To Golf Cart or not to Golf Cart? This is the Question.

[kakiegirl]

Okay everyone this is only like my third post regarding this. We debated and debated and finally I reserved a golf cart for the whole week. However, now we have had some unforeseen expenses come up and we could really use that $300.00 for our spending money. I know they are great fun to have and convenient but will it just be awful not to have one. We have requested the 1400 loop and we will spend most of our time at the parks. We plan to use disney transporation instead of our vehicle, dd is six. We do plan to do the petting zoo, campfire and watch the parade and fireworks from the beach
So what is your opinon, should I cancel and be able to splurge more at the parks our should I keep my cart?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I look at it this way - a golf cart may be fun and convenient, but it's not a necessity. You can get by with the internal busses, walking and bikes. Staying in the 1400 loop, you are well within walking distance of the meadows and the settlement area. I would save the 300 bucks and take my bike or, if you can't take bikes, just hoof it or take the bus.

 

[Gillian]

Are the busses decent for the camping area? We've stayed in the cabins but are thinking of taking a pop up in May 2006.

I thought I read somewhere that you can only rent a golf cart from Disney now, not an outside company. Is that the case?

 

[Tricializ]

I'm normally a cart person. However, with your given scenario, $300.00 buys a lot of Mickey bars and spinning Buzz lightyears. I'd skip it. You can always rent it for one night and do the tooling around then. Just a thought.
Tricia

 

[tim5055]

I thought I read somewhere that you can only rent a golf cart from Disney now, not an outside company. Is that the case?

Disney will not work with outside vendors like they used to, but you can still rent them on the outside. Generally with an outside company there is a trailer rental or delivery fee so unless you are staying for more than around 10 day you are better off renting from FW.

I have a couple of companies on my site below.

 

[stillh2o]

We stay in the 800 loop it's a pet loop if you have a dog but it a 4 or 5 min walk to the marina and a 2 min walk too the pool. We have rented carts in the pasted but it was just waste of money. After a week of rental we spend about 3 hr. on the cart.

 

[AnnR]

I would rent a golf cart for part of the week. Rent it when you are going to be staying more at FW but not when you will be in the parks. If you can, rent it the second part of your trip. That way you will be able to see if you can get along without it.

 

[cabowser]

I am so glad to see this thread, because I have reserved a cart and really need that money for food. I just can't justify it. I mean I could have written that first post and in fact, I wondered if I had! I posted something similar on the TGM site. But thanks for the information.

We have a child with autism and I am afriad that he might jump off of the cart.

Jan

 

[bradisgoofy]

We just got back from FW ( March 28, 2005 to April 7, 2005 ) and rented a cart for the whole stay. This was our second stay at FW, RVed this time, Cabin in 2000, and our chief complaint was how long we sat and waited for a bus in 2000, that is why we rented a cart. It made a difference to us, as we could jump on the cart and go where ever we wanted, whenever we wanted. You have to catch an internal bus to take you to the main bus stop to go to the parks. Plus we could make those last minute trips to the Trading Post for a Tollhouse Ice Cream Sandwich cookie .

Our greatest use was criusing around FW looking at all the cool RVs and campers.

If money is a problem, you can easily make due with the internal transportation, just give yourself extra time.

 

[UNCCLaw]

Ok cart experts, where do you park the carts? Outside the cabin during the night, I understand, but I am FW challenged. Where do you park the cart at the Settlement Post or Trails End, etc. Do people just leave them anywhere or is there a designated area at most locations?

I would prefer honest answers but I will accept lies, innuendoes and half-truths. I also will accept Twizzlers, crayons and scotch tape.

 

[bradisgoofy]

There are designated parking areas for carts at the Trading Posts, the Pioneer Hall, the boat marina, the main bus stops, etc. Most of the locations also have electric outlets so you can plug in the cart to charge. Parking at your camp site is up to you. I backed in under my awning and then plugged into an outlet on the side of my fifth wheel. There are parking spots for your car in front of the cabins and you can squeeze a cart in there too. There are electric outlets on the front of the cabins for charging your cart.


There have been some commets about bring in other carts, although I didn't notice any carts with rentals company logos on them, there were many people who brought in their own carts.

Hope that helped. Have fun.

 

[grumpy's Mrs.]

This will be our 3rd trip to FW. The kids are 8&10 with my SIL and DN4 joining us fora few days. We decided to rent a cart from another company for almost 1/2 of what disney charges and the 4th of July is free as the company is closed that day. We thought it would be fun and had a little extra cash. Our last 2 trips we did not have a cart and had no trouble at all with the buses. The longest we had to wait was 10 minutes and the kids loved looking for lizards while we waited.


Nanc

 

[cabowser]

When do the busses stop at night? And when do they start again in the morning?

 

[Carrie Ellis]

grumpy's Mrs.,

Who did you rent from? Did you go and pick it up or did they deliver? What did they charge if they delivered? Sorry! We are debating this too!

TIA

 

[cabowser]

I would like to know about that as well.

Jan

 

[trlrboy]

We're going to FW for the first two weeks in October and will have a cart for the whole time. Although it's somewhat expensive we knew what it was going to cost in advance and budgeted for that when we starting saving for the trip. I actually did my cart reservation for 1 week and then another reservation for the 2nd week. This way if it looks like we don't need the cart for week two I can cancel that off and save the money.

 

[VAN]

Especially if you are at the 1400 loop, you will not need one. You are in the middle of the campground and so will be within an easy walk of the Meadowland Recreation Area. We stay at Ft Wilderness's 1500 loop for 2 weeks about every year and have NEVER rented a cart. Never needed one. They do look fun, but unless you have a disability they are definitely a luxury and not a necessity.

Certainly if you are going to be in the parks most days, I'd save your money for that.

The last couple of years we have found the bus/ferry transportation to be very reliable. From the 1500 loop, it is only 1/2 mile to either the Outpost or the Settlement, so we would walk many times when we weren't in a hurry.

Have fun whatever you do - but I would personally go without the cart if you are on a restricted budget.

 

[bradisgoofy]

cabowser:

You asked about the busses, they do run late and start early. The times are all posted at the bus stops plus you can get a schedule when you check in.

Have fun.

 

[lindsey]

I agree carts are nice but not necessity. We have never used a cart and did fine. We took bikes when DS was younger, but as he got older, we just walked (teenage boys do not think it is cool to be seen riding a bike with his parents) and used the buses. I like the new bus system. Breaking up the locations to go to the parks helped. Not having to go to TTC is nice too.

 

[susancl]

We were in the 600 loop the last time we were there and my 2 five-year-olds walked everywhere without a problem. If you are towing your camper, you will have a car to take to the parks if the transportation isn't what you hoped for.