Vintage Amphicar Tours — Attraction in Lake Buena Vista

What a terrible experience! This was meant to be the “finale” to our weeklong Disney vacation. We confirmed our first night here (10 days ago!!) that our youngest daughter could in fact be a lap child for this ride since the boat is technically for 4 adults (our youngest is 4 years old and exactly 40” tall…we know bc she barely made it on the rides in the Disney parks). Well, we showed up tonight for our boat ride and Tim, the “Captain,” or manager, for the evening promptly looked her up and down and said, “I don’t know. She needs to be shorter than this (the literal belted guard rail for the line formation around the attraction). My daughter was maybe 1/8” taller than the bottom and he said, “Yeah, her head needs to be just under. Sorry, she’s too tall.” It was a total personal judgement call without any reasoning behind it. We have friends who rode these cars just a few months ago with three grown children, and put one in their lap without any issue. Upon politely asking Tim what the basis for his desire was and he just said it was a liability. I asked if there was anyone else we could speak to or ask and he said, “no.” I let it go, had a lovely dinner in the Boathouse restaurant (truly, Tyl our waitress was outstanding, as was the food), but when exiting, I asked one last time in the shop about our daughter being a lap child. Odille working behind the register couldn’t have been kinder and reaffirmed that, yes, our daughter absolutely met the requirements to be a lap child. She offered to talk to Tim, but was also realistic with me that now there was a couple hours wait time, and we would not make it before closing.

I write this review, bc I too work in a service based industry. I treat each person fairly, with respect. Tim could not have been more dismissive, condescending, or rude when being asked if we could make our arrangements work. This was something our whole family - including our 3 young children - had been looking forward to all week long. My hope is that this saves another family the grief of getting their hopes up and then let down on their last night...

Historical plaque inscription: An amphibious automobile suited for both land and water. The Model 770 Amphicar was named after its ability to achieve speeds of seven knots in the water and 70 mph on land. 3,878 Amphicars were manufactured in Germany from 1961 to 1968. During that time 3,046 were imported into the United States. The Amphicar is rear-engined and uses a 4-cylinder British-built Triumph Herald motor producing 43 hp. All Amphicars are convertibles, offered to civilians in four colors; Beach White, Regatta Red, Lagoon Blue, and Fjord Green (Aqua). Two American Presidents owned Amphicars; Jimmy Carter and Lyndon B. Johnson. President Johnson would invite friends and even foreign dignitaries to his Texas ranch for a joyride in his car. Today, the Boathouse is the only location in the world that offers Captain Guided Amphicar tours in a unique water experience around Lake Buena...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ One-of-a-Kind Experience You Won’t Want to Miss!

This is one of the coolest hidden gems at Disney Springs! The Amphicar Tours at The BOATHOUSE let you ride in a real vintage car that literally drives straight into the water — and yes, it’s every bit as fun as it sounds.

These are beautifully restored 1960s Amphicars, and the 20-minute tour takes you on a relaxing cruise around the lagoon with great views of Disney Springs. It’s smooth, scenic, and something you truly won’t find anywhere else. Our driver was friendly and shared some fun history about the cars and the area while we cruised.

It’s a perfect add-on to dinner at The BOATHOUSE or a spontaneous way to make your Disney Springs visit even more memorable. Great for couples, families, or anyone who loves a unique adventure.

Highly recommend, especially around sunset when the lighting on the water...