Need guidance - golf cart, loop recommendations.

[DoeRiverGirl]

Hello all! I am trying to plan our first camping trip, as well as our first trip to Disney World. We will be going in late January-early February, for about 10-12 days, to attend the Homeschool Days. I would like to rent a golf cart for our time there. We have 4 children (8, 5, 4, 2) but I'm thinking a 4 people cart would be alright - since the two smaller ones will be sitting on our lap. Can you make recommendations for the most economical place to rent the cart?

Also, I'm looking for recommendations on the best loop for us. We have a 2006 Fleetwood Niagara folding camper with a 14 foot box, with an add-a-room on the front. We'll need electricity, water, sewer, (maybe) internet. I'm also looking for recommendations on a site that is very kid friendly, still somewhat close to evening activity area, close to a bathhouse (our little pop-up camper potty might not be enough for all 6 of us), but still feel somewhat secluded.

Thank you for you help!

 

[bama_ed]

DoeRiverGirl,

I think this can work.

Cruise down the page and the next 2-3 pages for threads about golf cart rentals from off-site vendors. Disney charges nearly $65 (w/tax) per day with no discount for longer rentals. The off-site guys charge about half that. I recommend Kenny from Tee Time but others have had success with other vendors. You are okay if you or DH drive, the other holds the little one, and everyone else is seated. The front and rear-facing seats can hold three if the middle one is small. That way a "4-person" cart will accomodate your 6. If your kids are bigger then you might want to get the 6-person carts from the offsite vendors.

The rules for golf carts are simple. It's "butts in seats". Here are the rules from the handout I was given this spring when I checked in:

-Children are not permitted to sit on the driver's lap. Young children may sit on passenger's lap while being secured by the passenger.
- Passengers in carts must stay seated at all times.
-Every passenger must sit in a seat. No standing.

There are more rules but these are most relevant to your situation.

A 14' foot box on a pup? That's big. I have a 12' box Jayco pup with a dinette slideout. Given your criteria that you want a sewer hookup, you could get a Full campsite (has h20, power, sewer, cable) and has a sandpad. Fulls are loops 1600-1900 (see the Fort FAQ which has a map). In your ressie request "loop 1600 near the comfort station". Loop 1600 shares a CS with loop 1500 which is a Partial Hookup (no sewer) but that will be as close as you can get to the pool, Meadow TP, and campfire/movie/singalong at the Full rate. And being close to the CS will help with those potty runs with the kiddos. If this info is in your ressie the Fort assigners will try to meet your request. But it's just that: a request, not a guarantee.

If you plan to use the internet for several days the cable modems the Fort rents on a daily basis can add up $$$$ quickly. You might investigate getting a Virgin Broadband MIFI modem or hotspot. I think the modem is $60-80 and then you have to pay about $40 for a month of unlimited broadband on 3G. They resell the Spring network. Other options are out there but that's the one that appeals to me if I were in your shoes.

Have a fun trip. Weather late Jan-early Feb can be anywhere from cold to hot but mostly they are pleasantly cool days (warm in the sun) and a little chilly at night. Check weather.com for average temps for Orlando.

Bama ED

 

[retired and happy]

In spite of his college affiliation, Bama Ed has given some good advice. We rented the Disney cable modem a couple of times, and it DOES get expensive. We have since gone to the Verizon MiFi which gives 5GB on 4G or 3G , whatever is available. I understand you can suspend service when you aren't traveling or otherwise don't need it. We haven't tried that since our home wireless net is so flaky, we often turn on the MiFi.

As far as I know there are no seat belts on any of the rental carts, so you will have to watch the little ones.

 

[bama_ed]

In spite of his college affiliation, Bama Ed has given some good advice. We rented the Disney cable modem a couple of times, and it DOES get expensive. We have since gone to the Verizon MiFi which gives 5GB on 4G or 3G , whatever is available. I understand you can suspend service when you aren't traveling or otherwise don't need it. We haven't tried that since our home wireless net is so flaky, we often turn on the MiFi.

As far as I know there are no seat belts on any of the rental carts, so you will have to watch the little ones.

Thanks Ken. And give Judy a big "Roll Tide" for me.

BTW, what does it cost for your Verizon MIFI service? Both the modem and the airtime?

 

[luckycharm19335]

I have the Verizon MIFI service.
It cost me $50 a month unlimited.
I love it. I have used all up and down the East coast and as far West as St. Louis.
It is very rare to have any problem with the service.

 

[wobblez]

you can for sure trust anything a BAMA FAN tells you.
ROLL TIDE
For the wifi you might want to check with your cell phone company some phones like the Iphone or HTC evo can be wireless wifi internet for up to 5 computers. I would just ask your phone company.