What year did Fort Wilderness start renting golf carts?

[Simba's Mom]

Does anyone know if golf carts were available for rent when Fort Wilderness first opened, and if not, in what year they were first available? DH and I were discussing our first stays at Fort Wilderness, back in the days when the cabins were "Trailer Homes", with tiny metal stairs instead of porches. Not only did we take the [whatever color-I don't remember the color] bus all around the campground, then switch to [another color flagged] bus to the park of the day, the bus was always pretty crowded and I don't remember golf carts being used except by housekeeping CMs. Were they and I just didn't notice? Or was there a pre-golf cart availability at Fort Wilderness? We went in the early 80s.

 

[Mle8308]

Can't answer for an exact date, but I did some of my resort management training there and had to do a few days at the bike barn. This was mid to late 90's. They had them then and had them for rent for at least a few years at that point. So at minimum the early 90's???

 

[proudmomof4]

I can’t answer the golf cart question. But before the color coded buses, the buses were Crockett and Boone. And before that, at some point, they used trams.

 

[happycamper47]

I can’t answer the golf cart question. But before the color coded buses, the buses were Crockett and Boone. And before that, at some point, they used trams.

And we had the train 1974 to 1980.

 

[GeeMa+6]

If I remember correctly... back in the mid 80s the golf carts were daily rentals only... they had to be back before dark because they didnt have headlights. Does anyone else remember this? My dad would rent it as early as possible at the bike barn
I also remember the old brown bus... and a bus driver named betty. And the trams running in the campground. We would pass on the bus to wait for the tram!

 

[Simba's Mom]

If I remember correctly... back in the mid 80s the golf carts were daily rentals only... they had to be back before dark because they didnt have headlights. Does anyone else remember this? My dad would rent it as early as possible at the bike barn
I also remember the old brown bus... and a bus driver named betty. And the trams running in the campground. We would pass on the bus to wait for the tram!

It seems that the first time we went, the buses came thru the "trailer home" area and the trams went through the camping area. Is that possible?

 

[Thegoatfeeder]

Thought I would ask this question here rather than making a new thread.

Does anyone know if you can rent a golf cart if you aren't staying at FW? We are staying at the Poly in December and wanted to rent a golf cart at FW to take a tour of the Christmas decorations on the RV loops, but weren't sure if they are available to guests of other resorts.

I know we could walk, but I have a disability, and generally use an ECV. But with FW being so large, a golf cart would be much easier for our family.

 

[Stratman50th]

You used to be able to do it. When friends or family came down to visit I would rent a cart for the day, head over to the marina and go resort hopping. Then back to the Fort for dinner at Trail's End. We would waddle back to the cart and spend the remainder of the evening looping and looking at the decorations. I wasn't staying anywhere on property, we came from home.
Today, not sure. One of the crew here said they added quite a few carts to the fleet so there's more to go around, but I think you need to call and ask to be sure. I have the direct number to cart rentals somewhere and I'll post it when I dig it up. Somebody might jump in with the number before I get back to it.
Good luck, lots of fun!
407-824-2742

 

[bama_ed]

Does anyone know if you can rent a golf cart if you aren't staying at FW? We are staying at the Poly in December and wanted to rent a golf cart at FW to take a tour of the Christmas decorations on the RV loops, but weren't sure if they are available to guests of other resorts.

It's been the policy lately that only guests who are staying at Fort Wilderness can rent a golf cart. When one of us calls in advance to make a golf cart reservation, we are asked to provide our FW resort reservation number.

The internal buses have ramps for ECV's and the bus stops are convenient to "clusters" of camping loops. If you come from the Poly, travel to MK first and then take the big boat to FW (ECV friendly). At Fort Wilderness, the boat dock is close to loops 100, 200, 400, 700 (exit end). Then you could go to the Settlement Bus Depot and travel to, for example, the bus stop on the Yellow Line at 1600/1700 which is convenient to visiting/walking/rolling through loops 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900.

Be aware that although you can walk/roll anywhere in the Fort, there are two different bus lines through the camper loops (a third goes through the cabin loops), Yellow and Orange and you will see buses running in both directions at the same time.

It's a great activity and don't feel compelled to try to see "everything". Even if you do the loops only down around Trails End/HDDR/Boat Dock, you'll see quite beautiful decorations.

Bama Ed

 

[dawnelda]

I've asked a few times over the past few years if I could rent a cart even though I wasn't staying on property and the answer has been no - even if they have some available.

You could try a holiday "sleigh" ride at FW:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/recreation/holiday-sleigh-rides/

My understanding is that they book up FAST when reservations open so call ASAP when your reservation window opens.

 

[bama_ed]

You could try a holiday "sleigh" ride at FW:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/recreation/holiday-sleigh-rides/

My understanding is that they book up FAST when reservations open so call ASAP when your reservation window opens.

FWIW,

Not ALL/EVERY sleigh ride is available to be booked in advance.

We were at the Fort in November 2022 in a campsite that all the sleigh rides went past during their ride. At Thanksgiving they were training the horses to pull the sleigh.



After thanksgiving (we were there a couples days after) we saw how the sleigh rides worked.

Close enough to the Trails End porch area where the sleigh rides start/stop from, we were (loop 100), to see the sleigh tied up there with horses "unemployed". So they do leave some walk-up times for guests but obviously that can be "hit-or-miss".

Look for the area along the fence between the playground and Trails End porch where the sleigh ride docks. It's not a guarantee but the early bird (each night) might get the worm.

Bama Ed

PS - But let's try to keep this thread on track about golf carts.