Hi Carly, and welcome back to planDisney!
Renting a motorized boat is one of my favorite hidden gem activities at Disney World. It’s such a fun way to explore the waterways around Magic Kingdom or the EPCOT resort hotels.
The boats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so you’ll have to head to one of the marinas to rent a watercraft. They’re located at the Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, and the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts.
Before you head over there, I’d recommend looking at the resort hotel activity schedules to double-check the operating hours. They can be found on the Recreation pages for the
Contemporary Resort,
Grand Floridian Resort, the
Yacht Club Resort, and
Beach Club Resort. Since you can’t reserve boats in advance, I like to go right when they open or in the late afternoon when it's usually quieter. Just don't go too close to closing!
The pontoon boats seat up to 10 guests, so you can all go out together. Just note that the driver needs to be at least 18 years of age and will need to present a valid driver's license, state-issued ID, or Military ID to rent a boat.
Last time my friends and I rented a boat at the Grand Floridian Resort marina, we were able to bring snacks and non-alcoholic drinks on board. The marina is right by
Gasparilla Island Grill, which was really convenient for picking up a few provisions for our outing. The boat also had a Bluetooth speaker, so start putting together your Disney playlist!
I hope you’re ready to channel your inner Moana as you explore the most magical water on Earth! In the meantime, if you have any other questions, you’re always welcome back at planDisney.
JoAnna