International Drive or Lake Buena Vista for non driver?

[NextQueen]

Hi

I do not want to drive when visiting Florida and had originally decided on International Drive but Lake Buena Vista has just been recommended to me. Can anyone give me some advice where best to stay on either resorts that is very handy for the buses etc.

Thanks :wavey:

[Jaydee]

I would say they both had certain benefits i.e. I-Drive is closer to
Universal, Seaworld than LBV and LBV is probably more appropriate
for getting to Disney, but that doesn't mean you can't get to Disney
from I-Drive as you can get a Lynx bus from Seaworld. Slightly more
difficult to get to Universal from LBV but you could get a cab.

Hope I've helped a little although I'm sure there will be others on
here who know more than me :D


Forgot to say Welcome to the Dibb!

[wazzimama]

we always do a week at each, it's so much easier. we spend a week doing disney and then the 2nd down on i-drive and do seaworld and universal, works out the same price too

[Bullpeppar]

I really couldn't give an answer as we always hire a car.

[ali-s]

Hi and welcome ! :) if you want to do Universal and SeaWorld, then I drive would be a good option - choose a hotel that offers free transport to all parks ( I would recommend Homewood suitres nr Pointe Orlando ) there has been a thread recently on which hotels offer free transport, will see if I can find it.
I've never stayed at Lake Beunavista, so can't comment, but I know some dibbers prefer it. You could always do as we do - 1 week I drive then 1 week on site Disney , best of both worlds.

[Scotsmomma]

Welcome to the dibb......for years we only stayed on Idrive...then found LBV and have stayed there our last 4 times.....We now stay in the Royal Plaza on Plaza Boulevard it has a great free shuttle bus to Disney..they run till 3 am to Pleasure Island....it's still easy to get to Seaworld and I drive by Lynx bus which stops every 30 mins just down the road from the Plaza....loads of restaurants within walking distance....an added bonus is it's a short walk to Downtown Disney

[ali-s]

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=191662&highlight=free+transport

Here's the thread ( if it works ! )

[meggy]

If Disney is your main visiting point then I would suggest LBV.

All the hotels on the Hotel Plaza have courtesy buses to all of the Disney parks - they go roughly every half an hour.

From the hotel plaza you can easily walk to DTD and the other way to crossroads which gives you a 24 hour supermarket, a few shops and some eating places. :wavey:

[Emma Y]

Hiya :wave:

We don't drive and last visit we stayed in I Drive, caught the I ride trolley to Seaworld, the hotel did a complimentary shuttle to Universal. For Disney we caught the I ride trolley to stop 38, crossed the road and caught the Lynx bus number 50 to the TTC from where there was transport to all the Disney parks. Next time we are staying in I Drive first to do US and SW and then moving to Lake Buena Vista for Disney.

Emma :wavey:

[Jo&Stew]

Hi, when we went we didn't drive and stayed on I-Drive. We had no problems getting around. Our hotel had a free shuttle to Disney. We got the trolley thing to Sea World. We got buses and taxis to Universal and walked to Wet and Wild as it was next to our hotel.

Can't comment on LBV as never been, but everything was fine staying on I-Drive.

Jo
x

[Cannavar]

I found LBV very conveniant for Sea World as well.

Can't remember the exact cost but a checker cab was very cheap and quick to get there. If you look on google earth you'll see just how close the park is.

The only long trip is to Universal and even then its a good deal in the cab. Next time we go we're going for 3 weeks with a week in the hard rock to begin with. That way you get the best of both worlds :)

[Lesley_Perschky]

We stayed on I-Drive for a week, and then stayed on site. The Lynx bus (50) goes around LBV so either way getting around is easy. We got taxis to Universal as the bus route was not reliable.

[linda160864]

Hi :wavey:
We usually stay on I-drive as we don't like to drive on holiday either. We try to find hotels that offer free shuttles to both universal & disney. We have stayed at the Hawthorn suites on Canada avenue (free shuttle,breakfast, evening reception with alcoholic drinks - all complimentary), Enclave Suites (which we didn't like) Haven't stayed at but have read good reviews of the Homewood suites onI-drive & they also offer a shuttle service. Other times we have moved hotels to suit the parks we are visiting and both ways have been good. This year we are staying for a few nights at disney, few nights onsite at Universal and the rest of the time on I-drive.

