Question about golf carts...

[ajjhmf]

We're in the planning stages of our trip for Fall 2008. I've finally decided on the cabins and now and trying to figure out if I should budget for a golf cart. When we go, our kids will be 9, 4 and 2.5 so we'll be hauling around a double stroller most days.

I was think the cart would be great to take us to the boat landing when we are off to the parks, for my DH and son to run around in while the little ones nap and for getting around the campground in the mornings and evenings.

Are they something people really use or would we be better off using the internal bus?

Thanks so much!
Jenny

 

[tim5055]

For me they are fun,but just for a couple ofdays at the most. On "heavy" park days the cart will just be sitting most of the time and it costs you the same.

Save time and aggrivation and drive to the parks as the kids will be more comforable in thier own car.

Save money by picking a day or two as "down" days just to enjoy the campground. Rent a cart for those days. Also use these day(s) to ride the boat and monorail for the kids to enjoy.

 

[Tricializ]

I come down here yearly and have 4 kids. I have had different ones with me each time. Sometimes all 4, sometimes 3 etc. They are 20, 16, 4 and one who turned 7 yesterday. I absolutely recommend renting the golf cart. We rent one each time and have never regretted it. Now, my sister has done it with the cart and without and been ok, but....it is great. When I come down in the summer it is hot. Here is the schedule (basically) that we follow..
Get up early and hit the parks. Stay for a few hours until it gets really hot (around lunch time). Go back to our motorhome and nap, swim, eat lunch and veg for a while. Then we eat a light dinner and go back to the parks for the evening. The kids are rested, never over-heated and we have great time. Not having the golf cart would make this difficult. It is easy to tool around in it and go here and there. Also, at the end of the night, sometimes those last few steps are almost impossible for the little ones (and me too!). If you can budget for it, I would do so. Also, put in a reservation for one now. They sell out and if you get one and decide you don't like/need it, you can return it for a refund.
Have fun planning.
Tricia

 

[stacktester]

That is good advice. I agree on the carts. I rented one in 04 for the whole week and we used it once to ride around looking at sites decorated with Christmas stuff.

I would do the boats and monorail too as it gives you a better view of the whole place. We usually go to a nice rest. at one of the resorts each trip. The AKL has a nice place "Boma" and the food was great.

 

[goscudder]

Silly golf cart question.....We are going in three weeks (our first trip!) and have rented a golf cart. If we use the golf cart to take us to the boat landing to catch the boat to MK, is there somewhere we can just leave it? Is there a golf cart "parking lot"?

 

[ajjhmf]

Wow, thanks for the great responses.

Since we are planning a mid day break everyday because of the little one, I think a golf cart would do us well. And the more I read about FW, the more excited I am to go.

 

[Live4FW]

Yes, there are parking lots for golf carts (with power outlets) at both the settlement and outpost ends of the campground (where you pick up buses/boats).

 

[goscudder]

Yes, there are parking lots for golf carts (with power outlets) at both the settlement and outpost ends of the campground (where you pick up buses/boats).

Thank you!!

 

[schmitty]

Yours kids are young so Im sure they will love the golf cart. I did at that age.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

Yes, there are parking lots for golf carts (with power outlets) at both the settlement and outpost ends of the campground (where you pick up buses/boats).

Another question about golf cart parking... is there ample parking at these locations, with ample power outlets? or do we need to get there early to get a spot?

 

[Minnie's Mate]

We have been to FW twice since we bought our Airstream last May. The first trip we didn't have a golf cart and we decided that as often as we will be staying at FW it would be a good to have one and it would be wise to invest in a relatively new one so I bought a 2003 model within three weeks of getting back. When we went to MNSSHP we loved having one and are sooooo glad we bought one. We will be at FW over the President's Weekend and again in July and at Christmas and are looking forward to using it again. My wife has said many times that having one made the hole weekend in October so much more relaxing and enjoyable since we didn't have to wait for the internal buses and we didn't have to walk all the way to the pool or sing-a-long/movie (we were almost as close to the pool/movie as we were to the bus stop).

I wouldn't recommend buying one if you don't go as often as we plan to go, but if you can work it into your budget, I would highly recommend renting one for at least part of your stay.

 

[Dogslider]

We are also considering a short stay at the cabins. Can you tell me how many people fit per cart? We will have 2 adults. 16, 6 and 4 yr olds.
Thanks!

 

[clkelley]

There is plenty of golf cart parking, but not plenty of outlets. You would have to get there early in the day to be able to plug up your cart while you are at the parks. However, there are outlets at each of the campsites and and outdoor outlet at the cabins, so if you charge it each night at your site, you will be fine.

At the outpost golfcart parking there are no outlets at all, only at the trails end parking and marina parking.

 

[1derfultigger]

We are also considering a short stay at the cabins. Can you tell me how many people fit per cart? We will have 2 adults. 16, 6 and 4 yr olds.
Thanks!

I haven't been to FW yet but I have a golf cart and have seen pictures of their's. Short of mine being gas and their's being electric and mine having a lift-kit and their's not, they look like exactly the same ones. With mine, you can easily get 4 adults on it and should be able to get 2 adults in the front and 3 kids across the back just as easily. I've seen more but wouldn't advise it.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

You may have to put your 4 year old in the front between two adults, or put the two younger children up front with the driver and one adult in back. There are only two seat belts on our rear seat and I'd rather be safe than sorry so we always make sure our two boys are buckled in before we start off. It is way too easy for one of them to fall off in a sharp turn and there isn't much to keep them in the back. It is a little harder for one to fall out of the front.

 

[auntie]

We did FW many years ago with two strollers..and it was a real pain getting on and off busses just to go to the pool with them. Now maybe if it was one..it might have been different. But with the two of them little and two strollers. Also my oldest was about 12 at the time..he wanted to go off to game room..and it's not where you can let them go on their own..it's a bus to get there from the cabins. Not going to have him take a bus alone..so again..with the strollers on the bus. Forget it..we rented the golf cart and it made our trip MUCH more enjoyable. We enjoyed just taking a spin around the campground to the pool..to the Meadow or Settlement trading posts..up to the marina..MUCH easier. We were there in August..so between the heat and the afternoon showers..well..all I can say is if you can definetly budget for the golf cart it will greatly enhance your enjoyment of FW.

 

[loriandmatt]

does anyone rent their golf cart from an offsite (non disney) cart rental place?

i understand that off site places are not allowed to deliver the cart to you on FW property anymore, but what about if you had a tow vehicle with you anyway?

are there any places out there that you could rent from that would let you tow it from their place to FW yourself? would FW allow you to come on property with it? i have never towed a golf cart before, would i need to rent a flat towing cart also, or could i hitch the golf cart right to my van?

of course the big question is.....is there really that much of a savings over just renting it from FW?

 

[stacktester]

I heard there is a co. that delivers to FW. I haven't heard the part about not being able to get them from outside Disney. Figures though. What's next, no more carts from private owners. I'll see if I can get the number and let you know.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Unless there is a policy change re: outside cart rentals, the company that rents them delivers them to the overflow parking lot and you pick it up there. They are not allowed inside the camp ground, i.e. beyond the security gate.

 

[Livin'4Disney]

Loved the golf cart!! We had it the whole week and all five of us plus our collapsable double stroller fit on it. DS9, DD7, DS3, DH and myself. We used it especially when going to MK via boats, but we drove our own car to AK, MGM and Epcot. You charge it each night at your cabin and they have chargers at the docks too.

Have fun!!