Family Plan for the Water Sprites

[unctigger]

We had the family plan in April, but think we were charged $249 and it would have been good for 10 days had we stayed that long.

There were 4 in our party,but I understood that had there been more, we could have have them on our "plan" but only 4 boats could be used by our party at any one time.

We visited one park in the morning then went back to our cabin and changed and rode on the boats for an hour or more. Then in the late afternoon, we went to another park where we would have dinner and stay till the park closed....planned our evenings for the park that had extended hours.

One day we got pizza from trails end for lunch and took it on the pontoon boat and had a picnic.

We probably "broke even" on the expense, but it was nice not worrying about being back on time and for someone staying 7-10 days, if you plan a break in the middle of the day, it would be a bargin.

I'd do it again!

 

[VAN]

Here's the pricing info from our March 2005 visit:

Captain Plan: Max 4 hrs of boat rental for your party, $125 plus Tax
Family Plan: Weekly rate for use of equipment listed above*, $239 plus tax. Up to 4 guests per plan.

* Ft Wilderness Marina Sea Raycer and Pontoon Boats

We chose to go with renting the water mice by the hour and were able to use our AAA card to get a 15% (I think) discount. They will not allow you to use it on the package because "It is already a discounted price."

+++++++
Other prices as long as I have my sheet in front of me:

Carriage Rides - 30 min private ride $30
Wagon Ride - $8 Adult and $4 Child
Pony Rides - $3 per child (age 2+ up to 80 lbs)

2 hr Large Mouth Bass Fishing Excursions @ Ft W Marina:
7:00 am $215
10:00 am $215
1:30 pm $195
4 hr excursion is $395

A full, detailed sheet was given at check-in listing: Personal Recreational Cart Safety Precautions and Recreational Activity Guidelines (new since we were there in 2004)

I POSTED THIS INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO ANOTHER INQUIRY ABOUT THE MARINA PACKAGES.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

I think they also raised the driver age to 16 with a valid drivers license, but we need to check on this.

 

[Scarlett1125]

You're correct about the age change. We were going to do the Family Boat plan for our last trip, but opted out when we were informed that the age limit had been changed to 16 with valid driver's license. Apparently, they had a couple of 12 y.o. boys crash some boats this past year ...... hence the change. Since we have a 14 y.o. that had already done the boat plan on 2 other trips, we all decided that we would wait until she is 16 to do it again. Oh well, just something else to look forward to, but it's a real bummer that somebody had to go and ruin it for everyone else.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Same here, we're really disappointed in the age change. The only one left out is my DS15, who was able to drive last time he was there. So we're going to let the boys do the fishing, and the girls are going on the SeaRaycers.

 

[loriandmatt]

anyone know if all the "water mice" boats have been upgraded to the faster boats that started coming out a year or two ago? not sure if they planned on doing this or if they plan on offering both types of mini boats.

also - any idea if the faster mouse boats are included in the captain and family boat plans?

and last question... is there a price difference in renting (per half hour or hour) the faster boats as opposed to the older/slower ones?

- lori

 

[UrsulasShadow]

anyone know if all the "water mice" boats have been upgraded to the faster boats that started coming out a year or two ago? not sure if they planned on doing this or if they plan on offering both types of mini boats.

also - any idea if the faster mouse boats are included in the captain and family boat plans?

and last question... is there a price difference in renting (per half hour or hour) the faster boats as opposed to the older/slower ones?

- lori

I've heard they're all SeaRaycers now, so if that's true, that would answer your other two questions, I guess.

 

[We4mickey]

Agree with the age change. Our DS has been driving these boats since he was 12. Last April he was not allowed to drive a boat. He is 15 and 6' 2" he was really PO'd. This has always been a highlight to our trip for him.

 

[westjones]

At the Beach Club Villa marina (we were there last month) they still have the age 12 / 5 feet tall rule. I think this boats are slower than the ones over at Wilderness Lodge, but we had a lot of fun! We took them down to MGM studios. My kids can't wait to go back next year when they are 12 so they can drive them themselves. I hope they don't raise the age limit at Beach Club Marina in the next year!

DJ

 

[UrsulasShadow]

At the Beach Club Villa marina (we were there last month) they still have the age 12 / 5 feet tall rule. I think this boats are slower than the ones over at Wilderness Lodge, but we had a lot of fun! We took them down to MGM studios. My kids can't wait to go back next year when they are 12 so they can drive them themselves. I hope they don't raise the age limit at Beach Club Marina in the next year!

DJ

Oh, that would be so great, if they kept it so the kids could drive!

 

[VAN]

I believe all the boats at the Ft W marina were upgraded. When you rent, you just get the next boat in line ... there is no differentiation between water sprites. I think that some of the resorts that have smaller waterways may have slower boats, but that is because of the limited amount of water you would be on. The marinas connected to the MK resorts would have the fastest boats because you have both Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon to drive around on.

 

[twinklebug]

At the Beach Club Villa marina (we were there last month) they still have the age 12 / 5 feet tall rule. I think this boats are slower than the ones over at Wilderness Lodge, but we had a lot of fun! We took them down to MGM studios. My kids can't wait to go back next year when they are 12 so they can drive them themselves. I hope they don't raise the age limit at Beach Club Marina in the next year!DJ

I'm hoping the 12yo age limit is in effect still too. Changing the age to 16 just leaves out the older kids who've grown too fast to fit in the boat with an adult and still expect to have it float. Leaving out the early teens is just not Disney's style.