OutdoorsNY 1 Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 Hello everyone I'm visiting the Fort this coming Sept 17-21. To save some money, I am considering foregoing the expense of the golf cart rental and bringing along the bikes. I'm traveling with my girlfriend only, so two adults. I have never visited without renting the golf cart and haven't paid much attention to the biking situation - although I do know it's quite popular at FW. I would love to hear any tips or advice on biking the fort from the experts. My main concern is access to bike racks when we take the bus to the parks. Will we be able to lock our bikes? is it necessary to lock them up? I just purchased two waterproof covers to keep them dry in the event we can leave them locked up in various spots. Any info is greatly appreciated. OutdoorsNY Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 Bikes are a great alternative to using a golf cart. There are bike racks all around the Fort, and definitely racks at the Outpost and Settlement. Make sure to take a ride over to Wilderness Lodge. There are bike racks there too. Yes, plan to lock your bikes. Unfortunately, there have been many stories shared about bikes that have gone missing. The official rules state that you should have a light on the front and back of the bike if you operate it after dark. But, that's one of many rules that is seldom enforced. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
twiceblessed....nacole 433 Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 10 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: Bikes are a great alternative to using a golf cart. There are bike racks all around the Fort, and definitely racks at the Outpost and Settlement. Make sure to take a ride over to Wilderness Lodge. There are bike racks there too. Yes, plan to lock your bikes. Unfortunately, there have been many stories shared about bikes that have gone missing. The official rules state that you should have a light on the front and back of the bike if you operate it after dark. But, that's one of many rules that is seldom enforced. TCD ^this^ Have a great trip!!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OutdoorsNY 1 Posted July 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 Thanks for the response. Both bikes will have front and rear lights - so all set there. OutdoorsNY Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 34 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: Bikes are a great alternative to using a golf cart. There are bike racks all around the Fort, and definitely racks at the Outpost and Settlement. Make sure to take a ride over to Wilderness Lodge. There are bike racks there too. Yes, plan to lock your bikes. Unfortunately, there have been many stories shared about bikes that have gone missing. The official rules state that you should have a light on the front and back of the bike if you operate it after dark. But, that's one of many rules that is seldom enforced. TCD And the $$$ you save not renting a cart can go into the TCD tip jar! If you are physically able to ride a bike, they are definitely the way to go. Yes lock them when not in use, even at your campsite. And if you can't locate a rack, lock them to a fence or a tree. If you are adventuresome, you can try to ride from the Fort to Port Orleans. It's fairly close, but the road gets a lot of bus traffic. But I can't imagine the roads are worse than what you encounter on Long Island. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 11 minutes ago, Travisma said: If you are adventuresome, you can try to ride from the Fort to Port Orleans. It's fairly close, but the road gets a lot of bus traffic. But I can't imagine the roads are worse than what you encounter on Long Island. No. That is absolutely not allowed, and it is dangerous both for the guests on the bikes and for traffic trying to get by on that busy road. Do not take your bikes outside of Fort Wilderness or Wilderness Lodge property. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ftwildernessguy 778 Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 I hear if Security catches you riding on the roadways, they will give you a ride! How's that for service? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted July 10, 2017 Report Share Posted July 10, 2017 2 hours ago, Tri-Circle-D said: No. That is absolutely not allowed, and it is dangerous both for the guests on the bikes and for traffic trying to get by on that busy road. Do not take your bikes outside of Fort Wilderness or Wilderness Lodge property. TCD Years ago I rode to Downtown Disney and back from the Fort. No one stopped me. And I've never seen signs that said you couldn't ride on the roads? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 18 hours ago, Travisma said: Years ago I rode to Downtown Disney and back from the Fort. No one stopped me. And I've never seen signs that said you couldn't ride on the roads? I have occasionally seen a daredevil biking along one of the internal WDW roads. But, as I'm sure you know, the WDW roads do not have bike paths or sidewalks, and most barely have any paved shoulders. Vista Blvd., the road that takes guests to the Fort, is one lane in each direction, with solid double lines in the middle. It carries a lot of traffic, including all of the guests hauling their trailers to the Fort, and Disney buses full of guests. Add a guy on a bike to that equation, and it's a big problem. Technically, I'm not sure that Disney can legally keep bikers off or their roads. But, it's an incredibly dangerous and selfish thing for anyone to do. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 3 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: I have occasionally seen a daredevil biking along one of the internal WDW roads. But, as I'm sure you know, the WDW roads do not have bike paths or sidewalks, and most barely have any paved shoulders. Vista Blvd., the road that takes guests to the Fort, is one lane in each direction, with solid double lines in the middle. It carries a lot of traffic, including all of the guests hauling their trailers to the Fort, and Disney buses full of guests. Add a guy on a bike to that equation, and it's a big problem. Technically, I'm not sure that Disney can legally keep bikers off or their roads. But, it's an incredibly dangerous and selfish thing for anyone to do. TCD guess I was just lucky, or timed it right. It was years ago, traffic probably wasn't as bad, I think I cut down the road that goes past the tree houses. