I went fishing twice in 2018. Once at Bay Lake and once at Caribbean Beach. We have also gone multiple times in years past so we are very familiar with this experience. There may be other locations to fish from but I am not aware of them so you will have to ask about them. I'm thinking Epcot might have fishing from the Yacht Club dock and perhaps Disney Springs but I am not sure what the current line up is for these other locations.
First, I have to say that this experience is consistently excellent and everyone that has gone with me highly recommends it.
For our last trip our Guide was Don from New Jersey. I would ask for him when you make the reservation. It's not that there are bad guides, it's just that Don did such a fantastic job that we booked a second trip with him during our same Disney trip.
Now to location. What we found was that Bay Lake has the best scenery and more frequent bites. We saw deer on the banks in the early morning light. That was especially cool. The fish in Bay lake are plentiful and are of medium size.
At Caribbean Beach resort they have some real whoppers under the dock but not much elsewhere. You start out at the furthest corner of the resort and when the action isn't happening you move to the dock. After a period, the big fish catch on and they stop biting. So, between the two locations, the action isn't as good at Caribbean Beach IMHO.
In summary, I believe Bay Lake is superior for fishing. The action is consistent, and the scenery can't be beat. Right Now, Caribbean Beach is a construction zone so it sort of takes away from the experience.
Now on to the mechanics of fishing at Disney. The boats hold 5 guests max. All fishing is catch and release so bring your camera. Those are the only keepers you are going to return with. The guides will provide all the fishing equipment you need including the rods and reels, the bait, which are live shiners, towels and non-alcoholic beverages (Sodas and water). No alcohol is allowed on the boats. The guides will help people bait the hooks if needed or you can bait them yourself. The guides are especially helpful with the kids. That frees up Mom and Dad to do their own fishing.
The guides are helpful as far as teaching technique is concerned and they know where the fish are most likely to be. I like that Disney uses special hooks that will easily rust out if the fish swallows them and they can't be removed. Disney is very pro-conservation, so you can count on them to do the right thing for the fish. I believe you can bring your own rods and lures but it's not necessary as their equipment is top notch. I think you would have to use the approved fish safe hooks though.
These Disney Fishing excursions are well suited to the expert and they are especially accommodating to new comers who have no idea what the are doing. The guides will help you achieve success no matter what your experience level is.
Now onto the pro tips!
The first tip is to make a breakfast ADR at one of the resorts in the location that you are fishing at if you are interested in a table service breakfast after the trip. This will not be necessary at the Caribbean Beach Resort, but Bay Lake has a number of nice places to eat or you could just do a counter service breakfast at any of those resorts. The guide will pick you up at the dock of any of the resorts at Bay Lake as well as drop you off at your desired resort location. It doesn't have to be the same place. At Caribbean beach there is only one dock at the resort's main check in building so that makes it easy to find.
For the early morning fishing time we take a LYFT to the resort where we have booked the fishing trip. When booking your trip consider where you would like to be picked up from and ask the fishing office if that will work out. (For example we take a LYFT to the Contemporary and get picked up there, then the guide drops us off at Poly for breakfast at Kona Cafe where we have an ADR. Then we can Monorail it to the MK and go to that park or take a resort bus back to our resort.)
Take a jacket because it can be chilly in the early morning hours, even in the summer. Also remember your sunglasses and a hat, especially if you are guy. The guys that I fish with always regret it if they forget to bring a hat, because they are standing (or sitting, the boats have seats that you can fish from) out in the sun for 2 hours.
Plan your day of fishing closer to your arrival day. If the trip has to be rescheduled for any reason you will still have time to do it later on in your trip. Going earlier during your vacation stay also allows for a chance to re-book a second trip at a rate discount if you should decide to go again during the same trip. Yes, you heard that right... there is a DISCOUNT for booking a second fishing trip. I think earlier in the day is better for fishing than later in the day, so that early morning time slot is the winner. They do go at different times of the day so check with the recreation office. (Fishing #: 1-407-824-1219).
So, I hope that this information helps you out. Fishing at WDW is often the highlight of our trip. With all there is to do at WDW, this is a priority for our family, that's how good it is. I hope you have fun with your experience.
~NM
