International Drive?

[minnie29uk]

Hi all,
what is there to do on International drive with two toddlers please?
Thanks,
Lynn

 

[Jason71]

There's a Chuck E. Cheese. Most of I-Drive is geared a little older than toddlers, tho (for example Wonder Works).

 

[isla bonita]

Fao Swartz, there is a mcDonalds that has a play center inside not sure exactly where but close to I drive.

 

[minnie29uk]

There's a Chuck E. Cheese. Most of I-Drive is geared a little older than toddlers, tho (for example Wonder Works).

Excuse my ignorance - what is Chuck E. Cheese ?
Thanks,
Lynn

 

[PeaPicker5]

Its a Pizza Restaurant that is geared towards children with arcade games and so on

 

[Grumpy23]

Minnie, I've been trying to post a link to I drive maps that show all of the establishments, but DisBoard is saying I am too new here and have to make a minimum number of posts before I can post a url. I'm sorry, I tried to help you but it won't let me post the link, and its a good one too!

 

[Grumpy23]

I just emailed it to you, hopefully you will get the Link. Good Luck.

 

[janine]

I am from the Uk and have just come back from a 3 week trip.
first week was spent near international drive (we stayed at Clarion Universal).
To be honest there isn't very much on international drive except restaurants and timeshare ticket booths. I was very disappointed. There is wet n wild, and mcdonalds, and a small fairground type of place (geared more for older kids though).
Though it is not a bad base for the parks.
Someone else may come along with other places maybe.

 

[ohiomom28]

www.chuckecheese.com
Good place for kids.
As far as FAO Schwartz, I believe its been closed for awhile.

 

[minnie29uk]

I am from the Uk and have just come back from a 3 week trip.
first week was spent near international drive (we stayed at Clarion Universal).
To be honest there isn't very much on international drive except restaurants and timeshare ticket booths. I was very disappointed. There is wet n wild, and mcdonalds, and a small fairground type of place (geared more for older kids though).
Though it is not a bad base for the parks.
Someone else may come along with other places maybe.

Thanks,I think Ive decided against this.

Are you now married!!!!?

Lynn

 

[janine]

I am married yes.
We were married at Disney's yacht club on 1st March.
It was fantastic!!

Like I say I found it ok for being near to Universal, Sea World etc but we found that most of it was 'tacky' shops and timeshare ticket booths, not much for small children.

 

[Jason71]

Fao Swartz, there is a mcDonalds that has a play center inside not sure exactly where but close to I drive.

Just to confirm, Fao Schwartz closed years ago; it is now a soon-to-open upscale steakhouse. It was in Pointe Orlando, not much left there for any kids, let alone toddlers. They are re-gearing for the conventioneer market.

The McDonalds with the world's largest playland is at the corner of Sand Lake and I-Drive. The two or three times I've been there it has always been filthy with lousy service, I make it a point to go to one of the others.

 

[MarkC]

Hi all,
what is there to do on International drive with two toddlers please?
Thanks,
Lynn

I don't know what it is.. because it seems I-Drive always attracts all the British Tourists However, you want to avoid it at all costs. It's dirty, tacky, unsafe at night, and definitely not worth taking time out of your vacation to visit. I will say that the I Drive area by the convention center is nice, but anywhere past that, and the quality is debatable.

 

[dylansmom1]

Not all of International Drive is bad. Just parts of it are run down and not what I would call real Kid-Friendly. The closer you get to Seaworld, the better off you'll be in terms of cleanliness and safety.

Here's a site with maps with different hotels and restaurants.

http://www.orlando-maps.info/orlando_maps.htm

 

[ohiomom28]

I wouldn't say I-drive is unsafe. Parts of it can be tacky, but it's a tourist town. What do you expect? I have stayed at the north end and also by the convention center. Although I would rather be on the south end, the north isn't that bad. IMO

 

[Jason71]

Sand Lake Road is basically the dividing line. I-Drive south of Sand Lake is quite nice, where a lot of upscale hotels have popped up around the Convention Center. Further down past Sea World (where I live), it is less developed and still quite pleasant.

North of Sand Lake is where you find all the tacky gift shops, run-down hotels and rip-off "amusement parks" (I mean that in the loosest sense of the term, they are basically permanent carnivals). Other than Sweet Tomatoes and the area surrounding Festival Bay, there is nothing worth seeing up that way, IMO. While it's not the worst neighborhood in America, it is dicey after dark, especially compared to the level of security on Disney property. If you find yourself up there, lock your doors, be aware of your surroundings, and use common sense.

Neither half offers a whole lot for toddlers, getting back to the OP's question.

 

[alisonbestford]

Having visited I Drive, several times, with DD (now 7) I'd think you'd struggle staying sane with 2 toddlers

As most people have said, the 'bottom' end of I Drive is nicer than the 'top' but , I'd say, there would be little for the kids to do.

Yes, it can be tacky but is probably still worth a visit - just to say you'd been. I just wouldn't plan on spending a day there