Homebuilders Convention 2/7-2/10

[Taratink]

I will be staying on International Drive at the Vistana Villages. I have heard not to drive on this road during this homebuilders convention. How do we get around this traffic?
TIA,
Tara

 

[Jason71]

I-Drive down that far should not be horrible (south of Sea World is generally OK).

To get to Disney, continue south on I-Drive to World Drive, then turn right.

In terms of off-site restaurants, I would stick to 535, avoid anything near the Convention Center. (To get to 535, simply turn right on Apopka Vineland Road, athe Publix and Walgreens, and continue to the stop light). But a lot of places on I-Drive has a counterpart on 535 (Bahama Breeze, Fridays, Golden Corral), so it should not be much of a problem.

 

[Taratink]

Great. I wrote all of that down. Is there a Chilis or sweet tomatoes in that area?
Thanks,
Tara

 

[bearzabout]

I have attended the show in the past. The show hours are 9:30 - 5 Wed thru Fri and 9-3 on Sat. Upwards of 110,000 people will be at the show so traffic and the beginning and end of the day around the convention center can be horrific. It can take 1/2 hr to get from the convention center to Sheraton World less than .5 mile away at the end of the day.

I also recommend that you always turn south on International Drive instead of heading north to pick up the expressways. The traffic should not be all that bad to the south.

The I-drive hotels and restaurants get hammered but few people travel to Disney. Only about 4 Disney hotels are official convention hotels. It is unlikely that people will venture into the parks since the trade show is so tiring, but the resort restaurants may be busier than normal.

To get to Sweet Tomatoes, we plan on going all the way to Turkey Lake Rd and running that north. Make sure not to try driving on International Drive in front of the convention center. It can be gridlock.