Florida without a car

[emmaness]

Hi all

Just out of interest, what are the practicalities of Florida without a hire car? Is it even realistic? I've been twice before with my family, but both times we stayed in a villa with a car, so obviously it was very easy getting to all the attractions!

But has anyone stayed there without a car? Are there regular shuttle buses and such from the hotels in the area? Bearing in mind I would be wanting to go to both Disney and Universal. It would be so much simpler if I only wanted to do the one, at least then I could just stay at either resort!!

Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[alisonbestford]

Yes, it is 'doable' but, obviously not as convenient

The hotels tend to have two or three buses leave in the morning and the same on return.

If you stay on I Drive the I Ride trolley is great and there are always taxis The Lynx buses are good too ...and you don't have to pay $10 to park each time you visit the parks

The main thing we found was that all the accessible supermarkets, on I Drive (such as Goodings) were extremely expensive and we need to stock up on DD's lactose free milk etc when we're there.

It was the first time we'd ever been to Florida that we didn't hire a car and there are so many things I'd know to do now - such as get a taxi to Walmart or Publix...............

So the answer is yes.
Many people do go without renting but renting, in my opinion, and having done it both ways, makes life easier

 

[lady&tramp]

I don't know how long your planning on staying for but how about staying on site at disney for half the time and on site at universal for the other half to take advantage of their free transport. Last year on our first wdw trip we managed fine without a car (we were under 21 so couldnt get one!) we stayed onsite at disney and just got taxis to universal/ malls/seaworld and the busch gardens shuttle for free. We also used the I -ride trolley a couple of times. We're having a car this time so will see how much difference it makes!! But overall its definatley do-able!!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

A much discussed subject, to be honest whilst you can manage without a car especially if you are staying on-site for me it is unthinkable not to have one.
You just do not have the freedom to travel around easily, getting to the shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, anywhere really - a car in my opinion is a must.

 

[Laurafoster]

I was unable to rent a car the first few times i went being under 21 and i had no problem getting around. I stayed on one of the hotels on thedowntown disney area which have buses running to the parks every hour or so all through the day. I use taxi's to get to universal and seaworld and it was a short walk to the crossroads area where you have several restaurants, which ok arent as cheap as I Drive or more out of the way area's but are a lot cheaper than disney.

It really depends on what you want, if you plan on going to shopping malls and lots of non park restaurants etc its not as easy.

 

[castanea1985]

If you can drive - drive!
You can see a lot more, and do a lot more, and there's so much to see! We'd never fit it all in without a car! Its not hard to drive over there, in my years of going over there, I've never had a problem.
Have a great time, whatever you decide!
Tracy

 

[MrsJobba1]

Hi we are DVC members, and have been to WDW 6 times ( 7 in july )

We have never had a car. We just dont feel confident driving over there, especailly after a long flight.
Instead we make use of towncars, taxi's, buses, tours.

Weve never been short of things to do.

On of the best things (non disney) that we did was a night time safari on an airboat - gator spotting. the tour picked us up from our hotel.

It might work out slightly more expensive - but hey its our holiday

 

[daveyoghurt]

You just do not have the freedom to travel around easily, getting to the shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, anywhere really

Dunno about not having 'freedom to travel around easily' Johnny, I'll be having my fourth trip without a car and it's never affected us. With a little forethought and planning I don't see that it's an issue, we use the i-ride for International Drive, we chose a hotel that has transport to Universal and Disney, and we book a taxi if we're feeling lazy. We have also been known to put one foot in front of the other and walk!

If you have other factors (such as kids/staying in a Villa) to take into account, then having a car would be more of an issue, but many people are able to get round Orlando with the minimum of fuss, and both TCD and Virgin offer non-driving options as well.

 

[emmaness]

Can't rent a car over there myself as I'm under 21, but I'd really love to get back there in the next couple of years if at all possible - hence looking at the no-car option!

If there was anyone else in my party over 21 I think we would have a car, no question about it, but it's nice to know that most of you think it's do-able without one, so thanks guys! :vibes I imagine it would be a bit more inconvenient, but hey, when you're in Florida, who really cares?!

daveyoghurt, are you saying you've walked to Disney and/or Universal?! lol!

Thanks again all, and here's hoping that I can actually make it over there sooner rather than later!

 

[AndRu]

Eating spagetti bolognaise without cutlery is possible - and that'd be my opinion of visiting Orlando without a car.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Dunno about not having 'freedom to travel around easily' Johnny, I'll be having my fourth trip without a car and it's never affected us. With a little forethought and planning I don't see that it's an issue, we use the i-ride for International Drive, we chose a hotel that has transport to Universal and Disney, and we book a taxi if we're feeling lazy. We have also been known to put one foot in front of the other and walk!

If you have other factors (such as kids/staying in a Villa) to take into account, then having a car would be more of an issue, but many people are able to get round Orlando with the minimum of fuss, and both TCD and Virgin offer non-driving options as well.

Fine if it works for you then great, however for us a car is an essential part of our holiday and gives the flexibility to be able to travel around easily to places like the Mall At Millenia, or a day at the beach etc
We can go wherever we want when we want without the need to rely on public transportation.

