No more private golf carts??

[Colson39]

I don't think many allow private golf carts, because of the exact reasons you listed.

However, most RV camps also don't have the history of the Fort, and the golf carts have been a part of that history for at least two decades now. It would be a hard sell trying to get rid of them, that's for sure.

I think Disney does care about underage drivers, it's just not a priority of theirs. Disney security does keep an eye out for it, but they're also keeping an eye out for tons of other stuff as well. I just don't think it's a major concern, unless they see someone that is obviously very young driving.

Disney has been that way for a long time, in my opinion. They have a tendency to allow people to bend the rules, in the interest of not intefering with customers vacations. It's when people blatantly break the rules that they normally will get involved.

 

[kater2u]

but the rv industry is changing (rules, sizes, amenities, those rv'ing). Many places that allowed carts are now not allowing carts. Outside carts at fort used to be few and far between. Now, between 30-40% of the carts at the fort are outside carts. Also, it used to be easy to rent a cart at the fort because no one wanted them, now everyone wants them and they are sold out.

Outside boats are not allowed......why wouldn't outside carts? both are for recreational use...both carry liabilities.....maybe a bad comparison, but I think the best comparison.

 

[Colson39]

Well, a bunch of people driving around personal boats is a much larger issue than just golf carts. I understand where you're coming from, but a boat is a much larger vehicle and carries with it a lot more issues (gas, docking, lifeguards, pollution, the list could go on and on compared to a golf cart), so it's understandable they wouldn't allow outside boats.

You are correct however, that outside carts used to be few and far between. I think that has more to do with the rise of the golf cart industry than anything. 10-20 years ago, people didn't really care much about having their own golf cart, and most golf carts were your standard variety. Now there are whole industries built around customizing golf carts, which means people are more likely to invest in one. I think some people also view their carts as a status symbol, which could also lead to the rise in the amount of carts present.

I still don't see the numbers as being a problem though. Congestion isn't that large of an issue, and Disney has responded to the parking problem by building two new parking lots near the Marina. There is only a fixed number of sites at the Fort, and I'm sure they have a general idea of how many golf carts are present at any given time. As I posted before, even during the busiest times at the Fort, when all the golf carts are rented, and all the people have their own private golf carts, I still see as many if not more cars on the road than I do golf carts. Even during Thanksgiving I normally can find a parking spot at the Meadow Trading Post at any given time, so it can't be that bad

Because of the fixed number of sites, I think Disney knows they are well within an operating capacity of golf carts, without actually causing any kind of overkill. If it ever comes to lines of carts waiting to get into the marina area, than you'll probably see some kind of restrictions come into place. But unless they add quite a few more sites, I just don't see that happening with the amount of carts that are present.

 

[kater2u]

congestion is not the problem. Policing the outside carts is. There really is only 2 ways to police it. Tell them to stop, or kick them out of the resort. With rental carts, you can take them away.

again, maybe there is a contract to be signed and a daily charge (in the form of cart registration that must be on the cart or something) for outside carts. That would lessen the liability, make the rules/penalties known and signed with agreement. I think this would be a better solution then banning outside carts. those that are not allowed, would not get the registration, therefor not be allowed.

 

[kater2u]

Well, a bunch of people driving around personal boats is a much larger issue than just golf carts. I understand where you're coming from, but a boat is a much larger vehicle and carries with it a lot more issues (gas, docking, lifeguards, pollution, the list could go on and on compared to a golf cart), so it's understandable they wouldn't allow outside boats.QUOTE]


I meant like personal kayaks and canoes, but to go with your above issues, (gas powered carts, parking, security, pollution, etc). I would say that the main difference that you can not compare the two is foreign water containing foreign pests not being allowed into the water. And some of the carts being brought to the fort are rediculous. Large ATV's, those urban transports, Gators, where will it stop?

 

[AuburnJen92]

DW and I wouldn't mind at all if golf carts, motorized scooters and such were banned from FW.

Gosh! I hope not! My three year old would have nothing to look forward to! Our golf cart has been his "favorite ride" at WDW since he was 10 mo old!

 

[DisCamper]

I have to disagree that it was ease to get carts. Back before there was reservation it was first come first served people would start lineup up at 3-4 in the am to get the 8am carts which would sell out for the day by 9 or 10 am.

