BV without a car?

[Kaz65]

Some friends of ours are researching their first trip for next year and asking our advice about BV without a car. Personally we have always had our own and my sis went on IDrive without a car last year and said they wasted a lot of time waiting for the free buses advertised by hotels that ran at weird hours and not very often. Can anyone help who has actually stayed in LBV please

 

[keasden]

Have stayed at Lake Buena Vista area twice recently and IMHO a car is essential unless you are prepared to pay for taxis to get around everywhere. There are plenty of shops and restaurants dotted about but there are a lot if major roads and the area is designed for drivers NOT pedestrians.

 

[wayneg]

Will reply here also Kaz, then you can see which hotels we have stayed in
Stayed at LBV area numerous time (always with car)
I am sure it can be done without car, many do. Personally we wouldn't visit Florida without one but we haven't used public trasport for almost 25 years. We visit so many places off the beaten track, drive to the port for a cruise, visit friends houses etc. It would be a nightmare without a car.

 

[lynda1212]

As a Brit, I would never do a holiday at WDW without a car, it's too limiting. I like to do other things when I'm there - visiting the shopping malls , for example, or visiting Kennedy Space Centre.

There are only two of us, so we rent a compact car, although it would still be fine with 2 small children - careful of the upgrades the rental companies offer if you don't need them - and have got deals as good as £10 per day from Hertz.

Petrol is still cheap (for us, anyway), so that doesn't add much to the cost either.

Having been very pro-car, I never take it to the Magic Kingdom, I always use Disney transport which drops you at the main entrance rather than the parking lot.

Also, I figure we've all paid for long-haul flights, let's maximise our enjoyment (and time) as much as we can.

Sorry if these thoughts are a bit disjointed - but I hope they help you.

 

[Kaz65]

Thanks for the feedback. Must admit I wouldnt consider doing Florida without a car but then it is DH who drives and not me! We are planning in investing in a sat nav map and taking our own this year (as suggested by other Dis folks) as never thought about that option in the past. Thanx too to all the great tips from the Disboards - I find them soooo addictive but full of great tips!

 

[whiteboy]

Which sat nav map are you getting? As i am after one that would be ideal for finding places

 

[wayneg]

Which sat nav map are you getting? As i am after one that would be ideal for finding places

I have used TomTom in Florida, Vegas, San Diego and LA, as well as UK worked great everywhere. Don't know how others can be better.

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Consider getting your TomTom over there with pre-installed US maps.

$145 from Walmart for example.
http://www.walmart.com/search/brows...5875.331257+500500.4293901716&catNavId=596697

Wait for a TomTom sale to download UK/Ireland maps for about £25 extra for use back home.

You can download Florida POI from the bottom of this link for TomTom devices.
http://www.ttpoishare.co.uk/united_states_of_america.html

Although you'll need a laptop to install them if you buy it over there.