International Drive ??

[Grumpy's Wife]

I just received information on the International Drive Hotels in the mail today. I always stay on site except once and that was DTD. Can anyone tell me how far this is from Disney? Is it worth the drive if you are not planning other activities away from Disney? Any info would be appreciated.

 

[JLTraveling]

Hey GrumpysWife,

You're from Arabi? I lived the past three years in NOLA, and loved to go camping at St Bernard State Park.

As for I-Drive....well, I'm sure others will disagree passionately, but I HATE that area. Bumper to bumper traffic all hours of the day and night, tons of overpriced tourist trap restaurants and shops...is it far from WDW? No, not at all. Will you spend hours fighting traffic and having a most un-Disney time? Yep. Like I said, I'm sure others here will disagree, but I grew up in the area, and I-Drive was well-known as the area to avoid like the plague.

I'd go for a DTD hotel if you're not planning to stay in a WDW resort.

Just my opinion.

 

[isla bonita]

Me too.
I hate this area and will avoid it at all costs.

 

[disney 4me2]

Yes, but aren't there "quieter' areas of International Drive? Like near Seaworld? At least that is what I remember...

 

[Micki_Streeter]

We ALWAYS avoid International Drive except to go to the Disney discount stores at Belz Factory Outlet. Otherwise it is just to crazy, day or night!

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

Thanks everyone. It looks like what I received will go straight in the trash. You guys are great!!!!!!!

 

[Motherfletcher]

Makes no difference to me but some of my favorite hotels are on I-drive. In white water canoeing the term is "sneak route" as a way to avoid unwanted danger or in this case congestion. As a transportation engineer I have found ways to avoid the I-drive traffic and stay at my favorites like the Peabody, Crowne Plaza Universal and the newest to my list Sheraton Studio City.

 

[vfb2girls]

We too are looking to stay on I-Drive for our upcoming orlando vacation. We are planning on staying at the Homewood Suites. What can anyone tell me about this area? Is it located at the quiet end of I-Drive? We are not going to rent a car for this trip and do not plan on doing Disney, just Universal and Seaworld so I thought this would be a good hotel to stay in based on its location. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[spiceycat]

I-Drive is nice for both SW and US/IOA - they are both just off of it.

I like I-Drive in the part closer to WDW - where the Premium OUtlet Malls are - this area includes - Sheraton Vistana Village, HGVC - a little further up Marriott Grande Vista.

I don't like the area closer to DD Orlando - Convention Center or near US/IOA - traffic is bumper to bumper.

Have you looked at Kissimmee lately - they are trying very hard to compete with ID and have done wonders.

now the part down where OL is - is under construction for the new toll road.

but further down it has sidewalk and you can easily walk around this area.

now it is closer to WDW than SW or US/IOA.

but it has improved so much in the last couple of years. the hotels here are generally cheaper than ID.

Kissimmee has put alot of money into this area and I think it shows.

 

[Motherfletcher]

We too are looking to stay on I-Drive for our upcoming orlando vacation. We are planning on staying at the Homewood Suites. What can anyone tell me about this area? Is it located at the quiet end of I-Drive? We are not going to rent a car for this trip and do not plan on doing Disney, just Universal and Seaworld so I thought this would be a good hotel to stay in based on its location. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

There are a couple of Homewood Suites hotels in the I-drive area. I have stayed at the one they call HS International which is near Doubletree Castle. The back way there is to use Universal Blvd instead of I-drive.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I-Drive is nice for both SW and US/IOA - they are both just off of it.

I like I-Drive in the part closer to WDW...

I attended a week long conference in Tampa last week where the keynote speaker (Orlando resident) showed slides of I-drive north of Sandlake and slides to the south. He went on to explain why the part north of Sandlake is failing and the major hotels are bailing and why the section south of Sandlake works and is making big money. A lot has to do with traffic access management like left turn lanes but a big plus to the south is how pedestrian friendly the road is and how land planning played a major role.
The speaker was one of the ground floor planners in the revitalization of South Beach which has made millions since the 80's.

 

[emmalgin]

sometimes I get frustrated at traffic signals. If however you are obsessed with Disney and plan to do nothing else, stay on-site.

 

[rafikimom]

I Drive=nightmare!

 

[vfb2girls]

Is the reason most people who want to avoid I-drive is because of the traffic? There seens to be quite a few people who really have a dislike for I-drive and I was wondering if the traffic issue was the main problem. Being that we are not really doing a totally disney trip this next time around and concentrating on Universal and Seaworld I thought I-drive would be a better area to stay. We will not be renting a car so we are relying on the trolley, hotel shuttles and our feet to get us around. There seems to be more transportation options on I-drive. Also from the hotel website there seems to be quite a few resteraunts with in walking distance for us to explore. Please reassure me that staying at Homewood Suites and I-drive won't be a complete disastor! Thanks

 

[powellrj]

I feel the only problem with I Drive is the Traffic. We like to stay there because is so close to lots of things that we never have our car out at night. We have stayed there and used the trolley to get to Sea World, while walking at night to eat.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Please reassure me that staying at Homewood Suites and I-drive won't be a complete disastor!

Your trip will be wonderful! The shuttle drivers know how to avoid traffic. My DD11 loves Homewood Suites and has called it her favorite on several occasions. The pool is a little small and usually crowded but the weekday Manager's reception with free beer and snacks is great!

 

[mbb]

Wyndham Orlando - IDrive, and Sand Lake Road - and REALLY enjoyed it.

We didn't drive anywhere..we walked and used the IRide Trolley

 

[MazdaUK]

we found I-Drive really tacky and very busy, but I'm sure the hotels are OK - my firends stayed there at Nikibirds (or something) Christmas 2003 and had no trouble getting around using hotel minibus. Alternatively if staying at Disney I believe you can book a Mears shuttle to do US/IOA and Seaworld (and even KSC)

We liked the Premium Outlest best - Belz is a bit spread out, and we found lots of outlets we'd wanted to visit (like Gant) seemed to have closed down. Avoid Pointe Orlando - loads of empty shops and what was left felt really run-down and creepy, even though there are some VERY expensive shops there.

 

[swilshire]

I've always hated I-drive as well because of the traffic. I do go to the Belz Mall and have stayed at one of the Homewood Suites and the Residence Inn a few times on business. If you learn the back ways and allow time for the traffic, I wouldn't throw the info out just yet. On the other hand, there are other areas with lots of choices and less traffic.

Sheila

 

[cazzie]

We are staying on I Drive next week when we go. We picked it purely because we are not going to drive (our first trip to the States) and wanted to do Universal and Sea World etc as well as Disney. I am not sure which end we are or what the traffic is going to be like, I just wanted to make sure that we were pretty central to everything. I am hoping if the traffic is noisy we will be to shattered to worry about it.