Original Wisconsin Ducks
Original Wisconsin Ducks
4.5
Full view
About
Tour the Wisconsin Dells area by land and water on amphibious World War II vehicles.
Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Original Wisconsin Ducks
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,836 reviews
Excellent
1,151
Very good
470
Average
161
Poor
35
Terrible
19
Andy3838
Sarver, PA434 contributions
Jul 2021
It seems like this is just one of those things you have do at least once when you come to Wisconsin Dells. It was a unique experience and a good way to see the natural beauty of the area.
We enjoyed hearing about the history and how the area was formed but I did have a hard time hearing what was being said by our guide as the speakers weren't great and the boats are quite noisy. It was also a awkward when we stopped in the woods and had to listen to our guide tell us how he needed tips because he needs to make money. I've always come to these activities with the expectation to tip but I don't enjoy them stopping the tour to push it.
Overall, it was a good time. I would definitely recommend purchasing your tickets online if you are planning on also doing one of the Dells boat tours or the jet boat tour as they offer a significant discount if you purchase two tours together.
We enjoyed hearing about the history and how the area was formed but I did have a hard time hearing what was being said by our guide as the speakers weren't great and the boats are quite noisy. It was also a awkward when we stopped in the woods and had to listen to our guide tell us how he needed tips because he needs to make money. I've always come to these activities with the expectation to tip but I don't enjoy them stopping the tour to push it.
Overall, it was a good time. I would definitely recommend purchasing your tickets online if you are planning on also doing one of the Dells boat tours or the jet boat tour as they offer a significant discount if you purchase two tours together.
Written September 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kara Michelle
2 contributions
Jul 2020 • Family
I really enjoyed my time in the Wisconsin Dells area, but going on this boat tour with our tour guide Bryce Stellmacher made it so much better. I was also mesmerized by the scenery and intrigued by how well Bryce articulated his passion for the Wisconsin Ducks. He was a very good tour guide and I would definitely recommend him :)
Written July 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DMK
7 contributions
Jul 2022
My daughter (adult), sister, brother-in-law and niece (age 12) did the tour. We had a great time. I'd done it about 20 years ago and they use the same silly jokes, but as the rest of my party hadn't ever been on a tour and we like silly jokes, it was fine. My daughter is difficult to impress and has a short attention span (ADHD) and she loved it...she can't wait to go back on a tour. We got a little history about the Dells and were shown the place where the levee broke and Lake Delton emptied several years ago. The driver splashes into the lake to amuse the kids. Well, us adults, too. Towards the end, our driver stopped and spent a minute or two selling a tour book. It's absolutely worth the $5, and all the money goes to the driver to help pay for college (or whatever they are using it for.) I didn't mind, and I like the book, it had nice pics and gave a little more history than we got on the tour. The price is a little steep for a one-hour tour, but we had a good time.
Written July 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LaShonia L
4 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
Extremely disappointed… first, they do not advertise anywhere that many of the cool places we were looking forward to in the upper dells are closed (PD an extra $100 for 4 people- after we paid, sorry witches gulch and stand rock are closed…absolutely no refunds). We showed up to our 12:00 tour at 11:58 and “sorry… they already left”. NO ONE told us to show up early. The customer service was not acceptable… not the happy, helpful professionals you would hope to get with a $200 purchase. The lower falls was just OK- not the fast, exciting ride we were hoping for. We got uncomfortable and felt pressured when our guide stopped in the middle of our tour to “give” us little informational books then proceeded to say they were $5/ea. She just stood and waited while we awkwardly gave them back. The whole day today (April 6, 2022) just felt icky and money hungry. I definitely will not recommend to friends/family.
Written April 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Petra D
1 contribution
Jul 2020 • Couples
It's a nice tour, but there were some significant problems. First, almost no accomodation or acknowledgment of the pandemic situation we are in. No masks on staff, boats filled to capacity with no distancing requirement between seats, etc. Second, the engine exhaust blows on you in visible clouds throughout but especially on the water. Last, the tour stops toward the end and there is a hugely uncomfortable hard sales pitch from your driver in the middle of the woods. You are confined to the vehicle and you need to wait for them to bring you back to your car, so there is not much to do but politely sit through it. Pretty scenery and cute jokes, but given the drawbacks definitely not worth the money.
Written July 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela L
56 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
We had a group of 9 (7 adults, 1 child, 1 free child). The people at the window for tickets weren’t that friendly.
Mark, our tour guide did a great job. He had some corny jokes, but they were great and gave us all a chuckle. Our group’s ages ranged from 3-63 years old and everyone enjoyed it. He was very knowledgeable. He drove Miss Wisconsin (the boat’s name).
PS: Ask if you can purchase the tickets online with the discount and they will do it there for you. We saved $44 for 9 people but every little bit helps, right?
Mark, our tour guide did a great job. He had some corny jokes, but they were great and gave us all a chuckle. Our group’s ages ranged from 3-63 years old and everyone enjoyed it. He was very knowledgeable. He drove Miss Wisconsin (the boat’s name).