Walking to the parks, good for you - impossible for us with staying in a villa and Josh unable to walk too far.
If I see you thumbing for a lift I will stop and pick you up mate

Eating spagetti bolognaise without cutlery is possible - and that'd be my opinion of visiting Orlando without a car.

I agree - though I have never tried it personally

 

[pauldickinson]

May I suggest...
Weve been 9 times without a car, once with. If staying without a car, just pick your hotel carefully. Without a car I suggest you forget Maingate/Kissimmee & look at Lake Buena Vista or I Drive. In the LBV area, the hotels shuttles are mainly for disney, whereas on I Drive its universal. Weve just come back from stayiong at the enclave at the top of idrive by wetnwild & paid $12 per person fior a shutlle return to disney, universal seaworld had a free bus. ID has the trolley ($16 for a 14 day pass) that is very convenient for getting around the restaurants shops etc. it runs from belz outlet to premium outlets/dixie stamopede to the south. we use ti a lot. i have to say my fave is LBV though. The comfort inn there has decent rooms, regular shuttles, & theres the crossroads shopping with a 24hr goodings, loads of restaurants etc. if u r concentrating on disney, stay in the LBV area; if u r doing all the parks, consider I Drive.

To be honest, I found the car very expensive. Its $10 to aprk every day at the theme parks. $2.90 for a gallon of petrol (theres is onyl 80% the size of ours) & I was surprised how much we got through. Then you pay £400 for insurance. Spend it on cabs instead" Thats what we do

 

[daveyoghurt]

daveyoghurt, are you saying you've walked to Disney and/or Universal?! lol!

Not that bad but we did walk from the Sheraton World (southern end of i-drive) to the mini golf next to Wet 'n' Wild which was quite a distance. To be honest, we'd had a particularly sumptuous steak the night before and we were feeling a little guilty!

A few years ago we stayed at the Red Horse Inn (next to Wet 'n' Wild) and was amazed that they were putting on transfers to Universal Studios! The woman at reception thought I was crazy for wanting to walk, even though it was literally ten minutes on foot from where we were! I guess that's the culture in America, which partly explains that sizes of some of the butts you get stuck behind in the queues!

 

[daveyoghurt]

Fine if it works for you then great, however for us a car is an essential part of our holiday and gives the flexibility to be able to travel around easily to places like the Mall At Millenia, or a day at the beach etc We can go wherever we want when we want without the need to rely on public transportation. Walking to the parks, good for you - impossible for us with staying in a villa and Josh unable to walk too far.
If I see you thumbing for a lift I will stop and pick you up mate

As I said, those with kids and staying in a villa would need a car, but I was just pointing out that it's as easy to do Orlando without a car as it is with, depending on your circumstances.

As for thumbing a lift, if you offer to undercut the i-ride (70 cents a trip!), then save me a seat!

 

[carolfoy]

May I suggest...
Weve been 9 times without a car, once with. If staying without a car, just pick your hotel carefully. Without a car I suggest you forget Maingate/Kissimmee & look at Lake Buena Vista or I Drive.

I totally agree, check out where to stay first if you're not getting a car, we've never had one and have managed to do florida mall and premium outlet shopping, seaworld etc by using taxis or lynx bus, if you've got a car then its obviously easier and more conveient to eat and shop off site but the question is do you want to?

 

[AndRu]

if you've got a car then its obviously easier and more conveient to eat and shop off site but the question is do you want to?

Well, "yes" if you'd like a greater variety/choice and especially if you seek the best value-for-money that Orlando has to offer.

 

[carolfoy]

The question was aimed at Emmaness not you, its whether she really wants to go off site or not, some people do, some don't but as long as everyone has a fab holiday what does it matter.

 

[emmaness]

I'm sure I could live without going offsite carolfoy - perhaps it would be a little more expensive but I'm quite used to Disneyland Paris prices!! And besides, there are so many options without having to venture too far out.

It sounds like I-Drive would be the best place to stay since I'd be wanting to go to both Disney and Universal (I'd most likely spend two weeks but I'd prefer not to move hotels halfway through that time). I'd also quite like to visit the Florida Mall again, does anyone know if there are buses to it from I-Drive?

Basically there are two options, which are either to sacrifice a bit of freedom, convenience and variety of restaurants - but at least you get to go - or to wait until one of my party is 21 and hence able to rent a car before going back... I know which one I would prefer!

Thanks again everyone, you've given me lots to mull over!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

As I said, those with kids and staying in a villa would need a car, but I was just pointing out that it's as easy to do Orlando without a car as it is with, depending on your circumstances.

As for thumbing a lift, if you offer to undercut the i-ride (70 cents a trip!), then save me a seat!

Fair comment Davey, at the end of the day whatever suits you best mate.

oh I would give you a lift for free mate, just get one of those boards with where you want to go and we are sorted!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I'd also quite like to visit the Florida Mall again, does anyone know if there are buses to it from I-Drive?

I am sure there must be, there is a busy junction on I-drive that joins with Sand Lake Road, the Florida Mall is about 5 miles or so down from there on Orange Blossom Trail, I would be surprised if there isn't a service of some-sort.