driving around Orlando. How not to get lost!

[iluvtot]

Hi,
Right, with 21/2 weeks to go, I have managed to damage a tendon in my foot, and am on crutches! Great!!
DH is stressing I won't be able to get around in Disney, but Hospital have said as long as I keep off it for about a week I should be alright!( Cue 3 children telling me to stay sitting down, they will see to everything.....Pah! In my dreams)
Anyway sitting here, I got to thinking that even though we have been several times in the past; I have always been in the back of the car (long story....) Not this time, but though I have a vague idea where everything is, I'm not totally sure.....so, do we get given maps on check-in does anyone know?(I should know this, but because we have always gone with SIL, she knows her way around)
Also, how will I find out how to get to the shops? (jeez, I sound like a real dufus!) I can remember how to get to Premium Outlets (spent alot of time there), but I want to go to SuperTarget, and to a Walmart, and Prime, and.... well you get the picture!
The last time DH and I went shopping on our own (one evening to the Millenia Mall,) we came out and got totally lost, and ended up in Hickesville somewhere!
So, is there anywhere I can get a map of the shopping areas? Oh and am I the only person who freaks when they look at a US map? I can get us anywhere in the UK with a map, but I can't seem to get my head around the ones in Florida!
Any help really appreciated,
Thanks,
Jules x

 

[Pegasus928]

As far as I know most of the car hire places also do Sat Nav - so I would say that would be the safest and easiest way of avoiding getting lost. we have never hired one before as we have our own - but from what I have heard they come pre-programmed with most of the more popular destinations already on them. And even if they aren't they will be easy to find using the Sat Navs search feature.

 

[iluvtot]

As far as I know most of the car hire places also do Sat Nav - so I would say that would be the safest and easiest way of avoiding getting lost. we have never hired one before as we have our own - but from what I have heard they come pre-programmed with most of the more popular destinations already on them. And even if they aren't they will be easy to find using the Sat Navs search feature.

Ok, now this is probably a very silly question, but you say you have a sat nav of your own. Would that be one you use here aswell, or are they country specific? DH has already said he won't get one from the car hire place,(He thinks it's a waste of money as we will be staying in the Orlando area); but does that mean I could borrow my friends tom-tom? That sounds so silly! What's the difference between a sat nav and a tom tom? Not a joke, I really don't know, but am tempted to say one gives directions with smoke signals!

Jules x

 

[GibboFLA]

Hi there
A TomTom is a brand of Sat Nav, they all work wherever you are in the world, but you need to have the map of the area you are in installed into the Sat Nav unit.

This is normally done with a memory card like you would use in a mobile phone, camera etc. But some units can be updated with the map from a computer by cable, after downloading it from the web.

If you search the Tom Tom site I am sure you will find a price and option for the Florida (or all of the USA) maps.

I used ours for the first time last year and it was great, we have been going for 14 years but when it's dark or raining it's easy to miss a sign or turn.

It did give a bit more "harmony" to the relationship with the co-driver as well.

 

[iluvtot]

Hi there
A TomTom is a brand of Sat Nav, they all work wherever you are in the world, but you need to have the map of the area you are in installed into the Sat Nav unit.

This is normally done with a memory card like you would use in a mobile phone, camera etc. But some units can be updated with the map from a computer by cable, after downloading it from the web.

If you search the Tom Tom site I am sure you will find a price and option for the Florida (or all of the USA) maps.

I used ours for the first time last year and it was great, we have been going for 14 years but when it's dark or raining it's easy to miss a sign or turn.

It did give a bit more "harmony" to the relationship with the co-driver as well.

Hi,
thanks so much for that! i'm really a bit of a technophobe, I don't understand alot of it, and really can't be bothered with most of it! But needs must! And if it means I get to my shopping haunts......!!
As for the 'harmony', a little bit of that wouldn't go amiss either!!
Thanks again
Jules x

 

[irongirlof12]

I would get a sat -nav. we found it so hard to navigate back one evening after watching wishes. i got really stressed and upset. ( had to buy a bottle of wine to steadyt my nerves )

My DH has brought a sat-nav and downloaded the software for USA. cost around £45. we have programmed in some places already.

The funny part was that the sat-nav lady gave directions i.e. ' take the ramp right' and all three of us in chorus said the same thing It does give you peice of mind which is worth the money.

If you rent one from a car rental company, ask then to show you how to use it.the reason we got lost the 1st time was because we didn't have a clue how to work it, when we figure it out we had a laff at our studidity! It's like anything - when you know how you are an expert!

