First time driving in USA, I'm very nervous!

[Woodview]

To Nursejackie

Pay cash at desk inside gas Station.

Remember Gas is sold in Gallons not liters.

$ 20 will go along way towards filling your car .

You Have paid an exchange rate to get $ from £ so why Pay

another Exchange rate transaction for say $ 30 on using your Credit Card .

Just drive as normal & give the " 2 " fingers to those drivers who think they know it all

 

[nacho113]

I have never been asked for my zip code neither at home or in Florida.

Any gas station I have been to in Florida, California and around Vegas all require a zip code to be entered at the pump (as added security) before you can fuel up, otherwise you have to go inside and pre-pay

 

[nursejackie]

One thing you definitely need to know: the roads in WDW are not side streets, but busy highways and you need to keep up with the speed of traffic. I'm not trying to scare you, but I want you to have an accurate picture if what to expect.

Are you staying offsite or onsite?

On site at AKL and OKW

 

[nursejackie]

Why do you want to drive at WDW? It looks like you're staying at OKW and AKL, so you'll be on property. With that, you can use Disney transport pretty easily and efficiently. I was in London in June-July and was very glad I wasn't trying to drive there! If there are reasons you want to drive, that's fine and doing as the PPs suggest will help. With all your prior trips staying on property, you know about the Disney transportation system -- from the airport and all over the property.

There are rumours the early morning EMH are being fazed out so we will not be paying for Disney accommodation if they go, as they are the reason we pay the extra money. We will then stay off site so I need to perfect my driving skills while I am not under pressure to drive every day this year.

 

[nursejackie]

Any gas station I have been to in Florida, California and around Vegas all require a zip code to be entered at the pump (as added security) before you can fuel up, otherwise you have to go inside and pre-pay

Okay thank you. We like to go inside anyway for a nosey around what they sell (especially the sweet treats) so not too much of an inconvenience but good to know.

 

[nursejackie]

To Nursejackie

Pay cash at desk inside gas Station.

Remember Gas is sold in Gallons not liters.

$ 20 will go along way towards filling your car .

You Have paid an exchange rate to get $ from £ so why Pay

another Exchange rate transaction for say $ 30 on using your Credit Card .

Just drive as normal & give the " 2 " fingers to those drivers who think they know it all

Mmmmm not sure about the two finger salute but thanks for all the other information

 

[nursejackie]

Not to rain on your parade, so to speak,

But drivers in the US, unless proven otherwise tend to be JERKS.

If you are driving below the speed limit much at all or if you act uncertain while driving, you will get various rude gestures, people will make unsafe passes and cut you off and -- they will continually honk horns at you.

I know, I was one. I grew up in Los Angeles. Home of Road Rage (although Florida and Arizona and Texas seem to have a shot at the title).

Now, I live in Oregon, where, it is actually pretty mellow. And, I am older and go with the flow.

But, having skimmed this thread, I saw at least one person ask why you need to drive. You should seriously consider that suggestion.

Last time I was in Orlando, I was nearly T-boned by two different Florida State Patrol cars who decided to go all cowboy to catch someone who was going about 10 miles per hour above the speed limit.

Zip codes -- its for your protection -- or if you are a cynic, for the card issuer's protection.

http://www.nacsonline.com/Media/daily/pages/nd0715132.aspx

Maybe i should just stick to driving inside the 'bubble' on this trip and move to driving in the real world next year!

 

[nursejackie]

One thing you definitely need to know: the roads in WDW are not side streets, but busy highways and you need to keep up with the speed of traffic. I'm not trying to scare you, but I want you to have an accurate picture if what to expect.

Are you staying offsite or onsite?

On site at AKL and OKW

 

[nursejackie]

Just to clarify one of your concerns. Right hand drive vehicles are usually from Japanese companies and you will likely never see one in a US rental car company fleet. So you need not worry about that.

I also recommend you start by driving during daylight hours to familiarize yourself first.

I am getting confused already! I meant to say left hand drive car as we have right hand drive cars here DOH

 

[Timothy02359]

You`ll be fine...just pay attention and go with the flow.

 

[msp2mco]

When I first started driving in Scotland, I found a couple of things helpful. First, my passenger was my second set of eyes to make sure I was going the right way and not too close to the edge of the road. This was especially important as I was leaving a parking lot or in a space with a lot of turns. Second, it was easy to drive on the freeway, because once I was on, I couldn't screw it up.

 

[Sandi]

There are rumours the early morning EMH are being fazed out so we will not be paying for Disney accommodation if they go, as they are the reason we pay the extra money. We will then stay off site so I need to perfect my driving skills while I am not under pressure to drive every day this year.

I can't see them phasing out the EMHs for December. Nevertheless, you'll be fine with driving since you're preparing so well. Good luck! (And I will just add that I don't find that drivers in the US tend to be jerks. We probably have more than our fair share though.)

