I Learn Something New Every Time!
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (127734)
Gainesville, Florida
March 7, 2026 2:31pm CST
I thought I knew everything there is to know about Disney World. And once again, I'm proven wrong!
For my son's birthday this year, his girlfriend surprised him with a long weekend trip to Disney, staying in the fabulous new 15-story tower at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. But the biggest surprise of all was that she booked him a 4 hour fishing trip at Bay Lake (the natural lake on which the Contemporary Resort and Fort Wilderness Lodge at Magic Kingdom reside). In all my years of going to Disney World, I never knew you could book a fishing trip there. Who knew? A big surprise for sure.
They set out at 5am with their Disney fishing guide, and in no time were catching largemouth bass! The photo shows my son holding one of the fish he caught. He ended up catching a total of 5 bass over the 4-hour period. But an even bigger surprise was that his girlfriend caught 9 bass, on her first-ever fishing trip!*
Would you ever sign up for a fishing excursion at Disney World if you vacationed there? If it was my first time visiting Disney World, or if I had only been a few times, I probably wouldn't do it, because I would want to maximize all my time inside the theme parks. But being that I've been to Disney a gazillion times, I would definitely sign up for a fishing excursion!
*All fish caught were released back into the water. Disney maintains a strict catch-and-release policy.
15 people like this
15 responses
@DaddyEvil (169801)
• United States
8 Mar
No, I can always go fishing in the lake less than an hour from our house or fish in the streams or rivers that are even closer to our house. If I'm paying for something it definitely won't be to fish!
When I was growing up, we went fishing all the time. I ate some fish back then but am allergic to fish now. *shrug*
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (169801)
• United States
8 Mar
@moffittjc The brother 4 years older than me still catches fish and eats them here. (He has to cook them, though. His wife will eat them with him but refuses to help him clean or cook them. 
)
)1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Mar
@DaddyEvil We were lucky in my household, my mom loved cleaning and cooking fish. We’d catch them, and she’d take care of the rest.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Mar
I used to fish all the time when I was a kid, and most of the time we would keep and eat what we caught. But nowadays, I'd be scared to eat fish caught in our local waters. I'm sure most of our lakes and streams and whatnot are clean, but who knows for sure? I'd rather not take the chance.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (55848)
•
7 Mar
It sounds like so much fun! I love to fish. I haven't gone in a long time.
I knew as soon as I saw this picture that young man was your son. He has that big, infectious smile, just like his Dad!!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Mar
One things I love most about that kid is that he is always smiling. And he's always been that way. That's why the girls were always chasing him!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Mar
@MarieCoyle Oh, yeah, him and I are a lot alike in that respect. Always grinning and smiling, and perpetually happy.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (55848)
•
11 Mar
@moffittjc
I hope that you will both always have lots of happiness. I am sure he is a joy, and I know you are proud of him.
@LeaPea2417 (39655)
• Toccoa, Georgia
8 Mar
No, because I have never been really excited about fishing.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Mar
Your profile picture on this site is a view of a lake!!! All these years I thought it was because you liked fishing! LOL
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Mar
I had read somewhere once that fish are not only dumb, but also that there are very little nerve endings around their mouth area, so that they really don't feel a lot of pain when they are hooked. So, yes, the same fish probably get caught over and over again.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (374040)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Mar
@moffittjc I hope that's the case. 
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (216159)
• United States
8 Mar
I would probably prefer saltwater fishing. That was a really nice and expensive gift for your son!!!!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Mar
It was a nice gift, she really put a lot of thought into it.
I prefer saltwater fishing as well, it's much more exciting, and you caught much bigger fish!
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (67177)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
8 Mar
I forgot you could fish at Disney! That's so cool, and what a way to spend a birthday.
I'm so proud of you for posting a discussion.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Mar
Every now and then I surprise people with a discussion!
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar
I would love to do it even if I wasn't a fisherman. When you're out on the water at Bay Lake, it is so peaceful and serene because of all the conservation land around the lake. You're in the middle of Orlando, but you'd think you were out in some remote woods or something! And, you also have a great view of the Contemporary Resort and the Magic Kingdom theme park if you look to the west.
You have to take a boat from Fort Wilderness or Fort Wilderness Lodge to get to Magic Kingdom. Well, you could take a bus, but I think the bus only runs every 30 minutes, whereas the boats run about every 15 minutes. Anyway, I've taken the boats back and forth many times, and I love being out on the water and viewing the Magic Kingdom as you approach the park.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (204241)
• United States
7 Mar
Wow, who knew? I take it the girlfriend has a few bucks.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar
She doesn't, she's a college student, but she also works a part-time job, lives at home, and manages her finances well. She's frugal most of the time, so that she can save her money for those big moments like birthdays and anniversaries.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (83830)
• United States
7 Mar
That’s an interesting extra perk! I have a friend whose daughter works there, so she probably knows that. I certainly didn’t.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar
I'm convinced that there is still more I DON'T know about Disney World than I DO know. The place is just so huge that it's hard to fathom everything they offer.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Mar
There's two lakes at Magic Kingdom: Bay Lake, which is a natural lake; and the Seven Seas Lagoon, which is a man-made lake. And the two lakes connect to each other via a small waterway, similar to a canal.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (130937)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Mar
I wouldn't but I don't enjoy fishing. They both did great
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Mar
I used to fish quite a bit when I was younger, but I will admit I haven't fished in probably 20 years.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (95214)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Mar
If you like fishing, it sounds like fun and interesting. I have never been fishing in my life.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar
I think one of the things I like about fishing is that you have a lot of "do nothing time" when you're out on the water. It's a good opportunity to think, to daydream, to plan, or just to simply take in the sights all around you. And if you're lucky, you'll actually catch a fish!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (251036)
• United States
7 Mar
My grandkids are into fishing and Disneyland and Disney World. They catch and release, except for the fish they caught in the Pacific. It was cooked up for them for dinner and enough for the captain and helpers. I’ll mention it to them.
Your son looks so grown up and happy.
Beginner’s luck I say for his gf.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (127734)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Mar
There's nothing than beginners luck! haha
1 person likes this
@Traceyjayne (8820)
• United Kingdom
8 Mar
I didn’t know about that at all….not a place I would go though to be honest.
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (21726)
• United States
10 Mar
Cool. I will have to tell Chris about that.
1 person likes this
