The (Latest) Official Golf Cart Rules (and more)

[Tri-circle-D]

I received a new piece of literature with my check-in docs last Friday (2/16). Since there have been a lot of questions about golf cart rules, I am sharing the document here. It is a two page document (front and back).

Here's the front page:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a145/arodnite/FWSafetyp.jpg

And here's the back page:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a145/arodnite/FWSafetyp-1.jpg

I think that I have some older documents somewhere that said rollerblading was not allowed in FW. Now, you can see that skates are allowed, and we now also know where we can ride our unicycles! ;)

TCD

[jason_rving]

Interesting about NEVs I see them breaking the multipath rule all of the time.

[Tri-circle-D]

Interesting about NEVs I see them breaking the multipath rule all of the time.

You are right.

Now that the rules have been clarified (again), I wonder what FW will do to enforce them.

This past trip I swear that I saw more kids driving the golf carts than I did adults. It is really a bad situation for me, because I have three children ages 15, 11 and 11, whose grandparents have a big piece of property and let them drive a golf cart there. So, my children actually can drive golf carts pretty well. But, there is no way that I would let them drive one at FW- it is dangerous! There are pedestrians, bikers, scooter drivers, cars, buses, etc. everywhere. You know how kids are though- it gets old telling them that we have to follow the rules even though there are tons of parents who blatantly violate them.

TCD

[Colson39]

The one rule that's been there for a while that Disney doesn't really enforce is the alcohol rule. I have seen plenty of people with drinks, and I think unless you are driving around with an actual beer bottle in your hand, they aren't really going to do anything about it. And of course, if you're drunk, you shouldn't be driving the golf cart, that makes sense. But that rule has been in place for a LONGGGGG time, and just as with anything in Disney, unless you abuse it, it's not something they are going to hassle you about.

I don't know, when I was 12-13 years old, I remember my parents and the families we all went to Ft. Wilderness with always having a few drinks or bringing a drink with them on the golf cart (and this is back in the 80's and 90's). Now that I'm 31, nothing really has changed ;)

[bigdisneydaddy]

The one rule that's been there for a while that Disney doesn't really enforce is the alcohol rule. I have seen plenty of people with drinks, and I think unless you are driving around with an actual beer bottle in your hand, they aren't really going to do anything about it. And of course, if you're drunk, you shouldn't be driving the golf cart, that makes sense. But that rule has been in place for a LONGGGGG time, and just as with anything in Disney, unless you abuse it, it's not something they are going to hassle you about.

I don't know, when I was 12-13 years old, I remember my parents and the families we all went to Ft. Wilderness with always having a few drinks or bringing a drink with them on the golf cart (and this is back in the 80's and 90's). Now that I'm 31, nothing really has changed ;)


The last few times we were at FW I have seen the County sheriff dept patroling. My understanding is that the roads are considered public roads and driving with open intoxicants in a golf cart still counts. I certainly wouldnt take the chance.

[We4mickey]

Hopefully with the rules written in black and white for everyone to read people will have a little more consideration of others. I like the fact that even the private carts have to have a licensed driver. I can't tell you how many kids I have seen driving them. I think it's a good thing and I hope it is enforced.

[TnTsParty]

When we were there 2 weeks ago security had a golf cart pulled over that had nothing but underage drivers in it. My DH said the littlest one was the one driving!! So they did enforce that rule - at least when we were there.

[schmitty]

I used to drive the golf carts around when I was a kid with my dad but it was usually around 2 in the morning or just around the loop if it was in the day.

[CCIntrigue]

I find it interesting that WDW doesn't require liability insurance on carts. The CG we frequent most requires $50,000!

[Colson39]

The last few times we were at FW I have seen the County sheriff dept patroling. My understanding is that the roads are considered public roads and driving with open intoxicants in a golf cart still counts. I certainly wouldnt take the chance.

I've never actually seen them "patrolling", as in looking to pull golf carts over to check if they alcohol in them. And yes, they are considered public roads, and yes if you're an idiot and driving around with a beer bottle in your hand and swerving all over the place, someone might notice. Yes there has been an increased police presence in Disney, but I don't see police cars patrolling the streets of Ft. Wilderness, just like I don't see security patrolling the streets. The last thing Disney wants is that. You might see a cop car or two (we saw one the whole week were there last Thanksgiving), but like I said, unless you are driving erratically and have something like a beer bottle in your hand, they're not just going to start pulling golf carts over at sobriety checkpoints...lol.

Don't be an idiot and things should be ok. I would guess that a fair amount of people (sometimes maybe even up to half) of the people that drive the golf carts have had a drink or two or are driving with a drink. It's not about taking a chance, it's just that most people don't abuse it is all. My family has been renting golf carts since they were first available, which is what, late 70's, really early 80's? And like I said, they've never abused the privilege. After almost 27 years of going to Ft. wilderness up to 4 times a year, renting golf carts at all times of the year, we've never had a problem. Not a single one. And of course, don't get plastered drunk and drive the golf cart, now that is just stupid. That's my point ;)

[bigdisneydaddy]

I've never actually seen them "patrolling", as in looking to pull golf carts over to check if they alcohol in them. And yes, they are considered public roads, and yes if you're an idiot and driving around with a beer bottle in your hand and swerving all over the place, someone might notice. Yes there has been an increased police presence in Disney, but I don't see police cars patrolling the streets of Ft. Wilderness, just like I don't see security patrolling the streets. The last thing Disney wants is that. You might see a cop car or two (we saw one the whole week were there last Thanksgiving), but like I said, unless you are driving erratically and have something like a beer bottle in your hand, they're not just going to start pulling golf carts over at sobriety checkpoints...lol.

