Why the golf carts?

[CakeHenn 4]

So reading around I see lots of posts talking about bringing golf cards or renting them. I've never been to a place where people bring golf carts...much less rent them other than while golfing of course. So what's the scoop? Why do so many here talk about getting them?

Personally between a car, bike, and my feet I'm not sure the expense of a cart would be justified but obviously I've never been and don't know why I would need one. I will say this the likelihood of me renting one would be very low....I mean the cost of fuel, camp site, and then park tickets....just seems like I'm already in the poor house and I need to save money where I can.

Me and the wife are very comfortable walking long distances and the girls 5 and 3 (But would be 6 and 4) can walk/ride in a stroller. It seems if the distances are so great that we would need a cart then we should just drive our truck. Help me figure out what I'm missing.

I also don't get how you go from Fort Wilderness to the theme parks...I understand there are boats and buses. I'm guessing you can also drive a cart or a car??? IF you do what's the deal on parking...do you have to pay even though you are staying at FW?

[CCIntrigue...aka Gwen 547]

We always bring our golf cart wherever we camp. It just makes getting around so much easier. And "looping" (riding around the various loops, seeing others' campsites, visiting with fiends) is one of our favorite activities at the fort. Looping is not allowed in personal cars.

To get to any of the parks, you can drive your car. You will not have to pay parking as long as you are a resort guest.

To get to the Magic Kingdom, you can ride an internal bus to the Settlement and then take a boat from the marina.

To get to the other parks, you can ride an internal bus to the Outpost and then take another bus to your destination.

[brerroadrunner 8]

We have been going to the Fort since 95. Being a family of 7, we never rented a golf cart,1) too expensive and 2) our family of 7 wouldn't fit on one.

Just recently , we decided there wasn't anywhere in the Fort we couldn't comfortably walk, and there are internal buses to pick you up if you get tired.

Golf carts aren't for everyone, so don't feel you have to succumb.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Gwen summed it up nicely! Carts aren't a necessity, but they're fun, especially if you're going to spend a lot of time touring the Fort, visiting Fiends, etc.

Some folks prefer bikes, and walking is always an option, although the Fort is pretty gigantic and spread out to be able to easily walk everywhere. Although if you're not in a hurry, it's certainly a lovely setting to walk through.

And the internal buses will always get you where you need to go.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

OK, the Fort is a mile long from one end to the other. You cannot drive your car to any destination "within" the Fort and have a place to park.The only parking within the Fort is your campsite and the big parking lot out at the front of the campground.

There ARE internal buses to get you to destinations within the Fort. Bicycling is also welcome anywhere within the Fort.

To go to the parks are as follows.

To Magic Kingdom, take an internal bus, bike, or walk to the Settlement area, then take a boat to the Magic Kingdom.

To everywhere else, take an internal bus, bike, walk to the Outpost Bus stop, then take a bus to your destination.

You can also drive from your campsite to any park. But honestly, the boat is easier to MK.

Yes, you do not NEED a golf cart, but for most of us, it is just FUN. Lots of us spend days at the campground without going anywhere else, and we do something called "looping" which is just riding around the campground for fun.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I guess you've seen a map of the campground, right? The campground is about a mile from the check in area (The Outpost) to the marina area (The Settlement). The campground is spread out to the extent that there are three internal bus routes that run between the Outpost and The Settlement to help folks get around.

Yes, you can walk or bike, or take the internal buses. You can get everywhere you need to go those ways.

Golf carts are just a fun alternative to get around. You are right, they are expensive. The are a luxury, not a necessity. One idea is to rent one just for one day while you're there. You will be surprised at how much fun it is to have one.

CCInrigue answered you questions about how to get to the theme parks from the campground. If you prefer not to drive, then use the buses and boats. Since you're a newbie, you're probably better off using the Disney transportation- the internal roads can be confusing.

TCD

[Disneyzombie-Brenda 10]

We do not bring or rent a cart, we ride our bikes. There are bike racks all around the campground including the pool,marina, and the bus stop at the Outpost. There is also an internal bus with stops in every loop that take you to either the marina or the outpost to board transpertation to the parks. Fort Widerness is a large campground. It is do-able without a cart.

[CakeHenn 4]

So you can not drive your car at FW other than in or out of FW? I understand not being able to drive your car to a buddy's site and then just parking there and having two vehicles when there should be only one.

Seems like several agreed that you can walk anywhere on site fairly easy plus they have internal buses. That answers my curiosity

[Judy in Texas 150]

What they said with FUN in BIG BOLD font.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

So you can not drive your car at FW other than in or out of FW? I understand not being able to drive your car to a buddy's site and then just parking there and having two vehicles when there should be only one.

Seems like several agreed that you can walk anywhere on site fairly easy plus they have internal buses. That answers my curiosity

Yes. And, except for a few 15 minute parking spaces at the Meadow Trading Post, there are no parking spaces in the campground other than the space at each site.

There is a big parking lot at the Outpost where visitors are required to park.

TCD

[CakeHenn 4]

One idea is to rent one just for one day while you're there. You will be surprised at how much fun it is to have one.

