Orlando Travel Forum

Hi

We'll be in Orlando for 10days in early Decemeber.
We will not be driving, any recommendation which area will be more convenient, International Drive, Buena vista or kissimmee?

Have anyone been to HGV International Drive, Vacation Village at Parkway, Orlando International Resort Club or Polynesian Isles? Any comments on these resorts? Are there any eating places, supermart, and shopping malls nearby?

Beside DisneyWorld, Universal Studios and IOA, we plan to go Richard Petty Driving Ride-along and Gatorland. May I know how can I get there?

Thanks in advance for all feedback and comments.

We have been to the HGV International Drive (Hilton Grand Vacation Club) and it is beautiful. Orlando without a car?? Well, I am sure they will have a shuttle to Disney World, etc. and Sea World is not far from them also. They have a small cafe/grocery store one floor below the main floor which exits onto the pool area. For activities around the pool they have heaters throwing off the heat. Directly across from their main gates (International Drive) there is a BIG supermarket. International Drive buses (very inexpensive) will take you into Orlando proper where the big hotels are and convention centre are and lots of shopping. Actually when we were there 2 years ago, one of their gates opens onto a big outdoor Brand Name Mall. SeaWorld is not far from HGV . Downtown Disney, be sure to enquire about Circus Soleil (pricey but well worth seeing). Gatorland, Hmmm........I think you need a car for that. And don't forget the coast........2 hr. drive to the Gulf (of course you can't swim in there in the winter time unless youre Scandinavian.) Less time to reach the Atlantic coast where the Kennedy Centre is.

Def need to stay on I-drive - put pay for a nice hotel as the cheaper ones can leave a lot to be desired on I-Drive.

I actually don't like I-Drive as it's very commercial but it is great if you don't drive, everything you could need. Make sure whichever hotel you choose offers shuttles to the parks - mainly Disney - you can get to the other parks on foot or on the i-hop.

Do not even entertain Kissimmee - (although it's my preference) without a car, it's on;y been pedestianised for a few years and really isn't desingned for holidaymakers without transport!

Gatorland is closer to Kissimmee and I doubt you could get there without a car but if you contact them they may run a pre-bookable shutt.e from I-drive.

Check Seaworld website. You can buy a combo pass to Seaworld and Bush Gardens over in Tampa area and the site says that they offer a Free Shuttle from Seaworld to Bush Gardens. That is about a two hour drive as part of your ticket price of about 100 dollars for both parks.

You could spend a day at Orlando Premium Outlets http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=17 It is actually off International Drive but it's down near the southern end if I drive.

I dropped wife and daughter off there while I took sons go carting then picked them up at end of day. Many good bargains and choices. It is HUGE

I would stay in Lake Buena Vista if I didn't have a car and wanted to visit Disney. Some hotels are right by the gates and provide free shuttles in. There's also a group of restaurants and shops at the crossroads centre which is walking distance from the hotels. It's a much nicer area to stay in than international drive.

I stayed in International drive without a car. The I ride trolley (like a bus) is very cheap and has stops all the way along I drive, we used it to get to Universal and seaworld. To get to Disney takes longer, you need to take the i ride to seaworld then swap to a Lynx bus which then goes to Disney, it took us from our hotel around 90 mins each way to disney. Many hotels offer free or cheap shuttle buses to the parks.

Marriott Grande Vista on I-drive is close to Disney and Sea World and they have shuttles to everywhere. Because it is a timeshare you can shop online on either E-Bay or Timeshares Only and rent a week from someone who wants their yearly maitenance fees paid who isn't traveling. Floridays, Bluegreen Fountains, and Sheraton Vistana Villages are all very close and will offer the same things for a visitor without a car.