Watermice And 12 Yr Olds

[DSCOTT]

MY KIDS, AGES 12,12, AND 14 WERE SO LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE WATERMICE BY THEMSELVES THIS TRIP IN NOVEMBER. NOW I SEE, IT LOOKS AS IF DISNEY CHANGED THE RULES TO THE FAMILY PLAN, I ASSUME DUE TO THE NEW SEA RAYCER BOATS. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF THE OLD WATERMICE BOATS CAN STILL BE TAKEN OUT BY ANYONE OVER 12 YRS OLD AND 5 FEET TALL? GOSH, I HOPE SO!

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I was just reading about this, somewhere earlier today, but I can't remember where...this happens a lot since I turned 40 anyway, you have to have a driver's license to rent the new Sea Raycers, but the old rules still apply to rent out the older Water Mice. If I remember correctly, Bay Lake resorts have the new boats...Contemporary, Poly and WL.

I'll check my history to see where I've been today and post back.

 

[skiwee1]

There are no old water mice at the Poly and I doubt if there are anywhere. Maybe someone else will know. I do know that you have to have a drivers license for the new one.

 

[Dopey Sharon]

Still looking. It probably was on the annual pass web site, which I can't get into right now.

The Poly, Contemporary and WL all have the new boats, so you need a license to rent.

There must be old Water Mice somewhere for rent because wherever I was reading about them stated the new policy...

looking...

 

[Dopey Sharon]

I still can't get into the annual pass site, but I did check the Disney site and, according to that site, skiwee is right...the only small boats they talk about are the new Sea Raycers.

 

[Leota]

I think I read at allears, that the mice are still available at the Y&B marina, CSR & DTD.....
I think the SeaRaycers have only been incorporated at the MK resorts....
If I read that right....

 

[CatLady]

Water mice have been replaced by sea raycers at the Yacht & Beach marina. However, the last time I talked to a CM about this (it's been a while), they had not changed the age/size restrictions like they did on Bay Lake. The sea raycers have some restrictor on their motors so they don't go as fast on the much smaller waterway, so they aren't considered as dangerous. Call ahead and check, though, since there was discussion of making it a uniform policy across Disney property for the sea raycers.

 

[Scratch42]

Asked DD12 last night if she would be interested in renting one since I am doing the Petty Racing thing! And since we are staying at BCV between Christmas and New Years know that it is still available there or else I would not have mentioned it!

But like Dopey Sharon, cannot remember where I read it!LOL

It may have been the mousesavers newsletter since it was delivered last night, but don't quote me on that!

Scratch

 

[WDSearcher]

A child must be at least 12 years old and at least 5-feet tall to drive aSea Raycer. There is a maximum combined weight of 320 lbs permitted for a Sea Raycer. At least one person in the boat must have a valid drivers license. All drivers under the age of 18 years of age MUST have a parent or legal guardian sign a release.

So ... a 12-year-old can drive, but there must be a licensed driver in the boat with them. There are no more water mice.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
A child must be at least 12 years old and at least 5-feet tall to drive aSea Raycer. There is a maximum combined weight of 320 lbs permitted for a Sea Raycer. At least one person in the boat must have a valid drivers license. All drivers under the age of 18 years of age MUST have a parent or legal guardian sign a release.

So ... a 12-year-old can drive, but there must be a licensed driver in the boat with them. There are no more water mice.

Wrong. You must have a drivers license to drive the boat. You simply cannot be in the boat while the child drives. This is a fairly new rule at the MK resorts. It was put into effect because of the business of the water there. I have seen many a close call and one accident with kids drinving these things. I am glad they have this rule as it makes it much safer for all.

 

[beattyfamily]

I remember reading a very long thread on the Resort Board about this policy change.

I believe there was a bad accident and that is when they changed it to 16 and a license to drive them at least in the lagoon resorts near MK. Not 100% sure about the boats by YC/BC.

 

[Belle5]

Uh-ho,
I hope what Skiwee1 said isn't true because after I read the article yesterday I assured my kids that they could still drive the boats as long as me, DH or their licenced brother was in the boat. Hmmm... That really is how the article sounds on Mousesavers. Does anyone know the information first hand from actually being at a marina?

 

[paracelsus]

My 14 year old son drove a Sea Ray last month on August 12th while he was with my 18 year old daughter who is a licensed driver. I don't have a 12 year old so I don't know if the rule still applies to them.

 

[plutofreak]

Hi,
first time posting, anyway

My family and I returned from WDW in July and one of our rituals was to ride the water mice and the Contemporary. Once we got there we were told my 13 yr. old sister and 15 yr. old cousin couldn't ride w/o a licesned driver. We declined because the boats just aren't fast enough with 2 people. So being the curious person I am, I asked the CM why is this new rule in effect. And she couldn't answer me, but she did say the mice at Downtown Disney follow the old policy, so we went there. My sister and cousin rode by themselves no questions asked. But I still wanted an explanation. Well I finally got while on a Wishes cruise, our driver who works at the Poly told us that the mice got new bodies, no new engine, and due to the new insurance policy and licensed driver needed to be there. So don't be confused, your not getting a faster boat, just an updated body. But if you watch the water by MK, there isn't as much boating going on. I bet Disney regrets this

thanks

 

[beattyfamily]

I think the new policy is a good idea. I don't think anyone under 16 should be driving those boats. It's a long time overdue, IMHO.

Especially after I heard about a very serious accident a few months go, when they changed the policy.

What ever is best and safest for my (and others') kids is what I want.

 

[WDSearcher]

[

Originally posted by skiwee1
Wrong. You must have a drivers license to drive the boat. You simply cannot be in the boat while the child drives. This is a fairly new rule at the MK resorts. It was put into effect because of the business of the water there. I have seen many a close call and one accident with kids drinving these things. I am glad they have this rule as it makes it much safer for all.

OK ... but I copied this straight from the CM information boards. This is the exact wording presented to cast and guests.

 

[tn4mickey]

This is from the Mousesavers newsletter:

Rental Policy Changes for Recreational Boats at Walt Disney World
New Sea Raycer personal watercrafts have recently been introduced to the Magic Kingdom lake systems as replacements for the widely used WaterMouse boats.

With the introduction of the Sea Raycers, the Walt Disney World Recreation policy now requires at least one person in the boat to have a valid drivers license. This policy only pertains to the Magic Kingdom resort area marinas due to the performance level of the Sea Raycer.

The marinas in other Walt Disney World Resort locations, including Downtown Disney, Disney's Old Key West, Disney's Caribbean Beach, Disney's Port Orleans, Disney's Yacht and Beach Club and Disney's Coronado Springs Resorts, will continue to follow the former policy for the WaterMouse boats, which permits guests at least 12 years old and 5 feet tall to operate independently as long as the parent/legal guardian signs for the child.

HTH