Cart Parking by Marina Shrunken

jknezek

DIS Veteran
Joined
Dec 19, 2016
Saw pictures of the cart parking by the marina. That hideous lot that people parked every which way and then tried to run over pedestrians walking to the marina to get in and out of has been significantly shrunk. I'm hoping there are plans to eliminate it entirely and make people park by the HDDR. The fewer unsightly golf cart parking lots there are dotting The Fort, the happier I'll be.
 
I like that parking area actually...

Never tried to run anyone over, nor have I had to avoid being run over.

While the parking area near HDDR is bigger, it isn't big enough to hold them all and is intended for the dinner guests or those that want to park near the pony rides, stables, and to catch the bus over to the Wilderness Lodge. It was made bigger to make up for the removed golf cart parking area that used to be located right at the bus stop where the buses loop through to drop off the dinner traffic and folks who are walking down to the Marina.
 
I'm with others - I love the parking by the boats. So convenient. I'd hate to see everyone crammed into the HDDR area.
 


I do agree with OP on one thing. Disney needs to designate a path area better going toward the Settlement store from the boat docks. There is one area there that we have nearly been run over by carts at night because of confusion by carts and pedestrians alike - unintentionally, of course.

Pedestrians are trying to walk through, and carts are pulling out, or backing out, and no one seems to know exactly what to do. Would like a clearer path toward our normally 100 loop site (by way of store).

This has only been an issue (for us) at night after a large boat has discharged passengers after fireworks, and there are so many people trying to leave at once, and cart lights in different directions in your eyes limiting good visibility - also people seemingly in a big hurry.

IMO, they need more/better cart parking, and independent cart/pedestrian paths.
 
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We have a cart that we take to the Fort. We definitely want the cart parking by the marina but I do agree with the OP sort of.........Disney needs to redesign the parking area. If there was a way to make the spaces more defined say by using the curb stops like at the outpost parking area that "may" keep the carts from being parked in such a chaotic manner that we have seen. Like tiggerdad, we have not had much problem with pedestrian traffic either driving or being one. Taking that parking area out altogether would only move the issues to another area such as the lot by the HDDR and possibly along walking paths or in other grassy areas. JMO

Steve
 
That actually looks a lot better than it did the last time we were there. Seems like they moved the cart parking further away from the path, at least from what I can tell in the pics.

@jknezek, thanks for the pics. They finally addressed the path leading up the marina beside the 100 loop and gave a separate path for the pedestrians to walk as that area was a REAL problem for a while there.
 
Given the number of people to travel to/from the Fort for TE, HDDR, or the BBQ, via the boat dock, this is probably a good idea. That route from the dock up to TE is at times a busy pedestrian route.

They provided a paved parking area years ago out by the bus depot at the Settlement end (near where the old FWRR had its platform) and nobody hardly used it the times I was there. Later they blocked it off with tire bumps. Maybe they could reopen that and add that to the capacity next to the Settlement TP that is still there. (I think this is the same parking that tiggerdad alluded to).

The HDDR/TE sand parking lot is convenient for the restaurant and all the in/out relatively short stays it gets.

Bama Ed
 
With all of this said - I would agree that they should do a better job of marking what routes are for what down in that area. Three distinct paths (in, out, pedestrian) would be helpful. As a newbie there last time, I did find it a bit confusing to know what paths I was/was not supposed to use.
 
looks SMALLER not BIGGER. :scared1: I guess they want us to leave our carts back at the sites.:confused3 When i was there in November the carts were parking 3 and 4 deep all over the grass leading up to the play area. HDDR/TE lot was full. Need a parking garage? or maybe pay to park. LoL:rotfl2:Oh well! will have to accept and adapt.:thumbsup2 I guess i'll have to dust off my skate board. :tiptoe:
 
I don't know, I kinda like the idea of a parking garage. There is plenty of room in the woods there for it. would be interesting. Maybe build it to look like an actual wooden fort then the wall would block the view of the carts and then everybody is a winner!
 
Now rethinking the cart rental.
Why? They shrunk one lot. There are still monster lots at HDDR, the Pool, and up front. It's not like they have done anything to discourage carts. The fact that there is a cart parking place instead of a fun statue or marker where the Lawnmower Tree used to be is pretty telling as to what is important at The Fort.
 
i miss the lawnmower tree, the kids were small and tired out by 8pm, DW and I could relax at the end of the day. We try for 700 loop, we need the premium due to size, its within real easy walking distance to marina. I keep a BRIGHT flashlight for walking back from fireworks, i really dont recall a problem with carts other than the normal watch where we are going
 
Ah, the Lawnmower Tree...

A true piece of original Fort history...

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Too bad it and the stump finally rotted away and had to be cleared off. It was from the original cabin that was there by the Settlement TP location before the Fort was built and the area had a weekend fishing cabin...

Bama Ed

PS - "They paved Paradise and put in a parking lot"....
 

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