 

[MBMacs]

Outlawing personal carts would be like getting rid of tent camping or travel trailers and forcing everyone to rent cabins or only allow motorhomes. The problem with carts is no problem. Parking is not an issue,speeding is not an issue. Kids driving is a problem, even more so when they hit the rear of my car parked at our cabin. Part of the popularity with personal carts in Disney is from people like me who rented Disney carts then decided to buy one due to the amount of $$$ to rent versus purchase and bring personal cart, and the uses of the cart away from Disney as well. If we follow some of the logic in this thread, Disney should ban personal bikes and make everyone rent from them or pay a fee to bring their own. Should they charge a fee to bring your own camper versus using and renting a Disney cabin? Should they ban the use of personal grills and charge visitors to use Disney grills? Should they charge extra to guests who hook up decorations and lights? Where do we want them to take this? Charge people extra for bringing their own ice? I find it amazing some of the thoughts on this board, and I love the exchanges but the idea of baning or charging fees to use your own cart is mind blowing. Hope no one else gives Disney any more bright ideas.

 

[Colson39]

congestion is not the problem. Policing the outside carts is. There really is only 2 ways to police it. Tell them to stop, or kick them out of the resort. With rental carts, you can take them away.

again, maybe there is a contract to be signed and a daily charge (in the form of cart registration that must be on the cart or something) for outside carts. That would lessen the liability, make the rules/penalties known and signed with agreement. I think this would be a better solution then banning outside carts. those that are not allowed, would not get the registration, therefor not be allowed.

Well, I spoke to congestion because a few people in this thread had worried about it becoming too congested.

I'm not sure why you're seperating policing outside carts from rental carts. As was mentioned before, the same rules apply to each, and I've seen Disney stop both private and rental carts because of young drivers and other infractions. The problem is policing in general, it has nothing to do with private carts alone. IT's just not a priority to Disney security, for reasons (in my opinion) I mentioned before.

I don't know if we should ban private carts that don't fit the normal size and shape of a golf cart. I think that's a bit extreme. As an alternative, allowing golf carts that were larger than standard size golf carts, to ONLY be allowed to park at campsites would be fine. This would not allow them to take up 2 or 3 parking spots with their single golf cart. Other than that, I don't see why there would be a problem with one golf cart that is larger than the other, that makes no sense to me.

If people want to bring their super duper golf cart to ride around the Fort with, I don't think they shouldn't be allowed to. Some of these carts are amazing to look at, and people really have a good time explaining all the work (or money) they put into them. I mean, I've seen some HUGE trucks parked at campsites, and I don't see too much outrage over those (at least not yet...lol).

I also don't have a problem with your suggestion of a small registration fee for outside carts. If anything, it would allow Disney to better track what carts belonged to what sites if they had to be registered, and also to better keep track of infractions. The fee should be minimal, to be honest, I would even be fine if they just insituted some kind of registration system for outside carts, just for tracking purposes, there really is no reason to charge people for bringing their own carts.

 

[MBMacs]

Well, I spoke to congestion because a few people in this thread had worried about it becoming too congested.

I'm not sure why you're seperating policing outside carts from rental carts. As was mentioned before, the same rules apply to each, and I've seen Disney stop both private and rental carts because of young drivers and other infractions. The problem is policing in general, it has nothing to do with private carts alone. IT's just not a priority to Disney security, for reasons (in my opinion) I mentioned before.

I don't know if we should ban private carts that don't fit the normal size and shape of a golf cart. I think that's a bit extreme. As an alternative, allowing golf carts that were larger than standard size golf carts, to ONLY be allowed to park at campsites would be fine. This would not allow them to take up 2 or 3 parking spots with their single golf cart. Other than that, I don't see why there would be a problem with one golf cart that is larger than the other, that makes no sense to me.

If people want to bring their super duper golf cart to ride around the Fort with, I don't think they shouldn't be allowed to. Some of these carts are amazing to look at, and people really have a good time explaining all the work (or money) they put into them. I mean, some people drive Mac trucks to their campsite, and I don't see too much outrage over those (at least not yet...lol).

