How hard is it driving in Orlando?

[jen_uk]

For the first time I am thinking about hiring a car on this years holiday but I'm worried about driving over there. Is is hard i.e. scary?! DH can't read maps so the driving and navigating would all be down to me I have visions of me taking a wrong turn and ending up in New York or something!

 

[Jakey Rowling]

For the first time I am thinking about hiring a car on this years holiday but I'm worried about driving over there. Is is hard i.e. scary?! DH can't read maps so the driving and navigating would all be down to me I have visions of me taking a wrong turn and ending up in New York or something!

Can I be the first of many to tell you it's simple and easy.

With a common sense bit of planning, maybe sat nav if you feel necessary it's no problem.

If you drive on motorways here, you'll find it much better than at home.

Wrong turning, simply double back to where you were.

 

[wayneg]

I hate driving in UK, I do about 3,500 miles a year, mostly from 3-6am to avoid traffic. I get so mad with other drivers, its not good for me.
I had driven once in Tenerife before Florida. I hated there more than UK. Had can broken into, nightmare.
Now Florida, I love driving there, never stress, totally relaxed, good signs, mostly courteous drivers. Their cars are so much nicer, Auto is fantastic.
Its the easiest place to drive, large roads, big parking spaces etc.

If you are really concerned take a satnav with you, either borrow one or buy, I just got a HP PDA with latest TomTom maps and Bluetooth GPS cost me about £100 all in off ebay brand new.

 

[castanea1985]

For the first time I am thinking about hiring a car on this years holiday but I'm worried about driving over there. Is is hard i.e. scary?! DH can't read maps so the driving and navigating would all be down to me I have visions of me taking a wrong turn and ending up in New York or something!

Jen,

just 'go for it'!!
Its easy.... says me... who once drove through Atlanta GA, in 10 lanes of traffic just so DH could film the sign to Augusta!!! Ha!!
You'll be fine!

Tracy xx

 

[Dimplenose]

DH found driving easy. I, on the other hand, found navigating quite stressful. The difficulty was that there was very little warning that you were at an exit from the motorway - we overshot a few times even on our 3rd trip. We've not used satnav so that might ease the problem.

I was also the "lookout" for speed restriction signs that seemed to change up and down quite frequently.

That said I wouldn't want to be without a car even staying at a Disney Hotel. It gives you so much freedom.

Libby

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

TIP: When a sign says straight ahead, this nearly always seems to mean straight ahead for 5 more seconds then prepare to move over right as you will need the next right turn.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

To a degree I have a different viewpoint.

Have rented a car many many times and would never consider NOT having a car, the positives are endless and I am fortunate to have driven to many parts of Florida as far as the Keys, Miami and Naples.

I think the cars are easy to drive and the roads wider which in many ways makes driving much easier than in the UK. However, I do feel driving standards and the sheer volume of traffic have made the experience slightly less enjoyable as the years have passed.
It is definitely easier than driving back home, but not quite the piece of cake it used to be.

I am fortunate because Julie is an excellent navigator, to be honest (and I am not helping here am I?) I find this aspect harder than the actual driving, as far as I am concerned navigating is more difficult...Julie thinks the other way round (but she is wrong).

Overall I think a car is essential , even if you are staying on site you may not always need it but it's nice to have the option.
I could never use Public Transport - once you have rented a car and conquered those initial fears you will be fine, and the majority could never do without one again.

 

[jen_uk]

Well more positives than negatives, I think Sat Nav could definitely be the way forward! It has never really bothered us not having a car but it would be nice to spread our wings a bit, I want to see what the big deal is with Walmart!!

 

[wayneg]

Well more positives than negatives, I think Sat Nav could definitely be the way forward! It has never really bothered us not having a car but it would be nice to spread our wings a bit, I want to see what the big deal is with Walmart!!

Some people even after having a car say they prefer without but majority after having a car won't go without one again. Hope you enjoy driving there as much as me.

Walmart is a reason not to have a car We don't like shopping, many love Walmart, its not for us. They have some cheap stuff but whatever I have looked at they are cheaper in UK, camera memory cards for example, half the price in UK to Walmart.

 

[CustardTart]

I've been to Orlando many times but DH always did the driving. Last October when I went with DD, I hired a car and drove for the first time. I was extremely nervous but it was so easy, I soon got used to it and started to enjoy myself. We went wrong a few times but it was straightforward to correct ourselves as everyone seems to drive more slowly than here. Prior to going out, I took a little time to study the map so I was familiar with the general idea of where our destination was - that worked absolutely fine with DD navigating...

 

[Pootle]

I think the cars are easy to drive and the roads wider which in many ways makes driving much easier than in the UK. However, I do feel driving standards and the sheer volume of traffic have made the experience slightly less enjoyable as the years have passed.
It is definitely easier than driving back home, but not quite the piece of cake it used to be.