[motty1969]

We always stay on I Drive and this time used Best Western PLaza International, up near Point Orlando. We had free shuttle bus to Disney, Universal , and used the I Ride trolley for Seaworld. There's no need to get a car and have the extra expense if you don't intend to travel any where else other than all the theme parks.

[loadsapixiedust]

We like LBV, but we also always have a car, so no expert.

My advice would be rather than looking at the location look at the shuttle service from each resort you consider. A resort further away with a regular free shuttle to all the parks might make for a better holiday than one closer to the parks which charges a fee and only runs once a day. Swapping betwen 2 resorts might also make sense.

[ERICSMUM]

Going off at a tangent, I'm going to be controversial now and suggest that you do hire a car!

I love driving out there and personally I think you save a lot of time and also get to see more in a day.

Other dibbers might shoot me down in flames (sorry!), but this is my opinion.

Linda :wavey:

[jaynie3991]

Hi there

My daughter and I have just returned from staying at the Fairfield Inn at LBV and we were so happy that we did. We have stayed on I Drive before and I honestly have to say I didn't miss being there one bit. We loved been away from the 'busyness' so to speak. Both my daughter and I drive but decided not to this time and it was very easy to get around.
The Mears bus were at the hotels regularly to take you to the disney parks. Seaworld only cost $1 to get there because we walked to the Premium Outlets and jumped on the trolley! Infact we did that alot to get around as it was so easy. We did get a taxi to Universal which only cost us $11 each, but we knew we would have to this for there so it was no suprise!
As I mentioned before, Premium Outlets are easily walked to. We were a bit concerned the first time we walked there as I had read on here 'you take your life in your hands crossing the road' but that was not the case at all and we crossed it many many times! You are on a footpath right to the Outlets. Saying that though, if you can't walk quickly then the road would be daunting.
In my opinion we found staying away from International Drive for accommodation this time a real eye opener. It was as if we had gone on holiday somewhere totally different not just a few mile down the road. I will always choose LBV or Kissemee from now on.

If anyone wants to know about the Fairfield etc please feel free to get in touch.

[princessfiona]

There is a lot of mixed feelings about what is best. We stayed on I-Drive and have visted LBV. Whilst LBV is a great location for Disney and DTD for night, it is beautiful, I-Drive i feel has more to offer you for eating places and walking around after night if you wish. There also seemed to be more buses going past so I think it will be easier for you to get transport around.

[Burties]

We NEVER hire a car...stay at www.homewoodsuitesorlando.com and has all the free transport we need and it's very quiet.

[eeyore1903]

Hi there

My daughter and I have just returned from staying at the Fairfield Inn at LBV and we were so happy that we did. We have stayed on I Drive before and I honestly have to say I didn't miss being there one bit. We loved been away from the 'busyness' so to speak. Both my daughter and I drive but decided not to this time and it was very easy to get around.
The Mears bus were at the hotels regularly to take you to the disney parks. Seaworld only cost $1 to get there because we walked to the Premium Outlets and jumped on the trolley! Infact we did that alot to get around as it was so easy. We did get a taxi to Universal which only cost us $11 each, but we knew we would have to this for there so it was no suprise!
As I mentioned before, Premium Outlets are easily walked to. We were a bit concerned the first time we walked there as I had read on here 'you take your life in your hands crossing the road' but that was not the case at all and we crossed it many many times! You are on a footpath right to the Outlets. Saying that though, if you can't walk quickly then the road would be daunting.
In my opinion we found staying away from International Drive for accommodation this time a real eye opener. It was as if we had gone on holiday somewhere totally different not just a few mile down the road. I will always choose LBV or Kissemee from now on.

If anyone wants to know about the Fairfield etc please feel free to get in touch.


The Fairfield Inn is absolutely ideal for everything. You can also get the I-Ride to within 5 mins walk to Universal. It's the green line I think although it takes 30 minutes or so to get there.

I would always recommend this to anyone who wasnt driving, very short walk to the Outlets and bus stops virtually outside the hotel to everywhere else.

[dawn ann]

we are staying at the hawthorn for our first trip to orlando and we don't drive either , and have been told this better 4 us