Tolls question

[crazymama]

Okay... forgive the ignorance of a Canuck but just how much American change will we need to get from the airport to Emerald Island? I know that there are tolls but have no clue what they cost and I want to be prepared.

 

[bankr63]

It's not a lot, but depends on the route you take. It's about $1.50-$1.75 from the airport to I-4. If you take the 429 (Western Way) it will add a small amount more - probably about $0.50. There are payment booths on the airport routes so you can use bills there and get change, but some 429 exits are change or pass only.

Assuming you are renting a car, you may consider using your agency's toll saver. Just understand the costs. Some are quite reasonable (Alamo/National) only charging you for the days you use it. Others (like Budget) charge you for every day of the rental and it can add up. I'm willing to pay a couple of $$ to not worry about change.

 

[sympatico]

Just to clarify the above, it's 417 Florida Greenway from the airport not 429.
If you take the south exit at the airport you then take 417 to Kissimmee. There will be two manned toll booths which cost around $1.50 each. There's also an unmanned exit toll of 50 cents. Make sure you have the 50 cents for this.
We take exit 2 for Celebration then take a left when you get out to 192 also called Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. Take a left onto Formosa Gardens Blvd (intersection by Red Lobster, about 5-6 km), then take a right onto Funie Steed Rd after about a km. The entrance to Emerald Island has a dolphin fountain.
We usually take this way because the traffic is a lot less than the north exit and 528 and I-4. 528 has a toll or two also so it doesn't make much difference moneywise.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

On our trip last month, our rental car had one of those EZPass (Sunpass?) things in the car. It had a switch to activate it, then you just paid the tolls with your bill at the end of your trip.

I don't know if every rental car has this, and I have no idea if there's an extra fee for using it. But, it might be worth looking into in your case, so you don't have to worry about the tolls. Plus, the fast lanes are quicker--you slow down to ~20mph, no need to stop, fumble for a bill, and get change.

 

[crazymama]

Thanks for the helpful information! Just emptied out our loose change jar and have lots of American quarters if we should need them. I don't know if Dollar car rental has the "pass" convenience but will check with them when we check in.

 

[Detailor]

I don't know if Dollar car rental has the "pass" convenience but will check with them when we check in.

You should research this to be sure but the last time that I used Dollar in Orlando they were offering what they call Pass24 for $6.99/day. Even if you were going back and forth to the airport every day, during your vacation, you'd be spending more for the "convenience" than you'd actually spend in tolls (2x $1.25 at the manned toll booths along SR 417 and either $0.25 or $0.50 at the unmanned booth at the exit each way).
I just make sure that I have a few quarters with me in case I'm using one of the unmanned exits and save a few dollars rather than taking the Pass24 option.

Dick Taylor

 

[softballmom3]

I don't have the exact amount either but I just take a roll of quarters every time and have always had enough .

 

[Orlando Vic]

I have no idea if there's an extra fee for using it.

There certainly is, and it may cost more than the actual tolls which are not that much.

 

[bankr63]

Just to clarify the above, it's 417 Florida Greenway from the airport not 429.
If you take the south exit at the airport you then take 417 to Kissimmee. There will be two manned toll booths which cost around $1.50 each. There's also an unmanned exit toll of 50 cents. Make sure you have the 50 cents for this.
We take exit 2 for Celebration then take a left when you get out to 192 also called Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. Take a left onto Formosa Gardens Blvd (intersection by Red Lobster, about 5-6 km), then take a right onto Funie Steed Rd after about a km. The entrance to Emerald Island has a dolphin fountain.
We usually take this way because the traffic is a lot less than the north exit and 528 and I-4. 528 has a toll or two also so it doesn't make much difference moneywise.

Just following GPS mode. If you take the Beachline (North of airport) to I-4, it will take you Irlo Bronson. If you take the Greeneway (South of airport), my GPS takes you to I-4 then 429/Western Way which is a second toll road. This is for Silver Lake Resort, but it is fairly nearby Emerald Isle. I guess I was a bit ambiguous in my original post about the two toll roads out of the airport.

Just be aware that if you follow your GPS you may take two separate toll roads to get there.