PS: Ask if you can purchase the tickets online with the discount and they will do it there for you. We saved $44 for 9 people but every little bit helps, right?
Written August 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LeenKG
Harvester, MO8 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
This is my third time riding the Ducks - the Original ones. My husband has a thing for them. These vehicles are incredible & a testament to how things used to be built in the USA. We had a great driver who did a very good historical tour. We were unaware of the Lake Delton breach. We had a super excited boy behind us & his running commentary was adorable. It was a perfect fall day & after hiking it felt great to sit down & enjoy the unique ride in a piece of WW2 history. We did get a military discount on our tickets. They were open 9-4 & we walked right on in mid October.
We noticed a safety review and a discussion about evacuating, where the life jackets are located & how to put them on. He also mentioned the two bodies of water we’d be entering.we think there was a red tear away roof area emergency exit as well.
We noticed a safety review and a discussion about evacuating, where the life jackets are located & how to put them on. He also mentioned the two bodies of water we’d be entering.we think there was a red tear away roof area emergency exit as well.
Written October 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cheryl J
Indianapolis, IN544 contributions
Apr 2023
It was ok, but could have been better. The ticket staff was knowledge-able and friendly. We wanted to upgrade to tour the 2 hour, one with the landings but that one was limited so stuck with the basic 1 hour one. The restrooms on site were clean, always a plus. The tour guide was friendly but during the tour he sounded like he was just going through a well memorized script. It could have been a recording. The sound quality was poor too so missed a few things. Maybe if we sat in the back further from the engine noise it would have been better, I don't know. Love bad jokes in general but since he gave them out like a script they lost most of the appeal they would have had. I missed half the info about the color of WI river due to the lack of sound quality. I would also like more real info - geology especially, but also some zoology about local wildlife. The natural disaster history was fascinating and to include some more local history would have been great. If the tour had been more informative and the sound problem resolved it would have been a 5-star easily.
Written April 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travel196065
Harrison, TN46 contributions
Aug 2022
Not sure of the name Original Ducks, but this is nothing like the regular "Ride the Ducks" we have enjoyed in many cities.
There is no touring of the city, just random driving through the woods where the drive wanted to create a roller coaster experience. I guess if they had college kids on the duck it would be different - but not very family friendly. Very little discussion of the history of the area and a disgraceful pawning for money at the end of the tour. Skip this one folks.
There is no touring of the city, just random driving through the woods where the drive wanted to create a roller coaster experience. I guess if they had college kids on the duck it would be different - but not very family friendly. Very little discussion of the history of the area and a disgraceful pawning for money at the end of the tour. Skip this one folks.
Written August 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
A M
Downers Grove, IL478 contributions
May 2021 • Family
We really enjoyed the trip. It was a nice mix of land and water which was great! We were lucky to see a baby deer during the ride. The driver was entertaining and taught us a lot of interesting info; we loved all the funny jokes. I am so happy we did this. They were well organized too and we prob waited 15 mins despite Memorial Day weekend crowds.
Written May 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm planning a trip for late Spring, is there a lot of walking involved? And is it easy access to get on & off the boats?
Written January 31, 2024
Not any walking if you take the lower priced tour. No getting off the duck at all. Just getting on and off. They will help you out getting on and off.
Written February 1, 2024
My parents r in their late 80’s Is the duck easy to board for older people? Easy steps in & out?
Written August 20, 2019
Very easy. I had my hip replaced and found it easy to get in and out of and the staff is more than willing to assist.
Written August 20, 2019
Minimum age requirement? Are children required to wear life jackets?
Written July 2, 2019
We took our 4 year old and there we 2 kids younger than her on our tour. They do not have to wear life jackets, but are required to sit and it is an hour tour!
Written July 2, 2019
Are there discounts available for online purchases?
Written April 13, 2019
I don’t think so but the radio shopping show does have discounts in the Dells
Written April 14, 2019
Should my family and I do the upper dells boat tour, the ducks or both? Going in late August.
Written August 6, 2018
Both are great. The Upper Dells has two stops where you get out and walk. They are worth the effort. You see things that aren't otherwise accessible. My favorite ride of all is the Upper Dells. The Original Ducks are the best of the Ducks. We even saw a tiny fawn on the land part. Have been visiting the Dells for over 70 years and never saw that small of a fawn. It was about 30 feet from the Duck!!!
Written July 2, 2019
What happens if it’s raining? Do the Ducks still run?
Written July 13, 2018
Good question, but I do not know the answer -- sorry! BUT, all of the "ducks" are covered so I'm guessing they might run????
Written July 13, 2018
There is coupons available everywhere do not pay full price! If you’re planning on doing for activities or more you can get 35% off never pay full price. I know they got the price is below but go for coupons it’ll help save you tons
Written July 8, 2018
Is there a bathroom available before you go on the tour?
Barb
Written October 12, 2017
Showing results 1-10 of 22