Floridays on I Drive with no car???

[Tink78]

Hello
We are planning our first trip with our kids to WDW for October next year.
Looking at going for 3 weeks.
We really don't want to hire a car, and we are looking at Floridays, who offer free shuttles to Sea World, Universal & Epcot.
Has anyone stayed here, or close to here and not hired a car?
We don't mind using the I-Ride or public buses sometimes, and some days we will probably use taxi's.
No one in our group wants to drive.
Is it do-able?
Are we crazy?

Also, my Mum stayed at Oasis Lakes, which is now called The Fountains, and this is opposite Floridays but she said when they stayed there, there was nothing around within walking distance, but that was a few years ago now, and I'm thinking that seeing as the Floridays website says that there are supermarkets within walking distance, then this must be true.

Can anyone help/offer advice?

Thanks
Karen

 

[Lisa x]

Personally I would never do Florida without a car no matter where I am staying but if you are happy to go with the public transport then you will be fine with the hotel shuttles and I ride trolley!

I'm not sure what is on the Floridays complex itself but it is quite far down I drive from the main cluster of restaurants and things but honestly, the I ride trolley is perfect for getting about around there! We have stayed at the opposite end to you, near wet n wild and on the nights we wanted to drink, we just hopped on the I ride trolley!

 

[dixonsontour]

We stayed at Floridays in October but with a car.

There is a small cafe onsite - sandwiches etc (was pricey). There is also a hibbachi restaurant as you go into the resort.

Opposite was an I ride bus stop. Not sure where nearest point to cross the road to it was though - road is busy and 2 lanes each side.

It is probably 10 mins walk to the publix supermarket around the corner but no sidewalk. There was a path worn in the grass but I wouldn't want to do it, certainly not with young child (like walking on a verge next to a busy dual carriageway)

Next to the publix there was a mcdonalds and a quiznos subs. A bit further up is Outback steakhouse. Premium outlets are just beyond that and more restaurants eg carrabas, longhorn - would be 5 mins in a cab.

The resort has shuttles but you need to pre book. If you look on the website it lists the times they run. We never used them so can't comment.

 

[wayneg]

Same as Lisa for us either Onsite or Offsite 100% car, we wouldn't even goto Florida if we couldn't drive but to us its no fun getting buses or taxis, Disney buses are OK in small doses. I have done well over 100 holidays abroad and can only remember 1 public bus journey (Corfu) in all those trips.

Have you considered the OKW/SSR deal? with free Dining. Prices have not been released on all sites yet but you are probably looking at around £130 for a Studio for upto 4 adults(bigger rooms available)
With this deal you get free transfers from and to Orlando Int, free Wifi inroom, all the food and snacks (plus unlimited soda inresort) you need thoughout your stay and free transport within Disney.
If we were ever to consider a trip without car then this would be the way I would do it.

More detail here but prices only upto March http://www.completeorlando.co.uk/corp/disney_special_offer.php

 

[robinb]

I personally would not stay off-site without a car. I know that it's expensive for you to rent a car here in the US and a little scary to drive through Orlando, but I would reconsider renting a car. The resort you picked looks really nice. Do they have an extended stay special? I ask because I think that you can rent a vacation home or condo for less than you would pay at the resort and you can use the savings for your car hire and parking fees.

 

[Tink78]

Thanks.
It's not the driving costs that worry us. That's not the problem.
The problem we have is that no one in our group actually wants to drive.

I had a quote for $1000 for a large hire car for 3 weeks, so I wonder if we would spend that much on taxi's during 3 weeks?
We won't be going out to the parks every day (that's why we want to go for 3 weeks, to slow the pace down).
So we could use the free shuttles that Floridays offer some days, public buses some days and as a treat, taxi's some days too.
We all like the bus so that doesn't worry us. We see that as part of the fun.
(Call us mad if you like! LOL!)

We also don't want the Disney Dining Plan as we want to cook some meals ourselves. We don't want to eat out every day.
I don't think I could handle going out for lunch & dinner every day for 3 weeks.
We want to eat some normal non holiday food sometimes just to give our tummys a break! LOL!

Is it not do-able, or do you just prefer not to use public transport and shuttles?

We stayed at Disney before with no car and using the buses was fine.
Are the buses on I-Drive that bad?

Thanks
xx

 

[davemill]

I never go anywhere without a car, be it a rental or my own. Florida just has too many things to see around WDW and if you are going to be there for three weeks, I couldn't imagine not having a car.

 

[wayneg]

If you ever price up car rental don't buy from a US based company and pay in $'s. You need to be pricing up with a UK company in £'s, they include all the insurance you need and cheaper. How many in your group? A full size car for 3 weeks costs under £400, just price up this Oct with netflights & 5% Quidco = £376.43

Depending on the size of your family larger rooms at OKW have cooking facilites, could be cheaper than offsite. Personally I can't understand wanting to make a meal on holiday, especially if its cheaper to be on DDP but each to their own, we are all different.

