GPS device in Orlando?

[disneyholic family]

Which GPS device do you use when you're in Orlando? (that is, if you use one)

 

[wickesy]

I use my TomTom Go 920 which has built in US maps and haven't had any problems. I wouldn't be without it here or in the US now.

Tell a lie - I had one problem last time in Orlando on the I4 where it said the exit was going to be on the left of the freeway but it turned out to be on the right so I had to go up to the next exit. That was going up towards Downtown Orlando though, away from the usual tourist spots.

 

[disneyholic family]

i think those sorts of problems can happen with all the devices, as roads are changed.

Can the tom tom be updated with new maps?

i've never used a GPS device before, but i'm going to be driving in Orlando on my own this time, without someone reading the map for me as we drive..
so i'm afraid about attempting it without a GPS device.

i've found the signs in orlando to sometimes leave something to be desired...

i actually do have to go into downtown orlando, where i've never been before, so i'm very nervous about it...

last time i drove into an unknown area in orlando, i was with DD and we made many many wrong turns....ended up going the wrong way, had to turn around a zillion times....it was a bit scary....
i was trying to get to an emergency dental appointment....it was very far away from disney.....we ended up making a wrong turn and heading into what seemed to be not such a great neighborhood in orlando itself.....very run down and people sort of loitering around....i wasn't happy about it....and i couldn't figure out how to get back in the correct direction.....and i didn't have that great a map - the map from the car rental company... anyway, i really don't want a repeat of that scenario when i'm by myself....

for some reason, i don't find the roads in orlando to be that straightforward once i get away from I4 and I drive..

 

[Pegasus928]

We have a Garmin and have taken that with us the last few times we have been. It even has all of our favourites in it now so once it has figured out where it is once we get off the plane it doesn't give us any more trouble.

 

[disneyholic family]

We have a Garmin and have taken that with us the last few times we have been. It even has all of our favourites in it now so once it has figured out where it is once we get off the plane it doesn't give us any more trouble.

do you remember which model you have?

 

[wickesy]

Yes the maps on the TomTom (and most other brands) can be updated - in fact I updated mine last year before our road trip from Chicago to the Smoky Mountains. TomTom regularly have sales where you can buy the new maps for £30 or so.

A GPS is a God-send if you don't have anybody to read maps for you (and even if you do) but it's always best to have a rough idea of where you are going and don't blindly follow the GPS. For example on our road trip the TomTom was trying to take me up a small road that looked like it was going to turn into a dirt track so I just ignored it, stayed on the main road and it soon found me a different route that made more sense. Had I blindly turned where it wanted me to I probably would have ended up in one of these newspaper articles that talks about people getting stuck etc.

 

[disneyholic family]

Yes the maps on the TomTom (and most other brands) can be updated - in fact I updated mine last year before our road trip from Chicago to the Smoky Mountains. TomTom regularly have sales where you can buy the new maps for £30 or so.

A GPS is a God-send if you don't have anybody to read maps for you (and even if you do) but it's always best to have a rough idea of where you are going and don't blindly follow the GPS. For example on our road trip the TomTom was trying to take me up a small road that looked like it was going to turn into a dirt track so I just ignored it, stayed on the main road and it soon found me a different route that made more sense. Had I blindly turned where it wanted me to I probably would have ended up in one of these newspaper articles that talks about people getting stuck etc.

i just noticed your countdown - have a great time on your cruise!!!!

 

[wickesy]

i just noticed your countdown - have a great time on your cruise!!!!

Thanks!! Can't believe it is so close now.

 

[wayneg]

Thanks!! Can't believe it is so close now.

Didn't know you were going on a Disney cruise David. Hope you are going to post pics. Have a fantastic time.

 

[wickesy]

Didn't know you were going on a Disney cruise David. Hope you are going to post pics. Have a fantastic time.

Thanks Wayne. People seem to like my trip reports so I'll be doing one for this trip and will definitely be taking lots of pictures.

 

[Cyrano]

I have a TomTom 730 with purchased maps for USA.
For our first trip last year it was a god-send. I had loaded lots of points of interest (POI) so restaurants, parks etc were easily found

 

[disneyholic family]

i'm thinking of buying the garmin nuvi 1350...
i can order it from amazon.com and have it delivered straight to the hotel so that it's waiting for me....
it costs $150 and the shipping is free, so that seems ok...
and i'll be able to use it in orlando, detroit and washington DC (where i have another conference 2 weeks after the one in orlando)...

and it has text to voice, which is good for me i think...

i hate making decisions...

 

[Cyrano]

i'm thinking of buying the garmin nuvi 1350...
i can order it from amazon.com and have it delivered straight to the hotel so that it's waiting for me....
it costs $150 and the shipping is free, so that seems ok...
and i'll be able to use it in orlando, detroit and washington DC (where i have another conference 2 weeks after the one in orlando)...

and it has text to voice, which is good for me i think...

i hate making decisions...

The Garmin gets a good review here

 

[disneyholic family]

The Garmin gets a good review here

sounds good! thanks for the link!