Any GPS recs for the drive to Disney World?

[chipper10]

Since we will be driving this time to Disney, we are thinking about getting a GPS. Do you think it would be worth it?
Are there any particular ones that you could reccommend? We pretty much just need something easy to use. I have no clue what feature to look for.

Thanks for any help!

 

[3 MEN AND A BOAT]

i like my garmin nuvi, i have 2, one in my delivery van and one in my wifes truck, they are fairly easy to use. text to speech is a nice feature(this is when it announces the streets name), the wider screen is another nice feature, i have one narrow and one wide and prefer the wide, i don't personally care about some of the more complex features available. i saw the 255w at bass pro shop for $119 this past week or the week before, cant remember. there are lots of good gps units just go to like best buy or somewhere and play with several of them.
Paul

 

[francie57]

We also have the Garmin and love it. Our two kids both have TomToms and they like them. Both models are easy to use.

 

[cruisingkat]

We love using our Garmin Nuvi - especially when there is an accident that shuts down the expressway. We just go to detour and it guides us around.It's also good for finding gas and food along the way.
The only thing that I do suggest is that you look at the screen display for entering locations and the alphabet layout. We looked at some Tom toms where the letters were so small that it would be hard to use in a moving car.

 

[javaman]

I have a tom tom and it's fairly easy to use. but I think all are pretty much designed to be user friendly. No matter which gps you choose, to me it is a good investment. mine has come in handy several times when traveling and unexpected emergencies have popped up and I had to go some place I've never been.

I'm driving to wdw for the first time to try to save a little money over the cost of airfare. looking forward to using my Disney POIs I downloaded. here's the link if you're interested in something like that http://www.mousesavers.com/gps.html#tomtominstall

 

[mrodgers]

What else can they do to a GPS to keep putting out new units every 4 months to keep the price up?

I just got a 255W. I've only used a borrowed GPS twice before. I played around with my new 255W. From what I notice, it does nothing special that my coworker's old C330 did that he bought 5-6 years ago. GPS should cost about $20 by now.

Oh, there is one neat thing. Mine puts a speed limit sign up on the screen. It certainly will be quite useful when driving out of state not knowing the exact laws in all the states we will drive through.


Funny thing about real old and off-brand units... I borrowed my mother-in-law's GPS a while back. I don't even know the name of it, it certainly isn't a Garmin, Magellen, or a TomTom. Some off-the-wall no-name brand. We were driving into the city and was stopped in traffic. The unit didn't know that and continued on the route. We were sitting at a traffic light while the GPS had us across 2 rivers and about 10 miles away pulling into our destination.

 

[Tink6666]

We have 2 Garmin GPS units. One older one and one of the new nuvi ones. oth will help you to navigate your trip to WDW. I use them on a weekly basis to visit clients. I would be lost without it...lierally! We are driving to WDW from MN in less than 2 weks and will be using the GPS for the drive. We have mapped out a suggested route, but will use the GPS to help us along the way with food, gas and detours. Make sure you have updated the maps before you go. Good luck!

 

[ShhhQ]

I highly recommend getting a GPS... but not all models are easy.

I bought TomTom One a few years back, and at the same time my Mother purchased another.. its not a very well known brand and I can't remember it. We ended up selling the spare to friends who also were going to Disney with us. I tried to program their GPS before we gave it to them, but it wouldn't allow me to program a route from point A to point B if I wasn't already at point A.... a little agravating. I found the TomTom extremely easier to use than the other brand... have never tried a Garmin but hear good things about it.

Another thing I like about my TomTom... I can download voices to what I would like... as long as I can find it (Would love to have Mickey's voice). Right now I have C3PO from Star Wars on it.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Since we will be driving this time to Disney, we are thinking about getting a GPS. Do you think it would be worth it?
Are there any particular ones that you could reccommend? We pretty much just need something easy to use. I have no clue what feature to look for.

Thanks for any help!

The GPS in my head says from St Louis to WDW is easy. I64 east to I57 south to I24 east to I75 to I475 back to I75 to FL toll road to US27 south to US 192 then follow the signs. I also have pre written down the AM radio stations for the major city's on my trip to see of it's good or bad traffic wise. That's just what I would do.

 

[jctwizzer]

If you're not planning to explore the Florida countryside, I think a GPS for a trip from STL to WDW would be overkill....it's interstate all the way to WDW, and once on site the signs pretty well get you where you need to go. I've used TomTom and a Garmin in the WDW area and have ended up in backstage areas instead of the parks when following their directions. I swear by and use my Garmin everywhere else but not at WDW......

 

[mrodgers]

Another thing I like about my TomTom... I can download voices to what I would like... as long as I can find it (Would love to have Mickey's voice). Right now I have C3PO from Star Wars on it.

