Are you planning to visit Walt Disney World in the future and are looking for plans away from the parks? OR, are you visiting Orlando and want to get your Disney fix without entering the theme parks? Renting a pontoon boat at Walt Disney World is your solution! I just experienced this and loved every moment of it. Whether you’re looking to relax with family or friends or just enjoy a fun day away from the Disney theme parks, this is for you! You’ll get to enjoy theme park views and nature as you cruise around the lakes and lagoons of Walt Disney World!
You can rent a Sun Tracker Pontoon boat for up to 10 guests. Pricing is $45 per hour. This breaks down to a pretty low cost when split among you and your friends! Drivers must be at least 18 years of age and the maximum weight is 1,900 pounds.
The rental location at the marinas is open 11 AM to 5 PM. They are first come first served. I wanted to ride around the Epcot/Hollywood Studios area, so we rented our boat from the Yacht Club Resort Marina. This was the best way to celebrate my mom for Mother’s Day. We all loved it! Since we weren’t staying on Disney property (I live locally), we arrived at Yacht Club around 10:40 AM so that way we would get to the marina right before 11 AM. I know the pontoon rentals are popular and since we wanted to be sure to get one of the first boats, we arrived right when they opened. We didn’t have any issues renting a boat right away. There were tons available and only 1 other pontoon boat had been rented before us. Since there aren’t any reservations, it is first come first serve, so if you can get there sooner than later, that will ensure they aren’t all sold out or on the water when you arrive. Once you rent your pontoon boat, you will have the chance to go to the bathroom at the nearest resort or pick up some food from the quick service location nearby or the closest market at the resort. You can bring any food/drinks on board (except no alcohol). Be sure to place your mobile order in advance so that the pickup time coincides with your boat rental time. You can pick up your food and head back to the marina! Your time on the boat won’t start until you have had the safety briefing and are physically on the boat and about to leave. You’ll be told your start time and then will be charged every half hour. There is no limit on how long you have the boat for. It’s totally up to you on how long you want to be out on the water!
Since we left from the Yacht Club marina, we did have to look out for the Friendship boats picking up/dropping off guests in the area. Disney does have watercraft guards out on the water to help you look out for these boats coming through the lagoons as well as to make sure you are safe. This is also the same if leaving from Grand Floridian or Contemporary marinas well. The boat is equipped with 1 life vest per person. You’ll also have Bluetooth speakers to make it fun to listen to your music when driving around. When leaving from the Yacht Club marina, you can drive all around the Boardwalk area, drive past Swan & Dolphin Hotel, through the channels, and then over to Hollywood Studios. It’s so fun to see Disney from a different view! We had the best time and spent a full hour driving around and enjoying the views. I highly recommend this as something fun and different to do if you’re looking to take a break from the theme parks!
Important Details
Reservations are not required.
Rentals are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guests must be 18 years of age or over and will need to present a valid driver’s license, state-issued ID or Military ID to rent a boat.
Onboard smoking is not permitted.
Complimentary life jackets must be worn for all Guests under 12.
During peak times of the year, only Resort hotel Guests or Guests with dining or recreation reservations may be allowed to enter the Resort hotel area to park. Valet parking will only be available.
Cast member and Annual Passholder discounts are available
Marina Locations
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Beach Club Villas
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Other Boat Rentals at Walt Disney World Resort
Canoe Rentals at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Kayak Rentals at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
Specialty Cruises
If you’re looking for an even more special experience and want a specialty cruise, you would love a fireworks cruise! Check out my blog post all about the fireworks cruise experience that I did for my 30th birthday!
If you’re looking to plan a vacation to Walt Disney World in the future, I would love to help! Contact me for more information and let’s include some fun experiences like this in your vacation! I would love to help you plan!
Love and Travel Dust,
Molly
Leave A Comment