Orlando without a car

[wildelady]

Got a surprise trip in two weeks staying at the Swan Hotel. Can anyone tell me if they have done Orlando without a car before. I would like to see a bit more than WDW if i can. Espcially HP lol

 

[RDP]

We have previously stayed in Orlando without a car, its largely ok if you are only interested in seeing the Disney Parks and stay ' on property'. Hotel concierge should able able to help you book any other transportation you require. A taxi to the Mal at Milena will probably set you back about $80 round trip, Mears transportation can take you to all the other parks (for a price). Within Disney you will have access to all the Disney buses, At the Swan you have the option to take a boat to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. From EPCOT you can pick up the monorail system. We have stayed at the Swan, its a great location and a lovely hotel. Have a great time!

 

[Kath2003]

Got a surprise trip in two weeks staying at the Swan Hotel. Can anyone tell me if they have done Orlando without a car before. I would like to see a bit more than WDW if i can. Espcially HP lol

That would be me....

You need to use the Lynx buses. They are great - air conditioned, on time and only $2 each way. If you plan to use them a lot, a one-day pass can be bought on the bus and costs $4.50 for unlimited trips. Alternatively a 7-day pass is $16 - when I went last year, we bought these online about 2 months before departure and they mailed them to us in the UK for free.

The main bus you'll need to use is the 50. It runs from the TTC, via Downtown Disney, to Sea World. From there you can change to a number of buses.

To get to Universal Studios, you need to take the 50 to Sea World and then the 8 to Wet 'n' Wild (ask for a transfer when you get on if you don't buy a weekly/daily pass - it's free). It's a short (10 minute) easy walk to Universal Studios from there (I can give detailed directions if you want).

If you post a list of places you're interested in going (malls, parks etc.) I'll let you know how to get there.

Last year we spent $50 without a car for two people for 10 days (including airport transfers). Parking alone would have cost us over $80. It's easy, cheap and a great way to keep your costs down.

 

[BethEJo]

Another vote for the lynx buses here - we really couldn't fault them. Until I turn 25 so that car hire isn't so extortionate, it's our only option and I'm perfectly happy with it

 

[BrerVixen]

We've done WDW twice without a car, in 2007 & 2009 - It was easy! We stayed in All Star Movies and Port Orleans Riverside, and just the disney transport for getting round WDW (buses/boats/monorail) - The buses at ASMo were a bit tiring, very busy and crowded with hellish waits. Port Orleans was better.

To get to Universal/Sea World, we just got the mears coach for $18 each return, very easy, comfy and reliable! (I'd prefer them to the Lynx buses tbh)


Kath2003 - did you stay on WDW property when you went? As parking in WDW is free for resort guests!

 

[Kath2003]

Kath2003 - did you stay on WDW property when you went? As parking in WDW is free for resort guests!

No, we don't do Disney as the ticket costs are astronomical. Even without parking, we'd have saved several hundreds of pounds on car rental and gas, though.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

Been five times now and never used a car (the thought of driving in the USA terrifies me plus we like a drink at lunchtime on holiday and this way we can without worries). Have been to St Pete's and Kennedy by pre-booking a trip with Virgin, Seaworld by taxi from our resort.

 

[stba2006]

I don't think you will have any problems not having a car, you will just need to plan a little we going off site.

We stayed at Animal Kingdom lodge in 2008 and didn't get a car. The year before we did get a car and found that we got a lot more done.

Having said that, we hadn't really planned for not having a car and thought that we would be alright with the Disney Transportation, which was great for getting around disney, butwhen we wanted to go to Universal for example we got a bit stuck

As mentioned a few times on this thread the Lynx Buses are invaluable, but try and plan in advance so that you can get your bus changes right.

We tried going to one of the malls and because we didn't have the bus time-tables before we set off that day, we ended up having to wait 50 minutes in the scorching heat for the linking bus. It took us 2 hours to get there.

Try and pick up as many of the bus schedules that you can and have a good look at them before you do your journey. Boring i know, but if you put a little time into doing that and you will be able to so much more than just winging it on the day like we did for the first few days .