Personal Watercraft's at the Contemporary Resort

[Bracho]

On the Sammy Duvall website it shows Sea-Doos are available for rent at the Contemporary... has anyone rented these and if so, please tell me about the experience. I am taking 8 teenagers down to Disney and that would be very cool...

Thanks in advance

 

[Kimberle]

Yes! They're called water mice. My dh loves to rent them. They are like mini speed boats. He says they don't go "that" fast, but others have posted that they do. They hold 2 people each.

If you're staying for a week and plan to rent quite a few, you might look into the family plan. For around $200 you have unlimited use. If I remember correctly, the cost per hour was abt $30.

To drive, a teen must be 14. A parent must actually rent the boat & sign a waver.

CM patrol the water so you don't have to worry about your kids geting "stuck" any where.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

By all means rent those little Mouse Sprites. Our family had a BLAST! They feel like you are flying on water and they are tons of fun!!! Be sure to slather on the sunscreen before you go out. The tops of my DH legs were badly sunburned after only 1 hour out on the water. We rented them at the Contemporary, but you can also rent them at DTD and CSR.

You and your teens will have the time of your life!!! Very cool indeed!!!

 

[luapgib]

When I went a few years ago with my wife on our honeymoon we saw the mousecrafts zipping across the water and thought that it would be a blast to do. Since our magical wishes were good for a free ride we decided to do it. All that being said I must warn you about something. I was about 220 lbs during that trip (I have lost significant weight since then) and am about 6'3. With the addition of my wife (she is only 120) the boat seemed to lose alot of power. Also it was on the brink of uncomfortable with my knees barely fitting. I mention this cause you would be best to suggest to your teens to split up and go one to a boat to get the best experiece. Also warn your taller teens that they would definetly want to go solo in order to spread out. I would imagine that with some smaller girls the speed should not be a problem if they wanted to ride together but obviously the closer to 350lbs of total weight the slower the boats will go. Also when the wife and I went we were assured that the boats would still be fast enough so dont let the CM tell that with two people it will be fine. Believe me it wont and you will feel that you have wasted your time and money.

 

[Parrothd]

The Original Poster isn't asking about "Water Mice", he's/she's asking about "Wet-Bikes".......or Sea-Doos (as many people like to call them - it's a brand name).......technically, PWCs.

Yes, I saw the same thing on Sammy DuVall's site. It appears that you can go on the Wet-Bikes in the morning on a guided tour of the lakes. Later in the day, they let you "free-ride" them. I've never done (nor seen) this personally so I can't comment on it any further......except they appear to be 3-seaters.
And Sammy's watersports (Wet-Bikes, water-skiing & parasailing) is a completely different entity from the resort's watersports (Water-Mice, pontoon-boats, canopy-boats, sailboats).

And to make a few corrections about what people have said about the Water-Mice (from what I've recently read):

- you must be at least 12 years old and/or 5' tall to drive them alone.
- total weight limit is around 320 pounds - give or take a few pounds (obviously, the more weight you have in them, the slower they go).
- they cost $22/half hour, $32/hour.

Sorry I couldn't give you more info on the Wet-Bike rental.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

Sorry for the mis-information. (But those little Mouse boats are fun!!)

What are these "wet bikes"? Are they jet skis? Can they be rented on property? Do you have to know how to "drive" them before hand. I love watching jet skiis and I'd love to try them out.

Am I completely off base again??? SORRY!!!

 

[Parrothd]

Yes, some people call them "Jet-Skis" (it's a brand-name) too. Technically, a "Jet-Ski" was the very OLD version of them.......the kind you used to have to stand up on (hence the word "ski" being used). Those older versions gave way to the developement of the newer "Wet-Bikes" or PWC (personal water-craft) as they're now called. These are the kind you sit down on, stradling the seat as you would a motorcycle.

Kawasaki made the original "Jet-Skis", then kept that name on them when they started making Wet-Bikes.

Some common Brand-Names are:

"Jet-Ski", made by Kawasaki
"Wave-Runner", made by Yamaha and
"Sea-Doo", made by Bombardier

Most people only refer to them by one of those 3 names (like everyone says Kleenex when they actually want a tissue).

These are the types of craft that (I believe) Bracho is talking about........the kind Sammy Duvall's watersports rents at the Contemporary.

 

[GoingtoWDWagain]

I too am interested in renting a "sea-doo", "wave-runner", "Jet-Ski" during my stay @ the CR.

Has anyone ever rented these? How much time are you allowed to ride them? Is this only offered in the early AM? Is a class required? Reservations needed?

Thanks in advance for any information!

14 Days to WDW

 

[Bracho]

Thanks to everyone for your comments, It looks like the teens are going to have a great afternoon... for those of you that want to see a few pics of these machines.. here is a link...

http://www.sammyduvall.com

and click on the top link called "Watersports Centre", then click on "DisneyWorld" and then "Personal Watercrafts... at the bottom of that page is a link to a gallery that shows folks having a great time..