Don't be an idiot and things should be ok. I would guess that a fair amount of people (sometimes maybe even up to half) of the people that drive the golf carts have had a drink or two or are driving with a drink. It's not about taking a chance, it's just that most people don't abuse it is all. My family has been renting golf carts since they were first available, which is what, late 70's, really early 80's? And like I said, they've never abused the privilege. After almost 27 years of going to Ft. wilderness up to 4 times a year, renting golf carts at all times of the year, we've never had a problem. Not a single one. And of course, don't get plastered drunk and drive the golf cart, now that is just stupid. That's my point ;)


We were there 11 days during the Christmas holiday and saw a Sheriff deputy patrolling at least once a day and Disney security was out in force. I understand your point completely, one or two loud mouth fools will ruin it for everyone.
I have noticed an increase in reckless driving of the carts but that seems to be mostly kids.

[goscudder]

We actually just got back from FW today and we laughed at how many older men we saw driving around with open beers in their hands or in the cup holders. Our "favorite violaters" were the two older men driving around, each one had a beer can in their hand, and a big dog was sitting in the front seat between them! I guess the rules don't apply to everyone!

[bigdisneydaddy]

We actually just got back from FW today and we laughed at how many older men we saw driving around with open beers in their hands or in the cup holders. Our "favorite violaters" were the two older men driving around, each one had a beer can in their hand, and a big dog was sitting in the front seat between them! I guess the rules don't apply to everyone!


thats another thread, the entire "rules" enforcement is a joke.
My thought anymore is that Disneys "rules" are only for people who follow rules, everyone else is exempt.

[ftwildernessguy]

This situation is a disaster waiting to happen. For some reason, people don't equate a golf cart with a motor vehicle capable of doing some serious damage. Disney may not choose to patrol, but I don't think that should stop us from turning in offenders before a disaster occurs and someone ends up seriously injured or dead.

[bigdisneydaddy]

This situation is a disaster waiting to happen. For some reason, people don't equate a golf cart with a motor vehicle capable of doing some serious damage. Disney may not choose to patrol, but I don't think that should stop us from turning in offenders before a disaster occurs and someone ends up seriously injured or dead.

I agree completely, having worked as a professional in public safety for over 18 years I can say that most of the time it takes a tragedy before changes are made. I dont have any problem reporting people acting foolishly, on the other hand I am on vacation and its just not my job. I pay the long dollar for the amenities of Fort Wilderness, when I have to dodge dangerously driven golf carts, deal with loud obnoxious neighbors, struggle to find parking because the front desk let the guy next to me have 4 carloads of thier friends drive into the campground and on and on, it diminishes the value of my experience. If DIsney is going to make rules I expect them to be enforced.
:sad1:

[ftwildernessguy]

I agree totally

[chief19spixi]

I will be their in april should I worry about my kids being run over by bad or drunk golf cart drivers???

[bigdisneydaddy]

I will be their in april should I worry about my kids being run over by bad or drunk golf cart drivers???

My boys are older (16 & 13) so they know how to take care of themselves. IMHO I would exercise the same caution as I do in a neigborhood.
Just take note of the surroundings and adapt accordingly.

Scott

[MBMacs]

When we were there last July someone, I can only assume someone who doesn't know how to drive, hit our van parked in the cabin driveway, tore up our bumper real good. After dealing with Disney security and loss management, we got stuck getting it repaired ourselves(which I wont because it aint worth it), but it is a good example of getting the bum end of the stick because people dont follow the ruls. I don't mean a parent letting a child help drive. I mean the parents letting the kids take the carts unsupervised. But there are just as many adults driving poorly as well I guess.

[auntie]

thats another thread, the entire "rules" enforcement is a joke.
My thought anymore is that Disneys "rules" are only for people who follow rules, everyone else is exempt.

Likely the "rules" are posted or given more for liability issues than anything else. Where as, if somethng does happen..Disney's covered. I'm not saying they aren't enforced or shouldn't be enforced...just that in the event the rules are not followed..and Disney didn't enforce the rule..they aren't going to get burned.

[Colson39]

I will be their in april should I worry about my kids being run over by bad or drunk golf cart drivers???

lol, no, sometimes when you read stuff on the internet you get this image in your head of something entirely different. It's not like their are just random golf carts flying off roads, and that everyone is looking to crash into someone.

As is common in life, it's the minority that causes the problems, and it's the minority that people focus on. I have seen kids go offroad for a few seconds, although it's been a while since I've actually seen anyone being really "dangerous" with the carts.

Imagine it just like your local street. Most of the people follow the rules, but there are always some bad apples. As someone else mentioned, just don't walk around with blinders on and you'll be fine. But also don't walk around thinking that every 5 seconds something bad is going to happen!

Edit: I also agree with some of the other posters that the main thing you have to worry about is not really drunk people driving golf carts, that is probably really in the minority. It's the 13 year old kids that have never driven a thing in their life that you should worry about.

You're in Disney. Have fun. That's what it's all about!