help for first time non-driver

[Donna T]

Grateful for any help please. I'm coming to Orlando next summer for the first time ever and can't wait. Trouble is we are non drivers and I have been told that I must stay in International Drive or it will be really difficult for me to get around. Is that right?

Thanks to anyone who replies.

Donna

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi Donna, Welcome to the Dis , I would stay on site if you can .. Transportation for off site hotels can be rather tricky to say the least.. Michelle

 

[Lewisc]

As a non-driver you should stay either in a Disney resort or in one of the DTD hotels.

If you're also going to visit Universal you might stay a few days in one of the 3 Universal hotels.

Offsite shuttles (I-Drive) are scheduled and are very limited.

 

[spiceycat]

where are you going to spend most of your time - WDW - then definitely stay at WDW - US/IOA - Universal has one site hotels - if you want to do the shopping.

here are some bus schedules
http://www.iridetrolley.com/index.html

here is a bigger ones that goes to other places besides International Drive
http://www.golynx.com/fares/body_linklist.asp

lynx goes to Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista and Orlando. So it can be pretty confusing. I would also check on the transportation board on this site - for hints to get around with a car.

however if you are only going to do WDW - then stay on site - the All Star is fairly reasonable - be on the look out for codes. Or you can rent points from a DVC member then stay at OKW - in Sept and Jan for around $80 a night for a studio - just make sure that when you arrive you get the towncar service to make a grocery stop - this has to be order in advance.

 

[Donna T]

thanks for all your replies. But sorry, spiceycat, I don't have a clue what you are talking about - shows how new I am to all this. What are codes for All Stars and also what do you mean about renting from a DVC owner (what is that??). See, I have a lot to learn so just as well I am starting early. Another thing, if I stay on site at WDW how can I get to Universal?

Is I Drive a no-no then?

Thanks again

Donna

 

[barrett7890]

Hi there,
we stayed on International drive on our first trip and then onsite for our honeymoon. We are going again next year and have chosen International Drive again.
Obviously there are benefits to staying on site.... WDW transport. However, we found no probs with using the scheduled shuttles from the hotels and the Trolley that runs up and down International Drive. I would, however, try and get a hotel that has shuttles to WDW.
We found that staying on International Drive gave you more options when it came to eating and smaller attractions. If you are staying onsite it's not very convenient to get to I-Drive (especially if it's just for dinner!). Obviously on your days your at WDW you can tour the various resorts and try the different restaurants etc.
Hope this helps.

 

[Lisa P.]

I don't know if this helps, but there are a few hotels and timeshare resorts which offer free (limited) shuttle services to the parks. The problem is that usually, they only offer it to either the Disney parks or the Universal/Sea World parks. Perhaps someone with a Florida AAA book (American Automobile Association - a membership group) could look to see which Orlando area hotels advertise free shuttles to ALL the parks.

There's another thread that may be worth your time to read, Do any time share resort have FREE shuttles to parks? The Fairfield resort mentioned is located in Kissimmee, just off Rte. 192, east of Disney. The rooms all offer at least a mini-kitchen and it's within a rather long walking distance of a Cracker Barrel restaurant and a couple others. This would be much less convenient to shopping, restaurants and mini-golf than a hotel located directly on I-Drive.

The "codes" (discounts for Disney hotels) mentioned above may be found online at Mousesavers.com Depending on when you are planning to visit, these may be very useful... or not at all.

The I-Drive area (especially near the Convention Center and south) is a good home base area if you plan to visit a variety of attractions. The area of I-Drive near Wet-N-Wild is less pleasant, older, more congested, with some cheaper, more rundown hotels. Do some online searching and find a place near or below the Convention Center and you'd do fine!

The idea of staying at a Disney hotel for part of your stay and at a Universal hotel for the rest is a good one... IF you don't mind paying theme park & hotel prices for all your meals. It's certainly more convenient than dealing with offsite without a car. But if that's beyond your budget (or by staying offsite you can afford a longer trip!), then I think that you are wise to look at other alternatives. HTH.

 

[julieannbabe]

hello!

I went for the first time to Orlando this March. I too, am a non-driver (or too nervous to drive i should say!)

I stayed on International Drive as a) i couldn't afford the all star resorts at Walt Disney World and b) i want to go to universal and see some of the attractions on International Drive.

I found it fine - we used the I.Trolley to go up and down International Drive.

We stayed at the Quality Inn International on I.Drive and it was $13 dollar for a round trip to Walt Disney World. As long as we made sure we were in the Magic KIngdom car park, 15 mins before the bus was due there, it was fine.

Also most hotels on I.Drive provide FREE Shuttles to Universal Studios and Seaworld.

I found all this v.good.

Don't worry you will soon work out all of the lingon on here - but remember: PLAN ands do as much reading as you can on what you want to do. 99% people on here will tell you that!

These boards are the best for planning.

Your holiday will come round very quick!

 

[Donna T]

really grateful to everyone taking the time out to reply to me. All really helpful. There is so much to think about it's just as well I'm not going for a while!

Thanks again.

Donna

 

[ilenemak]

Radisson Resort Parkway has free shuttle buses to both MK/Epcot and Universal/Sea World.

 

[Highland Lass]

I stayed on I Drive last time I went to WDW and it was no problem without a car and that was before the I Drive trolley was there.

Our hotel gave us a local bus number which we used for WDW.

We went up to Belz Mall by foot (no-one there walks and there are no pavements that far up so go on the trolley) and got a taxi back with all our parcels.

I loved being off-site. Even being a Disney fan, I don't think I'd stay on-site.

I enjoyed strolling along I Drive at night , shopping and having dinner.

So don't worry if you do decide to stay on I Drive . It was no problem then and it'll be easier now with the Trolley being available.