Sammy Duvalls Watersports Leaving Bay Lake!

[WEDWDW]

Must be a business decision since bacteria/alligator danger has never seemingly been a factor in its Bay Lake operation.


https://wdwnt.com/2018/08/breaking-...-tubing-or-water-skiing-at-walt-disney-world/

Sammy Duvall’s Waterpsorts Centre will close forever on August 31st, 2018, bringing to an end the offerings of parasailing, tubing, wake boarding, and waterskiing at the Vacation Kingdom of the World. Sammy Duvall’s also offered personal watercraft rentals, but those are still available departing from other area resorts.

It is unknown if the location will reopen at some point with new management (Disney or some other 3rd party company).

 

[kappyfamily]

I never understood how anyone would want to go tubing or water ski in there? I remember a handful of years ago when a guy parasailing dropped into the lake. All I would be thinking about is when the snakes and alligators would get me....

 

[sfbntpc]

What other resorts have the personal watercraft rentals other than the Yacht/Beach Club? I agree with the above post...don’t know why anyone else would want to do the other activities in that water. We rented the little boats and really enjoyed them!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

What other resorts have the personal watercraft rentals other than the Yacht/Beach Club? I agree with the above post...don’t know why anyone else would want to do the other activities in that water. We rented the little boats and really enjoyed them!

We have rented Sea Raycers at Poly, Boardwalk and Wilderness Lodge. None involved ever getting INTO the water, always in a boat of some sort. I think they offer it at POR too.

 

[vinotinto]

I was thinking it would be fun to rent one of those sea racers. Do they go fast?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

I was thinking it would be fun to rent one of those sea racers. Do they go fast?

No, they are painfully slow. Still fun though.

 

[vinotinto]

No, they are painfully slow. Still fun though.

Ha! Good to know. My DS loves jet skis. He has gotten up to 60 mph on it. I barely break 40 on them. Sounds like the racers are much slower.

 

[Farro]

No, they are painfully slow. Still fun though.

Ha! We rented one at Beach Club many years ago. It was so hot out and the boat didn't even go fast enough to make a breeze! We were dying of heat on that lake!

 

[PPFlight75]

all 3 of my kids went parasailing this summer and loved it! It is one of my 2 DDs favorite things to do. They will be bummed. The Sea Racers were fun too!

 

[WEDWDW]

What other resorts have the personal watercraft rentals other than the Yacht/Beach Club?

Now just the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake Resorts(I'm "guessing" the Contemporary Resort will still have Sea RaYcers even after Sammy Duvalls leaves.)

All the Moderates and SSR and OKW used to have Watercraft Rentals,but they were discontinued.

Disney Springs(Downtown Disney)also used to have a Marina.

 

[nelsonkg]

Ha! We rented one at Beach Club many years ago. It was so hot out and the boat didn't even go fast enough to make a breeze! We were dying of heat on that lake!

We did the same at BC it was awful and the worst money I spent that week LOL. It was soooo slow and on top of it the security people in the boats kept telling us to slow down. Hysterical!!!

 

[BK2014]

I was thinking it would be fun to rent one of those sea racers. Do they go fast?

We rented the little boats about 20 years ago when they were still called "Water Sprites". We had three boats between me, my brother and several cousins, all in high school. We thought they were decently fast at the time. They were at least fast enough to flip over when the boat my brother was piloting and one piloted by my cousin collided because they both turned into each other in an attempt to get out of the way. I wonder if they go slower now.

 

[vinotinto]

We rented the little boats about 20 years ago when they were still called "Water Sprites". We had three boats between me, my brother and several cousins, all in high school. We thought they were decently fast at the time. They were at least fast enough to flip over when the boat my brother was piloting and one piloted by my cousin collided because they both turned into each other in an attempt to get out of the way. I wonder if they go slower now.

Oh dear! Were your parents responsible for any damage? I wonder if that's the reason why they are so slow now: they purposely slowed them down after that!

 

[jerseygal]

Wow, sorry to hear the news! We rented jet skis on a guided tour twice in Bay Lake, one hour a small group from Sammy Duval dock at the Contemporary. It was an AWESOME tour, well worth the $. We did it when Bay Lake was being constructed and the tour guide would stop give a bit of history and fill us in on properties that were in process, brought us by Wildnerness Lodge, so much fun. The jet skis could move. DH and I shared, I didn’t drive and our older sons each had their own, got some sun in the morning, was great! Wow, was thinking of doing it again in October, guess that is out now. I always felt ok about it S we had a guide and if one of us fell off, st least there was a professional there.Maybe I will call and inquire if they are doing jet skis from another location...are jet skis considered personal watercraft?

 

[WEDWDW]

was Maybe I will call and inquire if they are doing jet skis from another location

The only place the Jet Skis have ever been available at WDW is from Sammy Duvalls.

I don't expect any where else at Disney to offer them once Sammy leaves-just my guess.

 

[buzznina]

I am sure glad I got to try it 2 years ago and I had no issues with falling into the water. BTW; their jet skis were capped at 35 MPH.

 

[jerseygal]

The only place the Jet Skis have ever been available at WDW is from Sammy Duvalls.

I don't expect any where else at Disney to offer them once Sammy leaves-just my guess.

I would imagine that business was affected by the issues with alligators in Bay Lake and guests were too afraid because of the accident...that is too bad. Happy though that we had the opportunity to do the guided tour twice, a few years apart.