Having a car during your program

[iluveeyore]

Does anyone take a car with them?? I just wondered if I had a vehicle for only a couple of months, is it necessary to get a Florida registration and a Florida drivers' license??? Anyone have experience with a vehicle from their home state/province? Thanks!

 

[Berlioz70]

No you are not required to get a new license or registration - most insurances will treat as a "college" student so that's how you can remain insured in a different state.

When I switched my permanent address to Florida... that's when I needed a new license and plates, that was due to my insurance needs. I've seen some that have been down here for years still with their home state plates.

 

[kelly_1220]

OK, just curious but I have heard you need to have insurance in your name... Is that correct?

I am on my dad's plan as a rider (? I have no clue what that officially means) but is that allright or should I contact Disney and ask... I intend on having my car so I need to get this all figured out.. Thanks!

 

[Berlioz70]

You just have to be covered on someone's insurance... the policy itself does not have to be in your name. But make sure you name is listed somewhere as being covered.

 

[MKandy]

For my college program I had my car and I would suggest to anyone: If you can bring your car, BRING IT!!! It made things sooo much easier. You do not need to switch your registration or license to Fl. Unless of course, you move down to Florida.

PLEASE NOTE: Your name must appear somewhere on the insurance information that you hand in. I had a problem with this. I am on my parents insurance policy but my name was not on the paperwork. I had to have the insurance company fax new paperwork to me the first week of the program (they gave me a temporary parking pass). I can't stress this enough. Take care of this issue before you get to Florida.

Have a magical day.

 

[twinsfreak]

yeah i totally agree....having a car is so helpful down here. And same here, i had some issues w/ my paperwork and got a temporary parking pass and had to get stuff faxed over here. But yeah, I would recommend bringing one if you can

 

[BethAnne Sthrn Belle]

all 5 of my roommates brought cars and we are loving it!

At least 2 of them had troubles with the insurence being in their parents names so they weren't able to get their decals until the second day after all the info was faxed over from the insurence.

 

[iluveeyore]

Thanks all - good to know, and insurance won't be a problem as I am the parent - doing the one year cultural representative program (I hope). Waiting for my in-person interview, then hoping to start in February or March of 2010. I get my fix soon though since we're in WDW for two weeks starting Aug. 22nd on vacay! Good luck to those starting soon!

 

[bopnopper9]

I heard that driving is crazy down there and that accidents happen left and right. Is this true? Is it horrible to drive? Are there a lot of accidents?

If anyone could shed some light on this it'd be great. I'm taking a car down but from what I hear people drive like maniacs around there because many of them are tourists who don't know the area very well.

 

[KBaum]

Car situation...

When I was there for my CP, me and my best friend each didn't have a car and we did just fine. It wasn't that bad getting to and from work, and I enjoyed the time on the bus to read and relax and just sort of mentally prepare for my workday, read, or listen to my ipod. I liked it because I was always on time. As for grocery shopping and things, we didn't have a lot of trouble hitching a ride with a roommate who could drive, and getting to and from the parks sometimes it was easier because we could just catch a bus and go, instead of dealing with parking and things.

I did get a car for my professional internship and I moved out of housing (...except then I worked in housing, so I was in and out). The driving in Florida isn't bad at all. I am a nervous driver and I'm from Maine which is VERY chill, and I was worried about Florida traffice and I4 and things, and it worked out just fine. I did have my car for a few weeks on my CP, ran into the same trouble with the insurance policy (what a pain in the butt), and I liked having the car to get to and from work, once you get into a good pattern of when to leave, where to park, etc.

I would say that honestly, without a car is just fine. With a car is just fine. It depends on how easy it is for you to bring your own car. If you have it, great. If you don't, no big deal.

 

[jedihunny]

deleted

 

[PINKminnie11]

I would recommend bringing a car. It is just so much easier. You will have so much freedom and you can check out so many things that Orlando has to offer. Also, who enjoys going grocery shopping on a bus? Especially when it's packed! And trips to the mall and target are a whole lot easier.

BUT BE CAREFUL ON DISNEY PROPERTY... go speed limit!!! I know many people (including myself) who have received speeding tickets. (I still blame it on the fact that my car just looks faster than other cars )

 

[NicoleRose]

BUT BE CAREFUL ON DISNEY PROPERTY... go speed limit!!! I know many people (including myself) who have received speeding tickets. (I still blame it on the fact that my car just looks faster than other cars )

lol is wdw like disney land with the 14 mph speed limit? because 15 is obviously WAYYY too fast

 

[Toffy]

lol is wdw like disney land with the 14 mph speed limit? because 15 is obviously WAYYY too fast

Bwahahahahaha!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh the 14 MPH speed limit is the butt of all my family's traffic related jokes Gotta love being an AP

 

[Tinkerbell_Girl]

I brought my car, I spent so much on gas though, but I don't regret it. For me, it was so much faster that taking the bus (I worked at PO), but if I would have worked at one of the parks I would have taken the bus.

 

[moviekid21]

I highly recommend taking your car. If you work at MK and close, which 90% of CP's at MK do, it is hell trying to get home at night on those buses. Plus like others have said, it gives you a freedom to get away from Disney every once in a while to check out Florida!

 

[Climber656]

I brought my car, I spent so much on gas though, but I don't regret it. For me, it was so much faster that taking the bus (I worked at PO), but if I would have worked at one of the parks I would have taken the bus.

I worked at PO too. What was your job?

 

[Pure_Imagination]

lol is wdw like disney land with the 14 mph speed limit? because 15 is obviously WAYYY too fast

For some reason I remember it being 14.5 mph! I remember us laughing about that so hard on our school trip there If I get to go I'll have to really remember to keep an eye on the speed limit

One thing I've been considering is that we're paying insurance on the car one way or another. I don't think you can just stop paying insurance for a semester. I figure it's better to have my car down in Florida then to have it sitting out in the driveway all semester.

 

[PINKminnie11]

lol is wdw like disney land with the 14 mph speed limit? because 15 is obviously WAYYY too fast

Hahah. Actually I meant driving on World Center Drive and such, since most people are SO excited to get to the parks (or CMs are running late for work), they will catch people towards the end of the month so they can meet quota. After I got pulled over and I was handing over my license, I made sure that the police officer saw my disney ID and he actually gave me a discount on me ticket. I guess it was disney magic