Need your help - Brit's Guide 2004!

[HeidSFost]

Simon,

Regarding Orlando without a car, I shall certainly be on the lookout for good tips to pass back onto you.

I am actually looking forward to doing it, some people have painted it as a pretty bleak picture, but I am looking at it as a challenge, and I will certainly be doing my best to rise to it

Seeing as I spend most of my time on public transport (I live in South London and work in West London - 'nuff said), perhaps I won't see it as nearly so bad.

I have heard some interesting reports about the trolley drivers being characters, so that will make a change from the suicidal London drivers<g>.

Can I just say thanks, for letting us all give you input into what goes into the next book, you certainly have the best of the best giving you input here, from what I have seen!

Recce on the way Cap'n!

Heid
xx

 

[UKDEB]

For tips on getting around in a cab, you need to see Fantasia Sam's post on the thread <b>Cabs and Smokers</b>. I've recently had a 'not so nice' experience in a Yellow Cab in the Orlando area and Sam's information will be very helpful for future trips.

 

[SimonV]

*Bump!* Any more non-drivers' tips??

 

[mkingdon]

Simon,

As a regular (up until now) package booker, I'd find a section how to DIY really useful.

So tips on where to look, how to get the best deals on flights, villas, hotels and cars would be a god send.

I know you have a section already which mentions many travel companies, but I'm thinking more of tactics to use, the best places to search etc. all the tips the DIY DISers share here.

So if you can write a chapter which tells me how to book 3 weeks in Florida in August DIY for around £500 all in, I'd maybe even buy two copies

Seriously, I think a chapter on this would be useful.

Cheers

Craig

 

[chunkster20uk]

The last two trips to Orlando have been non driving ones.

The second being our honeymoon, but it was also a lot better planned for non driving.

My Tips:-

Book transport to and from the airport before you leave, treat yourself to HappyLimo they are brilliant.

Don't stay in one hotel or location. We stayed first at the Hard Rock and did US/IOA/CW and shopping (benefitting from the super express pass that is your hotel room key)

We went on a cruise in the middle but then stayed at Wilderness Lodge to do the whole disney thing.

This cut our transports costs right down, as when we went last October we stayed at All Stars which was great for Disney but expensive for US/IOA and shopping.

 

[chunkster20uk]

If you find a cheap flight that gets you into Orlando late at night, try staying at the Hyatt in the airport for a night.

The hotel is really nice, has really nice restaurant and lovely roof top pool.

The bonus is it took 30mins from getting off the plane picking up our bags and being in our room, and the cost is about the same as staying at Heathrow the night before.

Our flight left Heathrow at 4.30pm via Washington land Orlando at 11.30pm.

The next morning after a good nights sleep we were swimming in the roof top pool, had a lovely breakfast and were fresh to start our day.

 

[allie5]

I agree with Chunkster.... the key to a successful non driving holiday (in my opinion!) is not to limit yourself to one location. If you can afford it, book a few days at least at WDW on site and take advantage of the Disney Transport network. I-Drive is a great base for non drivers as there is the I-Trolley, Lynx buses and most hotels have shuttles. Non drivers can take advantage of the Sea World to Busch Gardens shuttle for $5 (free with a Flex ticket). Make use of the coach excursions offered by most of the big tour ops......you can go to the Everglades, Miami and the Bahamas for 1 or 2 day trips.

Simon...maybe you can find out if any of the malls offer a free bus service, as Im sure when I have been at the Florida Mall I have seen this. I cant find any info on it though. It looked like it shuttled between I-drive and the Florida Mall. Im sure you will know who to ring about this!

Also, do any of the local cab companies offer a set price between attractions or operate a loyality scheme (where you get discounts for using them regularly over the course of your holiday)?????

 

[Hellie]

On all of our visits we have been non-drivers and have managed brilliantly. some of the things we have picked up are :

When you are travelling from IDrive up to the transfer stop for the Disney bus, if a city bus comes always get this, it is much quicker than the trolley, so you don't miss the Disney Bus and I think it is about 75c.

It is best to get the 14 day IRide bus pass, and if you buy it from the Visitor Centre on IDrive you save $2 paying only $12 instead of $14.

One thing we found on our trip in September last year with Disney transport, we managed to get a bus from MGM to Downtown, but were then unable to get a Disney bus back as they only go to resort hotels from Downtown, so we said we would do this and they said we needed to prove we were staying on Disney property. We went to guest relations and complained about this but they said it was policy now that they had made some cut-backs. Gary complained quite a bit more and we ended up getting two, one day part tickets for the inconvenience -result as far as we were concerned.

When travelling to Busch Gardens, the bus that leaves from the Mercardo and Sea World is well worth the $5 return, but you need to book the day before to be guaranteed a seat, at busier times of the year.

