Goodbye Sassagoula River Cruise rental boats?

[officialtom]

We are going to Riverside at the end of March as well. If they did close it, which is definitely not true at all, we would transfer and pay a little more to be in a better resort. I heard Riverside is great, but without the boat as a perk, I think several families would rather go somewhere else with more perks.

Agreed 100%!! We'd probably go to Saratoga, although we really do love the atmosphere of POR.

 

[Disneyfamily4]

Agreed 100%!! We'd probably go to Saratoga, although we really do love the atmosphere of POR.

This will be our first time at Riverside. I wanted Boardwalk, my wife wanted Riverside, surprise surprise she won.

Her biggest point of the debate was how nice it will be to take a nice relaxing boat ride to DTD on some of the off nights, rather than taking the car or bus and dealing with the traffic and trying to find parking. I am just guessing, but I would think that the boat ride is a big influence on people who decide which resort they want to stay at. Which is why I love the Boardwalk. The extra money is worth it when you can take the boat to Epcot and Hollywood Studios and get there in minutes.

 

[LongballMG]

Glad to hear it's only the rentals and not the official WDW River Transportation.

As I mentioned my source told me exactly what I wrote in this thread.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I am staying in Riverside towards the end of March. Disney sent me a package of things, along with an hour free boat rental in POR.

They should have saved the printing costs and put it on your Magic Band.

Instead, you have to carry that pesky piece of paper.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I doubt it, being there is no closure lol

I bet annual dues reflect the lack of closure.

 

[mergatroid]

I am an apologist and even I have to admit that the number of cuts in the past few weeks is troubling. Push, the candy lady in Japan, the Italian ladies, the Jungle Jammin Parade. I get that this might just be a perfect storm of unavoidable coincidences, but it doesn't look good to see these things going away with nothing announced to replace them.

What a shame, we loved the candy lady in Japan and also the Italian ladies and always took tme out to watch them. Are they gone for good or will they return at some point?

Must admit that I also liked the boat rentals at DTD. Mrs M would come on the small boats at DTD but won't come on the same boats at the CR. She feels Bay Lake is too big and open so she spends all the time there nervous whereas the waterwys around DTD always felt safer to her and more relaxing for some reason. I know this makes no real sense but learned a long time back it's easier acepting these things rather than arguing differently.

 

[bethymouse]

Any kind of "boat craft" rental seems to be down/rarely used. I don't see as many using them on Bay Lake, and I only saw one man fishing from a boat by himself at PORS. That in and of itself has been "priced out" I believe. They offer the "discounts" when you book a package, but rarely does anyone take advantage. I think bike rentals might be next, but those still seem to be "hanging on". It's nice to have those recreation options, but most folks enjoy the parks, pools, etc.... things already paid for, so to speak. IMHO.

 

[Ember]

Port Orleans site announced this morning that as of today there will be no more boat rentals out of Por.

 

[Disneyfamily4]

That is too bad. My kids and I were really looking forward to renting a boat. Now I will just have to commandeer the DTD ferry boat.

 

[Matt]

Rented a boat once from GF. Don't remember exactly what I paid, but remember it being a lot. Were there for our wedding/honeymoon and was in the "whatever, we're celebrating" mindset. Not in a rush to do it again

 

[ToTBellHop]

There will eventually be no rentals from any moderate. Kinda sad, but, as has been said, these have been waning in popularity. I personally only find it worthwhile on the Seven Seas Lagoon, but that's just me.

 

[Disneyfamily4]

I wonder if the resorts will be getting the Amphicars to rent like Downtown Disney, after construction is completed.

 

[ryguy]

So is the theme of the new downtown disney a 50's style theme? Sounds strange to have 50's style cars in the lake. Certainly doesn't fit the theme in the seven seas lagoon.

 

[mikeymouse]

That stinks. We kinda made it a tradition to rent a pontoon boat there.

 

[jt04]

Port Orleans site announced this morning that as of today there will be no more boat rentals out of Por.

Good news IMO. They work best in Bay Lake (CR) and interfere with the serene nature of the PO area. Or the serene nature it should have. Just think they clash too heavily with the aesthetics.

 

[ford91exploder]

Good news IMO. They work best in Bay Lake (CR) and interfere with the serene nature of the PO area. Or the serene nature it should have. Just think they clash too heavily with the aesthetics.

Well kids more on the year of a thousand cuts, ALL the marina's on the river have been shut down

DD
SSR
OKW
POR

No more pontoon boats etc - this frankly SUCKS.

 

[Bolt]

Well kids more on the year of a thousand cuts, ALL the marina's on the river have been shut down

DD
SSR
OKW
POR

No more pontoon boats etc - this frankly SUCKS.

Not sure if this is classified as a cut as it was something that generated revenue.

 

[COProgressFan]

Not sure if this is classified as a cut as it was something that generated revenue.

I was wondering the same thing. But Disney has a long history of closing things that bring in revenue, but just not ENOUGH revenue for their liking. Small consistent profits are not good enough, you need OBSCENE profits to justify existence.

Even if watercraft rentals were break-even, they should still be available as a amenity to guests.

 

[anchorman314]

Perhaps the marinas are only shut down until the water-based construction at Downtown is done? Disney may be trying to keep as much non-WDW-transportation traffic as possible out of the lake. And allowing guests just on the rivers could make things a little tight.

 

[Disneyfamily4]

Perhaps the marinas are only shut down until the water-based construction at Downtown is done? Disney may be trying to keep as much non-WDW-transportation traffic as possible out of the lake. And allowing guests just on the rivers could make things a little tight.

I think it is temporary as well. There is a lot of construction on the water and it is not safe for people to cruise next to it when they are renting a boat from POR. Plus, Disney just mailed me a free hour boat rental voucher for staying in Riverside this month. You would think that if this was a planned complete cancellation of this amenity, Disney would have known to stop mailing vouchers. If it is a temporary thing, perhaps they keep mailing them out, since I don't think there is an expiration date on it.

If anyone is staying there now, they should see if the boats are docked, or moved out of their completely.