I totally agree with this Johnny. I'm happy to drive in Florida, but when DH is with me, I leave it to him for the reasons above.

Would not be without a car there for anything however.

 

[luke]

Walmart is a reason not to have a car We don't like shopping, many love Walmart, its not for us. .

It's just a massive Asda

Gonna add my agreement to how easy it is tho. I love driving anyway, and have driven a left hand drive car when i lived in Málaga, and that took about a day to get used to, but that was due to changing gears with "the wrong hand" - In Orlando, as you'll get an auto, it takes about half an hour, maybe the drive from the Airport to hotel to get used to it, then maybe a day to master it, and it becomes easy. Just remember if the traffic is clear, you can turn right at a red light

 

[JohnnySharp2]

It's just a massive Asda

Hmm Not sure about that, Asda is more = Publix I think.

I know we are kind of drifting away from the subject but I agree I have never seen the appeal of Walmart, especially for food.

A drive to the coast, shopping trips and many other things are where the car comes handy.

 

[igk]

To a degree I have a different viewpoint.

Have rented a car many many times and would never consider NOT having a car, the positives are endless and I am fortunate to have driven to many parts of Florida as far as the Keys, Miami and Naples.

I think the cars are easy to drive and the roads wider which in many ways makes driving much easier than in the UK. However, I do feel driving standards and the sheer volume of traffic have made the experience slightly less enjoyable as the years have passed.
It is definitely easier than driving back home, but not quite the piece of cake it used to be.

I am fortunate because Julie is an excellent navigator, to be honest (and I am not helping here am I?) I find this aspect harder than the actual driving, as far as I am concerned navigating is more difficult...Julie thinks the other way round (but she is wrong).

Overall I think a car is essential , even if you are staying on site you may not always need it but it's nice to have the option.
I could never use Public Transport - once you have rented a car and conquered those initial fears you will be fine, and the majority could never do without one again.

I agree - when it's busy it can get stressful, especially on the freeways as traffic overtakes on both sides and there are exits on both sides, plus you need to change lane quite frequently as often the exit lane filters off causing you to need to pull out.

That said, compared to many cities in the US (including Miami) the area around WDW is pretty good, and the I4 isn't too bad - there aren't loads of other interstates intersecting all the time, though it can get busy.

On balance though the advantages of having a car far outweigh the disadvantages.

 

[Netty]

For the first time I am thinking about hiring a car on this years holiday but I'm worried about driving over there. Is is hard i.e. scary?! DH can't read maps so the driving and navigating would all be down to me I have visions of me taking a wrong turn and ending up in New York or something!

Jen it is so very easy driving in florida!! I was very worried like you, but I had a go and we had a 7 seater minivan at the time and after the first attempt, I then drove virtually everywhere ! The best experience is going under the wdw sign for the parks on world drive....
don't worry it is great!!!

 

[kevin_cambs_uk]

I find it very easy and very I really enjoy it. The thing I always keep in my mind is to concentrate when driving, and make sure you know whioch exit you want off the Interstate, as unlike most of our Motorway junctions you cannot simply go up the exit slipway, get to the top and go around the roundabout, as Americans don't have round abouts.

Thats the trickiest bit, but driving to WDW is a doddle because there are more signs for WDW than I have had fish and chips !

Also make sure you have change in the car for toll roads, yo never know when you might get on one and some machines are un manned and need change.

Apart from that, I would say its relatively easy, they are easy going motorists, who seem in no hurry to get anywhere.

 

[Grumpy John]

I really prefer driving in the US than I do in the UK. Still get the idiots who think they are Damon Hill but they are few and far between whereas in the UK there are so many poor drivers now.

I even find it relaxing behind the wheel in Florida. We often drive over to the West coast for the day, driving through little towns etc. Just gets you away from the parks

Also will drive up to St. Augustine. Loving relaxing drive and coming back along the Atlantic coast road is fantastic.

We go in 5 weeks and I cannot wait. I get really depressed on our return when we hit the M23 out of Gatwick!!!

 

[FloridaSam]

Hi Jen

I was really worried about driving in Orlando but found it so much easier than in the UK. Just make sure you familiarise yourself with the vehicle and make sure you have change for the tolls and you'll be well away!

Sam x

 

[CarolynU]

We have been to WDW so many times I couldn't actually count, but I was never the driver until last year. Then I took two vacations and drove each time. I was scared stiff, but after only a short time I became quite relaxed, and enjoyed it. A tip from DS who worked at WDW if you ever get lost on Disney Property just follow the signs for the MK, because you can get to everywhere else from that road.

 

[jen_uk]

tip from DS who worked at WDW if you ever get lost on Disney Property just follow the signs for the MK, because you can get to everywhere else from that road.

Thanks for the tip