I will try and think of more things.

Simon by the way love the book now, and never go away without it, can't wait for the next issue. We now have also bought the Brits Guides for NYC and Vegas, which are both equally as good.

 

[stal]

Hi, im not a regular poster here, but simon, your books are great!

I would like to see more stuff for non drivers. In our previous trips we have always hired a car, but now the person who used to drive won't be coming on any more trips and the other people who will be going on any (if any) future trips are not confident in driving over there. (does that make sense)

Also if we are not staying at an on site hotel or any hotels that offer free busses then we will need other tips in that area!

thanks simon!

 

[KayleeUK]

Simon

We are non-drivers in Florida We got a Tiffany Town Car for the round trip to the airport. It was great having them pick us up at the airport standing there with our name on the board, felt pretty special when landing. They then helped us with our luggage to the car. We also did a 30 min grocery stop and stopped up on nibbles and bottles of water (saving pennies from buying in the park). We found them very good when we arrived at the resort we arranged with them pick up time in a fortnight, and there they were.

We have alway's stayed on-site at Disney so to get to Universal and Seaworld we used Mears. It was $12 return. We called the night before and arranged a pick up time. You pay as you board the van/bus, they give you a ticket and a couple of hours before you are ready to leave you call the number and arrange your pick up time. We arranged a pick up time for midnight when we went to HHN, but by 10pm I was shattered, so we gave them a call and changed it to the next time available with no problems :d

HTH

 

[2 Point]

Our first visit (Me, wife, MIL and FIL) in March 1999 was booked without a car. We were staying at the Howard Johnson Hawiaan Court,next to the Rosen Centre.

We intended to use cabs/shuttles to get to the parks and I-Ride to travel I-Drive. We soon swapped the $40 cab ride with the Lynx bus service to WDW, only a $1 each!

To get to US/IOA we used free shuttles or the I-Ride.

If staying on I-Drive, take the I-Ride south, when you get to Bennigans, on the right, just under a flyover (can't remember the road name, but it's the one from MCO). On the opposite side of the road is a non-descript busstop, the Lynx bus stops here every hour(?). You can find the routes/timetables on the Lynx website (anyone?).

The bus was only ever half full, mostly with workers. The bus then goes direct to WDW. An excellent service.

Coming back is a little more challenging, there was always a queue for the return buses, which descended to a fight to get on the bus as it pulled up, forget the polite queues in the parks, this is war. An alternative which worked well for us was to take Disney transport to Downtown Disney, spend the evening there and then get a cab from the ranks, being closer to I-Drive, this was a much cheaper option than from the TC, about $25 compared to $40.

Without a car meant we were out all day, our return times very much geared to the bus timetable. The upshot was that we packed a load in, downside was we were cream crackered. With kids this type of transport option would be very tiring, especially if you have to pack strollers away etc.

Our second visit, Xmas 2001, was the same party with the addition of our 2 year old daughter. We booked a car this time, the flexibility compared to buses was a revelation. The added advantage of being able to store a cool box and spare clothes in the boot made our day much more comfortable, in Dec it got quite chilly in the evening. Hopping between parks/water parks was much easier with a car.

I would say that if you are a non-driver then plan your days carefully, bear in mind where you want to finish your day and consider the needs of the rest of your party. On-site would seem to be the obvious choice, followed by Downtown Disney then Lake Buena Vista. I-Drive would be a better choice if the focus of your visit was US/IOA and Seaworld.

On one of our Xmas days we went Mall shopping, we visited six Malls in the space of a few hours, something virtually impossible without a car, but then again is going shopping really that important, you are on holiday afterall!

 

[Enright78]

Is shopping important???????!!! Are you mad!!! lol

 

[2 Point]

Fiona, hook line and sinker.....................

 

[christi]

Hi Simon, I really have found your book invaluable! We visit this year for the first time and I don't know where I would be without it! ( Certainly not as organised and prepared as I am!)
One small constructive criticism( and only very small!!) please can you print the height restrictions in cm for all the rides! I have no idea what height my kids are in inches, but I do know what they are in cm! All clothing that you buy nowadays has height in cm on it, so most mums( and dads!) are quite aware. This would make it a bit easier and avoid the need to translate back and forward!
Also more info on the suitability of the rides for smalll children, ie 'scare factor!' would be great!
Otherwise keep up the great work, your book is by far the best guidebook around!

 

[SidB]

Originally posted by christi
Also more info on the suitability of the rides for smalll children, ie 'scare factor!' would be great!

This would be fairly subjective measure. Perhaps Simon could get an average "scare factor" for each major ride from the readers here (marks out of 10 etc.). Just a thought.