Driving in the USA especially orlando

[diddldonna]

Hello we have been to Disney World 6 times and each time just used the Disney Buses and magical express and a few taxi rides. However we really would like to travel around and visit a few other places. My husband has never driven in another country and is a bit scared of the idea. How easy or hard is it? Any advice that would be helpful to him and maybe give him the confidence to give it a go.

Also regarding sat navs, if you hire a car and get one are they easy to use and follow? compared to ours.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

Driving is so easy albeit I can accept it must seem daunting the first time. It was for me picking up a car in Manhattan during rush hour in 1976!

I have recently updated the Dibb Guide with help from Mick, well worth a read.

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/Dri...-USA-p-84.html

If the sat nav is built in they are like our built in ones. Excellent. Others have their own tips such as pre downloading maps onto the phone, you can rent one off E Bay for £15 etc.

[martyn7836]

Easy very easy in fact I think it's easier than over in the Uk only thing he will find funny at first may be a automatic but after he remembers to keep his left foot tucked in and not tempted to hit the brake with it all will be fine. Maybe if poss have a go of a auto in U.K. But the roads and driving in Orlando is perfect even in the busy areas.
Everywhere is set up for tourist as you would have seen in the past loads of signage plus he could use a sat nav if he prefers.
Check out the driving tips and advice that Mr Tom has done on here I've driven a few times over there now and I still found it very informative.

[BucksBugsy]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

Driving is so easy albeit I can accept it must seem daunting the first time. It was for me picking up a car in Manhattan during rush hour in 1976!

I have recently updated the Dibb Guide with help from Mick, well worth a read.

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/Dri...-USA-p-84.html

If the sat nav is built in they are like our built in ones. Excellent. Others have their own tips such as pre downloading maps onto the phone, you can rent one off E Bay for £15 etc.

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Tom,this is a very wise way of putting it. The concerns about dribing in a different country (mainly the USA/Orlando in this forum come up quite often. As Tom rightly says it can b daunting especially after a long flight but there is some good advice at the link above.

Take your time and enjoy.

[Orlando 2004]

Originally Posted by martyn7836

thing he will find funny at first may be a automatic but after he remembers to keep his left foot tucked in and not tempted to hit the brake with it all will be fine

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This was my mistake on our recent trip. Not even sure why I did it as I'd driven fine earlier in the week. Couldn't work out what I was doing wrong and don't know how we didn't crash. DH says I'm not driving again.

[MrsWDW]

Sit in the car a while before you drive off, adjust everything that needs adjusting, mirrors, seats, aircon etc. The actual driving is easy once you are used to the car.

[martyn7836]

First car I had to drive in Florida was about 8 years ago and it was a Chrysler 300c which was a massive car compared to what I drove back In uK at the time. Anyhow my mistake was getting the car loading everything in jumped in the passenger seat (wife and kids laughing at me) it was only when I got in the correct side and sat in drivers seat and turned the key I thought what the hell do I do now. Never seen the foot parking brake before (again another reason to read toms guide on driving) anyhow I got out and asked the car rental staff who were great came over talked me through the car what everything did etc and he even offered to get in the car while I drive it to the barrier. All worked out fine and was very comfortable the following day however as tom said it can be a worry the first time whatever he's going through he's not the first and won't be the last to be concerned.

[Mr Tom Morrow]

For those who have never driven an automatic which is somewhat surreal the first time two bits of advice
Rent one for a day, or
Book an hour with a driving instructor who deals in 'automatic tests'

[Guest]

Over 1 million UK tourists visit the Orlando area each year so let's disallow the kids. So that's 1/2million adults of which a half or perhaps more decide to hire a car. So in a year more than 250,000 Brits are driving around the place. They seem to manage OK. My husband says driving on an Interstate is like driving on a motorway except everything is to your right. It's a mirror image of what we do here. They have some quirks like turning right on a red light (after stopping and checking) - how I wish we could do that here to the left.

[diddldonna]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

For those who have never driven an automatic which is somewhat surreal the first time two bits of advice
Rent one for a day, or
Book an hour with a driving instructor who deals in 'automatic tests'

See more...

Thankyou, he's going to look at this idea.