International Drive - On foot- Is it possible?

[Disneyparisfan]

We stayed wt WDW last 2 visits but costs are limiting us this now. We were hoping to stay on International Drive next summer, probably July. The problem I have is we don't drive.

I had been looking at the Comfort Inn Universal Studios Area, but I'm not sure if it is walking distance of the parks and I read a few bad reviews of the hotel.

Can anyone please let me know about the Comfort inn or recommend a hotel that is reasonably priced, with complimentary transport to WDW and within walking distance of Universal Studios and resteraunts on I-Drive. (around 2 km)

Not a lot to ask I know! Sorry!

Thanks in anticipation of your help.
Grant.

 

[kilee]

Honestly, I'd probably stay closer to WDW if I were not going to have transportation. The hotel shuttles are notorious for not running very good hours. Like they may not start until 1-3 hrs after the parks open, and then end 2-4 hours before the parks close. It will really cut into your park time.

If you picked a hotel in DTD area, you'd at least be able to walk to DTD and use the internal Disney buses worse case scenario.

 

[terri01p]

Yea, I read the reviews on Comfort Inn and they weren't very good, I have been looking at staying at Comfort Inn Suites, I can get a good price on priceline but I'm afraid to book because I don't want to stay in a dump and I can't seem to get a true biase opinion on it. My sister stayed at the Hyatt Place and tryed to walk to Univeral, and even though it was right there, she said it still was a ruff walk, they ended up renting a cab because the hotel transportation sucked, she said it cost them 4.00 from their hotel to Universal Studios..they never went to WDW...most of the hotels in that area offer transportation to WDW, so good luck.If I weren't taking my doggie I would probably stay at Hyatt Place, my sister said it was beautiful for the price.

 

[Detailor]

The Comfort Inn Universal Studios Area is taking its name VERY liberally. While it is in the general area of US/Islands of Adventure it isn't at a walkable distance to those parks. The hotel is on International Drive near the intersection with West Sand Lake Road. US/IOA is northwest of that location, up I-Drive and onto Universal Blvd that takes you over Interstate 4 toward the theme parks. I don't think that's safely walkable any time of the year, let alone in the high heat and humidity that comes with July.
Frankly, other than the relatively expensive hotels on Universal property, I couldn't suggest an alternative that I would consider a safe, comfortable walk to these parks. And, of course, you're no where near any of the Disney properties when you stay on I-Drive.

Dick Taylor

 

[Sherrynny]

There's always the Trolley to get around International Drive, and you can get Lynx from Sea World to the Ticket and Transportation Center. You can by Multi day passes on the Trolley. Just a suggestion

Sherry-n-NY

 

[DLBDS]

I've found this website to be VERY helpful in finding things along I-Dr. It's an interactive map with loads of hotels/attractions etc. listed on it. You can switch over to other roads as well.

http://www.orlando-maps.info/top_down_maps/idrive_top_down.htm

 

[Lisa BC]

If you don't drive, then getting to WDW from the I-drive area isn't all that pleasant. The shuttles don't run all day long, 1-2 runs in the morning, 1 at mid-day and 1-2 in the evening and they often don't run on time. So don't make ADR's real close to your arrival time, allow an hour or so, or plan on taking a cab back and forth. Please double check with the hotel if the WDW transportation is "complimentary". Some hotels do charge for the shuttle service. You can also book service directly through Mears transportation. It is about $14/per person r/t from I-drive to WDW. I don't know if the paid service is more reliable. you'll have to check that out on the transportation board.

I have heard that the I-trolley makes it pretty easy to get around along I drive, although it isn't speedy. It is also pretty inexpensive. So for that reason I-drive would be nice without a car.

I think you might be better off looking at one of the properties in the DTD area. Univeral and WDW aren't all that close together... maybe 20 minutes by car without traffic.

Also do keep in mind that many of the hotels near Universal and WDW do not offer complimentary airport shuttles. So you should also budget for that when comparing costs. If you stay onsite at WDW, the transportation from the airport is free via ME.

