Advice please from experienced Disney travellers!

Hi all!

I'm flying LGW/MCO on 11th Feb, booked through Virgin Holidays and staying at Disney's Yacht Club.

I've booked a car hire and now I'm panicking a bit. I've never driven on the 'wrong' side of the road and I'm wondering if I would be better off just using taxis?

We will want to do Universal, Discovery Cove and the Kennedy Space centre.

Any advice would be great! Thank you!!!

Definitely hire a car - it's so much easier, especially for getting to Universal, Discovery Cove and KSC.

For Disney you can use the complimentary resort buses if you like.

When I have been to Orlandi and stayed on site at Disney (usually the all stars) we have hired a car from the airport and driven to the hotel and then only used the car days we have been to Universal Or the Florida Mall & Walmart etc.

The rest of the time in Disney we have used the Disney Transportation system with a bus everywhere you want to go every 10mins or so.

Last year I didnt hire a car and used the magic express from the airport and felt quite restricted to Disney property I did get a taxi out for a day but it was a little expensive.

I would have the car for the freedom and make full use of the busses and boats from your hotel to the Disney parks downtown disney and the boardwalk.

There is a blog about all things Disney - The Dibb I think it's called.

From what I've been told it (the blog) can get a bit intense !

I wouldn't drive in NYC never having driven in America but Orlando is so spread out and well signed, plus they have a traffic light for every lane of traffic at every intersection in the state of Florida. Plus I don't think you could get lost in Disney if you tried there's so many signs. I'd hire a car.

I've been to Disney a number of times. The last time I went I rented a car. I would never not hire a car again!!

The Disney buses are good but are slow and you can wait a while for them to come along. Parking at the theme parks is free if you are staying at a resort.

Driving out there is actually really easy, I got used to it within about half an hour. If you are concerned, get a cab or Disney MDE from MCO to Yacht Club and then collect your hire car from Disney Car Care Centre. That way you can practice driving on Disney property which is a lot more relaxed and far less busy than the proper roads. I found driving in Florida to be a lot less stressful than over here tbh.

Getting to Universal and Discovery Cove is easy, although be aware that the Universal exit is on the left hand side of the motorway!!!

One other thing I loved was that when you stop at a red light, as long as theres nothing coming from the front or the left, you can turn right without waiting for the green light. Helps traffic flow massively. Their roads are so wide that you have a clear view to easily see whats coming.

Half the fun of the Disney hotel buses for me is playing the lottery over which park you are going to visit (to remove the need to decide) Just go to the bus stop and then go to whichever park's bus turns up first.

I don't generally have problems driving in Florida.
I DO tend to let the car wander a bit to the right for the first couple of days.

Definitely check out prices at petrol stations in Orlando.
They vary enormously.
http://www.orlandogasprices.com/
shows a variation of between $2.69 and $5.99 a gallon

Have fun,

Dick D

Agreed, we had a group of 8 in Orlando with 5 drivers and everyone said that driving in America was less stressful than driving in the UK and everyone very quickly picked it up!

I think you might struggle a little without a car in Orlando, certainly Kennedy was a really big trek in the car. Busch Gardens was a bus transfer that we took as part of the Orlando Flex Ticket!

We always rent a car in Orlando, even if the last time we drove less than 150 miles

Staying onsite, you will really struggle to justify the expense - the Disney transport, be it bus, boat or monorail is really great.

Staying at the fabulous Yacht Club, you also have the option of a 5 min stroll to Epcot or a 10 min stroll to Hollywood Studios (which helps walk off the occasional Turkey Leg )

But when further afield, especially the space centre, a car is really the way to go. Driving is different but relatively safe (although most of the accidents you see are caused by either tourists or the elderly) and the bonus of being able to jump in your car to go to the supermarket, malls or other attractions far out way the inconvenience of taxis or trolley buses etc.

It can get a little busy near the attractions and near the convention centres on iDrive but we always take the attitude that you can easily do a uturn and go back to the pool !

Enjoy your trip and don't get too hung up on driving on the wrong side of the road.

David

Thank you all for your replies!

I think I'll stick with the car hire then as it sounds as though that's the way to go. I didn't know you could arrange to collect your hire car from a Disney Car centre, I'd never heard of that before, and it sounds really good. I'm not keen on getting off a long flight straight onto unknown roads so I'll investigate that some more!

Another thumbs up for hiring a car, I actually prefer driving in Orlando to back home. You will pick it up in no time

If your worried about driving straight from the flight, there is a Hyatt at Orlando airport, you could stay there, then pick up your car in the morning.

I was scared witless the first time I drove in the US, but got used to it very quickly and now quite enjoy it, save for the adherence to the four way stop junction where anyone with any sense would put a roundabout. As others have said, I would recommend picking the car up the day after the flight if you can arrange it.