 

[iluvtot]

I would get a sat -nav. we found it so hard to navigate back one evening after watching wishes. i got really stressed and upset. ( had to buy a bottle of wine to steadyt my nerves )

My DH has brought a sat-nav and downloaded the software for USA. cost around £45. we have programmed in some places already.

The funny part was that the sat-nav lady gave directions i.e. ' take the ramp right' and all three of us in chorus said the same thing It does give you peice of mind which is worth the money.

If you rent one from a car rental company, ask then to show you how to use it.the reason we got lost the 1st time was because we didn't have a clue how to work it, when we figure it out we had a laff at our studidity! It's like anything - when you know how you are an expert!

I know, everything looks different in the dark, doesn't it?!
Think I will have to run it by DH
We have been really spoilt on our last visits. SIL has been with us, and she knows her way around. She goes to Disney 2/3 times a year, so it really is her home from home! This will be our first trip without her to 'babysit' us!
Thanks for the advise
Jules x

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

There is a map of the WDW area that's really good - he's English and doesn't cost much. As a co-pilot I have found it really useful.

Now the trouble is - I can't remember the name I'm sure someone on here will know as it has been mentioned before. If I find it I will let you know - but this might prompt someone to post.

 

[SophiesDad]

There is a map of the WDW area that's really good - he's English and doesn't cost much. As a co-pilot I have found it really useful.

Now the trouble is - I can't remember the name I'm sure someone on here will know as it has been mentioned before. If I find it I will let you know - but this might prompt someone to post.

orlandomaps.co.uk
a really good map of the touristy bits

 

[Hilary]

orlandomaps.co.uk
a really good map of the touristy bits

I would also highly recommend this!

Some of you may remember the guy (Steve) who has produced this - he used to post here as Mapman a while ago. I bought his Orlando map last year, having been going to Florida and Orlando for 12 years and still getting lost! It was brilliant for all the places we needed

(I have always found it difficult to read the US maps, even though I pride myself on map-reading in this country and even did cartography as part of my geography A level many years ago! )

 

[orangetiggs]

I feel for you as my husband broke his foot 2 weeks ago!! he is in a cast and crutches!

Most of the hotels can print maps out as well, we have had reception do this when we have been there before

We also have a sat nav here but cant find a usa map but wont hire one as i think they are quite expensive

 

[jharrowell]

A Sat Nav is a great way of making sure you get where you're going but if that's not an option, then just ask at the front desk and they'll get you a map and usually draw directions on it if you ask them.

When I first went I took a small laptop and ran the US version of Autoroute on it, it was definately a life saver.

 

[Ware Bears]

I would also highly recommend this!

Me too ~ I love it, it shows all the off-site restaurants and shops. Definitely money well spent.

Hope your foot is better soon.

 

[Pegasus928]

This coming October will be our 3rd trip with the Sat Nav. On the last 2 trips put in all sorts of places that we have come across, even restaraunts that we liked the look of for future visits.
But as they all have a search option if you wanted to find a particular shopping mall you would just search the 'Shopping' section and it brings them all up in a list - along with distance and time to destination.
We certainly don't use it all the time as we have a good feel for getting around now, but it is useful for those times were you stray from the usual path and want to know the quickest and easiest route back home.

 

[iluvtot]

orlandomaps.co.uk
a really good map of the touristy bits

That's really great, thankyou!

Jules x

 

[iluvtot]

Me too!, not the cartography bit though!
I'm so glad i'm not the only one who finds US maps difficult!

Jules x

 

[iluvtot]

I feel for you as my husband broke his foot 2 weeks ago!! he is in a cast and crutches!

Most of the hotels can print maps out as well, we have had reception do this when we have been there before

We also have a sat nav here but cant find a usa map but wont hire one as i think they are quite expensive

Thanks for that!
Poor hubbie! At least I haven't got a cast! My friend did her achilles tendon last year before they were off to Turkey, and she was in a cast aswell. Before she went, she got the hospital to 'release' the cast a bit, because she knew it would be hot, and her foot/leg may swell. They also contacted the airline, and they upgraded them free of charge. If I remember, you're flying Virgin? You could contact them, and an upgrade would be better for you aswell. How is the pregnancy going? Twin mum myself, hence the interest!

Jules x

 

[iluvtot]

Me too ~ I love it, it shows all the off-site restaurants and shops. Definitely money well spent.

Hope your foot is better soon.

Thankyou

 

[iluvtot]

Thanks to everyone for their replies. I don't know how to quote you all on one reply, But thankyou!!!!

Jules x

 

[Lizzybear]

For peace of mind we always use a satnav. Yes we probably could get by without one but given the choice I wouldn't want to, and we do take a map as backup just in case! I get lost really easily even over here so anything that will reduce the chances of this for me i'll use it