I also don't have a problem with your suggestion of a small registration fee for outside carts. If anything, it would allow Disney to better track what carts belonged to what sites if they had to be registered, and also to better keep track of infractions. The fee should be minimal, to be honest, I would even be fine if they just insituted some kind of registration system for outside carts, just for tracking purposes.

I would be more htan happy to register my cart, even pay $2 a day for electric for charging, whatever. But some of these thoughts on banning are way out there. Enforcement of all rules, carts, skating, scooters, pets, enforce all rules equally is what is needed.

 

[Colson39]

I would be more htan happy to register my cart, even pay $2 a day for electric for charging, whatever. But some of these thoughts on banning are way out there. Enforcement of all rules, carts, skating, scooters, pets, enforce all rules equally is what is needed.

Yea, exactly, like you said, even if they charged 2 bucks a day simply for an estimated cost of charging personal carts, it's not really a big deal. The registration is actually a really good idea, I wouldn't be surprised to see Disney do this in the future, just so they don't have a bunch of private carts rolling around that they're not sure what site they belong to.

Enforcement of rules is always a tricky situation. It's like when you get pulled over by the police for going 5 miles over the speed limit, meanwhile someone just zoomed by you going 20 miles over the speed limit. "But why me Officer, what about that other person?". It would be very hard for Disney to track every golf cart infraction equally at all times, without basically doing what none of us want, which is putting security officers on every corner.

Although Disney security has stepped up over the last few years, there is a reason you still rarely see any kind of "security" interaction taking place with a guest (be it a stopped cart or what have you). Disney doesn't want that kind of image, they don't want to intefere with people's vacations unless absolutely necessary, and they sure don't want people thinking that Disney is "unsafe". Right or wrong, that's each person's opinion, but that's the stance Disney has taken for a long time.

Don't forget, most of the people that visit Disney and the Fort are not "regulars". They don't read Internet message boards, they don't know all the rules by heart, to them this is just a vacation. Disney needs these people to return, to tell their friends how great their trip was. Intefering with their vacations for breaking this rule, or breaking that rule, as common sense as it might seem to do so to you and me, it might not necessarily be the same with Disney.

 

[Gatordad]

i agree with mbmacs.....I rented one for the usurious rate of $47/day last weekend. In two weeks, I'll have my own.

 

[MBMacs]

Most people @ the Ft. have/use common sense from what I have seen. Like always, some paint with broad strokes.

 

[tellnotails]

Well, a bunch of people driving around personal boats is a much larger issue than just golf carts. I understand where you're coming from, but a boat is a much larger vehicle and carries with it a lot more issues (gas, docking, lifeguards, pollution, the list could go on and on compared to a golf cart), so it's understandable they wouldn't allow outside boats.QUOTE]


I meant like personal kayaks and canoes, but to go with your above issues, (gas powered carts, parking, security, pollution, etc). I would say that the main difference that you can not compare the two is foreign water containing foreign pests not being allowed into the water. And some of the carts being brought to the fort are rediculous. Large ATV's, those urban transports, Gators, where will it stop?

Great post.... I knew what you meant


I was at the fort in early feb. and noticed congestion of carts mostly private on the foot path near the marina......one resembled a limo and the other resembled a monster truck....



Private carts are a priviledge............and fw has the right to remove those privileges...

 

[Colson39]

Most people @ the Ft. have/use common sense from what I have seen. Like always, some paint with broad strokes.

lol, some people like to dramatize everything, even on these forums. It's our own little microcosm of the real world!

 

[tellnotails]

I almost got sick reading the title but then was smart enough to read the thread.........

 

[Colson39]

I understand what he meant

The way you titled the topic, you made it sound like you had heard something that Disney was not allowing private carts anymore. Some people don't like to hear things like that

 

[tellnotails]

On our last trip I noticed the construction of another golf cart parking lot at the marina..

Personally I have no problem with golf carts but it seems they are taking over the marina area...

I can sense the begining of the end for private carts......

Okay Colson

 

[Colson39]

That's not exactly "hearing" something that they will no longer be allowed, that's just your personal opinion is all.

I think if you actually had "heard" something that they would be disallowed, this forum would be going crazy right now...lol.

 

[tellnotails]

okay Colson