Need Tips / Info for those who have car when at Disney

[sersee05]

I agree with the tolls. We were caught off guard when we went to Kennedy on our last trip. We were going crazy trying to find change. When we went EZ pass did not work in Florida. ..I don't know if it's changed.

What's hash house a go go?

 

[california37]

We hire a car every visit- we find it much easier than transportation with little ones! We stay for lengthy times too (18 days this time so we often venture out. My fave place to eat is sweet tomatoes which is an all you can eat buffet style- don't think they do breakfasts tho- cheap to get your fill of anything you like however! There's one at the crossroads and one down the 192 near animal kingdom. Kekes for breakfast items also get my vote! Lovely food-open till2. Shopping - we hit both outlets and shop usually at mall at milenia for something Different. They have a Cheesecake Factory which is yummy too (but wait times are sometimes very long!)

Have a lovely trip

 

[Bullseye]

OP, first of all congrats on renting a car this trip. I think you'll find once you've had your own car in WDW you won't want to go back to using the buses. The car gives you freedom to go where you want, when you want. Plus like you said you can shop and dine at regular prices by going off site. We really like to shop/dine on I192 (W Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway). I dont know which resort your staying at but you can access I192 from World Drive or Sherberth Road near AK. There is a Super Target there that we do our grocery shopping at. There's also a Publix. For dining there are a ton of restaurants (McDonalds, Burger King, Denny's, Cracker Barrel, Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, Golden Corral, Bob Evans, Perkins, Sweet Tomatoes, Texas Roadhouse, Chik-Fil-A, Carraba's, Joe's Crab, Outback, Buffalo WW, etc). We really like this area because it is less congested traffic-wise than S535 which can be a real nightmare. BTW the McDonald's on property is not regular prices, very pricey.

Link below to I192

I192 Restaurants-Shopping

 

[Planogirl]

I did not know that there was a Bahama Breeze at Crossroads. I knew about the other but we are always in and around International Drive. Anyway, check out Bahama Breeze.

 

[katytrott]

Another vote for Bahama Breeze. We go to the one on the 192 and its our fave restaurant on our trips even above the WDW ones. We stay offsite so car is a must for us - we love the 192. Actually, coming from the UK, Publix is exciting for us!

 

[LetsDoDisney!]

Mousesavers has an excellent POI file that you can download to your GPS - it has every resort, park, restaurant, car rental place, grocery store, airport, you name it on there, both onsite and offsite. I update it every couple of years but it just stays in my GPS for when we are there as we always rent a car - we absolutely hated waiting and relying on the buses the one time we did that.

 

[codimouse]

If you have time Tampa is 45 minutes out. Lots to do there.
I have a car here now.
Had to go to Waffle House not far from Downtown Disney.

 

[Museick]

If you want to venture out farther than the Orlando area, we ate dinner at Crabby Joes in Daytona South right on the pier with the waves crashing below. They charge a minimal fee to rent a fishing pole to fish at the very end of Sunglow Pier. There is also a cute gift shop right on the pier.

Www.sunglowpier.com shows a virtual tour.

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks for all the suggestions they sound great! We're getting excited about having a car...I was curious about tolls..I think for an additional fee you can get a toll pass with the rent a car, but not sure if the fee is more than the tolls will be. ...I am assuming EZPass is no good..or is it? We have portable GPS, but can't find it...have a funny feeling we left it in a rent a car we had while our car was being repaired...Thanks for the info on the McDonalds on property...we were planning to go there as it's one of DS favorites. My husband was noticing while looking at maps that some of the restaurants off property seemed closer than the MK to our resort (we're staying at BWV). This is our 12th trip in a row since our sons first trip (he was almost 2 and now he's almost 9) plus I've been there many times before. Though we love Disney and the whole experience, we've done the things and eaten at the places we like many times and this trip are in no rush to get to parks and in no need to eat at all Disney restaurants. We FP+ the rides we like and will take the rest as it comes...we're looking forward to the freedom the car will give us and the money it will save justifying the extra cost of Universal tickets and car rental.
BTW...if I didn't mention it, Undecover Tourist offers great rates for car rentals. They had the lowest rates for a midsize (Corolla) car rented from Dolphin through Alamo.