Is a golf cart a necessity in our situation?

[sahu]

Hi all! I'm not super familiar with the Fort, but we are considering staying in a cabin this fall as we will likely have our dogs with us. However, I am trying to figure out if we will want to rent a golf cart. We will be staying in an accessible cabin as I do use an ECV for walking more than a very short distance. However, we will also have a vehicle that we load the ECV into and that is how we will get to the parks and everywhere else. We have never used the buses before and do not anticipate doing so on this trip either. Knowing this, is there any reason we would want to rent a golf cart? Thanks for the help!

 

[MICKIMINI]

I would recommend it. The Fort is large and parking is difficult with a car and sometimes even with a cart. It's fun to drive around. Enjoy!

 

[StormyCA]

It depends on how you 'do Disney'. If you're rope drop to closing every day then chances are you won't need a GC since you're driving to the parks and will be gone most of the day and into the evening. Your time actually at the Ft may be limited so you won't be tooling around there much.

If you're having 'down days' or only spend 'half days' in the parks and/or will want to really explore the Fort then a GC is a great thing since there really isn't a lot of parking in the various areas. One 'caveat' is if you need your ECV for more than short distances then a GC may not be for you since you'd end up sitting in it whilst the rest of your group 'explored'. I think there is handicapped parking at most of the settlement & pool areas but I don't know how many spaces or if there's a time restriction. If there's enough parking then you won't need a GC to explore and you'd also have your ECV handy. I'm sure the front desk would be able to answer any of your parking availability questions.

We rented a GC for just one day (a non-park day) and used it to tool around the fort, visit each settlement, and 'do the loops' to check things out but we haven't felt the need to have one every day. No real mobility impairment, but we drive to the parks, too, except MK because the boats are much more convenient.

 

[Jimsig]

It really depends. Is a GC a necessity at FW? No. Is it nice to have. Yes it can be.

When it comes to parking I want to say the Meadows on the Trading post side has around 5 spots and I believe they are supposed to be used for short term parking only such as when you are shopping at the Trading Post, maybe someone knows for sure. The swimming pool side of the Meadows has no automobile parking and IIRC the Settlement has no parking at all. So if you plan on going to those places your choices are rent a golf cart or rely on the internal buses. There are plenty of places to park a GC in FW at the Meadows, Outpost, and Settlement. From what I have gathered they have very few parking spaces around the public places around the Fort as they don't want a lot of extra motor vehicle traffic. They basically want you driving in and out between the entrance/exit and your Cabin/campsite.

Also if you plan on going to the MK I would think your best bet is the take the boat from the Settlement as compared to driving. If you drive you will have to deal with larger crowds and park at the TTC, I believe go through security there with everyone else who drives, and take the boat over. If you take the resort boat from the settlement the security line is when you get off the boat and you are only dealing with those on your boat.

Is the ECV one of those you can fold up and fit into a trunk? I ask because you mention loading it vehicle. Depending on the size of your party that would need use of the GC you could possibly get some heavy duty bungee cords and secure it either on the back seat or even on the front passengers seat/floor at an angle and you could ride on the back. I have never rented a GC from Disney so I am not sure if the rear seat folds down flat. I have rented from Kenny's Tee Time a few times and want to say the rear seat folds down on theirs.

 

[Jimsig]

Also as you say you will be there in the Fall and lost of people decorate for both Halloween and Christmas and it's great to go looping and see all the decorations. If you decide not to go with a GC it might be worth it to rent directly from Disney for only one or two nights to go looping.

 

[Cousin Ed C]

A golf cart is fun, but hardly a necessity at $ 65+- a day. We have wintered at the Fort for 20 years and bring our own cart, but the first 8 years we didn't and never rented one.

 

[rideswithchrist]

Hmmm- I would check on the parking situation-to make sure there is space to park your vehicle. That said- if you need and ECV to wander around- you might enjoy the internal busses more anyway so you are not without the wheels because the golf cart would not tow one anyway.

 

[Marshel]

I use an ecv as my means of transportation around the fort, but I'm generally there solo; but it can be done. You are allowed to take them onto the pool deck, especially at the cabin pool. You can take them on the internal buses and they roll onto the big MK boats; I drive mine to all the parks, but it's a personal one and I'm good at disassembling it and loading it into the back of the truck. The parking at the Meadows complex is 15 minutes only and it's a bit of a hike from the spaces to the pool.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Golf carts are never "necessary".
2) But, carts or bikes are really desirable.
3) FW is a little over one-square-mile in area.
4) They do have internal buses.
5) But, to explore, a bike or golf cart is essential.
. . . there are lots of things to view and see
. . . there are numerous type of decorated RVs
. . . plus, you get to see and meet people

 

[joanchris]

We have not yet stayed at the fort, but are rending an RV (toy hauler, for the back ramp to add accessibility to it) in a few weeks, and added on a golf cart with the RV rental.
We have a family member who uses a wheelchair, we are getting a golf cart anyhow, because the rest of the family may want to use it to go to the pool, to get food etc. My dad will also likely be using a scooter. Our thoughts are that even though we won't be able to use it for my daughter to go exploring, the rest of us will benefit from using it. When thinking about logistics, waiting on busses does not sound fun, I remember going to dinner at the fort several years ago and getting there via bus seemed to take forever. We had thoughts of maybe using our vehicle to drop my daughter <and her wheelchair> and my dad <and his scooter> at the boat dock, when using the ferry, then we can swing back and the rest of the family can use the golf cart to get over there, if it's too far from our campsite for us to want to walk
Still not sure how any of this will play out when we get there, but if you think about the cart for your traveling companion(s) vs for yourself, maybe that will help you make a decision. If you were exploring the fort could you tag along with your scooter while they ride the golf cart? (forgive me if that's a dumb question, my dad would be renting a scooter, I don't know if that would be possible)

 

[BarbLynnM]

I may not be remembering correctly about parking at the settlement as we've always taken the busses, but I don't recall car parking at the settlement. Am I missing something?

