better than when they used to let 12 yr olds take out the boats alone! you literally took your life in your hands out there.

As for accidents, I was at Disney when a death occurred on the "water sprites", as they were known back then. I believe it was 1989, we were staying at the Poly and a mother and her young son had rented a boat. The mother didn't see the ferry and slammed right into it and she was killed. The son was badly injured.

So it doesn't necessarily take a tragic accident for Disney to do away with something. If it's bringing in money, disney will NEVER do away with it.

 

[Endeavour105]

We haven't rented at Disney yet,but my husband is a boater. It never ceases to amaze me when we go boating how clueless people are to boat etiquette. You see these people driving boats and the are clueless to what they are doing. It would be fine if they were the only ones on the water. But they don't know who has the right away. Anyway just thought I'd put my 2cents. Know that I think of it, that would be neat to rent a mouse.

As it was once said during the WDW traditions course for all new WDW CMS:

"Always remember and never forget that many guests visiting WDW have left their brains at home."

 

[Endeavour105]

(to the head of the line)

 

[MissionMouse]

...amaze me when we go boating how clueless people are to boat etiquette. ...boats and the are clueless to what they are doing...

I sailed for many years (fresh water lakes and ocean) and without a doubt you will find more reckless behaviors in the fresh water areas, than salt water. The greatest offenders were typically from individuals improperly operating motor boats in violation of Federal and State laws. Though it appears Disney gets some exceptions to state requirement there are still laws protecting individuals operating craft properly. Individuals who operate a water craft under the influence take note:

This is Florida Law:
Is a criminal offense punishable by fines up to $2,500, imprisonment of up to one year, non-paid public service, and mandatory substance abuse counseling. The law provides for mandatory sentencing. If a drunken operator kills or causes serious bodily injury to another person, the penalty is five years in state prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

By operating on Florida waterways, you are deemed to have given consent to be tested for alcohol if arrested for operating under the influence. Refusal to submit to a test may be used against you in court.

 

[MissionMouse]

The min. age is 12, as we just did this last month. I was shocked my son was allowed to drive...

Interesting since Florida state motor craft law states, "Persons less than 14 years of age shall not operate a Personal Watercraft."
Maybe there is some fine print allowing amusement parks greater leadway, exceptions or maybe the law has been revised recently due to their safety training program requirement for young operators (which Disney operators do not have to complete)?

 

[boomhauer]

As it was once said during the WDW traditions course for all new WDW CMS:

"Always remember and never forget that many guests visiting WDW have left their brains at home."

Well, if it would make you feel better, we could all stop renting the boats. Then, the only people whose stupidity you'd have to concern yourself with are the folks at the unemployment officee.

I appreciate you taking your job so seriously. But please try and remember who pays your salary. Not everyone is intentionally breaking the rules. If Disney has such a problem with boat drivers they should either put stricter guidelines in place or just stop renting the boats.

 

[Donna]

Interesting since Florida state motor craft law states, "Persons less than 14 years of age shall not operate a Personal Watercraft."
Maybe there is some fine print allowing amusement parks greater leadway, exceptions or maybe the law has been revised recently due to their safety training program requirement for young operators (which Disney operators do not have to complete)?

Ha..since when does disney follow anyone's rules but their own! i wish i would have taken a picture of the sign next to the window at Ft. Wilderness. It may have had more details. Here we are about to pull out on a 95 degree day!

 

[Micca]

Hey, look at that fat middle aged guy there on the dock. Wave to him. It's me

 

[Sammie]

Well, if it would make you feel better, we could all stop renting the boats. Then, the only people whose stupidity you'd have to concern yourself with are the folks at the unemployment officee.

I appreciate you taking your job so seriously. But please try and remember who pays your salary. Not everyone is intentionally breaking the rules. If Disney has such a problem with boat drivers they should either put stricter guidelines in place or just stop renting the boats.

And if his warnings don't apply to you, then don't worry about it.

But then maybe someone might learn something from this thread and that person will be the one that might have run you down.

 

[cigar95]

But please try and remember who pays your salary.

That would be the Walt Disney Company.

 

[clkelley]

Oh, just an FYI, one time I had a Water Mouse rented out and they were moving one of the big ferry boats through the water bridge by the Contemporary, (probably moving it to storage). All sorts of Disney Water police showed up and NO OTHER BOATS were even allowed near the water bridge until the ferry had safely passed through.

 

[MissionMouse]

Ha..since when does disney follow anyone's rules but their own! ...

I'm thinking there may be some provisions about private property, since I also find the following:

A person must be at least 18 years of age to rent a personal watercraft in this state.

It is unlawful for a person to knowingly allow a person under 14 years of age to operate a personal watercraft (a second-degree misdemeanor).

 

[boomhauer]

That would be the Walt Disney Company.

And who pays the Walt Disney Company?

 

[boomhauer]

And if his warnings don't apply to you, then don't worry about it.

I don't worry in the least about it. I've rented Sea Racers a few times. With the exception of the rules about going through the no-wake areas too fast, I've never seen one of these rules posted. Thanks very much to the OP for posting them, but what's the percentage of people that will actually see this that rent those boats - Maybe 1%?

If this stuff is as important to Disney as the OP is making it appear to be, they, as I said, should have much stricter guidelines in place when renting the boats.

 

[mjh8955]

I am considering renting searacers and letting my 16-year-old operate one. Is that allowable? He has a driver's license. And how much is the rental for a half hour? And better question - if we are staying at the POP, where would be the easiest one to rent from, are they at all the deluxe resorts?? Where can I find this information??

 

[cigar95]

And who pays the Walt Disney Company?

That would be the tens of millions of customers who buy various products and services from the WDC.

They pay the WDC. They do not pay Endeavor's salary. The WDC does that.

 

[Donna]

I am considering renting searacers and letting my 16-year-old operate one. Is that allowable? He has a driver's license. And how much is the rental for a half hour? And better question - if we are staying at the POP, where would be the easiest one to rent from, are they at all the deluxe resorts?? Where can I find this information??

they are $27 for half an hour. I think there's a 10% AP discount that applies. CM discount is 50% if you know one to go with you. Any of the monorail resorts rent them, Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht & Beach Club. You can also rent them at Downtown Disney and cruise the waterways in that area, all the way to Old Key West (they may even rent them), but those boats don't go quite as fast as the ones near Magic Kingdom where the waterway is wide open.
Yes, your 16 yr old would be allowed to rent one on his own. They go much faster without two people, so just be careful!

 

[boomhauer]

That would be the tens of millions of customers who buy various products and services from the WDC.

They pay the WDC. They do not pay Endeavor's salary. The WDC does that.

OK fine, you win.

I guess if people stop renting them, the WDC will pay Endeavor for looking pretty.

 

[cigar95]

I guess if people stop renting them, the WDC will pay Endeavor for looking pretty.

It wouldn't be a wise decision, but it's their call.