Help! We can't drive!

[Donna Marie]

Hey everyone,

I'm new to these boards and am so very happy they exist as I've never been to Florida before but am so excited and want to know everything I can before I go.

My friend and I are leaving this friday to stay in a villa for two weeks. We fly into Sanford and car rental is included in the price, but neither of us can drive! Having read the post on this board (the 'taxi from sanford to international drive' one) that says how much one misses out on a trip to Florida without a car, I'm very worried we won't be able to get around at all.

Are there no shuttles/buses? Could we befriend our vacationing neighbours and travel with them to some places (e.g. Disney)?

Advice needed. Thanks!

[florida4sun]

Most taxi companies will do you a deal for your stay, You could try neighbours but it wouod be unrelable as people like to hop around different parks, or go shopping/eat afterwards.
I would get some taxi recomendations off these boards and see if yyou can strike a deal for your stay.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Donna Marie
Hey everyone,

I'm new to these boards and am so very happy they exist as I've never been to Florida before but am so excited and want to know everything I can before I go.

My friend and I are leaving this friday to stay in a villa for two weeks. We fly into Sanford and car rental is included in the price, but neither of us can drive! Having read the post on this board (the 'taxi from sanford to international drive' one) that says how much one misses out on a trip to Florida without a car, I'm very worried we won't be able to get around at all.

Are there no shuttles/buses? Could we befriend our vacationing neighbours and travel with them to some places (e.g. Disney)?

Advice needed. Thanks!
[/quote]

[Kazzie]

Hi Donna, I would do as Martin suggests and try to make a deal with a taxi firm. It sounds like you have booked everything as a package, rather than direct with a villa owner. A villa owner would have advised that you really need to drive while in Florida to make the most of it, or stay on international drive, where there are shuttle buses that run to the theme parks. However, I am sure you will have a great time in Florida. Enjoy :)

Karen

[JoRo]

Donna Marie - it might be worth posting on here which community your villa is in then more suggestions may come your way.
Joyce

[chrizzy100]

We've done Orlando without a car many times..but always in an hotel or a park...I sometimes go to my home in Davenport without a car I have a long time friend who lives there..but I don't travel much..its mostly to do odd jobs around the house..you feel very cut off without a car..and simple things like not having any milk can cost you a lot in taxi fare...

[Donna Marie]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions and advice.

The agency tells us our villa will be in either Loma Vista, Bridgewater Crossing or Loma del Sol. If anyone has any info on the amenities (shops etc.) or transport available at any of these communities, it might really help a lot.

Thanks again everyone.

[caroline]

Bridgewater Crossing is on the 54, there is a little shop located in the gas station about a quarter of a mile from the entrance to the community - the nearest supermarket would be at Champions Gate, about a five minute car ride away - there is no public transport whatsoever around here. So your only option would be taxis.

I think Loma del Sol and Loma vista are also on the 54 but quite a bit further along.

I wouldn't advise walking to the gas station from them, it's quite a trek and there are no sidewalks/pavements.

[steph_goodrum]

"You could try neighbours but it wouod be unrelable as people like to hop around different parks, or go shopping/eat afterwards."

The other thing with that is I could see a problem with insurance liability if you were to be involved in an accident, whilst being driven by someone who was essentially working as an unlicensed taxi driver. I don'y know whether it would interfere with any insuarance claim if the insurance company revoked the drivers insurance etc?

As well as the lack of pavements Caroline mentioned it is also unlit for most of the 54 , so it is dangerous to attempt walk along there.

Maingate Taxis might be able to give you some quotes for the duration of your stay.

As the 3 locations are all in a smilar area they should at least be able to give you a ballpark figure so you know how much to add on to your costings.

http://www.maingatetaxi.com/

[Michelle]

There is a Cab company that visitors who do not want to rent a car can hire car with driver on weeekly or daily basis, I have had a few of our guests use their services., they have all size vehicles.
The Company is called Florida transport, would have to be reserved their phone number is
407 538 9500 free phone number in Florida is
1-877-342-5222, E-Mail transportdisney@aol.com contact name is Billy, am sure if you e-mail him he will be happy to give you any information, also has web site www.floridatransport.com

[blue nose]

Hi Donna Marie,
first off,you are going to find getting around very difficult without a car,i would always advise anyone going to Orlando for the first time without a car, to stay on International Drive, in a hotel were the vast magority of the hotels have transport to most of the theme parks.
You may not realise the distances involved e.g. Sanford to were you may be staying will take you about an hour, from the area you have said, to Disney will take about 15-20 minutes and to Universal about 40 minutes and thats by car.
I realise it is a bit late in the day, but personaly i would see if your agent will change you to a hotel.
Trust me you will save a lot of hassle, time, and a lot of money.

[steph_goodrum]

If you work it right then I think you will still have a wonderful time even without the car.

What I would suggest is a couple of days out followed by a day or so chilling out. The taxi services will usually stop on the way from the airport for a shopping trip, so if you stock up on the basics to keep you going. If you have a couple of really long days at the parks (they are going to be open till very late at the moment) and then spend a day or 2 relaxing. If you dont want to cook at the villa then Championsgate is not too far from Bridgewater or either of the Lomas so you could either get a taxi there or order takeaway to be delivered.

[mfairhurst]

THE Pizza places will deliver also take away outlets so if you are out look for leaflets around booking outlets for disney and other attractions you can ring from the villa and they will deliver for a small charge .
MAUREEN
www.onlinefloridavillas.com/villas/1683.aspx

[E. Cosgrove]

You can get Chinese or Italian delivered from Champions Gate and they are both excellent[msntongue]

[Jules]

Hi Donna,

The first time a colleague of mine went to Florida they didn't hire a car because her husband is a taxi driver and didn't want a busmans holiday, they contacted a taxi firm and negotiated a daily rate. They did need to plan their days so that if they wanted an early start they could arrange it the night before but other than that they said it was great. They made friends with their driver and learnt a lot more about the area than they would have done by hiring a car.

I asked her the name of the taxi company but she couldn't remember as it was a few years ago and they have hired a car on their other visits but guests of mine have used Florida Transport and were very pleased with the service. Billy is very friendly and I'm sure that if you e-mail him he could work out a daily rate. Have you thought about asking your tour operator if it's possible to exchange your hire car for a transfer to one of the hotels around the maingate area of the 192? You could then arrange to get a taxi from the hotel to the villa for a lot less than a taxi all the way from Sanford.

Whatever you decide I'm sure you will have a great time.

[steph_goodrum]

Have a great trip tomorrow, Donna Marie, and don't forget to tell us all about it. No doubt you will find ways and means to have a fab holiday and can offer advice to others in the same situation in the future.

[chrizzy100]

Also remember the bus service is good and cheap..you could get a taxi to one place like the Mall and get a bus to somewhere else...we did that a lot...