Petrol rip-off at LBV

[SimonV]

Hi there folks. We're always on the lookout for ways to save people money, and this one really jumped out at me yesterday. We have long felt that the petrol stations ('gas stations' if you prefer!) in the Lake Buena Vista area are guilty of the worst kind of price gouging as they know tourists won't be particularly price-savvy around here. You see a petrol station, you fill up, right? Well, definitely not here. There are a cluster of stations in the Crossroads area, close to Downtown Disney, which have to be among the most expensive in the US. As an example, regular unleaded was $2.65 at the one next to I-4 (I know, that's still cheap by UK standards but bear with me), but, just three miles down SR 535 (Vineland Rd), the new Wal-Mart has a petrol station charging just $2.19 a gallon. I hate to see such a blatant rip-off of tourists in the Disney area, and this is definitely a bad one, so avoid these fill-ups at all costs. Even the Hess petrol stations inside Disney World (outside the Magic Kingdom, at Downtown Disney and near the Epcot resorts) are MUCH cheaper (which is something of a surprise), and it is better to fill up inside Disney than just outside.

PS: another useful tip - for great coffee, salads, sandwiches and soups, visit the Bear Rock Cafe in Millenia Plaza (near Mall at Millenia). They have a terrific range of fresh food and drinks (better than Starbucks - and much cheaper!), similar to Panera Bread but with more variety, and at great value. One of their salads is certainly a meal for two, and from 4-7pm Mon-Fri there is a 20% discount on all food items. Check it out (and try their Bear Latte - delicious!).

 

[natalielongstaff]

well that should make us all feel right at home simon....petrol is enough of a rip-off in this country !!

 

[Pootle]

Thanks for that Simon; it's a very useful tip which alas comes too late for me. I filled up at the 7-11 at LBV just a few weeks ago and then noticed (to my astonishment) that it would have been cheaper from Hess on Disney property. Caveat emptor!

 

[zurgswife]

I also noticed this in June....and was very surprised to see the Hess station across from DTD have a rather decent price.....

 

[terrynewpack]

There is nothing new about this it has been going on for years.

We were there a few weeks ago and the gas stations on the 535 near the new Wal Mart were all 40/50 cents cheaper than those just up the road at Crossroads.


Terry

 

[paulh]

the onsite hess petrol stations also have cheap beer and sodas as well sometimes the same price as walmart also if you are traveling out of the state the price of gas drops as soon as you go outside florida so when we go to HH we fill up outsite the state on the way up and back down
Paulh

 

[kylie]

14 Days ago the taxi driver who brought my teens from Discovery Cove to OKW told them that the onsite Hess was the cheapest in the area. It was $2.11 it had jumped to $2.22 by the time we returned home on Sunday. However on both dates the one on the way out of MK was 3 cents more expensive.

 

[steve_rob]

A very good point Simon and well worth spreading the news about. We've been caught before like this and ever since have always searched around for the cheapest petrol (or should I say gas?) deal.

Last time we were there, the worst (highest) prices were at the Crossroads and the one on the corner of I-Drive and Sand Lake Road. The best was also on Sand Lake Road, but two miles away, near the Florida Mall, closely followed by one near SeaWorld on Central Florida Parkway. Whether these two are still as cheap, I don't know - this was almost 18 months ago.

The way I see it, if you can save fifty cents per gallon, over the course of a holiday (especially if you're like us making long trips to places like Busch Gardens and Silver Springs) you can save enough to pay for a meal out. That's not pocket change!

 

[Tron[ADS]]

I also have found the gas station near sea world to be one of the cheapest. The cheapest normaly is the RaceTrak one on the 192 after old town on the way to the Disney resorts.

These rip off gas stations prey on tourists who (a) are unfamiliar with the pricing, and (b) are unsure of the gas-milage of their rental vehicles so often feel they had "best fill up" incase they run out.

The residents obviously wont touch these stations with a bargepole, and will happily drive 10 miles down the road to save a couple of cents....good for them.

 

[terrynewpack]

Its not as bad as it used to be for ripping off tourists.
Many years ago most gas stations had both 'self service' and 'attended' service. Up pulls the tourist and out runs the person to fill your car. Price was loads (maybe 20 - 30%) higher than pumping it yourself but many tourists fell for it including myself .



Terry

 

[mark@saratoga]

I think they are only providing a service for us Brits, they like to make us feel like we are at home.

Ripoff Britain................

 

[disneyholic family]

the price at Hess in WDW yesterday was 2.23 for regular...
the price right outside WDW in LBV was 2.29....
the cheapest place we saw yesterday was out by Turkey Lake Road for 2.19 in a Mobil......we've been filling up inside WDW....it's convenient....

 

[carl_w]

When we went in May most of the gas stations were charging $1.95-$2.00 a gallon. Inside Disney (there's a Hess near DTD) it was just over $2 a gallon but, as you say, in that area around Crossroads they were charging nearer $2.40 a gallon. That's a 20% markup, even over Disney prices!

 

[Feralpeg]

The Hess station across the street from Downtown Disney is usually priced the same as most of the gas stations across the rest of the city. I live about 10 minutes from WDW property. I buy most of my gas at that Hess stations because it is reasonably priced.

 

[Pigsty333]

I live in Orlando and there are plenty of gas stations in the tourist area and airport area that are rip offs. It hurts me to see people taken advantage of. However, to make you feel better a lot of these gas stations are being investigated now by the State Attorney for price gouging.

Word of caution - Don't gas up at the 7-11 on Narcoossee Road at the junction to the 408 which leads to the airport or at the BP on the other side of the street. Drive down to the Hess on Lee Vista Boulevard or any of the gas stations on Semoran Boulevard and gas up here. Semoran Blvd. leads directly into the airport, so it is not out of the way.