I75 to Orlando Question

[abw]

Please excuse what may be an odd question.

Suppose you're arriving very late (midnight) into Orlando on a trip down I75. You don't want to pay for that night at a Disney resort.

Are there good (cheap, clean) places nearby or north of Orlando where one could stay just for a night, and then drive into WDW early the next morning? I figure it would be easy to pack one go/overnight bag and leave the rest in the car for when you check in at your Disney resort.

Thanks!

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

What price range do you consider cheap? In other words, what range are you looking to pay for this pre-resort night?

What about sleeping in your own car? You're allowed to sleep in your car at the Okahumka Service Plaza and Turkey Lake Service Plaza along Florida's Turnpike. The first is just a few miles after you enter the Turnpike off I-75 at Wildwood while the latter is just a few miles before the I-4 exit in Orlando.

BobK/Orlando

 

[DC7800]

"Cheap' is, indeed, a relative term. If you are staying at a Disney deluxe resort for $400, then one of Disney's oiwn value resorts would make a fine (and cheap) option for that first night. At the opposite end, there are numerous off-property motel chains in the Orlando, Kissimmee, or Lake Buena Vista areas in the $30-$40 a night range, but something with higher standards (ie., effectively certain to be clean) like a Fairfield or Hamptomn Inn is also going to approach the price of a Disney value resort (though there are many to choose from).

You might consider something in Ocala, about 90 minutes to the north and with most of the major lodging chains represented (Super8 to Hilton, and everything in between), or else something along International Drive or in Lake Buena Vista right outside of Disney (again, most all major chains available). There is a really nice Fairfield Inn on International Drive directly behind Sea World which just opened this past July, and we stayed there a few days later, and a Hampton Inn on Palm Parkway, a mile or so from Disney property (near Hotel Plaza). I can recommend either of these.

Among less espensive properties, I'd be leery of many such motels (Days Inn...), but they are available. I do know there is a Motel6 on (or just off) International Drive, but I'm not personally familiar with it.

 

[abw]

Thanks for the suggestions. I probably wasn't clear, but I'm really thinking in terms of something between Ocala and WDW. I found a couple of places in Clermont that would mean arriving late, sleeping, and then having a very short drive into WDW. The main attraction would be having a cheap (e.g., Holiday Inn Express) that would be easy to book, to register at, and then to get to the room late at night. One of the problems with the values at WDW is the "registration/parking/moving everything into the room late at night" problem. Thanks!

 

[DC7800]

There is also a Sleep Inn just south of Wildwood (1224 S. Main) which is located on the Florida Turnpike, literally right at the exit (I'm thinking its the first turnike exit, even before the toll plaza, but I may be mistaken). This may or may not be more convenient for you than Clermont (it may be closer to the Turnpike than the Clermont properties, but slightly farther from WDW).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would recommend staying somehwere in Ocala and there is a good number of hotels to choose from off their various exits.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Yeah, Ocala is about 60-minutes to Orlando. Very easy the next morning.

But Clermont is a good choice too; the Holiday Inn Express is on US27 just south of the SR50 junction. There is also a new Hampton Inn on SR50 about 3 miles east of the Turnpike junction.

BobK/Orlando

 

[WDWisTheBest]

There is also a Sleep Inn just south of Wildwood (1224 S. Main) which is located on the Florida Turnpike, literally right at the exit (I'm thinking its the first turnike exit, even before the toll plaza, but I may be mistaken). This may or may not be more convenient for you than Clermont (it may be closer to the Turnpike than the Clermont properties, but slightly farther from WDW).

This is a very good suggestion. Others would be in the Ocala area both north and south along I-75. Around midnight when you are tired from a long day of driving, it would not be a good idea to have to drive around looking for a motel in the I Drive area, unless you have GPS and a reservation.