Lots of questions

[jillrobinson]

Hi everyone
I'm new to this Forum, I'm usually found over in the Paris section, you've probably answered these questions lots of times before, but I'd be really grateful for some advice.
After 3 holidays to DLRP in as many years and another planned for next year, got to be there to help celebrate their 15th birthday I'm slowly coming around to the family's view that we need to try somewhere new - i.e. Orlando.
First reservation is the flight, I hate flying - but I'd get around that for the kids sake, if I get desperate I could get my employer to prescribe me something.
I know this sound really daft but I can't get my head around the size of the place - is anything within walking distance within WDW - In Paris, I can come out of the Magic Kingdom and walk next door to the Studios Park.
The biggest problem is that my DH doesn't drive, (he's got his motorbike license and I've never managed to pursuade him onto 4 wheels), I don't want to fly-drive, I don't even want a hire car when I'm there. I've been looking at the Virgin site and I can get transfers to and from the hotel and I've been looking at the Quality Inn International - International Drive, because it seems they have buses to and from WDW and Universal - but how viable is it to holiday without a car
Would we better staying at one of the WDW hotels, knowing that the family will definately want to visit Universal as well.
Any help, suggestions, advice much appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

 

[gilld]

You could walk from Epcot to MGM Studios and/or back - that would take about 20 minutes or so. Other than that, no, you can't walk. WDW is over 40 square miles intotal of course that includes all the resorts and a lot of land, as yet untouched. But is well served with buses, boats and monorails to get around.

You do not need to drive to enjoy a wonderful holiday in Orlando - but you would get more out of it if you do have a car. The hotel you mention would be ok but if you are able to stretch to an onsite hotel eg All Stars or Pop Century, then it will make life easier. The transportation is better on site, you never wait long for a bus whereas at the Quality Inn I imagine there will be a limit to timings etc.

If you do choose to stay on site, it is easy to rrange transportation to US/IOA with Mears or various other options.

If you like DLP, you will LOVE WDW - go for it -A.S.A.P.

 

[alisonbestford]

The advantage of the Quality Inn, on ID would, in my opinion, be that you have acccess to the 'I Trolley'

In the past we've caught the trolley, got off it at Skull Kingdom / Wet 'n' Wild, and walked over the walkway to Universal.
It's about a 20 minute walk but perfectly 'doable'
We got a taxi back

As Gilld says, you'll probably be limited to 2 or 3 buses from Quality Inn - swings and roundabouts

 

[AndRu]

I think I read somewhere that WDW is about the same size Manchester ... and I wouldn't recommend trying to walk that far!

As Guild said, you don't have to use a car but you won't make the most of your time there if you don't have one. America is built on the car; even the shops on the same road are a long way apart and it's often safer to drive than to walk.

My view is that if you're going for "just Disney" then stay on site and use the free buses to get around the site. If you want more than Disney (and there is far more to Orlando than WDW), then stay off site and get get transport to the parks. I think you'll find that if you stay on-site the cost will be far higher than being in I-Drive.

In the end it's your money and your choice - but a car would enhance the experience as you'd have the freedom to do what you want, when you want. Driving in America is far easier then you might think. Most cars are automatics, the roads are much wider and the speeds (generally) lower. It's much easier to drive in the USA than it is in Europe!

 

[tink too]

I'm a driver who DOES NOT drive in the US. We've been to Orlando many times (I've been visiting regularly since I was 9 y.o. and I over 30 now!)

The I-Ride trolley on I-Drive is great - it takes you from Sea World up to the Prime Outlet Mall. There are also Lynx buses that will take you to WDW from a stop near Sea World - granted, this takes longer than a taxi, but it's really cheap! This is also the method of transportation used by many CM's!

If you stay on-site at WDW, it's not so obvious about transport to I-Drive or other attractions (WDW won't advertise any competitors theme parks ) but it's easy enough to get to I-Drive by using Mears (as mentioned already by someone else) or by taking the Lynx bus to Sea World then the I-Ride trolley from there to where you want to go!

We also often use taxis - the service is usually outstanding. We were met once at Sea World at closing time by our driver who had a brolly ready to shelter us till we got to the cab, then steps were taken out to help us in (they're often mini-van style taxis) and we were dropped off as close to our room as the driver could possibly get!

Don't be put off because everyone "recommends" a hire car - just do what you want to do!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

You can get around Orlando without a car, especially if you are staying on-site, however for convenience and being able to have the freedom to travel around easily a car cannot be beat.
Having said that many people get around prefectly okay without one, it just comes down to personal preference.
I cannot really comment on not having a car as we always rent one.

The price of staying on-site is obviously much higher, depending on which hotel you choose.

