Same day golf cart rental?

[jenhelgren]

Does Disney keep any carts for day of rentals? I know the next few weeks have been sold out and we have been checking back, but wondering if we would still have a good chance of getting a golf cart if we arrive early day of check in. If not, we will most likely cancel.

 

[Kite16510]

When I called last month to reserve for March, I was told that they were booked up for the rest of the year until I told them March and then they were able to make me a reservation. So I would call them and ask.

 

[team bradfield]

Most likely no, October is a extremely busy time at FW, The times we have stayed in October, we booked our GC a year in advance, your only chance is probably someone canceling, but as @Kite16510 mentioned call, and often

 

[sweet maxine]

I'm actually wondering the same for a random date in December. Would probably just want one day to have to loop around, as I would otherwise have my bike to use during my stay. No idea which day I would want to rent one, and it looks like it's not easy to do my usual fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of scheduling. I'm guessing there might be some last-minute cancellations?

Editing to add---
Maybe I should just call and see if there's a day during my stay with an availability, and then the rest of my days will revolve around that???

 

[Dakota731]

Our first time to Ft Wilderness DVC cabin and wondered what is maximum and minimum distances to the bus stops? I wasn’t sure how many days to rent a golf cart for.

 

[proudmomof4]

I'm actually wondering the same for a random date in December. Would probably just want one day to have to loop around, as I would otherwise have my bike to use during my stay. No idea which day I would want to rent one, and it looks like it's not easy to do my usual fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of scheduling. I'm guessing there might be some last-minute cancellations?

Editing to add---
Maybe I should just call and see if there's a day during my stay with an availability, and then the rest of my days will revolve around that???

I would definitely call and ask them to check for your dates, if you’re flexible with days, you may get lucky for a one day rental. I would say you’re chances are better for a week day rather than a weekend day.

 

[proudmomof4]

Our first time to Ft Wilderness DVC cabin and wondered what is maximum and minimum distances to the bus stops? I wasn’t sure how many days to rent a golf cart for.

There are bus stops throughout the campground, see map below. The bus stops are marked with a symbol of a bus.

The distance between your cabin and a bus stop will all depend on your location within a loop. I don’t think there are any unreasonable distances and you may get a cabin just steps from a bus stop.

 

[sweet maxine]

I would definitely call and ask them to check for your dates, if you’re flexible with days, you may get lucky for a one day rental. I would say you’re chances are better for a week day rather than a weekend day.

Thanks for the advice! Just called to check, and was able to reserve a 4 seater for a day during first week of December. The CM I spoke to said there were 4 and 6 seaters available for that whole week, at least, as of when I called.

Note, you must have resort reservation number ready to give during the reservation process, so I had to look that one up.

 

[Dakota731]

There are bus stops throughout the campground, see map below. The bus stops are marked with a symbol of a bus.
View attachment 1019637
The distance between your cabin and a bus stop will all depend on your location within a loop. I don’t think there are any unreasonable distances and you may get a cabin just steps from a bus stop.

Which are the DVC cabins on this map? So we probably only need a golf cart during our day spent at the resort?

 

[erionm]

Which are the DVC cabins on this map? So we probably only need a golf cart during our day spent at the resort?

Loops 2200 - 2800.

 

[proudmomof4]

Which are the DVC cabins on this map? So we probably only need a golf cart during our day spent at the resort?

It is definitely fun to have the golf cart for resort days.

Other folks don't mind spending the extra $$ to have the golf cart to get to the Outpost bus stop and the Settlement/marina so that when they come back from a park they don't have to wait for a bus to get back to their cabin/campsite. But in my many, many trips to the Fort, we have never waited long at either the Outpost or Settlement/marina bus depots.

I personally do not want to spend the money to have a golf cart just sitting all day while I'm at a park. If you don't mind waiting for the internal bus to get to the Outpost or marina, then I would agree to just get it for your resort day(s).

The advantage the cabins have with the internal buses is that both the purple and the orange line go through the cabins area so you should have a shorter wait for a bus.

So, in the end, it all depends on how much you want to spend for convenience vs how you pace your day to allow time for waiting for a bus.

 

[bama_ed]

Golf carts are "an expensive convenience" at Fort Wilderness.

If you have money to burn, go for it. The Mouse will cash your check/ping your credit card. But as a guy who has stayed in campsites and cabins:

As FYI the graphic posted with the purple line going down FW Trail is (IMO) a little out of date or incorrect. Because for decades and as recently as our last stay (2024), the Purple and Orange lines BOTH go thru the cabin loops (2200-2800).

If your family is (like ours) motivated to get up and get going on park days, you don't need a cart to get you to the boat dock, the settlement bus depot, or the outpost bus depot. We've made plenty of rope drops in all the parks. But we drive to the other parks not named MK (if you have a car) because we CAN.

Is it fun in the last the months of the year to have GC to ride thru loops to see decorations? Sure it is. Be prepared to "get close" to the loop and then possibly WALK to see the decorations because of too many golf carts shunted to the side of the roads. <Been there, done that>

But I repeat myself. (because DIS folks use the DIS Search function 1rst, don't they?) Right?

The Fort is a great place to stay at or visit. But long time FW guests are very experienced - not their first rodeo.

 

[proudmomof4]

As FYI the graphic posted with the purple line going down FW Trail is (IMO) a little out of date or incorrect. Because for decades and as recently as our last stay (2024), the Purple and Orange lines BOTH go thru the cabin loops (2200-2800).

@bama_ed you're right, I didn't notice that the map I had grabbed was out of date.

Here is an up to date map, it even has the new names for the cabin loops.



Apparently, whoever took this photo was at the Settlement Depot, I love the "Y'all are here".

And it's interesting that Creekside Meadow is still on the map, has that area reopened?

 

[sweet maxine]

Golf carts are "an expensive convenience" at Fort Wilderness.

If you have money to burn, go for it. The Mouse will cash your check/ping your credit card. But as a guy who has stayed in campsites

Is it fun in the last the months of the year to have GC to ride thru loops to see decorations? Sure it is. Be prepared to "get close" to the loop and then possibly WALK to see the decorations because of too many golf carts shunted to the side of the roads. <Been there, done that>

So, is it better to ride my bike instead of using a golf cart for one of my days? I really don't know how crowded it is on a night in early December with the golf cart traffic. I thought it would be kind of a treat/special fun to loop in the golf cart for one evening to see decorations, but if it's really an unnecessary expense, I can let it go.

Editing to add...... I already have the Hoop de Doo reserved for one evening as my other treat. It's roughly about the same price as a one-day golf cart rental. Have been to see the Hoop show, but thought it might be fun seeing it with holiday decorations (if it's so decorated). So.....which is the better/special treat---the one-day golf cart to loop or the Hoop de Doo dinner?