Student trip to Orlando? Without a car? HELP :P

prozak

Hello moneysavers, I'm looking for some Orlando experience please, so I need some wisdom.It basically comes down to 2 things, can we use the transport system in Orlando Florida to get to the places we want, themeparks, maybe a bball match, malls etc (including the evening for citywalk/downtown disney). And secondly as we'd need a hotel on International drive how much would a hotel look at costing for a week?

We're young which is why we can't drive out there so if the transport system isn't reliable we will have to look for an alternative holiday destination. Plus I think we were hoping to be going on budget at as close to £500 as possible, could this be done?

Thanks, I eagerly await feedback from you guys.

Amys

If you want down town disney and to go to the parks it may be woth looking at staying oin Disney property, then you have the free transport to the Dsiney parks, water parks as well as Downtown Disney and PLeasure island, If you look at the vlaue resorts; POP and the All STars, they can be very reasonble. If you book them through the US disney, (001 407, WDW DISNEY)if any of you are AA members you can get between 10% - 15% off as well, but ask for the AAA discount. It may be easier for the parks than I drive.

A lot of hotels do run buses to the parks, but they are limited to specific times and may also not be free. The buses are not bad, and you can do it witout a car. Is anyone over 21, as platinum insurance policies wil usually cover over 21's rather than over 25's.


Costs wil vary by the time of year

Edinburghlass_2

Best to read the Florida and Orlando thread...

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=23331&page=36

pennylane99

I have been to Orlando about a dozen times now, and I dont drive at all. Never have any problems getting around, using hotel shuttle buses, local transport...or booking day trips further afield through hotel or Virgin reps...

blue_monkey_2

Can I just add, if you have no car do not stay in a Disney Hotel, it's pants. There is no transportaion out of Disney and that makes food and travel very expensive. We stayed when you got tickets with your hotel and after a week we had enough, saw as much of Disney as we could on the tickets and checked out sharpish! We stayed on International Drive, you can get the trolley up and down and then there are Lynx Buses (but we never used these) most hotels have a shuttle bus running to and from the Disney Parks so look for this when booking as you'll find this most helpful. We had to pay $25 for a taxi from Disney to I. Drive each time there and back so puts a dent in your spending money so unless you are getting something extra (like the free dining plan with Disney) then I would not recommend them to anyone without a car.

Oh, and go to Ponderosa for Brekkie $2.99 for all you can eat. Yum!!

burbs_2

The transport on I Drive is ok, frequent buses run. The Lynx and I Ride Trolley both run up and down. However if you stay on I Drive and have to get to Disney then it takes quite a while as you have to change and the buses are usually very very busy, especially on the way back.

We went in August 06 and didnt have the car to start with, after a few days we took the car as its just a hassle having to wait for buses and then getting onto a crowded bus. They are pretty cheap though. If you can factor in a little extra waiting time then your holiday should be fine on public transport, us with a little daughter who just wants to get to the parks didnt really have the paitence.

I Drive hotels are not expensive. Cant give you exact prices though.

Broken_hearted

blue_monkey wrote:

Can I just add, if you have no car do not stay in a Disney Hotel, it's pants. There is no transportaion out of Disney and that makes food and travel very expensive. We stayed when you got tickets with your hotel and after a week we had enough, saw as much of Disney as we could on the tickets and checked out sharpish! We stayed on International Drive, you can get the trolley up and down and then there are Lynx Buses (but we never used these) most hotels have a shuttle bus running to and from the Disney Parks so look for this when booking as you'll find this most helpful. We had to pay $25 for a taxi from Disney to I. Drive each time there and back so puts a dent in your spending money so unless you are getting something extra (like the free dining plan with Disney) then I would not recommend them to anyone without a car.

Oh, and go to Ponderosa for Brekkie $2.99 for all you can eat. Yum!!

This information is wrong. You can catch the Lynx bus from the transportation centre in disney for a lot less than $25.

Adbru

Hi,

we went on a family holiday (5 of us) to orlando in summer 2003.

Stayed at the best western plaza on I-Drive, the holiday came with "free hire car"... but the car cost around £25/day insurance !
We declined the car and got free transfers instead, The hotel did free transport to disney+seaworld+universal.
We used the trolley bus frequently to get up and down i-drive and only had to get a cab once when we went to the "Arabian Nights" show near Kissimme.

We are in no rush to go back but if we did then we would get a car in order to do some sightseeing rather than do a "parks" holiday.

HTH


Adbru

(p.s. the best western plaza was pretty basic but then how much time do you plan to spend there !! )

pennylane99

I have also used the free shuttle buses to the parks from hotels I am not even staying at, they dont ask to prove you are a guest there.

LittleTinker

You dont need a car if you stay on International Drive.

So many things are in walking distance and you have the choice of all the excellent cheap restaurants.

You also have free shuttle buses to ALL the theme parks from most of the hotels.

Staying in Disney itself is a pain unless Disney is all you want to do and you can afford all the inflated prices.

prozak

Thankyou very much for your help guys, this is looking dooable Well the driver in our party is 18 years old, and I thought you needed to be 21 to drive abroad but does anybody know if its possible at 18?
Even if it turns out that we could drive about, it may still be easier and cheaper for us to stay on I drive because I'm sure they'll sting us on insurance for driving. Thanks again guys