We have been to DLP and the size as you say cannot be compared with WDW.

One big advantage that Universal has is that you can walk from US to IOA or vice versa in less than 5 minutes as the parks are right next door to one another, something that you cannot do with any of the Disney parks.
So once you have arrived there you are set for the day.

Unless you want to spend all of your time around the parks an I-drive hotel that operates a shuttle to all of the attractions would seem your best bet, you are fairly close to Universal and Sea World then anyway.
Plus you will be close to restaurants that will all be in walking distance.

 

[pauldickinson]

Id consider the comfort inn lake buena vista if not driving. the LBV area is excellent for non-drivers: it is part of the crossroads shopping centre (Gioodings 24 hr supermarket, TGIFridays, Pebbles restaurant, Olive Garden etc + pirates cove crazy golf). the comfort inn does run free busses to disney & also a service to universal & seaworeld (last 2 i think you have to pay for). but i think its closeness to disney & its a step up from a normal motel makes it a good choice. its a much nicer place than kissimee & maingate areas, & i prefer it to I drive. although if u stay on i drive theres the i ride trolley bus thats good to get up and down. if u stay on i drive can i recommend the homewood suites opposite race rock. very nice indeed. homewood also does free full breakfast every day.

hopwever if u r going to spend most of your days out at disney LBV is the best bet for non-drivers (I know we never hire a car - busses for me!)

 

[traceycooper]

We never drive, we stay so many nights in a disney hotel, & use the free transportation, all stars & pop are not that much more than a decent hotel on i-drive, you can also easily pop back to your hotel for a swim if you want when staying onsite & then we stay so many nights on i-drive for universal, ioa, seaworld etc.

pauldickinson - thanks for the info on comfort inn we have been considering this hotel for a cheapy & want to visit WDW & ioa etc, is the bus service pretty regular for both parks??

 

[bazzanoid]

Echoing the above posts, you can get around without a car - we went in 03 for our honeymoon and stayed at the Quality Inn International - there's an I-ride trolley stop about 50/75 yards from the hotel main entrance, both sides of the road. go across the road for universal / wet n wild, stay on the hotel side for seaworld / discovery cove / lynx buses to disney.

The hotel operates a shuttle to universal, seaworld and disney - the disney shuttle is chargeable, the others are free, and run in the morning a couple of times and same in the evening - for universal i highly recommend using the trolley and walking in as suggested above.

For disney, don't worry if you miss the bus, jump on the trolley to the stop before seaworld, CROSS THE ROAD (very important) to the bus stop on the other side, and catch the Lynx 50 - it will be signed for WDW Magic Kingdom & TTC if memory serves me right. they run every 20 mins or so during the day. coming back, oddly, you get off at the same stop as the trolley in the morning, then you cross the road and catch the trolley from the same stop you caught the disney bus from back up.

Also worth bearing in mind, if they're still available, you can pick up BOGOF vouchers for the two-week I-trolley passes from the hotel front desk... saves some money that way. Thanks to DW for reminding me of that as i was typing here

 

[Miffy2003]

Hi Jill, nice to see you over here

If I was going to Orlando without a car I would do a centre holiday - one week in I Drive to be near to Universal, Seaworld etc and use the I Drive trolley - and then the second at Disney onsite.

Best of both worlds, maybe?

 

[cannp123165]

We did not have a car in Orlandoin February. When we went in February we stayed at Caribbean Beach Resort. We got Virgin Flights to Orlando, and then used the free Disney Magical Express Coach to get to our hotel. The transport around WDW was brilliant.

WDW is brilliant- I have been to DLP too- but I just love the size of WDW- and the variety of theming the 4 parks present!!!

Caroline

 

[jonkatony]

Hi Jill,
I love DLRP, but you will love WDW, we have been to WDW twice going again this summer and never drove.We have found the Disney transportation to be very good.

I know this will upset some but I personally would not stay on I drive. I love the disney resorts and if I could not stay on property then a villa would be my second choice.
I drive is not for me and I know it has advatages such as the i trolley and cheaper places to eat etc but TO ME I drive seems more like the costa del sol than Disney.
When you go to dlrp (we have stayed DLH, Newport Bay, Santa Fe) the hotel to me is part of the holiday, you can stay off site but we would not enjoy it as much. This is the same at WDW.
Everyone is different and want different things from their holiday, this is just my view

 

[jillrobinson]

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply, I thought I'd be the only one not wanting to drive so it's reassuring to know there are others out there in the same position.
I would definately prefer to stay onsite, as Jonkatony said I too feel it's part of the holiday, or have done at DLP, but I was thinking we'd need to stay on I-Drive to be able to get anywhere other than Disney.
I'm really having trouble imagining the scale of the whole Orlando themepark thing, I'm going to have a look on Google earth to try and get some sort of perspective.
You've given me a lot to think about but more importantly I am feeling happier that we could do the holiday without a car.
Caroline it's Virgin that I've been looking at too - they seem to come highly recommended.
Hi Miffy nice to see you , since I posted this morning I've looked at the possibility of a week at Disney and a week at Universal, both onsite,
I can see this is going to take some planning.

