Spend $600 to rent a 6 person golf cart or bring bikes?

[Garage Door Momma]

Still over nine months to go, but I'm super excited! The plan-7 of us for 12 nights in a pop up over Easter 2017. Do you recommend renting a 6 person golf cart or bringing our bikes? My husband insists we rent a golf cart...that it's too busy a time, he doesn't want to have to ride his bike around in the heat after having been on his feet at the parks. Not to mention lugging 7 bikes from NY. I can't see spending that much on a golf cart rental (we don't even know how often we will use). Normally we spend entire days in the parks and only crash at our hotel. This is the first time we will be camping and staying at such a busy time. My plan is be there at opening, return to the campsite to relax and if we want hop over to a different park in the evening. I'm sure we will want to explore the Fort,eat a few times at Trails end and use the pool...but is it worth it to rent a golf cart?

Also, there are 7 of us, no one under 14 and the golf cart only seats 6! My husband wants me to make reservations now and I'm just not sold on it.

I'd rather take that money and buy a few new bikes!

 

[North of Mouse]

Still over nine months to go, but I'm super excited! The plan-7 of us for 12 nights in a pop up over Easter 2017. Do you recommend renting a 6 person golf cart or bringing our bikes? My husband insists we rent a golf cart...that it's too busy a time, he doesn't want to have to ride his bike around in the heat after having been on his feet at the parks. Not to mention lugging 7 bikes from NY. I can't see spending that much on a golf cart rental (we don't even know how often we will use). Normally we spend entire days in the parks and only crash at our hotel. This is the first time we will be camping and staying at such a busy time. My plan is be there at opening, return to the campsite to relax and if we want hop over to a different park in the evening. I'm sure we will want to explore the Fort,eat a few times at Trails end and use the pool...but is it worth it to rent a golf cart?

Also, there are 7 of us, no one under 14 and the golf cart only seats 6! My husband wants me to make reservations now and I'm just not sold on it.

I'd rather take that money and buy a few new bikes!

You will get different opinions, but here is mine. We've never rented a cart in the many years of camping there, nor brought any bikes. We spend most of our time away from the camper (sounds like you will too) so it would be wasted time and effort for us.

Long ways to haul bikes, but many do enjoy them at the fort. The buses work great for us getting about, so don't do a lot of walking there, although we enjoy some.

What it boils down to, it has to be your decision, based on how much 'free' time you will spend around the fort, and how much you're willing to spend on a cart (or hassle to haul that many adult bikes from NY).

 

[bama_ed]

If you rent the cart from Disney, there is no guarantee of getting a 6 seat golf cart in the first place. You dont rent a 4 seat cart or a 6 seat cart, you just rent A cart. If a six is available, you can have it with the extra fee. If not you would have to pay for 2 4 seaters.

IIRC a 4 seat is $59 plus tax and a 6 seat is $89 plus tax.

Bama ED

 

[tiggerdad]

No way you get enough use out of that cart to justify $600. I felt bad renting off site and paying $35 a day feeling I didn't use it enough to justify it. You ride it to the bus stop or marina then back. Maybe to the pool or Meadows for something but outside of that, can't see it. The only way we justified it the last two trips was the youngest was too young to ride a bike but to big for the add on bike seat.

Now, if someone in your party is limited in ambulatory abilities, then i can see it. You can do a lot of extra fun things at the World for $600.

Just my $.02

 

[FtW Mike]

Both Bama Ed and Tiggerdad offer sound and sage advice. If you are not going to spend a great deal of time at the fort and traveling through it the added expense of a cart may be money spent better. We go offsite for one for simple reason that after a long night at the parks we can get back to our site faster than the bus. If it wasn't for the fact that we go in Jan I would prefer to use our bikes which we bring anyway MY DW far prefers ease and convenience of a GC so that has a huge impact on our decision Oh and FYI it is only the two of us as our Dogs are not keen on riding in one

 

[Garage Door Momma]

Thanks all for the advise...I'm thinking we will haul the bikes down with us. I really don't anticipate spending much time at the fort other than relaxing at the site for a midday nap/lunch. If my husband insists on a golf cart maybe we will rent one off site for a few days only. He's an impulsive guy...I'm hoping he doesn't show up at home one day having purchased one to bring with us!

