Directions from I-4(from Tampa) to Calypso Cay Amerisuites

[mareed]

Can any locals or anyone with experience help me with the best directions from Tampa airport to Amerisuites at Calypso Cay? I know I'll be coming up I-4 from Tampa, but I can't figure out the best way to get to the hotel which appears to be very close to the Osceola Parkway (toll road) and 535.

From I-4, can I take 417 toll to Osceola Parkway toll to 535? Or from I-4 can I take Osceola Parkway to 535? Internet directions from the hotel and from AAA say to take I-4 up to 536 - then go to 535, but this seems like travelling further North than needed, just to come back down South. Maybe it's not that far out of the way, but I'm also thinking the I-4 area around WDW (between 417 & 536) may be congested, and I'd rather get off it as soon as possible. Help please! We'll be arriving on a Thursday evening around 9:30 or 10:00 p.m.

I sure hope my possible directions make sense to someone local or someone who has experience with these roads! I'm concerned about construction and also about whether you can really make the interchanges I'm considering (i.e. between 417 toll & Osceola Parkway toll). I know sometimes even when roads appear to cross on a map, that there's not really an interchange there to switch from one to the other.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[mareed]

Shameless bump of my own post. Can anyone help? There have been various questions about flying into Tampa recently, so I'd think there's an interest in the best route from there. Thanks!

 

[Edd]

Getting out of Tampa go I-4 east to 192 just south of Disney. Go 192 east to 535, left on 535 and Calypso Cay will be on the left about a mile and a half down the road. It will be easy to spot as the overpass for 417 is just ahead of you and there are two new high rise hotels. One is the Amerisuites. I think there is a steak house of some type on the left and maybe a 7/11 on the right.

 

[spiceycat]

also close to a Walmart!!!

 

[WillCAD]

There is a slightly quicker way.

From I-4, take Osceola Parkway east. From Osceola Pkwy, there is no direct exit to SR535, but you can take the exit to N. Poinciana Blvd. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right on Poinciana Blvd, then make the second left onto Calypso Cay Way. The hotel will be on the left.

 

[mareed]

Getting out of Tampa go I-4 east to 192 just south of Disney. Go 192 east to 535, left on 535 and Calypso Cay will be on the left about a mile and a half down the road. It will be easy to spot as the overpass for 417 is just ahead of you and there are two new high rise hotels. One is the Amerisuites. I think there is a steak house of some type on the left and maybe a 7/11 on the right.

In checking AAA TripTik, they list construction around the I-4 to 192 interchange and it says some exits are closed. Can you actually be on I-4 East and take 192 East exit? Thanks for the info!

 

[mareed]

There is a slightly quicker way.

From I-4, take Osceola Parkway east. From Osceola Pkwy, there is no direct exit to SR535, but you can take the exit to N. Poinciana Blvd. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right on Poinciana Blvd, then make the second left onto Calypso Cay Way. The hotel will be on the left.

Thanks! I can see Poinciana on a map, and this way makes sense to me! I think we'll plan on going this way.

 

[WillCAD]

Thanks! I can see Poinciana on a map, and this way makes sense to me! I think we'll plan on going this way.

Here is the Google Map of the area:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=28.33993,-81.485853&spn=0.009613,0.018861&om=1

The AmeriSuites is on the north side of Calypso Cay Way, at the end nearest to SR535 (Vineland Road).

As you can see, there is also a ramp back onto Osceola Parkway from Poinciana Blvd. When I stayed at the AmeriSuites I found this to be the quickest and easiest way to get into WDW property if you are heading for MK or AK.

If you are heading for Epcot or MGM or one of teh water parks, the best route is to turn left onto SR535 and proceed north about 1/2 mile. Turn left at World Center Drive (it's a huge signalized intersection). World Center Drive changes names to Epcot Center drive when it enters WDW property and takes you directly to Epcot. It also has clearly marked turnoffs to MGM and to the water parks.

If you are heading for Downtown Disney, the easiest way is to turn left on SR 535 and take it about 2 miles north to Hotel Plaza Blvd. Turn left on Hotel Plaza Blvd and this will take you directly to Downtown Disney.

BTW, I posted a review on another site after my stay there in December 2003. Apparently I forgot to post it here, so I'll quote it below:

Owing to a greatly reduced budget (read: I'm poor) on my recent trip, I found myself an off-site hotel: AmeriSuites Lake Buena Vista South, in a development called Calypso Cay (see map below for location).

AmeriSuites is a national chain that caters to business travelers. Each room is actually a 2-room suite, equipped with microwave, coffee maker, small fridge, sink, iron & board, and hair dryer. Suites are available with either 2 double beds or 1 king bed, and the living area has a sleeper sofa. Continental breakfast in the lobby is included in the room price.

The LBV South location has a convenient location not far from WDW, and features discounted rates that made it a very attractive place for me to stay. The rate for my December 4-12, 2003 stay was the lowest of the year at $49.

AmeriSuites LBV South Rates for 2004

I reserved a TCB suite, which has a king bed and substitutes an executive desk and chair for the sofa. Since I was vacationing solo, and had my laptop with me for internet access and digital photo downloads, the desk seemed more useful to me than a sleeper sofa.

Using a map from MapQuest.com, I had no trouble finding the hotel when I arrived in Orlando. I walked into the lobby at about 10pm; the hotel seemed deserted, with no guests in the lobby and only one person on duty at the front desk. The parking lot was only 1/3 full. The desk clerk checked me in quickly and was friendly and helpful. I got Suite #126, on the first floor, to the right of the main lobby, at the end of the hallway. To my room's left was another suite, and to the right were the guest laundry facilities, beyond which were the stairwell and the hotel's side exit.

During my stay I found the hotel to be in excellent repair, very clean, and very quiet. All of the staff with whom I had any dealings were friendly and helpful. Housekeeping knocked on my door at 8am the first morning only to hear a groggy, "Could you come back a little later, please?" from me; I wasn't yet even out of bed (hey, I was on vacation!) For the duration of my stay, I was put on the afternoon housekeeping schedule instead of morning, and I didn't even request that. I appreciate little things like not worrying about housekeeping waking me up early.

Since my room was the nearest one to the side exit (CSI fans will recognize this location as Murder Central), I made convenient use of that exit by parking my rental car in the small side lot. When I left in the morning, I only had about 75 feet to walk to get to my car.

The Calypso Cay neighborhood consists of the AmeriSuites, a Country Inn & Suites next door, and a surrounding development of condos. I found the area very quiet, the streets not busy, and the grounds landscaped and well-kept. It's a pretty place.

My experience at this hotel was overwhelmingly positive. I found only a few small nit-picker details to complain about: First, the rooms have no safes. Second, the voice mail button on one of the two phones in my room didn't work. And third, I returned from the parks one night to find that my room keys had both ceased to function (a quick trip to the front desk for new keys fixed it).

I give the AmeriSuites LBV South a double thumbs-up and would stay there again without hesitation.

 

[mareed]

Here is the Google Map of the area:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=28.33993,-81.485853&spn=0.009613,0.018861&om=1

I love that map and how it shows the interchange between different streets, but I sure wish I could make it larger (not zoom, but actually larger in size)! Thanks also for the review. We got the hotel through Priceline, so I'm sure it will be worth the $36/night.

 

[WillCAD]

I considered it a terrific bargain at $49 a night - for $36 it's a steal!