 

[GoingtoWDWagain]

Originally posted by GoingtoWDWagain
I too am interested in renting a "sea-doo", "wave-runner", "Jet-Ski" during my stay @ the CR.

Has anyone ever rented these? How much time are you allowed to ride them? Is this only offered in the early AM? Is a class required? Reservations needed?

Thanks in advance for any information!

14 Days to WDW

bump!

 

[dizneycc]

DH rented on of the "jet skis" (I guess my age is showing!) last May. I can not remember the price for sure, but it was much more then the water mice. I think he rode it for an hour.

When he arrived, he put on the safe jacket and then several employees rode out with him. They showed him where he could go and where he couldn't. But then he was on his own, although the employees were never far away.

He had a great time and took some great pics of the WL and CR from the water!

 

[GoingtoWDWagain]

Oh, thanks a bunch for that information DizneyCC!

My DH can't wait to try it out!

13 days to WDW

 

[Janet2k]

Thanks to everyone for the great information in this thread. And a special thanks to Bracho for the link to (and directions regarding how to navigate through) the Sammy Duvall website.

 

[paulamom]

I was under the impression you could get the one week deal for 200 for a family of five through Sammy Duval but I don't see it listed on the site. How do you reserve this? My secound question would be are you afraid you child might fall off and get eaten by an alligator? Last week there was a thread on this and a lot of people reported sightings. This was going to be the highlight of the trip (watermice for my 14 yr old) but now I'm hesitating because if I thought there was the least chance of something happenning. Any thought or reassurances?
Paula

 

[kel3420]

Is there a place where you rent these boats that younger kids and parents can hang out on a beach area and still be able to see the kids on the water? Or is it more like a lagoon?

We have been to Disney several times now and want to do something different this trip. Hubbie also wants to parasail, where would we go to do this?

 

[Parrothd]

For parasailing, you have to go to Sammy Duvall's website (listed above) to make your reservations. This is only offered at the Contemporary. Wet-Bikes are, also, only available at the Contemporary.

As far as the Water-Mice boat rentals go, they'll have access to most of Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. So technically, your kids could drive them out of your sight (unless you tell them to stay within your sight distance -- then it wouldn't be as much fun for them though ).

The beaches at the Polynesian and Grand Floridian have good views of a good portion of the Seven Seas Lagoon while the beaches at the Contemporary and Fort Wilderness have good views of most of Bay Lake. Water-Mice are available at all 4 of these locations (plus the Wilderness Lodge).

Hope this helps.

 

[Parrothd]

Originally posted by paulamom
I was under the impression you could get the one week deal for 200 for a family of five through Sammy Duval but I don't see it listed on the site. How do you reserve this? My secound question would be are you afraid you child might fall off and get eaten by an alligator? Last week there was a thread on this and a lot of people reported sightings. This was going to be the highlight of the trip (watermice for my 14 yr old) but now I'm hesitating because if I thought there was the least chance of something happenning. Any thought or reassurances?
Paula

Sammy Duvall doesn't offer the package deal. IF it's still available, it's a "length-of-stay" unlimited boating deal and it's for a maximum of 4 people. The cost was $199. This is available only from the resort boat rental "hut" and you simply tell them you want this deal when you go to rent your first boat. They also have a less expensive deal which gives you a total of 4 hours of boat rental to be split between everyone in your party (no matter how many are in your party). I think this deal was $115ish (?).

Not many people have been eaten by alligators at WDW. So, I wouldn't be too concerned about that issue. Besides, it's extremely hard to fall out of a Water-Mouse. It would take some pretty severe "horse-play" to do that. At that point, I would think a CM (water patrol) would ban your child from driving them anymore because they would be too hazardous on the water.
Just use normal common-sense and everyone should be OK.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by paulamom
I was under the impression you could get the one week deal for 200 for a family of five through Sammy Duval but I don't see it listed on the site. How do you reserve this? My secound question would be are you afraid you child might fall off and get eaten by an alligator? Last week there was a thread on this and a lot of people reported sightings. This was going to be the highlight of the trip (watermice for my 14 yr old) but now I'm hesitating because if I thought there was the least chance of something happenning. Any thought or reassurances?
Paula

As stated the Family Plan at this time has been discontinued. There are rumors it will come back, but no one knows for sure or when.

Also I would not be concerned about alligators. I would caution your child that this is a boat and it does not stop like a car, in a sense No Brakes. The caution is that there have been accidents with the larger boats and MK ferry when the water mice got in the way.

As stated use common sense, stay away from the larger boats and other boaters and they should be fine.

 

[neosnightmare]

Originally posted by Sammie
As stated the Family Plan at this time has been discontinued. There are rumors it will come back, but no one knows for sure or when.

Also I would not be concerned about alligators. I would caution your child that this is a boat and it does not stop like a car, in a sense No Brakes. The caution is that there have been accidents with the larger boats and MK ferry when the water mice got in the way.

As stated use common sense, stay away from the larger boats and other boaters and they should be fine.

that would suck to b hit by the mk ferry. ouch man

 

[kel3420]

BYE