I can download different voices on my Garmin as well (if I could find a stupid USB cable anywhere...) But, I wouldn't dare change the voice. Mine sounds like Jennifer Garner, I would dream of getting rid of her in the car

We were playing with it when we first got it and after telling me to "turn such-and-such...", I said, "Thanks Jennifer." My wife looked at me funny, I don't know why....

 

[ShhhQ]

It is all interstate for us as well (well except for the 1st 50 miles to Indy), but I wouldn't dream of going on vacation without my GPS. As a matter of fact, I use it whenever I am going to a destination that I am unfamiliar with. I do however check backup maps just in case the GPS messes up.

 

[OKW Lover]

I've had a Garmin Nuvi 265WT for over a year and been very happy with it. Also had good experience with a Nuvi 660 previously.

 

[kidd_freeper]

Get one that gives uses traffic reports to give directions.
Also one that speaks.

I've had a Garmin Nuvi 265T (same as the 265WT, WT=wide screen, no W= normal screen, T= live traffic) for a month. It's already saved me twice and we're not driving to WDW for another month. It has both of these features, and the traffic feature is free for life (no subscription needed). It's also fun to use.

Amazon.com had the best price for this unit, by far. About $120. Best unit for the money.

I would suggest looking into getting something called a vent mount. They're about $5. Mounts to the vertical fins on your A/C vent. Keeps the unit off of the windshield or dashboard.

 

[nytimez]

One more item to worry about getting stolen! Honestly, once you're on the Interstate it won't make too much of a difference, although it might help you get around a big traffic jam in a pinch. I really don't think it's worth it -- and if you have a smartphone, you can also get traffic info, BTW.

 

[ShhhQ]

Have you ever been going down the interstate, and knew your exchange or exit was coming but thought it was on the right and then as you approached, found it on the left and had to cut across traffic or you even missed it.... a GPS can tell you what lane you need to be in... it gives you a warning when your exit approaches... or if the highway splits, it can tell you which way you need to go. I used to travel without one, but once I got one, I don't WANT to travel without one.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

Have you ever been going down the interstate, and knew your exchange or exit was coming but thought it was on the right and then as you approached, found it on the left and had to cut across traffic or you even missed it.... a GPS can tell you what lane you need to be in... it gives you a warning when your exit approaches... or if the highway splits, it can tell you which way you need to go. I used to travel without one, but once I got one, I don't WANT to travel without one.

That's an easy fix. You drive to the next exit and make a flip/U-turn and that way there is no accidents. Yes it's a mile or to more. Are you getting paid by the mile or are we on VACATION? maybe the next exit has something you might like? Better safe then sorry!!

 

[ShhhQ]

I give up... Every post that I post on one thread is totally ignored, the only replys on this thread is to tell me that my opinion is wrong... because it isn't their opinion... I will continue to read what others write, but I am done sharing... it isn't worth it anymore.

 

[cruisingkat]

We drive to Florida several times a year and have encountered traffic jams on at least 50% of our trips - car fire, accident, house trailer blew off the truck, etc. About 50% of those times, we are in an area that does not have traffic coverage. It is wonderful to be able to hit the detour button and get off at the next possible exit and detour around the tie up.
Even at Disney we find the GPS helpful - if we want to go run to a grocery store or say Target, we just look up supermarkets or Target and the GPS directs us.

And since the OP is coming from St. Louis and might be going through Nashville - the GPS is wonderful with all the lane changes that must be done in a short time to keep on I24.

 

[WI_DisneyFan]

Have you ever been going down the interstate, and knew your exchange or exit was coming but thought it was on the right and then as you approached, found it on the left and had to cut across traffic or you even missed it.... a GPS can tell you what lane you need to be in... it gives you a warning when your exit approaches... or if the highway splits, it can tell you which way you need to go. I used to travel without one, but once I got one, I don't WANT to travel without one.

I agree with you. I treat it like American Express when driving long distances or in new places -- I don't leave home without it. For me, it is a safety issue. I feel like I'm a safer driver when I don't have to think about driving directions in addition to worrying about road conditions, the other drivers on the road, weather, etc. I also like the piece of mind it provides, knowing that no matter where I am, I can always get to my destination and more importantly get back home. Plus, I always have this fear that I've missed a turn somewhere and will end up completely lost even if I'm 10, 20, 30 miles from my next exit. So again, there's the comfort in knowing that I am always on the right course.

To answer the original question, I purchased a Garmin Nuvi last year for a proposed road trip to Disney. (Ended up getting killer rates to fly Southwest, so the road trip was abandoned.) I've used it on various pleasure and business trips, have never had a problem with it and would highly recommend it. But I think the technology is established enough now that if you stick with one of the "biggies" (Garmin, Magellan, TomTom) you can't go wrong. You might just have to do a little leg work to compare features and figure out which ones are most important to you.