 

[G719]

I may not be remembering correctly about parking at the settlement as we've always taken the busses, but I don't recall car parking at the settlement. Am I missing something?

You're correct. There is no car parking at the settlement. Only golf cart parking there.

 

[PaHunter]

We have not yet stayed at the fort, but are rending an RV (toy hauler, for the back ramp to add accessibility to it) in a few weeks, and added on a golf cart with the RV rental.
We have a family member who uses a wheelchair, we are getting a golf cart anyhow, because the rest of the family may want to use it to go to the pool, to get food etc. My dad will also likely be using a scooter. Our thoughts are that even though we won't be able to use it for my daughter to go exploring, the rest of us will benefit from using it. When thinking about logistics, waiting on busses does not sound fun, I remember going to dinner at the fort several years ago and getting there via bus seemed to take forever. We had thoughts of maybe using our vehicle to drop my daughter <and her wheelchair> and my dad <and his scooter> at the boat dock, when using the ferry, then we can swing back and the rest of the family can use the golf cart to get over there, if it's too far from our campsite for us to want to walk
Still not sure how any of this will play out when we get there, but if you think about the cart for your traveling companion(s) vs for yourself, maybe that will help you make a decision. If you were exploring the fort could you tag along with your scooter while they ride the golf cart? (forgive me if that's a dumb question, my dad would be renting a scooter, I don't know if that would be possible)

The closest you could drive to the boat dock is the convergence of the roads near the Settlement. It is still about 150 yards from there to the dock.
The scooter would be dangerous on the road, it would be best driven on the sidewalk, but will not keep up speed with a golf cart.
Make sure that the company setting your trailer is aware you intend to use the back ramp. Some sites are not deep enough to use a ramp out the back. If they set the trailer all the way back you could have a tree preventing you from even opening the ramp. Just a thought.
Otherwise you will be tracking a scooter thru mud and pine needles to get it inside.

 

[joanchris]

The closest you could drive to the boat dock is the convergence of the roads near the Settlement. It is still about 150 yards from there to the dock.
The scooter would be dangerous on the road, it would be best driven on the sidewalk, but will not keep up speed with a golf cart.
Make sure that the company setting your trailer is aware you intend to use the back ramp. Some sites are not deep enough to use a ramp out the back. If they set the trailer all the way back you could have a tree preventing you from even opening the ramp. Just a thought.
Otherwise you will be tracking a scooter thru mud and pine needles to get it inside.

Thanks for some great information! The people we're renting the RV from are aware we need to be using the ramp for access.
When I initially made the reservation I thought I remembered a spot where I could input the length of the RV we were bringing, but we had not reserved one so I left it blank--thought I could go back in and add it. So now, would I call the Fort reservations and have it added, along with the need for additional length (so I guess asking for one of the longest sites available)?

 

[Teamubr]

So now, would I call the Fort reservations and have it added, along with the need for additional length (so I guess asking for one of the longest sites available)?

Yes.

Call and have the length added and make sure they note that you need to use the rear ramp for mobility access.

j

 

[Betty Rohrer]

We have not yet stayed at the fort, but are rending an RV (toy hauler, for the back ramp to add accessibility to it) in a few weeks, and added on a golf cart with the RV rental.
We have a family member who uses a wheelchair, we are getting a golf cart anyhow, because the rest of the family may want to use it to go to the pool, to get food etc. My dad will also likely be using a scooter. Our thoughts are that even though we won't be able to use it for my daughter to go exploring, the rest of us will benefit from using it. When thinking about logistics, waiting on busses does not sound fun, I remember going to dinner at the fort several years ago and getting there via bus seemed to take forever. We had thoughts of maybe using our vehicle to drop my daughter <and her wheelchair> and my dad <and his scooter> at the boat dock, when using the ferry, then we can swing back and the rest of the family can use the golf cart to get over there, if it's too far from our campsite for us to want to walk
Still not sure how any of this will play out when we get there, but if you think about the cart for your traveling companion(s) vs for yourself, maybe that will help you make a decision. If you were exploring the fort could you tag along with your scooter while they ride the golf cart? (forgive me if that's a dumb question, my dad would be ren ting a scooter, I don't know if that would be possible)

you will not be able to drop them off to use the ferry as there is no car parking even for handicapped. and that is about a 1/2 mile from most of cabins. golf carts must use roads with buses and cars, ECVs would have to use the walkways and you will not be able to stay together even if want to try that traveling from your loop/cabin. this will make getting to main pool very hard for you also as no car drop off. you can rent offsite ECVs at The Fort been there and done that.