Tom Tom SatNav

[stevenorth]

Guess what, we are going to WDW NEXT MONTH. (sounds better than 6 weeks)

Getting there;

Disney tickets arrived (14 day unlimiteds)
ADRs booked
MNSSHP tickets arrived

Next question is about Tom Tom satnav.

I intend taking my Satnav with me but need to download the right maps from the TT website.

Has anyone done this, and if so, did you get just the Orlando city map or the whole of Florida.

We are flying to Sanford but will be staying central once we are there.

Rgds Stephen

 

[flortlebap]

I haven't used it myself but as long as you download the correct data I don't see why you'd have a problem. I'd download the whole of Florida if it was me - you don't know how much area "just Orlando" would cover. It might just give you the city of Orlando and none of the hotels or parks!

 

[Cyrano]

Would be interested in knowing how you get on and if others had done this ?

 

[stevenorth]

I have now had a response from TOM TOM - SEE BELOW

[Thank you for contacting TomTom Customer Support.
You will need to purchase either 2 city maps (sanford and Orlando), then once you enter the Orlando district you will then need to swtich maps alternatively you can purchase the entire region ]

I'm now think maybe buy the whole of Florida, may look on EBAY.

Cheers
Stephen

 

[rosiejo]

Stephen - might be worth comparing the price of the maps with the option to add sat nav to your rental car. I know that you will be able to use your maps on future trips but with the rate they're building new roads around the Disney area you never know when they'll go out of date.

I have a Tom Tom though so would be interested in knowing how much the maps cost when you find some

ETA: Is this your first trip? To be honest as long as you plan your journey's a head of the day using a decent map it's pretty hard to get lost. Last trip they tried to sell us a sat nav system when we picked up the rental and DH told htem he already had sat nav... me!

We got lost twice on the trip and that was when we were trying to find a tux rental store that wasn't on a tourist map

 

[bazzanoid]

I've told DW she's got the fun job of navigating from the airport to the villa, since i'll be concentrating on driving on the 'wrong' side of the road, florida traffic laws differ to ours etc etc etc.

Now she's worrying somewhat and reading up on the road maps around the whole area.

I neglected to mention a few things:

1) I've driven in teh USA before
2) As part of the planning process, I've got the whole area locked in my head in case of diversion (photographic memory)
3) We're taking the satnav

Aren't I Evil?

 

[bazzanoid]

But to answer the question, I would definitely compare the difference between buying the maps and renting a unit there.

We have come across a less-than-legitimate disc at the local boot sale with the USA maps for my PDA's satnav (Destinator). I wouldn't recommend it though. totally against software piracy, even if it would save me £££'s. ahem.

 

[wicket2005]

I bought the whole of the USA maps for £109 for my Tom Tom One. I figured if we were hiring a sat nav with the car at a fiver a day, it made sense just to buy the maps.

Though we have been to Orlando quite a few times the sat nav did come in handy. However, sometimes it wasn't clear which exit you were turning off on when you had 2 within 50 yards or so of each other. We ended up getting lost more times with the Tom Tom than we did when I just navigated. However, when we ended up on a major motorway totally lost, thanks to not following the sat nav right, the Tom Tom got us home. I would suggest that as a precaution you do carry a map with you as a back up.

The best bit was when we were lost on a major motorway, I think it was the turnpike, and were trying to get to Belz, we ended up on the I4 with the Tom Tom saying 'you have now reached your destination'. It was quite correct it was to be seen through a wire fence on the edge of the I4 but, of course, there was no way we could stop!

Orlando has quite a few road exits close together which go out in big circles to put you on another road, these type of exits are particularly difficult to read sometimes on the Tom Tom when you are not familiar with the road - so just be a bit cautious.