by Beth Keating
Lifestyle
DisneyBizJournal.com
April 5, 2024
Disney World is so much more than the theme park side of life, though if you are only staying for a short time, you may not get to see much beyond the four parks. There aren’t enough hours in the day. But back when our kids were little, the parks were far less crowded, and it took less time to get through all the rides and attractions. We actually had a few hours to do some of the other activities scattered throughout the resorts. One of those endeavors was the old-fashioned surrey bikes, which made for an entertaining afternoon.
We chose our four-wheeled ride at the BoardWalk, though there are now other locations available for joy riding as well. Disney does a pretty good job setting the stage for a day at the Jersey Shore – drop by the BoardWalk, and you can easily imagine yourself at a turn-of-the-century resort in the mid-Atlantic. Pop in to the lobby of the BoardWalk Inn, and you’ll spot a replica of Lucy the Elephant (a landmark building that really did grace the shore many moons ago, and still stands today in Margate, NJ.) And don’t let those “nanny chairs” by the fireplace scare you. They, too, help create the scene for a step back to Atlantic City. Maybe stick with perusing the model carousel instead, or drop in to the 1930s-era Belle Vue room to hear some old time radio broadcasts while sipping your favorite adult beverage.
In addition to the BoardWalk, surrey bike rentals can be found at a number of different resorts, including Old Key West, Port Orleans - French Quarter, Port Orleans - Riverside, and Saratoga Springs.
Single bench bikes currently go for $30.00 per half hour, while double benches go for $35.00 per half hour. You may think that doesn’t sound like a long time; in the Florida heat, that is more than enough time to make your way around most of the resorts. At the BoardWalk, it was long enough to make a few passes around Crescent Lake, past the Yacht and Beach Club, past Jellyrolls, and back to the BoardWalk lawn. Most of the ride is an easy one, especially if you have multiple “peddlers” in your party, but if you aren’t in tip-top shape, the slight hill approaching EPCOT can be a bit of a challenge, particularly if you have the extra weight from the rugrats in the front of the bike who aren’t peddling their own weight. Not that we’re saying that from experience or anything!
Surrey bikes come in a 2, 4, or 6 person version, and if your offspring are too short to do the peddling themselves, the bikes come with a convenient “basket” on the front that serves as a kid-safe seat (like a shopping cart seat). They can be in charge of pulling the rope to ring the bike bell to warn unsuspecting guests of your approach! We still talk about the great joy on our son’s face as he furiously rang that bell with all his might as we huffed our way around the promenade. (Drivers themselves must be at least 18 to operate the bikes; 21 after 8:00 p.m.).
While our spin around the BoardWalk was a fairly easy one, with the wooden slatted walkways making for a pleasant outing, the other resorts offer a range of vistas for your journey. Over at the Port Orleans and Saratoga Springs locations, you can watch the Sassagoula River float by as you peddle, or enjoy the scenery of the beautiful white-columned mansions. Some spots have a bit more of a woodsy appeal. Personally, having family from Jersey, we like the old-time vibe of the Jersey Shore, especially at night when there is sometimes live entertainment to enjoy as well, reminiscent of Coney Island with its carnival games, jugglers, and barkers. Plus, there’s ice cream to be had, and before long, The Cake Bake Shop and the Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs kiosk will be open, offering up even more treats to enjoy with your visit. Sadly, post-COVID, the live entertainment and carnival games on the BoardWalk have been scaled back – it’s not nearly as lively in the evenings anymore.
If coordinating as a bike-riding team on the surrey bikes doesn’t enthrall you, and you are more the “do-it-yourself, by-myself, thank you very much” type, there are also regular bike rentals, including adult bikes and kids’ bikes – with training wheels if you need ‘em - available for hire at four different resort locations, including Old Key West, Port Orleans - Riverside, Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, and two Fort Wilderness counters: The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. Your rental fee ($9-$20) will include helmets and child seats in the price. (Florida law requires bicyclists under 16 years of age to wear helmets.)
If your vacation gives you enough wiggle room to enjoy some of the delights of kicking back, relaxing and giving in to a full-fledged “resort day,” definitely consider a spin on the surrey bikes. It’s a memory in the making.
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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.
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