Golf cart or car?

[nasomi]

I'm planning to my take my kids to DW in our 35' rv, but I am curious about what to do once we're down there. Should I tow our tow car behind, or can I get away with bringing a golf cart and get everywhere we need to go? I have two younger girls, so walking extended distances would be nice to avoid walking great distances. My question is, from the camp ground, can I take a golf cart around to the different parks? Do I have a greater access to go places with a golf cart that a car cannot? The golf cart is gas, if that makes a difference.

 

[nasomi]

Also, I forgot to ask:

What is the difference between a full hookup campsite, prefered, and premium? I read through the descriptions and found minimal vague differences. Could someone high-light the key differences I should be aware of? Thanks again!

 

[JCJRSmith]

We usually tow our car (Saturn Ion) and we bring our bikes. I think the golf cart option is a bit too pricey on top of all the other expenses. This time, to save on gas on the drive down and back, and because we will have an extra passenger, we are leaving the car home and renting one when we arrive.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Also, I forgot to ask:

What is the difference between a full hookup campsite, prefered, and premium? I read through the descriptions and found minimal vague differences. Could someone high-light the key differences I should be aware of? Thanks again!

There is a pretty good description here: http://allears.net/acc/faq_fw.htm

 

[dozeman]

We always tow our gmc envoy with bikes on rack. We use the boat to go to MK and drive to the rest of the parks. We like to eat at some of the resorts (boma) The bus system is pretty good going to the parks but takes forever to get to the other resorts. We also like to eat outside WDW and grocery shop. My wife & I are both vegetarians so fresh produce is a must. Everyone has a different plan, this works best for us

 

[TheBird]

I'm planning to my take my kids to DW in our 35' rv, but I am curious about what to do once we're down there. Should I tow our tow car behind, or can I get away with bringing a golf cart and get everywhere we need to go? I have two younger girls, so walking extended distances would be nice to avoid walking great distances. My question is, from the camp ground, can I take a golf cart around to the different parks? Do I have a greater access to go places with a golf cart that a car cannot? The golf cart is gas, if that makes a difference.

Fort Wilderness is very large so depending on your site location you may be close to some things and far from others. Actually, golf carts are the best mode of transportation at The Fort you have best access to everything with them and yes at the fort you have better access with a cart opposed to a car.

There is a inner bus system within the Fort that you can ride but it can be slow at times. You cannot take the golf cart to other parks, but you can catch the boat right there at the fort to the Magic Kingdom and take the Monorail also you can take the buses to any resort or parks, keep in mind buses can be time consuming. The best bet is to take the boat to the MK and hop on the monorail to the tickets and transportaion and transfer there to your destination.

The downfall to not having a car is if you want to go off property and shopping for groceries etc. If you can buy all you need on your way in great. There is also a grocery delivery service, but the prices are a little more and they charge a small delivery fee, but for some worth it.

The only time we use our car is to get food and if you do have what you need they meadows trading post and settlement trading post have groceries but at disney prices, but not bad if you need one or two things you forget. Hope this helps a little!

 

[nasomi]

Thanks for the input. It's between my normal tow vehicle, a 75 convertible beetle, and my 7x10 utility trailer with a friends 4 seater golf cart. I can put the bikes in the trailer with the golf cart, or two the car and get one of those hitch doublers to put an extra raised hitch for the bike rack. Towing doesn't make much of a difference in fuel economy with my rig, I'm still getting 10-12mpg, so I figured it'd almost be a waste to not take it.

What about parking for cars/trailers at the site, is there room by the pad? Also, there's no problem putting canopy's out is there?

If I'm standing outside a Full Hook-up campsite, what differences will I notice vs a premium hookup campsite, or a prefered hookup campsite?

 

[univmd]

I would tow the car just in case you need to go off property. You can use the buses for everything else.

I think the main difference between Premium and the other sites is that the Premium sites are completely concrete, while the other sites have a smaller concrete pad surrounded by a sand pad.

 

[TheBird]

The premium and preferred sites are also more desired locations(this is subjective). Premium, and I am not sure about preferred, have upgraded picnic tables and grills and are fully paved. Meaning the picnic table is four sided and the grill has a cover. Full hook up has larger pebble pad, but personally if you don't need to be near the center Full Hook up is the best for the money.

Awnings are allowed just be sure to give specs or Rv/slideouts/awnings etc when reserving so they accomodate you properly on appropriate site.

If you do bring your car Kenny at tee time golf rents has very reasonable carts if you want to rent. We got ours for 248 for 8 days. We can never go without a cart.

 

[retired and happy]

You can park one car at your site. Premium sites have enough concrete that an extended main awning will just reach to the edge if you park over toward the utilities post. The entry concrete is also wider enabling easier backing in and more concrete enables you to park further back from the street, leaving more room for a car.

 

[nasomi]

I definitely think a fully paved pad would be the way to go, I had assumed that all pads were paved. That makes a big difference to me. I think we will take the car though, it's not that much bigger than a golf cart, and my exwife's father doesn't live far, so a visit to the girls grandfather might be nice.

