Driving In Florida Or Not..

[Cindylou41]

Hi, I want to book a holiday in Florida for next year, doing all the theme parks etc. but I don't want to drive out there really. It will be just me (a Mum) and young son. Can anyone recommend the best area or hotel that I can stay centrally with access to shuttles? Also I guess I can just get a taxi to and from the airport to the hotel. It just seems that most package holidays come with a hire car as standard and I'm not the most confident driver in the world so I would rather try and avoid it! If you have been to Florida without driving, I would love to hear from you.

Many thanks.

[Cloverjo]

It's been a while since I was in Florida, but the Disney Sport and Music complexes were good value and have shuttles running continuously.

[jennyjoan]

It has been years for me too but I do think if you get accommodation in International Drive (think that is the correct name) there are shuttles to take you back and forth to the theme parks.

[sherrardk]

Having recently returned I know I wouldn't be able to drive there, far too scary. All of the Disney hotels have regular shuttles to the parks but some of the other hotels only seemed to have a limited shuttle service.

[factor-fiction]

Yes- I'd agree with either of those. The Sports and Music complexes are more for families with young children (fast food, no bars and restaurants that I can remember), so International Drive may be better.
I prefer to jump on the shuttles, but I have driven and it was much easier than i expected- the roads were virtually empty and everyone was always going the same way- either to Disney or home from Disney

[mikey4444]

You are not going to be in theme parks all day, every day surely ? America is a very difficult country to see without a car. Distances between places can be quite large. The whole country is planned from a drivers perspective. Anyway, most Yanks drive much slower and tentatively than us Brits, so you shouldn't find it very stressful. Another thing you should think of is the extreme heat in Florida...at least with a rental car you will have the bliss of AC !

[black_cat51]

the problem is htat even just popping across i drive for a bite to eat, ot to go to the supermarket, is a very serious undertaking without a car - it's just not built for pedestrians

[Pooka1950]

We stayed at the Disney Pop Century resort which was reasonably priced at the time. They had shuttle buses to the theme parks and to shopping/restaurant areas and water parks. Mind you, that was a few years ago so things might have changed.

[Captain2]

We went last year. In my opinion your best bet is to get a hotel on International Drive. It's about 20 to 30 dollars taxi ride from the airport. Most of the hotels run shuttles to and from all the attractions, and they go straight through the entrances, no queuing like individuals have to do in peak season.
There is a bus service that runs all day along International Drive for a minimal fee which will get you to the Shopping Malls, Restaurant areas and local water parks, fairground areas and the like.
Most evenings we walked for miles along ID with no problems, plenty of pavements and it buzzes of an evening. Just pick up plenty of street maps and the bus routes.

[Cindylou41]

Thanks so much everyone, really useful info. Hotel on International Drive it is then!