I have never used buses in Idrive but a friend of ours did last year, the time it took to get to Disney and back was crazy, they did it 2 or 3 times then gave up, ended up taking taxis everywhere.

 

[robinb]

You seem pretty adamant about not renting a car. To each their own, I guess. The last thing I would want to do would be to take the Lynx with two small children and my parents. City buses are *much* different than Disney buses. They make frequent stops and can take forever to get from point A to point B. In addition, the "free shuttles" that many off-site resorts offer are not very convenient and run on a limited schedule.

Here is a link to the city buses:
http://www.golynx.com/

It appears a 1-week pass is $16 per adult (kids under 10 seem to be free and seniors are $8).

Taxis will cost you a pretty penny. I know when I stayed at Pop Century without a car it cost me $20 US to go from Pop to the Grand Floridian. Here is a link to Mears Taxi with a fare calculator: http://www.mearstransportation.com/index.php/taxi-services

ETA: Here is the I-Drive Trolly which is another $10 per week:
http://www.iridetrolley.com/

I don't think you will be able to pop back to the resort for a meal and then back out to a Disney/Universal park without a car. Other than that, I think you can make it work if you really want to. It just wouldn't be what I would choose for myself.

 

[Tink78]

Thanks for this information.
This is really valuable to me.

We need to sit down with the group and make some decisions.

Thanks for the input.

 

[chmurf]

For me, Florida (and USA in general) cannot be done without a car.

There are some options for doing an Orlando stay without a car, but it's so much trouble (IMO) that it's really not worth it.

Time is too valuable while in florida to spend hours a day waiting for and riding in public transportation.

And with kids it's even more important to get a car (once again, it's only my opinion)
I've seen my son crash so often in his booster seat after a long day at the parks ... I just can't picture what it would be like if we had to wait for 20 minutes to ride a packed bus, and so on...

For me, florida without a car is like trying to walk on water. It must be possible since one guy is said to have done that 2000 years ago, but that's something I wouldn't try

 

[queendisney]

as other posters have said 'to each their own', we personally very rarely hire a car. BUT we stay on resort and really don't feel the need for one as we find the disney transportation absolutely fine. If we do then we will hire on a day by day basis. I prob would not stay off resort without a car though as would feel a bit stuck. For the amt of times we go off the resort it works out just as cheap to go by taxi. Maybe you should look into getting a good deal at OKW. There is absolutely nothing wrong with catching the Lynx and you will find LOTS of brits doing just that. The I-Ride is also fine and a weekly pass is very cheap for both services. All the public transport is frequent and you really will not have to wait long for a bus. I do think you should re-think you hotel choice without a car though as having to stay out until your pick up time or having a pick up time too early can be a bit limiting. I have heard people say that the last pick up times for their hotels meant that they never got to see the fireworks! Orlando is definately do-able without a car and many people do it that way all the time.

 

[Kath2003]

Easily doable.
There's a Lynx bus stop right outside which runs the entire length of International Drive, to the Prime Outlets at the top of I-Drive to the Prime Outlets on Vineland Road. Around 4 buses per hour. I-Drive has hundreds of restaurants so just hop off the bus when you see something you fancy.
Fares are $2 or $4.50 for a day pass.
A 7-day pass is $16 - Lynx will mail these to you in the UK for free before you can go, or you can get them at the Tourist Info Centre in I-Drive.
Easy peasy way to get around. Used it for my last 5 trips, no problems.
Oh and have used a car on other trips but now choose not to. Take it from someone who has tried it - the buses are fab.

 

[WSussex]

Hi

We have stayed on I drive 3 times with no car as we were petrified of driving over there - we used hotel shuttles which are quite limited with their schedules eg you would either need to leave really early 0800 or mid morning and return schedule always left us running for the bus through heavy crowds after fireworks etc. I ride is perfect for I drive but Disney, universal etc more challenging without hotel shuttle. The last two times and next year we took the plunge and hired a car - would never not hire a car it gives you so much flexibility and we watch people running for the buses all stressed and we can just chill and relax! However whatever you decide you are going to WDW and it will be awesome!
Happy planning don't get too stressed over it x

Sx

 

[Kath2003]

Hi

We have stayed on I drive 3 times with no car as we were petrified of driving over there - we used hotel shuttles which are quite limited with their schedules eg you would either need to leave really early 0800 or mid morning and return schedule always left us running for the bus through heavy crowds after fireworks etc. I ride is perfect for I drive but Disney, universal etc more challenging without hotel shuttle. The last two times and next year we took the plunge and hired a car - would never not hire a car it gives you so much flexibility and we watch people running for the buses all stressed and we can just chill and relax! However whatever you decide you are going to WDW and it will be awesome!
Happy planning don't get too stressed over it x

Sx

The I-Ride trolley is awful.
The Lynx buses are awesome.

