Driving in florida

[paulie_walnuts]

Having revised our holiday plans. We are now getting a car instead of airport transfers. After getting great advice from this message board we now know getting to universal sea world etc would be really difficult without a car. This poses a new problem its been 15+ years since i drove on the other side of the road (in spain) is driving in florida difficult is there anything major to be aware of? I found a really good web site http://orlando-maps.info this recommends for first time drivers SR-417 via central florida greeneway as it is a little quieter than the freeway. Does anyone know the cost of the tolls on the SR-417? Its not so much about getting lost as im going to download florida on to my Tom Tom and take that. Its a little bit like driving into the unknown.

 

[MorningGlory]

I was the same last year paulie before my trip. Had been a long time since i'd driven on the'wrong' side, in NL. It really is very easy though mate, I was shocked at how quick I adapted to it. Most of the roads are carriageways (central reservations) so as long as you go through a junction on the correct side, there is no worry about moving over to the wrong side accidentally.

Also, the lanes seem to be wider on most roads over there and everywhere is really well signposted. Something I done before I left was to get a map of the route I wanted to go (so, for instance, getting from the airport to the hotel). Once I knew the roads I had to take, I went onto Google Earth or Local Live (the MS version of Google Earth) and actually traced my whole route, looking at the different roads so that I could identify landmarks, etc. It really put me at ease.

There is a website (someone might come up with the link, I cant remember it sorry) that actually shows you photographs of the signposts and roads as you exit the airport, just so you are familiar with it when the time comes.

Hth

 

[Netty]

This the website Paul said to look at

http://www.kissimmee-us192.com/british/default.htm

The tolls arent that much around $1 i'll have alook now for you

 

[rpbert1]

I drove for the first time 2 years ago in Florida, was really worried and nearly cancelled the car, but driving was really easy, and very enjoyable. Just take it slow ,but not to slow. I was uncertain about about the turning right on red and worried if i was on the inside lane going straight ahead, so now when coming to lights -crossroads i usually stay in the next lane.
I used Google Earth quite a bit ,going over roads and routes so as i knew where i had to turn off and what roads i need to take for certain routes

 

[wayneg]

As paul says its easy.
In europe I drove once, in Tenerife, I hated it, never again.
Florida is easier than driving here, infact I have to concentrate more when I get back from Florida, you will not believe the times I come out of Asda in the right(wrong ) lane. Over there never had a problem.
Remember you can turn left on a red light unless it says otherwise. wider lanes, well signed, slower pace.
TomTom maps are great, I took mine to try, don't need it but tested it before our trip to West US. worked great in Fl, Nevada and CA.
I know many people visit florida without a car but for us a car makes the holiday. The freedom is amazing, evening at Celebration or Old Town, nip over to see a shuttle launch (that and Grand Canyon are 2 of the best things I have done in my life)
I am sure if we had never drove in Florida we would not have had the passion to go so much, spent over 42 weeks there and look forward to the next trip more than ever before.

 

[Netty]

Wayne its right on a red light!!

The tolls are $1 and i think some are 50 cents,
I have only ever driven in the Uk ,and when ever we go to florida the other half has always driven, well last year I took the plunge and had a go at driving, well i'm not kidding you it is so easy!! and i was driving a 7 seater minivan as well ( my car here is an escort!)
In the end you couldn't get me back in the passenger seat, I drove all the time! And the best feeling was driving under the wdw arch into magic Kingdom......
so basically- don't worry the cars are automatic and the roads are fine you'll have no problems what so ever

 

[rpbert1]

Remember you can turn left on a red light unless it says othwise

Hope i am not following you

 

[wayneg]

Wayne its right on a red light!!

time for bed I think

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

Driving is a doddle, my only advice is to make sure you have some change before you leave the airport.

Once I came from the airport down one of the toll roads, anyway, I when I came off it was a toll booth automatic, now I could have gone though and not paid, but I didn't want the law on me, I had the cash but only dollar bills, so I waited until another car came behind for some change.

So when I leave the airport now I make sure I have change or I take the interstate !

 

[Netty]

Driving is a doddle, my only advice is to make sure you have some change before you leave the airport.

Once I came from the airport down one of the toll roads, anyway, I when I came off it was a toll booth automatic, now I could have gone though and not paid, but I didn't want the law on me, I had the cash but only dollar bills, so I waited until another car came behind for some change.

So when I leave the airport now I make sure I have change or I take the interstate !

and don't do what I did, left all the money and change in the boot of the car at an automatic toll coming from the airport

 

[Jakey Rowling]

Having revised our holiday plans. We are now getting a car instead of airport transfers. After getting great advice from this message board we now know getting to universal sea world etc would be really difficult without a car. This poses a new problem its been 15+ years since i drove on the other side of the road (in spain) is driving in florida difficult is there anything major to be aware of? I found a really good web site http://orlando-maps.info this recommends for first time drivers SR-417 via central florida greeneway as it is a little quieter than the freeway. Does anyone know the cost of the tolls on the SR-417? Its not so much about getting lost as im going to download florida on to my Tom Tom and take that. Its a little bit like driving into the unknown.

Can't emphasise how easy it is to drive in Orlando.

If you don't know there is a TomTom sale ending at the end of January for downloading maps so may be useful to buy it now.

One small word of caution, I have heard of people using satnav ending up at the staff entrances to parks rather than the car parks so a bit of manual knowledge is useful as well.

A useful backup and planning tool is this map which I have used.
http://www.orlandomaps.co.uk/maps.html
I think it is a decent backup if you don't know your way about. It also has restaurant locations which can be useful.

I remember one thing that almost got me on my first trip was the I4 going South West/North East through Orlando.
I took it as East/West based on the maps I had at the time, turned out to be signed as North/South and on some junctions you don't get a lot of time to change lane and the sat nav might be the same, hence the manual planning advice.

It's easy to recover a missed junction, just takes a bit of time sometimes to turnaround.

The tolls are negligible, the 417 might be the best road depending on who you do the hire car with and where you are heading.

As long as you have $20 or less there is no problems with change, I think the tolls are a max of $2 and you go through 2 to get to the usual areas.

It's scary how you forget the trivia,

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Wayne its right on a red light!!

Indeed you can make a RIGHT turn at a red light as long as there is no sign saying that you can't and as long as you come to a complete stop first before proceeding if it is safe to do so. Also, little known (even to Americans) is that you can make a LEFT turn on red as long as the road you're driving on is a one way street and the street you're turning onto is also a one way street. You're only likely to run into that if you're driving in downtown Orlando.

There are two routes from MCO to Disney and most people recommend using TOLL 417 (Central Florida Greeneway). This is accessed using the airport's SOUTH exit and then taking the 417 southbound. There are two $1.00 tolls and change is given. Getting off at Exit#6 (State Road 536) takes you directly into Disney near EPCOT. Staying on the 417 to Exit#3 (Osceola Parkway) takes you closer to Disney Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. This exit is an extra $.50 and requires exact change. NEVER NEVER STOP at an unmanned toll plaza because you don't have the right change. Proceed through! The alarm will ring and a picture of your license tag will be taken but you WILL NOT get a fine unless you're doing that multiple times. It is extremely dangerous to stop because someone could hit you or even take the opportunity to rob you.

If you leave the airport via the NORTH exit take TOLL 528 (Beachline Expressway) west to I-4 and then I-4 west (direction: Tampa) to the various Disney exits. There are two $.75 tolls using this routing.

BobK/Orlando