Best way to get to shopping malls

[ozliz]

I am planning a trip split between wdw and universal and would like to visit some shopping malls while in orlando. I am particularly interested in Premium Outlets I-Drive, Florida Mall and Mall at the Millennia. I will not have a car and will not have company on my shopping trips so would prefer to not pay for a taxi. I am not planning in huge shopping sprees but there is not great shopping at gone so big malls are a novelty.

I have looked at the Lynx buses and the I Trolley and it looks like it will be easiest to shop from US rather than WDW. Can anyone make any recommendations?

I will be staying onsite at both parks and it looks like the 42 will go to two of the malls but I would have to walk down to wet n wild. Does anyone know if it is actually possible to walk down Universal Boulevard or is it one of those roads with no side walk?

Grayline does have a shopping tour covering all three malls but that sounds a bit restrictive to cram it all into one full day rather than the odd morning/afternoon when the weather is worse etc.

I think route 37 might go from US to Mall at the Millennia but sometimes the maps are not too clear.

TIA

 

[nacho113]

The Outlets mall and Mall at Millenia are fairly easy to access from the Universal resort area using the bus or trolley. A taxi would even be a reasonable option price/distance wise. Florida mall is considerably further out and a taxi would start to get expensive but still doable from the Universal Resort area.
The Disney area is a whole different kettle of fish. Bus routes are complicated and lengthy and taxis would start at expensive and go up from there.
The Grayline bus tour is an option, but it will be more like a power shopping trip (gotta get it done in xx number of hours). It will feel like you just spent another open to close day at one of the theme parks rather than a leisurely shopping day to relax and unwind (from the theme parks)

Too bad you aren't considering renting a car, it would make things a whole lot easier and probably cheaper. For about the cost of a return taxi fare to the Florida Mall from Disney, you could probably get a car rental for the whole week and get all your shopping trips in at your leisure.

 

[ozliz]

Thanks for the advice. Glad to know my plans are on track and confirm universal is easier.

Everyone is always keen on the car hire but for every Australian I know happy to drive in USA I know two that are like me and not keen - especially in the big cities. I am from a smaller place over here and have never even driven in Sydney (our biggest city) so Orlando is just too daunting since I am not confident with the driving as it is.

 

[Minerva Mouse]

Thanks for the advice. Glad to know my plans are on track and confirm universal is easier.

Everyone is always keen on the car hire but for every Australian I know happy to drive in USA I know two that are like me and not keen - especially in the big cities. I am from a smaller place over here and have never even driven in Sydney (our biggest city) so Orlando is just too daunting since I am not confident with the driving as it is.

I would defiantly recommend that you not drive in Orlando then. True the natives are use to a fair amount of "tourist" traffic, but we're also use to a fair amount of road rage, and very, very, very aggressive driving. Driving is just too risky.

Best of luck OP, I wish I could help, maybe I'll quit my job one of these days, and just drive people from the DIS around, lol.