Rest Stops near WDW

[peg110]

Ok, I have read a lot of posts of people staying at various campgrounds and what not prior to getting to the Fort. I have also read how Walmarts/Sams Clubs near Orlando (unlike many other areas) does not allow overnight sleeping in their lots.

This makes me wonder. We have taken our TT to FW twice now (in 2012 and 2014 both around Thanksgiving time) and because we are trying to work on a tight budget (like many folks) we try to minimize our costs and maximize our time. So we leave (from NE PA) usually after work/school and try to get below DC in our travels. Stop in a Truck Stop and spend the night. (No Cost to stay, just a lot of idling trucks that actually puts me to sleep).

We get up the next day and make a long drive of it and get almost all the way to the Fort and then we find a Rest Stop. It's usually late at night (10 or 11 PMish) and pull in. Sleep there the night. Get up the next morning and take the final hour (or so) drive to the fort and get checked in (First year we actually just took RV and Truck to Seaworld the first day and got into our site later in the evening. Second time, our site was ready almost 30 minutes after we checked in)

So I guess my question is, am I the only one who uses these "Rest Stops" to spend a night in (more like 6 - 8 hours)? Is it not legal or do people just not do it because they think it's not safe? I just can't see spending $40 - $60 (or more) for a simple Pull over and sleep which is essentially what we are doing. I am not using the pools. Typically I am not hooking up the utlities just to go to sleep. Our Waste tanks are never that full that I need to dump them, so the money just doesn't seem right for such a short stay without availing of the other services.

Am I alone in this? Would love to hear if others do this and if you don't, why not?

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

We do this often depending on the weather, trying not to spend more than 8 hrs. There are a few rest areas we use and sometimes a Flying J. Around the holidays it gets harder to do because of the number of people traveling and the closer you get to Orlando the harder it is to find someplace. We have had a few times when we were forced to continue due to lack of space. We do have a couple of campgrounds we use if the weather is too cold but they are typically around $30.

 

[chartle]

1. Is it not legal

2. or do people just not do it because they think it's not safe?

1. Most rest stops I've been to say no overnight parking so I guess its illegal.

2. Most State Law enforcement departments also say its not safe.

 

[peg110]

1. Most rest stops I've been to say no overnight parking so I guess its illegal.

2. Most State Law enforcement departments also say its not safe.

I have see the "No Overnight Parking" signs as well and even had Police in the lot when we pulled in, climbed out of the truck and into the camper. I have not had issues. I am guessing that those signs are more to prevent people from actually "Camping" at a rest stop for days. Personally we have not had any issues.

Personally, I think those signs are crazy, because why are the "Rest Stops" there? They are for you to pull over and rest so that you can then continue on and drive safely. Most people cannot accomplish this with a 1 hour nap (not safely anyway). I am more curious if anyone knows for certain that it is indeed not legal.

As for the safety issue, I feel just as safe in my camper at the rest/truck stop because there are others there, lights and most we have stopped at also have security frequently driving around. I don't sleep in my camper with windows and doors open and unlocked. I also make an "Assessment" of the "Shadiness" of the area we are in. If it's too shady, we move on to what at least appears safer.

 

[bama_ed]

Well since you asked....

The Florida Department of Transportation clearly states that the Rest Stops are not for overnight stops.

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/statemaintenanceoffice/RestAreaQA.shtm

7th question on the list. This is the first link that came up when I googled "florida rest stops overnight". Pretty cut and dried. If you need up to 3 hours to rest and refresh, that's what they're there for. If you are trying to dodge having to pay for overnight accommodations, that's not what they're there for.

All over Florida the state, counties, cities, etc. all live to a great degree off the tourism business which includes the collection of various lodging taxes. That's why Wal-Mart and the usual overnighters don't allow it in the Central/South Florida area. Other states and other areas may have different rules but that's what I have found which is primarily the rule south of I-10 for commercial establishments in Florida. Obviously the FDOT rules are statewide.

Plenty of folks stop around Jacksonville which leaves about 2.0-2.5 hours to the Fort. Daytona also has plenty of options and they are 1.0-1.5 hours to the Fort. We come down I-75 and stop sometimes at a state park in Ocala for $25 for the one night leaving 0.5 hours to the Fort.

Do people abuse this? Sure. My thought is for a Disney vacation that costs $1,000-2,000 or more, I can come up with $25 to follow the rules and plus be safe, secure, and powered. You can assess the "shadiness" of the area when you arrive but once you fall asleep, how do you assess the shadiness of the people who arrive after you?

Bama Ed

PS - Paul your safety comes first: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/crime/sfl-530publicsafety-story.html

 

[peg110]

Good information Bama Ed (as usual).

To counter (a little) about spending $1,000 - $2,000 on a Disney vacation, I can come up with $25 (or so) to follow the rules, however, like many folks I am trying to maximize my trip. I don't spend $1,000 - $2,000 it's more like $5,000 - $7,000 (when you consider food, tickets, travel, lodging, souvenirs, etc...) so I am already stretching the budget. If I only get 3 hours, then I guess that's what it is. I will have to consider (or re-consider) this.

I also appreciated the Safety Article. There is good information there too.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

We have never had an issue at a rest area, I provide my own security.
No overnight parking is pretty ambiguous and the time limit that some states have can vary widely.

 

[tmoo]

It really isn't about the $25 it is about being able to drive until I am tired instead of making a reservation for a specific location also pulling over without having to drive miles from the interstate. I don't want to drive 7 miles from the interstate to a campground at 1AM and drive around trying to find a spot, manage to hit something with my trailer in the dark,and then have some guy knock on my door at 6AM to make sure I pay.

I would prefer a (relatively) secure campground with electric, but most of the time it is less hassle to just park in a lot somewhere. That said, I do avoid rest areas if possible. I self protect, but a part of self protecting is choosing wise places to stop.

 

[sirenia88]

Hi!

The last time I drove to the Fort, I pulled over in Kingsland, GA to the KOA there. It was around $30 a night and self service at 1030 at night. The office leaves you a list of available sites. The KoA was literally 2 minutes off the interstate and 3 or so hours from the land of the mouse. The next morning when we were ready to head at, I stopped at the office. The lady opened the door about 20 minutes early so I could pay up as I didn't feel comfortable leaving money or credit card. She understood. However, to each is his own. If you feel safe doing this, then so be it.

 

[northwindiana]

I agree w/ tmoo above. However with regard to the "rules", there is not way in God's green earth that the truckers who fill up those rest areas are only spending 3 hours there. Some of them, perhaps. Most are getting their required 8 hours in. We tried hitting a couple rest areas en route to the Fort and close by, and literally couldn't find a single available spot to accommodate us.