 

[nursejackie]

No matter what side of the road you drive on, cars are built so that driver side is in the middle of the road, to give the driver the greatest vantage point to observe road conditions.

It's one of the reasons (along with drainage) that roads are built sloping down from the middle (highest elevation is the middle).

Orient yourself to driver side is towards center lane of the road. Once I did that, driving in England became easier.

I can't see them phasing out the EMHs for December. Nevertheless, you'll be fine with driving since you're preparing so well. Good luck! (And I will just add that I don't find that drivers in the US tend to be jerks. We probably have more than our fair share though.)

They still have EMH this year, although not as many as normal for December. You may have seen they had a similar scheme to EMH for a fee to off site guests during the year as a trial, so this doesn't bode well for the future of EMH as a free option for on site guests.

I want to drive this year when we can still use the Disney transport as an option. You never know, next year we may end up off site and i won't have that option. It costs us a few thousand dollars extra to stay on site as we come for 16 days, and if EMH becomes fee paying all year round it is not worth the extra money to stay (even though it will kill us to stay offsite )

 

[nursejackie]

When I first started driving in Scotland, I found a couple of things helpful. First, my passenger was my second set of eyes to make sure I was going the right way and not too close to the edge of the road. This was especially important as I was leaving a parking lot or in a space with a lot of turns. Second, it was easy to drive on the freeway, because once I was on, I couldn't screw it up.

My mum, who is an experienced driver in the USA, is with us at the beginning but then she leaves and my sister is a non-driver and she was my passenger when I drove on the wrong side in France so I'm not hopeful of much help. I will just need to become proficient while I have my mum to help.

 

[nacho113]

Okay thank you. We like to go inside anyway for a nosey around what they sell (especially the sweet treats) so not too much of an inconvenience but good to know.

You should check with your credit card company, they usually have some kind of "workaround" for the zip code.
For us Canadians, we enter the 3 numbers from our postal code followed by 2 zeros and that works to "pay at the pump" when getting fuel.
It would be good to know if they have a similar option for the UK.
It's especially helpful on the last day when you have to fill the tank.
If you go inside and pre-pay, you have to go inside again if you "over or under guess" how much fuel you needed to fill the vehicle right to the top.
And I've fueled up in some...err...shall we say... "less than stellar" locations, so being able to fuel and go right at the pump can be a nice option.

 

[LisaS]

When I first started driving in Scotland, I found a couple of things helpful. First, my passenger was my second set of eyes to make sure I was going the right way and not too close to the edge of the road. This was especially important as I was leaving a parking lot or in a space with a lot of turns. Second, it was easy to drive on the freeway, because once I was on, I couldn't screw it up.

This is very good advice! My DH is from the UK. He helped me as I adjusted to driving in the UK and I helped him get comfortable driving here in the US.

The biggest problems tend to happen when you are doing something subconsciously. For example, in the UK when making a U-turn you turn the car clockwise. In the US, we turn anti-clockwise. The first time my DH made a U-turn here in the US (on a quiet side road with no traffic, thank goodness!) his motor memory took over and he drove over onto the wrong side of the road so that he could turn the car clockwise. Doing so put him on the wrong side of the road after completing the U-turn! He could not figure out how he ended up where he did until I described to him what he had just done.

Another issue is checking your rear view mirror. You will find yourself driving along, glancing up at the sky out the side window every few seconds. It will take you a minute or two to realize that your rear view mirror is on the other side and you need to look up and to the right.

Your rental car will have an automatic transmission so you won't have to deal with shifting with your right hand. If your car has a push-button start, put your foot on the brake and press the Start button. Put the car in gear ("D" for "Drive" to go forward, "R" for "Reverse" to back up) and move your foot from the brake to the accelerator and off you go. When you park the car, put your foot on the brake, move the shift lever to put the car from "D" back to "P" (for "Park") and press the button to shut off the engine.

One other thing, another time when you are likely to make a mistake and drive on the wrong side of the road is that first day or two when you return home. I'm not sure why this happens but both my DH and I have experienced this as have other people I know. Even though you are back home in your own car again, some part of your brain is still reminding you to drive on the other side of the road.

 

[nursejackie]

You should check with your credit card company, they usually have some kind of "workaround" for the zip code.
For us Canadians, we enter the 3 numbers from our postal code followed by 2 zeros and that works to "pay at the pump" when getting fuel.
It would be good to know if they have a similar option for the UK.
It's especially helpful on the last day when you have to fill the tank.
If you go inside and pre-pay, you have to go inside again if you "over or under guess" how much fuel you needed to fill the vehicle right to the top.
And I've fueled up in some...err...shall we say... "less than stellar" locations, so being able to fuel and go right at the pump can be a nice option.