TCD

That's something I could do just for the fun of it. Obviously do that for a day where we played to just stay at FW all day would be a good idea. About how much do they run to rent for one full day?

As I'm planning everything out in my mind and doing research I've come to realize that for the people that go to FW saying just at FW and the time you spend there is also really fun and that I should not plan to go to a park each and every day necessarily. I'm sure some people will go to a place like Disney World and try to make it to each and every park and see every little thing there is to see...but honestly I'd just rather spend some quality time at some of the places and not spend all my time running from one place to the next. To me it's like the first few times I went to Vegas...I must have walked up and down the strip going in and checking out every single casino...spend as much time walking and getting tired as I did just enjoying actual attractions/gambling/shows/etc.

If I get there on a Saturday and leave on a Friday that gives me two half days and five full days. I'm thinking going to the theme parks 3 or 4 days would be all I would do.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

About how much do they run to rent for one full day?

About $70.

Yes, you can rent a car cheaper.

And, you don't even get a full day. Pick up is after 1 pm (but they will usually allow you to get it earlier) and return time is no later than 11 am.

And yes, a day hanging around the Fort is a good idea.

TCD

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Some info that might be helpful...

Map of the Fort including bus routes

http://www.fortfiends.net/_/info/fort-wilderness-transportation-map-r195

Golf cart rental info

http://www.fortfiends.net/_/info/golf-cart-rentals-disney-fort-wilderness-and-r100

How well you can get around walking or biking is going to vary from person to person, but plenty of people do both and there's always the bus system if you need it.

I'd highly recommend saving a day or 2 to just relax and enjoy the Fort, no matter what mode of transportation you choose. :)

[DaveInTN 3,247]

If you guys are bike riders and have seats or a bike trailer for the kids, I highly recommend bringing them. The Fort is one of our favorite places to ride, and they make great transportation to the boats and/or buses. Just lock them up.

[CakeHenn 4]

Do you lock up your bikes while at your camp site? I've never done that at any camp site I've ever stayed. Not that it's a bad thing to do....just never been worried about bikes being stolen. I normally do lock my Yeti cooler though Kids love to take coolers and those are too expensive to let get stolen. I'm actually assuming you are talking about locking them up while away from your site.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

locking them while away from your site and when they are parked at the outpost, marina, swimming pool, etc. bike racks.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

locking them while away from your site and when they are parked at the outpost, marina, swimming pool, etc. bike racks.

Correct, that's what I do. I do usually park them a bit out of sight at the campsite...like at the rear of the trailer. But most of our bikes that we travel with are worthless...it would be more an inconvenience than a great loss to have one stolen.

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

You don't need a cart, but they are fun. We do rent a cart when we go to the Fort, but we use an outside company. Check out the link Monique posted. There's good info there.

We stay at another campground that has way fewer sites than the Fort but is LARGE like the Fort, and they don't allow carts. We ride bikes all over there and enjoy it. We put our son (almost 4) in one of those trailers you pull behind, and we can also fit a cooler and snacks with him for the beach/pool.

On our last trip, we had 2 half days and 7 full days. We did 5 park days (go at opening, come back for nap, stay until 7-10), and we felt like we didn't have enough Fort time. This time, we're staying the same amount of time, but we're only doing 2 1/2 park days. We want more time to relax and really enjoy what the Fort has to offer. There is A LOT. Plus, the kids can get a character fix by just heading over to the nightly Chip n Dale Singalong. My son is similar in age to your kids, and he could seriously do that every night.

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

As far as locking bikes, I would lock them, only because there are THOUSANDS of sites/cabin/people at the Fort. I've never heard of anything happening there, but with so many people, I'd worry a little. I've never locked bikes in another campground, but I've also never stayed at another campground that ran internal busses.

[Tigger 33]

I agree with everyone above golf carts aren't a necessity but they are fun to drive around the campground. Also it is much nicer to have the cart waiting at the marina or the bus stop when returning from the parks. This way you can head straight back to the camper with the kids and not have to wait for another bus.

We did bikes on our first trip with the kids and it wasn't bad and we still take one bike but we love our cart.

[LONE-STAR 370]

Do you lock up your bikes while at your camp site? I've never done that at any camp site I've ever stayed. Not that it's a bad thing to do....just never been worried about bikes being stolen. I normally do lock my Yeti cooler though Kids love to take coolers and those are too expensive to let get stolen. I'm actually assuming you are talking about locking them up while away from your site.

Well I know your really from Texas. Locking up your Yeti. I use to do that then I just got a rolling bed cover that locks.

[Lou... 3,118]

I don't rent a cart, I mooch a cart from people with cart or I have Bob chauffeur me around in his cart.

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

... or I have Bob chauffeur me around in his cart.

But only when you're not in a hurry.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Oh, and I just want to say, I am sooooo happy you joined and are asking all these questions! Our little group is only two years old, and while we have gotten lots of new users, most have been to the Fort before and saw our signs, or was referred by someone else.

It has been fun and refreshing to introduce a true Newbie into the proper Disney ways and the Fort!!!!!

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

Ditto what Carol said!