resort or international drive?

[lacazio]

Hi,
I am planning a trip in next year for 7 days and I am trying to decide whether to stay in international drive or at Pop Century. I am the only adult with 3 kids of age 11,11 and 7.
I like the idea of the disney themed hotel with the advantages of the transport to the parks and extra hours for residents etc. and as I don't want to drive everything is ideally located.
The only reason I am considering International drive is that it is my first trip to America and feel that being in the resort I would not get a flavour of Floridan life. I mean I could be anywhere in the world.
Do you know what I mean?
If I did stay at the resort I would definetly plan a day or 2 away if the bus service is good.
Anyone got an opinion.
Cheers

 

[wicket2005]

Personally I prefer to stay off site. We have stayed at The Rosen Hotel on IDrive and it was a lovely hotel. However, we drive so all the parks were at the most only 10 minutes away.

Our hotel offered shuttle service to Universal, Sea World and Wet n Wild but not Disney. I believe you can catch buses to Disney.

I don't consider EMHs to be an advantage. We avoided these days like the plague, hit a couple of the parks by accident on these days, and they were so crowded. You would only end up spending longer lining up. Get to the parks before they open and on their quieter days and you don't have a problem.

I honestly do not think you will get a 'flavour of Floridian life' staying on IDrive. It is totally geared to tourists and is mostly hotels and restaurants.

As you don't want to drive and it is your first time to Disney I would suggest you stay onsite. Thereby making it easy for you to get to park to park. 7 days isn't a lot for the amount of attractions Orlando has so you will be best just concentrating on Disney this time and then in the future venturing off site to Universal, Sea World and IoA.

 

[Hilary]

The only reason I am considering International drive is that it is my first trip to America and feel that being in the resort I would not get a flavour of Floridan life. I mean I could be anywhere in the world.
Do you know what I mean?

Cheers

Hello and welcome to the DIS boards!

We've stayed in a few places in Florida away from Orlando and I agree that being immersed in WDW 24/7 isn't a great way to experience all that Florida has to offer. However, I'm not sure that the difference between I-Drive and WDW is enough to make you feel you've seen any more of the state.

I've never stayed on I-Drive, but we did stay off-site before deciding that on-site was the way we wanted to visit the parks in future. Being on-site makes everything so easy ... apart from getting out of WDW!! Disney make a pretty good job of keeping you within their grasp! Getting around WDW is very, very easy from on-site resorts and is a good reason to stay in the middle of things if that's how you'll be spending your time.

If you're planning a couple of days in your week outside of WDW then on-site may not be the best plan for you. I had a week on-site a few years ago and took the Mears shuttle to Kennedy and SeaWorld on two days, so I'm not saying it can't be done, just that it's easy to get used to the simplicity of hopping on and off the WDW transport.

Normally I'd suggest thinking about splitting your time between on and off-site but, with only a week, no car and with three children in tow, that's probably not an option!

Good luck with your planning

 

[daveyoghurt]

I think you'd be better off choosing a hotel on I-drive that has transport to both Disney and the other parks - there are plenty of them. This gives you the choice to go to either Universal, Seaworld or Disney - the transport options from Disney to the other parks are not as straightforward - because it doesn't make good business sense!

I'd definitely recommend doing parks other than Disney, with the age of your fellow travellers, Seaworld would be one to consider. Make sure you send off for the planning dvd's from Disney and Universal and see which of the parks appeals to you most and then get some brochures to see which hotel includes transport to those parks.

Have fun!

 

[Whisky In A VAse]

Everybody will have their own minds as you are finding,
I stopped on I Drive in 2000, I went in April this year and stopped at Liki Tiki off the 192 and then next Saturday we are going back to Pop Century for two weeks. Will let you know my thoughts then.........
Whatever you do, it will be great.......

 

[lacazio]

Thank you for your replies. One of the main reasons for staying at the resort is that it would take a lot of hassle out of the holiday. I have 3 kids to look after and the last thing I need is having problems with organising transport etc. Let face it I have to do what would suit them rather than dragging them out sightseeing which they would find boring. I think as this is my first visit I may stay at Disney and try and get out and look about for a day or so doing some research for the next time I go.

 

[michellejed]

To really "see and feel" true Florida, you will need your own car and more then 7 days if you are doing WDW too.

I think you and your family would do best to stay on site for just 7 days, it is much easier to get around with WDW own transportation and depending on what time of year you go, the EMH are ok (no summer months or Christmas week)

The kids will love the pools and just being surounded by all that Disney

Have a wonderful trip

 

[alisonbestford]

You're gonna have fun juggling 3 kids but I'm sure it'll all work out fine

I do WDW with DD (now 6, but from age 3) basically on my own as DH has a brain tumour and tends to have a totally different holiday to us....

Personally, if you want to experience Florida, as well as the parks, I'd say stay on ID.

Saying that, as others on this thread have suggested, you won't get a true experience of Floridian life on ID......

I still love it all though

We never used the extra hours.

Most of the hotels provide adequate transport and you won't be totally immersed in WDW.

I was so excited to stay onsite this year, at CSR, but was a little disappointed as it was impossible to move away from WDW at all and I was missing my Walmart fix......

 

[daisax]

I vote for on site -- you're not going to get a view of Florida on International Drive, either -- just tourist traps and traffic, two things you're probably trying to avoid while on "vacation."

There are beautiful Florida tourist destinations (the beaches, the everglades, the nightlife in Miami, etc.) but International Drive is not one of them

As it's your first trip, you're likely to be overwhelmed. The path of least resistance and most relaxation is onsite. 7 days will give you enough time to do the parks AND relax at your resort (or go 24/7 if that's what you prefer) without the hassles of transportation.