Good luck!

lisa

 

[Jason71]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but while the trolley is a cheap way of getting to all the chain restaurants and gift shops along I-Drive, it doesn't stop all that close to Universal. I would agree with Dtailor above, other than the on-site Lowes hotels, there's nothing that's within a reasonable walking distance of the Universal parks, especially in July.

 

[the_princess]

I stayed at Comfort inn universal area for 17 days and liked it very much. It's not a fancy hotel but our room was nice and clean (I read a lot of bad stuff as well but we had a good room) You can walk to I-drive in 3 min and to universal in 30 min (it's easier to take the bus) The hotel offer transport to WDW but it takes a long time to get there and the bus only leaves 3 times in the morning and goes back 3 times at night ( last one is at 10 which was quite annoying) You can take the I-ride outside the hotel to seaworld (very easy)If you are going to spend a lot of time at WDW I would concider a hotel closer to the parks. But if you are doing Seaworld/wdw/universal this hotel is good for a cheap vacation. Make sure to call them and ask for a room on the top floor, they are a lot nicer (so I heard)

 

[poptoone]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but while the trolley is a cheap way of getting to all the chain restaurants and gift shops along I-Drive, it doesn't stop all that close to Universal. I would agree with Dtailor above, other than the on-site Lowes hotels, there's nothing that's within a reasonable walking distance of the Universal parks, especially in July.

The closest it gets to Universal are the outlet malls at the north end of I-Drive. It is about a 20-30 minute walk on busy streets to Universal from there. Not pleasant (trust me from the one and only time I walked it)!!

 

[AJKMOM]

I was just reading somewhere that the International Drive area of Orlando is becoming a not-so-safe area. Be careful if you choose to stay there.

 

[the_princess]

I was just reading somewhere that the International Drive area of Orlando is becoming a not-so-safe area. Be careful if you choose to stay there.

In what way, not so safe??? We didn't feel unsafe at all...

 

[muffyn]

We stayed wt WDW last 2 visits but costs are limiting us this now. We were hoping to stay on International Drive next summer, probably July. The problem I have is we don't drive.

I had been looking at the Comfort Inn Universal Studios Area, but I'm not sure if it is walking distance of the parks and I read a few bad reviews of the hotel.

Can anyone please let me know about the Comfort inn or recommend a hotel that is reasonably priced, with complimentary transport to WDW and within walking distance of Universal Studios and resteraunts on I-Drive. (around 2 km)

Not a lot to ask I know! Sorry!

Thanks in anticipation of your help.
Grant.

some decision making depends on how many days you are going to wdw & how many to USF.
IF you had to worry about a cab ride to & from wdw I'd certainly figure up the cost of that, add it to the price of the hotel you want to stay at & compare to the value hotels at wdw, then take their transportation, for convenience & time saved that would be 'my' choice.
I have not seen any hotels near USF that would be easy to walk,, really, just from the parking garage its almost 20 minutes. I would look into seriously trying to pinch pennies elsewhere on your trip, or have a garage sale, or something beforehand.
good luck,,,,,,,

 

[Darcy03231]

We stayed at the Sheraton Studio City which was half a mile from US/IOA. That's half a mile from the main gate. You'd still have to walk all the way into the parks. I think you're going to have a hard time finding a hotel close to US/IOA that also offers transportation to WDW. You might want to consider a split stay. As someone else pointed out US and WDW are not really close to each other. We just got back and I would say, depending on traffic, they're 20-30 minutes apart.

 

[Disneyparisfan]

Hi there!

Thank you for all your help everybody! All the info was very useful and helped us decide what to do. We have opted to go for a Value WDW hotel instead (all stars) and use Mears to get up to Universal for a few days.

I might not see as much of I-Drive as if I was staying there but Disney is the priority anyway. And as for the cost - well thats what overtime is for isn't it?

We've just got to plan what to do now - I can't wait

Thanks again everybody
Grant