 

[5stljayhawks]

GDM---- I get the $$$$--- but also there is a certain something about cruising the fort. This is the worlds greatest campground EVER. I would highly recommend looking at off site. Maybe kenny can hook you up. Even a 4 seater. but we have 7... Ok you take turns!!!! When its 530 am or 1130 pm and are just you cruising the park, it is something else. if nothing else at least do 1 day with WDW cart rental. 12 nights wont all be park days- throw in 3-4 cart days and you will happy. Plan during the most non park days to get the most out of.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

{FLAME PROOF CAPE FROM DRAWER TO SHOULERS (yep, SuperScupper) }

CONTRARY OPINION:
1) I like golf cart rentals (from the cheaper outside sources).
2) The Fort is HUGE (1-mile, as the crow flies, from front-to-back and side-to-side).
3) At least half-the-fun is driving all the loops and viewing various sites and rigs.
4) And, this does not count viewing holiday decorations.
5) Bikes are nice, but slow driving in a cart is infinitely better . . . and, easier on the calf muscles.

{FLAME PROOF SUIT BACK TO STORAGE}

 

[Garage Door Momma]

Thank you...I think I'm sold on a golf cart midway through the trip. Everyone has their price point. Mine is the $300 mark so whatever that will purchase will be the number of days we will rent a golf cart for.

 

[tiggerdad]

Good plan then. Hope it works good for you.

 

[peg110]

{FLAME PROOF CAPE FROM DRAWER TO SHOULERS (yep, SuperScupper) }

CONTRARY OPINION:
1) I like golf cart rentals (from the cheaper outside sources).
2) The Fort is HUGE (1-mile, as the crow flies, from front-to-back and side-to-side).
3) At least half-the-fun is driving all the loops and viewing various sites and rigs.
4) And, this does not count viewing holiday decorations.
5) Bikes are nice, but slow driving in a cart is infinitely better . . . and, easier on the calf muscles.

{FLAME PROOF SUIT BACK TO STORAGE}

Totally agree that it's nice to have the cart to just view the fort. We didn't have a cart (or bikes) at all on our last trip (Nov 2014) but did for about half the time on our trip in Nov 2012. During that time, there were lots of decorations to view so it was worth it.

As others have said, I wouldn't rent one for the entire trip unless you are staying at the campground (i.e. not going to the parks) for your entire trip. It's a nice way to break up a trip and enjoy the fort.

I like riding my bike, but riding a bike, IMHO, requires more focus on what you are doing (Peddling, balancing, steering, watching for other traffic, etc...) then it does to drive a cart, so it's much easier to take in the sites in a cart then it is on a bike. (not to mention the calf muscles as TRS points out).

I think the $300 compromise is reasonable and I hope you have an awesome time.

 

[Tlat1270]

I haven't been there yet, but You should consider what is best for your whole group. I didn't want to spend $450+ on one but with my husbands drop foot and back issues, and the 3 kids 8 and under, I decided it would be what was best for us. I could do alot in the parks the 4 days We will spend there with the money, but the added relief it will give at night and the days at the fort are justifiable for me.

 

[Mommyofboysx5]

We stay at Fort Wilderness every summer for a week. Even though we are annual pass holders we actually don't go to the parks at all. It is so nice to just stay at the campgrounds and relax.

I wouldn't know what to do without a golf cart. Like others have said, we drive around and look at the other campsites just for fun. It is very nice to just drive around. We have reserved a 6 seater in the past. I don't know if this rule has changed since we now rent 2 golf carts when we go because our older sons have driver's licenses and want their own cart.

I like the idea of maybe renting one for a few days but not your whole stay.