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WrigleysWagon 32 Posted July 11, 2017 Report Share Posted July 11, 2017 We have done both. Bikes win out over renting a cart for us. We almost always had a place to lock up the bikes (and yes, definitely lock them up) but the one time we didn't, we locked them to each other and leaned them against a tree. At least if they're going to take them, they have to take all three at once! We really enjoyed the time together riding. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Starbuc71 162 Posted July 12, 2017 Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 Renting a cart is surely the way to go, but cart rental prices can cost you as much as the campsite it's self (well, use to). Being lucky enough to be able to take a golf cart with us, ours has paid for itself twice over already. If you don't own your own cart, I would definitely do the bike thing over paying the high disney rental price Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BigTom 76 Posted July 12, 2017 Report Share Posted July 12, 2017 3 hours ago, Starbuc71 said: Renting a cart is surely the way to go, but cart rental prices can cost you as much as the campsite it's self (well, use to). Being lucky enough to be able to take a golf cart with us, ours has paid for itself twice over already. If you don't own your own cart, I would definitely do the bike thing over paying the high disney rental price Disney's rental price is high, you can buy and just leave the cart cheaper than renting one if you are going to be there over a week. I have purchased several for less than $600 with good batteries in them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
caveat lector 181 Posted July 13, 2017 Report Share Posted July 13, 2017 I think getting a cart is best. I think riding a bike is best. Doesn't matter, as long as I'm doing it at the Fort. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bdm 47 Posted July 14, 2017 Report Share Posted July 14, 2017 On 7/12/2017 at 9:25 PM, caveat lector said: I think getting a cart is best. I think riding a bike is best. Doesn't matter, as long as I'm doing it at the Fort. 2nd Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hedg12 6 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 On 7/12/2017 at 1:12 PM, BigTom said: Disney's rental price is high, you can buy and just leave the cart cheaper than renting one if you are going to be there over a week. I have purchased several for less than $600 with good batteries in them. Not to hijack this thread, but does Disney limit you to electric carts, or can you use a gas powered cart? We have a gas cart & it would sure make life easier if we can take it... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 19 minutes ago, hedg12 said: Not to hijack this thread, but does Disney limit you to electric carts, or can you use a gas powered cart? We have a gas cart & it would sure make life easier if we can take it... I don't think there is any prohibition against gas carts. If there is, they don't enforce it. I believe they do prohibit UTV's, but if you're talking a regular golf cart that should be fine. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fotofx....Steve 34 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 I use my gas (street legal) cart there all the time with no issues. I was worried I would need to take the license plate off but have never had a problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LONE-STAR 370 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 Gas carts are legal at the Fort I have been taking one there for over 10 years. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 Whether you're bringing bikes or a golf cart to the Fort, do your fellow campers a favor and read and follow the rules: Fort Wilderness Carts, Bikes and Recreational Devices Rules The failure to follow golf cart rules is something that has gotten really out of hand. TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Travisma 1,317 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 2 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: Whether you're bringing bikes or a golf cart to the Fort, do your fellow campers a favor and read and follow the rules: Fort Wilderness Carts, Bikes and Recreational Devices Rules The failure to follow golf cart rules is something that has gotten really out of hand. TCD Someone posted on FB this morning that they loved their first trip to the Fort, but they said the golf carts were making it hard to ride a bike. They would get right up behind them and weren't stopping at intersections and cutting them off. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 15 minutes ago, Travisma said: Someone posted on FB this morning that they loved their first trip to the Fort, but they said the golf carts were making it hard to ride a bike. They would get right up behind them and weren't stopping at intersections and cutting them off. Even though I should be used to it, I am always astonished by how clueless and inconsiderate people can be when they're driving a golf cart. If people had common sense and were considerate, we wouldn't need the rules. My biggest pet peeve are the idiots who drive their crappy Fort Wilderness Carts at 10 MPH on Fort Wilderness Trail, and don't pull over to let buses or anyone else pass- creating a line of traffic behind them. How can anyone be that stupid? Even if there wasn't a rule telling you that you need to pull over and let traffic by, isn't that just common sense or common courtesy? TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kadancer 82 Posted July 19, 2017 Report Share Posted July 19, 2017 36 minutes ago, Tri-Circle-D said: Even though I should be used to it, I am always astonished by how clueless and inconsiderate people can be when they're driving a golf cart. If people had common sense and were considerate, we wouldn't need the rules. My biggest pet peeve are the idiots who drive their crappy Fort Wilderness Carts at 10 MPH on Fort Wilderness Trail, and don't pull over to let buses or anyone else pass- creating a line of traffic behind them. How can anyone be that stupid? Even if there wasn't a rule telling you that you need to pull over and let traffic by, isn't that just common sense or common courtesy? TCD Unfortunately, common sense and common courtesy are rare attributes these days... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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