Possible to NOT use golf cart?

[Katybug236]

Renting one pushes up our trip cost and I was wondering is one was REALLY necessary. Can't I just drive our car up to the beach/ main pool area and park?

 

[chartle]

No but you can take the bus.

 

[retired and happy]

There is no parking at the Fort except at your site, in the overflow lot up front, and a few 15 minute spaces near the Meadows Trading post. Depending on where you are located, you may be close enough to walk to the Marina, the Campfire, or other amenities at the Fort. And as PP stated, there is a very good internal bus system with three routes to get you where you want to go reasonably quickly.

 

[Katybug236]

Thank you! But just for my own peace of mind... I CAN drive around to drop members of my party off at the pool and then come back to my cabin correct?

 

[tim5055]

Thank you! But just for my own peace of mind... I CAN drive around to drop members of my party off at the pool and then come back to my cabin correct?

That is also frowned upon by the FW CM's. The rule sheet they give out at check in (Called the Fort Wilderness Gazette) states "Please leave your vehicle at your campsite" and "Please utilize our transportation system.

With over 1200 sites/cabin the roads would quickly become overwhelmed if folks started using their own cars for trips around the Fort.

Offsite cart rental is one way to save money on a cart.

 

[CDNCruiser]

We always take our bicycles and use them to do our "looping" or to go to the pool.

 

[cruising spud]

Katybug,

We have been to Disney many times and only rented a golf cart once, and that was just for the day, to test the whole "golf cart" concept.

And while it was fun to have the cart on order to zip around and explore the fort, quite honestly, we have not rented one again. We live about 900 miles away from Disney and although we love going, Disney is not where we spend every vacation. So, when we do go, about once every four years or so, we don't spend a lot of time perusing the campground. And, we don't mind walking, and the golf carts cost a fair chunk of change, so for us, there is no need for a golf cart.

 

[mash]

You might want to consider bringing bikes, if you can. We always brings ours and they are a very convenient way to get around the Fort. It's also fun to bike around the Fort to explore and to bike on the path between the Fort and the WL. If you go on the bike path at night you can usually see some wildlife, usually deer.

 

[dblr]

We have never rented a cart,thought about it but the cost was always to high, as some have said try an off site company, Kenny's always seem to be the most popular one. We always walk everywhere but after along day at a park a ride back to your site or cabim would be nice.

 

[Cousin Ed C]

NO.... No one needs a cart. You can get around fine without one.....but they're fun.

 

[Katybug236]

The rule sheet they give out at check in (Called the Fort Wilderness Gazette) states "Please leave your vehicle at your campsite" and "Please utilize our transportation.

Does this mean that I can't use my car to drive myself to the parks either?
(sorry for the first timer questions but well....I'm a FW first timer )

 

[tim5055]

Does this mean that I can't use my car to drive myself to the parks either?
(sorry for the first timer questions but well....I'm a FW first timer )

Nope, use your car all you want to and from parks. They just don't want everyone using their cars to "run errands" around the campground. As a matter of fact, your vehicle pass that they give you at FW entitles you to free parking at any park. I drive to every park except the MK. The MK is quick because of the boat. All the others I find it easier to just drive myself.

Ask all the questions you want, that is what the board is for.

You may want to check out my FW website (in my signature). I have tried to compile information from my trips and the comments of others in one place to help folks out.

 

[Kimi313]

We stayed at FW for the first time this past May and we did not have a golf cart. We just spend so much time at the parks we didn't think it would really be worth it and we didn't even have our car and we did great. Just take advantage of the internal bus and I know it sounds crazy saying 'take the internal bus to the bus stop for the external bus and then get on the external bus to the park of your choice, but it really its fine. Now is the bus going to be at the stop when you first get there, maybe or maybe not, but we never waited more than 15 minutes and we always left a little cushion for arriving to the parks and we were never late for anything. Have a great time and keep those questions coming.

 

[Napria]

We previously had gotten a cart for one day and loved it, but didn't think it was worth the money. We always took the Disney transportation or used our bikes in the campground. My son is disabled and he has an adult trike with a basket on the back that I use to take to the comfort station to do laundry.

This past trip we rented a golf cart from Kenny and I've got to say we will probably continue to rent from him for every future trip. His prices make it affordable and we used the golf cart so much that the bikes just sat on our campsite the whole two weeks.

But no, you don't want to use your car within the campground. The buses are efficient, run regularly and drop you off near the park entrance (instead of parking miles away and having to wait for a parking lot tram.) However, we always use our truck to go to Blizzard beach or Typhoon Lagoon. The waterparks are one destination that we've found the buses are much less efficient than driving.

 

[LarryJ]

That is also frowned upon by the FW CM's. The rule sheet they give out at check in (Called the Fort Wilderness Gazette) states "Please leave your vehicle at your campsite" and "Please utilize our transportation system.

With over 1200 sites/cabin the roads would quickly become overwhelmed if folks started using their own cars for trips around the Fort.

Offsite cart rental is one way to save money on a cart.

Well I have a little different opinion. The Gazette is just IMO a suggestion to provide information and I routinely drive up to Meadows to get what is needed or for the Sunday paper since why else would they have parking places for the Meadows. I also drive up to the front desk to check in for our back to back ressies.

I do like to reserve a cart for one day at Halloween and Xmas to loop and look at the decorations. However, I consider it a waste of $$$ just to have one to avoid using the internal bus system. I'm usually at WDW to enjoy the parks and not just "tool" around the loops/cabins just because.

We also drive to all the parks except MK because of time and convenience issues/concerns.

Larry

 

[ilovemyjj]

OK, my family of 6 stayed for 7 days, I said lets not spend the extra money on that cart, HUGE mistake!! I thought we will just walk or take the inside buses everywhere! I just thank God my son brought his elec scooter! Now, if you have bikes, and scooters, roller skates, it makes life much easier, but I said naa.we will get our exercise..lol! We musta walked 100 miles that week!!!
Going to the pool 2-3 times a day, going to eat, to the beach, ect..takes a toll on you, plus if it is hot out, you wear yourself out quick!!

So, the best advice, is get the one outside golf cart rental company, i know Disney don;t like this, but they save you about 200 bucks that what Disney charges! They bring it right to your site!!

 

[amylevan]

Do you NEED one? No. You can walk, ride bikes, or take the bus. We don't get one. I'd rather spend our vacation funds elsewhere. I actually prefer to walk (we've ended up in the 100, 200 or 500 loops - so we walked to the settlement and the pool.)

Of course, we also take Disney transportation. Plenty of people prefer to drive to the parks instead.

That said, there are plenty of people who wouldn't dream of going to the Fort without a golf cart. We just don't think it's that big of a deal.

 

[2goofycampers]

So, when we do go, about once every four years or so, we don't spend a lot of time perusing the campground.

And you call yourself cruising spud.

 

[FLDisneyFan]

I camped at FW for the first time last week, and at the last minute decided not to take my bicycle. Next time I will! The campground is huge, and while there are buses and boats, they aren't the most efficient forms of transport in terms of time.


After I set up camp, I took a drive around FW to get an idea of where everything was at. After I got my bearings, I walked or took to the bus to places within the campground, but drove to the other parks and resorts within WDW.

Yes - you can get by without a cart, as long as you don't mind waiting a few minutes for a bus or a walk to the facilities within FW.

 

[retired and happy]

We bought a golf cart after our second rental. We use it for every Fort trip. And we use the busses wherever possible. We NEVER drive to a park. That's what they pay the bus drivers for. And looking at the scenery and attractions along the way is part of the fun. IMHO the only reason for driving to the parks is if you have every second of your time accounted for. We prefer to relax on vacation.