Chances are you'll be back, and braver next time, and can sample stuff off site. The stress of negotiating hotel shuttles vs internal Disney transport will add a layer of stress that you'll be blissfully unaware of onsite.

 

[mark&sue]

I stayed on I drive in May and absolutely hated it. I also felt unsafe and I was with seven other adults (as well as the kids). This was my 6th time to WDW and thought I would try something else.

I will never stay off site ever again and plan to go every year for as long as I am able to. I took friends with us and really felt they missed out by not staying on site. I know most people will disagree with me but I just cannot see the attraction of International Drive one tiny bit.

I am obvously not objective as I hated this last trip so much. I am a real Disney fan and feel if you can afford to stay at a Disney Hotel do so. I expect to be flamed after this but I just feel like when I am on site I can forget about everything until I go back home when the vacation has ended.

Hope you make the right decision for you and your family. Good luck.

Feel free to PM me.


Susan

 

[alisonbestford]

We stayed at 'Sheraton Safari' in Buena Vista this year and got the best of both worlds
Offsite but with transport to WDW.
Personally I'd prefer not to stay on ID but I didn't particularly love staying onsite either.
For us the 'Sheraton Safari' was perfect.

 

[paulh]

we just got back and we decided to have a drive down i-drive to see whats its like now as we have stayed on site for the past 9 years what we saw was like blackpool meats bedidorm it looks so tacky now street venders,english breakfasts with english bacon advertized made me feel glad when we got to the safe fealing of onsite when we used to stay on i drive it had never felt comfertable dont think that it offers a true american experiance unlike disney which is the american dream
Paulh

 

[cbird]

IMHO stay onsite. No contest. I have done both many times and the convenience of onsite far out weighs any little inconveniences. Major plus factors are the EMH to get in early before the parks open to the public, and the transportation system back to your resort in the middle of the day for a break. Yes you can travel from IDrive or LBV but it all takes time especially with three children in tow.
As for Floridian life, what is that? To truly experience that you would need to stay somewhere way away from the tourist haunts. Save yourself a lot of hassle and have a real break. Stay onsite. You will be able to relax knowing the children are 'contained' in a safe resort.
Hope you have a great holiday .

 

[jonkatony]

Just got back from AKL and have previously stayed at all stars. We have never stayed on I drive but we dropped people off at the hotels on the I drive on the way to our resorts. I can honestly say it was the worst 30 mins of our holiday, with the sort of signs for full english breakfasts, English pubs reminisent of the Costas of the 70's. Having said that I can understand that alot of people enjoy that sort of holiday and would not like to be overcome by to much 'disney magic'
Disney bus service is very good, with Mears coaches picking up from all hotels.
best of luck and have a great holiday

 

[rosiejo]

I've never stayed onsite before - will do this trip though. I'm not a big advocate of I-Drive though - we always stay in Kissimmmee along the 192. it's much less crowded and hectic and has a completely different feel to it.

Although we staying onsite this year I still reckon next trip will be back in Kissimmee.

 

[kevin harrison]

Personally, I have never wanted to stay onsite at Disney, the whole idea of travelling 1000's of miles then never leaving a false, artificial land just doesn't appeal to me at all.

I think anyone saying I-Drive is like Blackpool and Spain are visiting a different I-Drive to the one I know....I've never seen hundreds of Brits wandering around drunk, throwing up in the streets and fighting everywhere on I-drive. People saying they don't feel safe - I think they need to get in the real world, it is a safer area than most in the UK at night, maybe if you had visited the Bronx in New York or Compton in California, your outlook would change.

I like being able to visit hundreds of restuarants and shops, all within easy walking and driving distance.

Granted the North end of I-Drive is over comercialised, but the southern end is very nice and quiet. I think a bit of snobbery is at play here.

------------------------------------------
Sept 1998 - Wynfield Inn
Sept 2000 - Clarion Universal
Sept 2003 - Rosen Plaza
Sept 2005 - Hard Rock Hotel / Sheraton Clearwater

 

[JanElliott]

I agree with kevin harrison. Parts of I Drive are quite pleasant. We stayed at the Sierra Suites near Pointe Orlando. The surrounding area was nice and we felt perfectly safe. It was ideal for the I-ride to the shops at Belz and Premium outlets and Sea World. Lots of different restaurants (none serving English breakfasts if I remember correctly) takeaways and the Pirate Cove golf. Only down side was hotel transport to the parks, very crowded but an experience which the kids enjoyed (mad). Would like to stay onsite but problem needing a room for five that is affordable.

 

[cazzie]

We stayed at the north end and it was great. I didn't see one drunk or hear any rowdiness. I would agree that there are parts with loads of signs but Blackpool it isn't. The one thing that did impress was how spotless it was there was no litter or mess anywhere.

 

[Laurafoster]

I think anyone saying I-Drive is like Blackpool and Spain are visiting a different I-Drive to the one I know....I've never seen hundreds of Brits wandering around drunk, throwing up in the streets and fighting everywhere on I-drive. People saying they don't feel safe - I think they need to get in the real world,


No one has said that people are throwing up in the streets, benidorm and blackpool are not always like that!! However i have stayed in ID and have known people to be mugged and beaten up, and yes i have seen brits walking around drunk etc. Ok its not as bad as many of the places but with 3 young Kids, its not a good thing and is not typical florida. It is a tourist trap as is Disney but personally with 3 young kids, they would love Disney, the resorts are all aimed at kids, as is Disney on a whole whereas IDrive is aimed and adults mostly!

 

[cazzie]

I think its a case of personal choice. Whilst I loved WDW I am not sure I would want to spend 2 weeks onsite, we have talked about maybe one time doing 1 week at a Disney hotel and another perhaps on the I Drive. I loved the feel of being in the US and not just Disney.