Lots of great info, last time I was there I was 10 years old, in 1993, so I don't remember a whole lot at all.

 

[retired and happy]

All sites are paved to some extent. Premium has more concrete and no sand. Preferred and full have a sand/cocina section at the rear which can be an advantage if you want to pitch a tent or set up a dining canopy.

 

[gillenkl]

OP - one suggestion I have is to go to your local bookstore and get a few books on Disney from their travel section - like Birmbaums - Disney is a big place and the more info you know ahead of time the better.

 

[PixieCamper]

We always rent a cart from Kenny at Tee Time rentals. He is a fantastic guy and has fantastic rates to match!

From the first time we rented a golf cart, we were hooked. Now we wouldn't go without one- it's half the fun!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2148754

 

[CSHaydt]

We were there in Oct. We had our Car and we rented a golf cart from Kenny - We could have gotten away without the car but not the golf cart. We used that every day.

 

[thecplusplusguy]

I definitely think a fully paved pad would be the way to go, I had assumed that all pads were paved. That makes a big difference to me. I think we will take the car though, it's not that much bigger than a golf cart, and my exwife's father doesn't live far, so a visit to the girls grandfather might be nice.

Lots of great info, last time I was there I was 10 years old, in 1993, so I don't remember a whole lot at all.

Keep in mind you can only drive the car into and out of the Fort not around the Fort.

Dan

 

[ftwildernessrick]

OK, here is my $.02.

Golf carts are great & I always carry mine, but if I had to choose between a cart & a car, I would choose the car. The carts can only be used on FW property. It is fun to have a cart to go 'looping' especially during different holidays to see the decorations. The carts can also save time by not having to rely on the internal buses to get around inside FW. If you do bring your gas cart, remember there are no gas pumps at FW. We did a tow vehicle with bicycles for many years before we got a cart.

Full & Preferred campsites are basically set up the same way. They have a paved pad to park your camping unit & it is surrounded by a crushed shell/sand mix that you can put a tent on if you wish. Preferred sites are closer to the Settlement area at the North end of FW and puts you within walking distance of the FW landing to catch a MK boat or a boat to Contemporary or WL. Also in this area is Pioneer Hall, Crockett's Tavern, & Trails End buffet.

The Premium sites upgrade started a few years ago. FW like any other resort, was do for an upgrade. Many of the rigs today are longer & wider (slideouts) than FW was originally designed for, so they took many of the loops & upgraded them. They basically took these full hookup sites and laid additional concrete over the areas that previously had the crushed shell/sand. If you are planning on using a tent, there are very few premium sites that have enough room to stake out a tent.

They have also been upgrading the electric service at the sites, the original hookups that look like tree trunks are wearing out & being replaced with the standard metal service panel pole.

The photo at the bottom is me on a premium site in the 900 loop.

This is list of the type of sites:

Loop 100 - Preferred
Loop 200 - Preferred
Loop 300 - Preferred (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 400 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 500 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 600 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 700 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 800 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 900 - Premium (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1000 - Premium
Loop 1100 - Premium
Loop 1200 - Premium
Loop 1300 - Premium
Loop 1400 - Premium
Loop 1500 - Partial
Loop 1600 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1700 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1800 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 1900 - Full (Pet friendly loop)
Loop 2000 - Partial

This is a map of the Fort:
http://allears.net/acc/fortwmap1.jpg

For the most part, you can park or place anything on the paved or shell covered areas, but if you park anthing on the grass, there is a good chance you will be asked to move it.

 

[Disneylitch]

The preferred and full hook up sites have a completely paved pad for the MH, camper, and car. The area behind it is crushed shells. The preferred sites are closer to the marina, but the pads are shorter and closer together. The full hook ups are about midway between the marina and the outpost, but close to the meadow pool. The full hook ups are more widely spaced and are also considered the pet loops. However, you can see pets in almost all loops now. The full hook ups are quieter. The premium sites have the entire pad paved, no crushed shells. We stay in the full hook up and our dogs and usualy a couple of our kids. I would say it's a personal preference. We always take our bikes and since we stay for 2 weeks, we rent a car midway through. Towing a car greatly affects our gas mileage, so it's cheaper to rent the car. We use the Disney bus system to get to the parks and have never had a problem. Hope this helps.

 

[CGilly23]

I'd bring the golf cart. It's very convenient around the Fort especially when you get back from parks and you don't have to wait for a bus late at night when everyone is tired. Plus its a good thing to have for a relaxing day and to just drive around and be friendly! You can get anywhere in disney through bus monorail or boat anyway and could always have people visit. besides why would you wanna leave the happiest place on earth!?

 

[christinou]

You are going to see we all have different opinions, I think that it depends on how long you plan on staying and wether you would go off site, if needing to go off site bring the car, otherwise the golf cart is much better.
We tow our car and bring bikes, as we come for 14 days and do go off site quite a bit.