 

[isla bonita]

Here is the link to lynx

http://www.golynx.com/

Here is the link to I Drive Trolley

http://www.iridetrolley.com/

You can check them out before you decide and really check tham out if you do decide.

 

[spm23]

If you do end up having a week on site at both you will never want to go back to DLP again.

We have done Orlando without the car, stayed at the Quality Inn. Its nice, its convenient, but bus times are limited. Staying on site at Disney is a must, and staying in an all stars resort worked out only about £100 extra because of the savings on the car insurance etc.
Quality Inn is perfect for universal, the buses are ok, and I think a taxi is $10-$12, and parking at universal is $7-8. Its good for wet and wild and sea world as well.

Depends on budgets and time of the year, advantage of staying on site with both is the front of line passes at Universal and extra hours at disney.

One thing is for sure, its worth the agony of flying, I should know as none of us like it, but suffer it as its that good.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

If you are thinking of staying on I-DRIVE then it's essential to choose the right hotel.
There is nothing wrong with the Q-Inn's if you just want budget accomodation with transportation to the parks.
However, the hotels and the area at the southern side of I-d are much nicer and has less of the tacky discount stores that are very common at the busier end....I am being blunt but the only reason to stay on I-d is that you can walk to restaurants without the need for having your own car and you can get around using the various transportation methods available.
Just my opinion, but there is a world of difference between staying on-site and on I-drive, if you try and combine the 2 you will get a good balance between different locations but you may find one week much more enjoyable than the other.

Everyone has their own opinions, we used to stay on I-d and had brilliant holidays there, the Rosen Center for eg is a great hotel, we have also stayed at budget accomodation too there, eg Quality Inn Plaza...however, we moved to villas for the benefit of our son, and just generally prefer to stay somewhere a bit nicer these days - that's sounds snobbish but isn't meant to.
The one thing we cannot really advise on however is the price, naturally to stay on-site will be a lot more expensive, but if you do opt to stay on I-drive I would recommend you choose the hotel carefully.

Also a villa would not be an option for you as a car is a must.

 

[mickeydumplings]

Hi Jill

Like you we went to DLP and loved it. So thought next stop
must be Florida, went ahead and booked with cheapo Cosmos.
Staying on site at Pop Century.
(fingers crossed monarch wil be running with no delays for us)

Then found boards like this and paniced as being a nondriver
myself and with 3 teenagers in tow wanted to go back to DLP
instead.
But now after finding loads of info cant wait to go (40 days to go)

We have opted for a towncar from airport then we can stop at the supermarket for a few groceries. Found the towncar was not much
more cash than the tranfer bus. (and will be quicker)

We have booked an overnight stay at universal for both week 1 and 2
getting there by towncar again for only $84 per trip.

Also booked a shopping excursion week 1 and a beach trip week 2
through a english site.

So feel we can do lots and will still have a fantastic time.

Hope this helps

Debbie

 

[Spook]

Hi Jill, we have been to DLP 3 times so the size and distances at WDW were a surprise. We are taking our 3rd non driving holiday to Orlando in Aug, staying on Universal Boulevard at Extended Stay which is a suite hotel, 2 minute walk to (what I think) is a nice part of I drive. The I-ride trolley bus stop is there (for Seaworld and the shops) and lots of places to eat like Tony Romas, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze and Race Rock all easily walkable. Hotel has shuttle to WDW (but we sometimes get a taxi back) and we will take taxis to Universal (which is quite close). So like others have said it is very do-able. The only thing I feel I would like a car for is being free leave the parks at any time and then return later the same day. You will love it

Jan

 

[Miffy2003]

If you do end up having a week on site at both you will never want to go back to DLP again.

Now I have to say I have done both WDW and DLP onsite and I love both - for different reasons

 

[lgp1]

Hi Jill,the twice we've been to Orlando we didn't use a car.We stayed on site at the value resorts and used Disney transport to get to the parks.To get to Universal studios,Island of Adventure and Seaworld we used the public bus service or taxi.Our holiday couldn't have gone better.
Some people prefer to stay on I-Drive some prefer Disney resorts....whatever your choice you'll have a brilliant holiday
Lyndon.