Water Mice

[LovetoTigger]

I've heard about the new requirement for water mice drivers to be 16. I'm not disagreeing entirely. The lake does get very busy and I'm not sure all 12 year olds could handle it. But that also means when we go in June, we can't ride at all. (300 lb. weight limit) My 15 year old (16 in September) is 6'2" and 210 lbs. The 2 of us would be well over 300 lbs. I wonder if they would consider a 15 year old with a learner's permit? I guess it's worth asking.

 

[Snowgod]

In Japan he would be 16. Go with it.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

After my last water mouse experience I have to whole heartedly agree with requiring them to be at least 16. The only reason I didn't swamp and sink is because I realized the approaching swarm was speeding through the channel and I countered for it.

A 16 year old might not think either but at least there will be fewer unaccompanied children on the lake.

 

[BillPA]

I thought the requirement was to have a valid driver license. In some states you need to be 17 or 18 to drive.... Is it 16 or a drivers license?

I just got this from the official Disney site. What gives? This looks like the old rules.

TIPS & FUN FACTS
A child must be at least 12 years old and at least 5 feet tall to drive a WaterMouse™ alone. There is a maximum combined weight of 320 lbs permitted for a WaterMouse™, or 2 passengers. All drivers under the age of 18 MUST have a parent or legal guardian sign a release.

Don't forget the sunscreen!

 

[ronw]

Where have you read/heard that a child must be 16? Is this a recent change? We were there Easter week and my 15 year old was allowed to drive. Now OUR rules require that he keep in sight of one of us at all times!

 

[5infam]

I was there in April and my son is 13 and they let him drive. The two of us together weigh about 340 pounds, but there was no trouble. Maybe we were just lucky.

 

[Sammie]

Someone in the boat has to have a valid driver's license. 12 and older can drive but a licensed person has to be in the boat with them.

This pertains only to boats used on Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon. This change is recent due to some serious accidents involving the new boats which are more powerful. The children injured had to be air lifted from the area.

Even before the new boats, due to the large amount of traffic on these lakes with the boats to Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge and the Campground and the very large ferries to Magic Kingdom, there have been serious accidents and even someone killed.

I think the new age limit was way past due.

 

[wdwdvcdad]

I have seen other posts that indicate 2 different sets of rules. 1 age for the boardwalk area & 1 set for the bay lake area. I think one of them still allows for younger riders, but I am not certain which one.

 

[5infam]

I have seen other posts that indicate 2 different sets of rules. 1 age for the boardwalk area & 1 set for the bay lake area.

That makes sense now since we were at BWV when they told me that my 13 year old could drive. I even asked if he could drive by himself and they said yes. I had also heard that the mice were a lot faster on the other lake. They were pretty tame at the lake on BWV (is that crescent lake?)

 

[rbuzzotta]

The accidents happened on Easter Week this year. 4 teens were seriously injured, two being airlifted to local hospitals.

We were so excited about the Bike and Boat plan and actually booked at VWL for this option but we found out when we got there the rules had changed. As first we were disappointed but after talking with CM's we realized it was for the best.........now my 13 year old would disagree!! LOL!!

Being a family of 5, we couldn't all go out on the mice together so we didn't get the bike and boat plan...............