small children, golf cart worth $$?

[jeast]

We are already stretching our budget for our five day trip to WDW. However with two small kids (5, 2), it's occurred to me that waiting for TWO busses could become a problem.

Do you FW veterans recommend that I get a golf cart? We will be spending a good deal of time around the campground. I thought about taking bikes, but we are driving a small car for 8 hours and I don't think it's very practical. Not to mention that DD2 doesn't like to ride on the back of the bike.

I could make the golf cart thing work, but is it REALLY worth the $200 for four days?

 

[Disneyrsh]

I'd get one. FW is big. BIG. You can take the busses to just about everything, but the golf cart was really handy. And it was a huge amount of fun! You might try renting it for half of your stay and then seeing if you can do without it for the other half...

 

[LMC]

Since you stated that you are on a tight budget a cart really isn't necessary. Convenient, yes. A luxury, yes (to us it is anyway!) but not an absolute have to.
I would advise you to take a stroller; double since you have two small kids and you can push them around the fort. I am going to presume that you are staying in the cabins. When you check in ask for a cabin close to the bus stop. That would be a short walk and you won't need to use the stroller. I would take it though for the parks.
The stroller is also nice when you want to go to the campfire, pool, etc. Much easier to just walk than to wait on the bus to come.
We have used a cart two times: one day and we were at the park all day but it was nice to come back to at midnight with two of the four kids SLEEPING! Then another time we did a camping only trip (no parks) and rented a cart for two days so we could check out the campground and see which camping loops we liked best. We will not be using one this trip (Kids 10, 6, 4 --one being special needs) but they will have their bikes and scooters.

 

[VAN]

If you are on a tight budget, I would skip the carts. We have been to Ft. Wilderness many, many times starting when the kids were small. We have yet to spend the money on a cart and really don't miss it.

I really didn't see anyone with little ones having a hard time with the buses. Most of them had two parents, with the one folding up the stroller while the other assisted the kids onto the bus.

If you are near the middle of the campground and don't mind walking, you would only be a 1/2 mile from either the Outpost or the Settlement. As long as the kids were in a stroller and you weren't in a hurry, it is a nice walk.

 

[auntie]

I assume you are staying in the cabins. I personally feel the golf cart is worth it. We stayed in the cabins when my kids were 1 and 4..and an older one being 12. I found getting on and off busses with two strollers to be a real inconvenience. The golf cart made the trip much more pleasant. I mean you could give it a day or so...and see how you do. I just thought it was a great way to get to the pool or the marina area, without having to wait for the bus.
They are pretty pricey though..so I understand the hesitation.

 

[Tricializ]

Every time I go to FW, I get a golf cart. 1. They are fun. I think the kids like those even better than some of the rides. 2. Very convenient to go to the marina (far from the cabins) for fireworks or to catch the ferry 3. It rains in June: A LOT! It's great to run to your golf cart and be back at your cabin quickly. 4. When you are having that emergency craving for the Mickey bar, you are just a short drive away.

Are they a necessity? No, as the others say. But, if you can swing it, I don't think you'll regret it.
Tricia
P.S. I also have a 5 and 2 year old.

 

[jeast]

I've budgeted what we need for the vacation (at cabin, hurrah!), but am expecting to get a discount when the FL rates come out. I was thinking to use the extra freed-up funds for golf cart rental.

I have to convince hubby to spend the extra money. Maybe I'll just do it and not tell him. He might be pleasantly surprised. We don't expect to get back to WDW for a couple of years, so I was thinking to make our trip as hassle free as possible. I don't want to get frustrated with transportation issues.

 

[Tricializ]

When we go with the little ones (even though we have teenagers too), we get up really early, hit the parks and then leave by noon to go back to camp. Hang around, rest, swim, eat etc. Then we go back to the parks for the evening till close. This schedule never gives the little ones meltdowns and having the golf cart to shuttle back and forth between transportation makes it easy to do this without wiping yourselves out waiting for buses.

 

[jeast]

That's our plan, too. We have a lot of time scheduled for the campground, which my kids will probably like almost as well as the parks.

I just don't want to spend a lot more time than necessary waiting for internal busses. I've heard some nightmare stories. I've also heard that most of the time it's no problem. I guess that's why I'm so indecisive about spending the cash.

 

[Tricializ]

I think they allow this, as there are typically many people on the waiting list for carts. BTW, if you do reserve one, do so now so you get it. In the summer, the chances of getting one without a reservation is difficult.
I know my sister and her family typically rent a cart for the first day when they arrive and don't go to the parks. They tool around in the cart and go to the fireworks, campfire program etc. and have fun with it and then return it.
Tricia

 

[twinscandc]

If you do get a golf cart - BE VERY CAREFUL WITH YOUR LITTLE ONES!!

We were camping in FW about 2 years ago and we saw a horrible accident!! A father was driving the cart with a little one next to him in the front seat. The little one looked to be about 2 years old. He had to stop quickly for a child on a bike and the little one fell out and almost landed under the cart. They had to call an the paramedics, etc. We never found out what happened to the little one.

We didn't rent a golf cart because we had our bicycles with us and that it what we used for transportation around the fort. Our girls were much older than yours - (6 y/o at that time).

Also, we went during a very busy time (Memorial Day weekend) and there seemed to be a lot of younger teenagers driving the carts very dangerously. Also, about midnight one night, a young man (looked to be about 25) crashed his cart into a tree in the middle island of our loop. I ran out there (in my PJ's!!) to see what happened and the guys backed up and almost hit me!! My response was "ARE YOU DRUNK!!" - he just laughed! My DH who is a police officer in our town came out and told me to come back into the camper, that we would just call about it in the morning. When we look back on it now, it was very funny!!

So, sorry for my long post and I'm not even sure I answered your question, but I don't have fond memories of those golf carts.....they looked to be very convienent, but can be very dangerous also. The paths for them seemed very narrow where other people are walking and riding bikes.

Just be very careful if you do rent one!! But - overall have a magical time on your trip, whatever you decide!!