 

[PudseyChancer]

Thanks.
It's not the driving costs that worry us. That's not the problem.
The problem we have is that no one in our group actually wants to drive.

I had a quote for $1000 for a large hire car for 3 weeks, so I wonder if we would spend that much on taxi's during 3 weeks?
We won't be going out to the parks every day (that's why we want to go for 3 weeks, to slow the pace down).
So we could use the free shuttles that Floridays offer some days, public buses some days and as a treat, taxi's some days too.
We all like the bus so that doesn't worry us. We see that as part of the fun.
(Call us mad if you like! LOL!)

We also don't want the Disney Dining Plan as we want to cook some meals ourselves. We don't want to eat out every day.
I don't think I could handle going out for lunch & dinner every day for 3 weeks.
We want to eat some normal non holiday food sometimes just to give our tummys a break! LOL!

Is it not do-able, or do you just prefer not to use public transport and shuttles?

We stayed at Disney before with no car and using the buses was fine.
Are the buses on I-Drive that bad?

Thanks
xx

It does make me laugh when this topic comes up on here, the answer is simply, yes, you can have a great Florida holiday without someone in the group driving. The convenience factor of having a car is great, but not driving does not suddenly make the holiday a write-off.

Given your holiday plans, I would suggest that the cost of getting yourselves around would cost nowhere near the $1000 you've been quoted to have a car for the duration, especially as you have the option of transfers to the parks and are prepared to use the bus.

My first two trips to Florida involved staying on i-drive without a car and I got around without any issues, just a good understanding of the relevant bus routes and an i-ride pass and we were sorted. My two most recent trips have been on-site and therefore travel to Universal and offsite were by taxi - we won't be having a car this year and have a split stay at Universal and Disney, we don't anticipate any problems.

If none of the group wants to drive, why should they - it's their holiday too! Have a great trip!

 

[queendisney]

Easily doable.

Easy peasy way to get around. Used it for my last 5 trips, no problems.
Oh and have used a car on other trips but now choose not to. Take it from someone who has tried it - the buses are fab.

yep...

 

[zippy99]

* Disney dining plan
* Driving & car hire
* Booking DIY

You can get the most amazing support and advice on these forums but all of the above are not only daunting but can be quite a huge undertaking if you are not a seasoned visitor. We will be on our 5th trip in August and it is the first time we have combined all the planning elements above. However, it has taken four trips for me to gain the confidence to do this. This is your holiday and you want to be comfortable with what you choose.

I would add, however, that I wish I had discovered the dining plan and driving option sooner. As others have said no need to stress yourself out about whether you have made the right decision but the voice of experience will come across loud and proud here.

Last trip we took friends who had never been to Orlando - we opted to split up one day out at Busch Gardens and meet for lunch. We met at the cookhouse and exchanged stories of what we had done. Myself DH DD & DS had done cheetah hunt, sheikra, montu, gwazi, kumba, tidal wave and several other things .... Our friends had done cheetah hunt, fed the wallabies and seen Big Bird literally that was all they had done in 3.5 hours. Whilst we wanted to express our amazement that they had seen so little - they had experienced an amazing morning and were really enjoying themselves. Who were we to judge they had been inefficient with their time.

You have quite a good balance of feedback now and whilst personally I would have a car if staying offsite - that would only be after several trips I was far too scared to drive before!

Whatever you choose you will have an amazing time.

 

[torsie24]

I think the only way you could really comfortably have a Florida trip with no car is the stay on site at WDW if Disney is your main aim. If not then maybe a split stay with a more central I-drive hotel so you can visit the other parks using I-ride.

I personally would never stay offsite without a car. Just seems a false economy to waste all that time jumping around public transport options.

 

[lgp1]

It does make me laugh when this topic comes up on here, the answer is simply, yes, you can have a great Florida holiday without someone in the group driving. The convenience factor of having a car is great, but not driving does not suddenly make the holiday a write-off.

Given your holiday plans, I would suggest that the cost of getting yourselves around would cost nowhere near the $1000 you've been quoted to have a car for the duration, especially as you have the option of transfers to the parks and are prepared to use the bus.

My first two trips to Florida involved staying on i-drive without a car and I got around without any issues, just a good understanding of the relevant bus routes and an i-ride pass and we were sorted. My two most recent trips have been on-site and therefore travel to Universal and offsite were by taxi - we won't be having a car this year and have a split stay at Universal and Disney, we don't anticipate any problems.

If none of the group wants to drive, why should they - it's their holiday too! Have a great trip!

Totally agree.

As you are prepared to use the bus service and have the option of transfers then there shouldn't be a problem. Also the money you save by not hiring a car can go towards taxis if you want to use them.