One other thing I loved was that when you stop at a red light, as long as theres nothing coming from the front or the left, you can turn right without waiting for the green light. Helps traffic flow massively.

Do watch out for instances where it is not permitted plus the fact that you have to come to a *complete* stop first, before making the turn.

As others have said, if you go to Orlando, hire a car for sure. It is relatively cheap and gives you complete flexibility. Gas (petrol) is cheap too.

The roads around the tourist areas of Orlando are wide and relatively quiet. The Police are fairly tolerant on minor mistakes too - once they see you are an "out of town" driver & there is no drink/drugs involved. Just be 100% courteous & keep your hands in full view on the steering wheel if stopped.

Also, on the Interstates be aware that you overtake on either side - you need to keep your wits about you as us Brits are only used to overtaking on one side. (That said, when returning from Florida and seeing some of the idiots on the motorways here, it is a hard habit to give up!)

Also flying out to Orlando on the 11th Feb LGW/MCO route. Driving over there is a doodle, just be mindful of ability to undertake/overtake on the interstate!

Mash Tattie, sounds like we'll be on the same flight! I'm also going LGW/MCO on the 11th Feb!

Just realised I'd already said that in my first post. Doh.

As others have said, if you go to Orlando, hire a car for sure. It is relatively cheap and gives you complete flexibility. Gas (petrol) is cheap too.

The roads around the tourist areas of Orlando are wide and relatively quiet. The Police are fairly tolerant on minor mistakes too - once they see you are an "out of town" driver & there is no drink/drugs involved. Just be 100% courteous & keep your hands in full view on the steering wheel if stopped.

Also, on the Interstates be aware that you overtake on either side - you need to keep your wits about you as us Brits are only used to overtaking on one side. (That said, when returning from Florida and seeing some of the idiots on the motorways here, it is a hard habit to give up!)

Free for all passing should be the exception, not the rule. Part of the problem may be the pensioner constantly driving in the passing lane going 50...hehe.

Oh, Florida. The only place I've had racist slurs thrown at me not once, but twice in the same holiday by another driver.

Don't worry, you're in Orlando, it's a whole different beast.

I've been 4 times in the last 4 years - done it a number of ways...

First time stayed outside of Disney in a villa and used car 100% - driving is easy and just takes a little time to adjust. Grabbed the car at the airport which is convenient but puts you straight on the roads without a clue where to go... SatNav decided it wouldn't kick in so had to drive until it did.

Then tried staying at Disney. Best bit is getting the Magical Express straight from the airport. It is so stress free especially after the flight. Then picked the car up a little later in the holiday. The Disney transport is stress free too and surprisingly regular - added bonus of being able to consume some alcohol without worrying about driving...

I've picked the car up from Alamo from the Dolphin hotel - which is easily accessed from Epcot. Best prices I found were booking via Virgin Holidays bizarrely - and also get miles.

A car is almost essential but you could manage without but the convenience of going shopping to Walmart or similar is worth it. If going further afield to Kennedy then definitely - easy route.

One downside is the parking charges - $17/day this year which isn't a huge amount but can add up. This year we did 1 week at Grand Floridian (Club room - yum!), maxed out Disney for that week and then picked the car up and went to the Grand Vacations Hilton Resort at Seaworld - walked to Seaworld in 10 mins with 'free' express pass.

Re: Navigating.
Whenever I go somewhere new I Google the journey and look at street view for each junction.
My last drive from Orlando up to South Carolina went without a hitch. As I approached each junction I remembered it from Street view and knew where to go.
Mind you I enjoy the planning stage of a holiday as much as the actual holiday.
Dick D

Great tip Dicky D. I'll do that, thank you!

I have been for the last 15 years and never opted for the car, if you are on site the Disney transport is good and your resort is in between two of the parks anyway. There will be a parking fee at resort, then your insurance and the risk of having your credit card cloned ( apparantly Alamo ).
I did universal from Saratoga and it was $70 there and back.
Without a car Disney will transport you from the airport and back.
Have a look on The Dibb it has loads of info, though beware of the judgemental armchair nut jobs that reside there.
Enjoy your trip, I have without the car.

Dicky D - each junction??

... There will be a parking fee at resort, then your insurance and the risk of having your credit card cloned ( apparantly Alamo ).
...

Parking is free at disney hotels, and if you are staying at a disney hotel all 4 disney parks allow you to park for free with your hotel permit.

Dicky D - each junction??

Those that I'm making a turn on.
So to get to South Carolina I just head north out of the airport and continue till I hit the 408 (Study street view)
West until I hit the I4, (street view)
North to Daytona Beach and pick up the I95 (street view)
I go around Jacksonville on the I295 so 2 more junctions
Then back on the I95 until junction 8 in S.C
So I only really have 6 junctions to study to get me 300 miles
Dick D