Anyone ever Rented a Surrey Bike?

[spot28]

I remember at FW the 4-person surrey bikes (with the fringe on top)...anyone know how old kids need to be to ride in them?

 

[Eljay]

Not sure if the FW bikes are the same as the ones I see at the Boardwalk, but I have seen babies on those surrey bikes!

 

[TheresaNY]

The 4 person bike is same size as 2 person. We did it at Coronado a year ago. My 8 year old couldn't really reach the pedals and her feet kept getting hit by the pedals which slowed us down. They are A LOT of work and it was HOT. My 12 year old had a hard time when my husband and I would pedal faster. We had to keep pedaling at a brisk pace or our thigh muscles would burn !! Sometimes it was a little difficult navigating around other guests walking. We would have to slow down which really killed us til we got going again. It was not a pleasant experience for us and it wasn't cheap ! My legs felt it for days !! Especially walking in the parks. Give it a try if you are in good shape but MAKE SURE the tires are completely inflated !!

 

[Aimeedyan]

They are SO hard to drive. Be sure the kids can help some or you'll be exhausted

 

[Haveamagicalday!]

The bikes are fun at first, but, be aware that you will get really tired! It gets very exhausting after awhile which can become sort of embarassing when everyone watches you go by!In my family's personal opinion, I say no to the bikes.

 

[kidangel]

My kids (8, 13 and 15) were all able to ride last week at POR, but I had to sign a waiver that said the driver (me) was 18. And I second the part about it being A LOT of work. The youngest couldn't reach the pedals well enough to be much help, and the teens and I had a hard time co-operating.

Shelley

 

[mitros]

Forget it if you are 6'6" or taller...you can't fit your legs in the space allowed by the pedals. I have never been able to use these things.

 

[Momof6]

We rented one of the 4 person ones at Boardwalk last April. It was fun - BUT it was a busy night and I was a nervous wreck thinking we were going to run over a child. Everyone who is just hanging out on the Boardwalk pays no attention to the bikes. It is scary - especially if you get going a little fast. We didn't have too much of a problem moving the thing - I was the least help. DH and DD12 and DD14 probably did the most work. Try it if it isn't a busy night and you're up for the leg work!

Denise

 

[mitros]

Being a nervous wreck is a good thing. At least you were aware of your surroundings. I have seen some of those things loaded to the gills with folks that were also loaded to the gills, {read snoot full}getting up a tremendous amount of speed going down the bridge going towards the Yacht and Beach area. One wrong move by a small child and one of those high speed things would never stop in time. I have always felt that those things are a disaster waiting to happen. At least Disney had the sense to get ride of the trams that went from the Boardwalk to the International gateway before someone was seriously injured. I remember riding that thing a number of times {saved a lot of wear and tear on the shoe leather} and people would jump on and off those things constantly. The CMs used yell themselves hoarse telling people not to get off when the tram was in motion. I recall one incident when some putz jumped off as the thing was rounding the corner towards the IG. He went flying and crashed into the railing and almost went over the top of it.

 

[disneygoof]

We love the surrey rides, and we have two little guys that went in the basket on the front. We didn't have to worry about people not seeing us because there's a warning bell that Happy had a great time ringing as we went around.

We did it at the Boardwalk, and one time we were able to get around with a little sweat, and the next trip we had to get off the bikes at the two hills and push them to the top. I like to blame it on Sleepy getting a year older and gaining weight, but it might have had something to do with a big dinner...

If timed right at the Boardwalk, you can stop at the bridge over to IG and watch the Illuminations fireworks.

 

[KathylovesPooh]

My DD12 and I laughed reading your thread and remembering renting a surrey bike at Boardwalk on her first trip to DW when she was 5 (obviously she wasn't a baby but I don't remember any restrictions about the age of riders). Agree with other DISers that it is a lot of work, especially if other riders can't help. DD wanted to do this more than anything (at least in our experience many of the non-park things were much more exciting for young kids). I relented and we rented the bike. I can still remember that we had to get off and push the bike up a hill (not easy either).
We have rented one in Sanibel Island since that time and DH (6'2") had trouble as his knees kept hitting the bar.