Ah I see, when you say you go in and pay, you have to pre-pay and then go in and pay any difference . In the UK you are trusted to just self serve your petrol without putting in our postcode (similar to zip code) but we do have alot of 'pay at pump' stations where you put your debit or credit card into the pump before you pay then it charges what you fill up and you drive away without having to go inside at all. They all have number plate recognition cameras so they can track down non payers. I won't be the only one in the car so I'll send my passenger in to pay while I get ready to fill up. Thanks for everyone's information, it's been very helpful.

 

[nursejackie]

This is very good advice! My DH is from the UK. He helped me as I adjusted to driving in the UK and I helped him get comfortable driving here in the US.

The biggest problems tend to happen when you are doing something subconsciously. For example, in the UK when making a U-turn you turn the car clockwise. In the US, we turn anti-clockwise. The first time my DH made a U-turn here in the US (on a quiet side road with no traffic, thank goodness!) his motor memory took over and he drove over onto the wrong side of the road so that he could turn the car clockwise. Doing so put him on the wrong side of the road after completing the U-turn! He could not figure out how he ended up where he did until I described to him what he had just done.

Another issue is checking your rear view mirror. You will find yourself driving along, glancing up at the sky out the side window every few seconds. It will take you a minute or two to realize that your rear view mirror is on the other side and you need to look up and to the right.

Your rental car will have an automatic transmission so you won't have to deal with shifting with your right hand. If your car has a push-button start, put your foot on the brake and press the Start button. Put the car in gear ("D" for "Drive" to go forward, "R" for "Reverse" to back up) and move your foot from the brake to the accelerator and off you go. When you park the car, put your foot on the brake, move the shift lever to put the car from "D" back to "P" (for "Park") and press the button to shut off the engine.

One other thing, another time when you are likely to make a mistake and drive on the wrong side of the road is that first day or two when you return home. I'm not sure why this happens but both my DH and I have experienced this as have other people I know. Even though you are back home in your own car again, some part of your brain is still reminding you to drive on the other side of the road.

I guess the key is concentration, which will be hard on the first day as we are all literally bouncing up and down in the car and singing with excitement on our way to the first park! As we have a 5 hour time difference from Florida, we are usually up by 4am on the first few days so my mum and I are going out for a drive at 6am, for me to get used to the car, using an automatic again, and turning onto the correct side of the road at junctions. Fingers crossed it all goes well

 

[nacho113]

Ah I see, when you say you go in and pay, you have to pre-pay and then go in and pay any difference . In the UK you are trusted to just self serve your petrol without putting in our postcode (similar to zip code) but we do have alot of 'pay at pump' stations where you put your debit or credit card into the pump before you pay then it charges what you fill up and you drive away without having to go inside at all. They all have number plate recognition cameras so they can track down non payers. I won't be the only one in the car so I'll send my passenger in to pay while I get ready to fill up. Thanks for everyone's information, it's been very helpful.

Most (if not all) gas stations in Florida (and it seems most of the US cities we have visited) seem to require Pay at the Pump or Pre-Pay inside before you can start fueling up.
Too many "drive offs" these days. Times are tough and there's lots of tourists coming and going in the area.
We've never come across a station where you could just pull up and fill the tank then go inside to pay like we can back at home. You actually have to go inside, tell them what pump you are at, what grade of fuel you are going to pump and how much you want. You pay, then they will turn on the pump.

If you go inside and pay...lets say $40, you can then pump up to the $40 at your pump. If the tank is full at $30 then you would need to go back inside to get the $10 back. If you are paying by credit card, they are supposed to just charge you the actual amount you pumped (not the authorized pre-paid amount...in this case $40) but I have experienced (and heard others say) the full pre-authorized amount being charged even when less was pumped.
You will definitely want to go back inside and get a receipt for the actual amount if you pumped less than the amount that you pre-paid. This way you have physical proof of the charge and have a way to dispute any errant charges that may end up on your CC after the fact.

 

[nursejackie]

Most (if not all) gas stations in Florida (and it seems most of the US cities we have visited) seem to require Pay at the Pump or Pre-Pay inside before you can start fueling up.
Too many "drive offs" these days. Times are tough and there's lots of tourists coming and going in the area.
We've never come across a station where you could just pull up and fill the tank then go inside to pay like we can back at home. You actually have to go inside, tell them what pump you are at, what grade of fuel you are going to pump and how much you want. You pay, then they will turn on the pump.

If you go inside and pay...lets say $40, you can then pump up to the $40 at your pump. If the tank is full at $30 then you would need to go back inside to get the $10 back. If you are paying by credit card, they are supposed to just charge you the actual amount you pumped (not the authorized pre-paid amount...in this case $40) but I have experienced (and heard others say) the full pre-authorized amount being charged even when less was pumped.
You will definitely want to go back inside and get a receipt for the actual amount if you pumped less than the amount that you pre-paid. This way you have physical proof of the charge and have a way to dispute any errant charges that may end up on your CC after the fact.

I think we will stick to cash to reduce all the risks you mentioned. As for drive offs, we don't have many tourists where I live in England so I can see why they are so vigilant about prepaying in USA.