Heading to Orlando in complete ignorance
Jan 2, 2012, 10:35 pm
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,922
The International Drive (I Drive) area is a good place to stay, just like all cities, you have to be aware of your surroundings. It's an area of restaurants, shops and touristy gimmick attractions (not all bad). You probably do want a car unless you want to stay in just one area, like I-Drive, Disney, etc.
Another thing to do in Orlando that no one has yet mentioned is Outlet Mall Shopping, there are 2 big outlet malls near that area. There are also 2 other big malls nearby - Mall of Millenia near Ikea and the Florida Mall, this area starts to get dicey but I go there during the day.
Why don't you set up a small do/meet or mention it in the Community Forums? As someone else mentioned there are a bunch of FT'ers from the area and maybe we can get together? I am not yet sure if I am here that weekend, but if I am I'd love to get together although I'm not too keen on visiting at Universal Studios only because I've been there a few times recently.
BTW, do these toll roads take charge cards?
Jan 2, 2012, 10:58 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: MIA
Programs: Retired :)
Posts: 10,940
I'm not sure if they take credit cards, I doubt it since the toll booths are spaced every few miles and the tolls range from 50 cents to a couple of bucks. Your rental car company might have an e-pass on it that you can use, they usually charge you after they get billed from the highway system. It's well worth it if you think you will be driving the toll roads because the roads have separate e-pass lanes. Every major highway in Central Florida is toll except for I-4.
Jan 3, 2012, 6:20 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
I used to come with a pocket full of quarters too
Jan 3, 2012, 8:37 am
#20
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
Jan 3, 2012, 8:43 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
Depends on the car rental company I guess, but the last one I rented from in Orlando, wanted to charge a set daily fee for a toll pass. That daily fee was such that it would take quite a few tolls to make it worthwhile. So I would suggest checking with your car rental agency to see how/what they charge for that service. For me it was cheaper to just bring some change with me.
Wow, I was there in October and they still had an exact change lane. I guess that was a recent change.
Wow, I was there in October and they still had an exact change lane. I guess that was a recent change.
re: the toll. I think convenience stores such as 7-11 sell a visitors Sun pass for about $5 (not sure). We've never bought one because we really didn't use the toll roads much.
I just realized that we may be talking about 2 different toll roads. We never take the Greenway(?) because it costs more and takes longer. I'm talking about the tolls on the beeline.
Funny how all the airport signs that direct you toward Disney send you to the Greenway and don't even mention you can go the other way. Maybe because the tolls are more
Jan 3, 2012, 10:32 am
#22
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Central Florida, US
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 634
Dovster,
With a rental car, you could explore farther away and see a little bit of the real Florida. Here are two suggestions:
Wekiwa Springs State park
http://www.floridastateparks.org/wek...gs/default.cfm
http://www.canoewekiva.com/
http://wekivaisland.com/
Blue Spring State Park
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.cfm
Blue Spring might be the better choice as it is the winter home of many manatees and it is something uniquely "Florida". Many visitors never travel beyond a five-mile radius of Disney World and have a chance to see something like this.
-Vic
With a rental car, you could explore farther away and see a little bit of the real Florida. Here are two suggestions:
Wekiwa Springs State park
http://www.floridastateparks.org/wek...gs/default.cfm
http://www.canoewekiva.com/
http://wekivaisland.com/
Blue Spring State Park
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.cfm
Blue Spring might be the better choice as it is the winter home of many manatees and it is something uniquely "Florida". Many visitors never travel beyond a five-mile radius of Disney World and have a chance to see something like this.
-Vic
Jan 3, 2012, 10:38 am
#23
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,922
Before my parents passed away they lived in Margate for the last 20 years or so of their lives and I visited them on a regular basis, so I have spent a lot of time in South Florida and some time in Central Florida as well.
Jan 3, 2012, 11:42 am
#24
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
I promised my daughter I'd take her sometime during the 1st half of this year (but haven't settled on a date yet), but I'll try to keep the beeline in mind this time.
Jan 3, 2012, 12:18 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
All you have to do when leaving the airport is go in the opposite direction the signs pointing toward Disney say. You will end up driving past the convention center/i-drive, before reaching I-4.
It used to be the only way to go until the built the greenway.
Jan 5, 2012, 9:47 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Silver
Posts: 29,793
If it changes, I will try and make it up there.
Enjoy and let me know if you have any specific things in Orlando.
Jan 6, 2012, 9:39 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
Dov, It looks like I'll be missing you too. Any set of dates I may use will have us crossing paths at the airport 
Jan 6, 2012, 9:59 am
#28
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Yiron, Israel
Programs: Bates Motel Plat
Posts: 68,922
Jan 6, 2012, 11:37 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 7,710
My situation also fits the thread title, I'll be in Orlando Sunday and Monday nights (staying at the I-Drive Radisson on an award stay). I'm busy during the day on Sunday and Monday, but have all of Tuesday morning and afternoon uncommitted before my evening flight home.
What do you think is the best park or attraction you can do in 6-8 hours on a Tuesday (I'll have a car)? Is there anything remarkable to do in the evenings (not doable in most US cities)?
What do you think is the best park or attraction you can do in 6-8 hours on a Tuesday (I'll have a car)? Is there anything remarkable to do in the evenings (not doable in most US cities)?