Hi Andy

Welcome to the forum, as you will have gathered there are plenty of useful tips on holidaying in Orlando.

In answer to your questions :

1. No a car isn't always required, the area is well serviced by good transport links, we have been out more than a dozen time and never had the need to hire a car.

If you stay on I'Drive then there are Trolley Buses and also Lynx buses that service I'Drive the cost is around $1.25 per trip but if you buy a pass then it works out at a $1.00 per day no matter how often you travel.

The Trolley Buses run from the Premium Factory Outlet via Seaworld to the Belz Factory Outlet every 15 mins or so.

Lynx run the #42 from the Premium Outlets to the Airport via the Belz and Florida Mall.

The #8 runs most of I'Drive from the Convention Centre to the Belz, the #27 or 21 runs from the Belz to the Mall of the Mallenia.

The #53 runs from Seaworld to Disney.

If you need more infor then www.golynx.com should give you all the routes and the timetables.

For us it works out cheaper than hiring a car, but you do have to wait around for a bus, although if you know the est. times that they arrive this does help to cut the waiting time.

Most Hotels o I'Drive offer a shutlle bus to the parks, some are free.

2. From I'Drive Disney is around 20 mins and Universal is about 10 mins - depending on were along I'Drive you stay.

Yopu can walk between Universal and Islands of Adventure as they are on one site.

Disney have bus / monorail services between each park which take around 10 - 15 mins from the Magic Kingdom.

3. For us I'Drive is a good Central Location if you require a hotel and it's about 45 - 50 mins drive from the Beach, going towards the east, the west coast is more like 90 mins.

4. I' Drive has a good range of hotels to suit all pockets, but you may find that for 3 / 4 of you a villa may prove to be cheaper, although you will have to balance the cost with hiring a car, as most of the villas are around 10 - 20 mins drive from all the parks etc.

5. September is great, we go the middle 2 weeks and although it can be unsettled due to to overspill from hurricanes in the south and the Carribean, when the sun shine's it is well into the mid 80's.

6. Yes it is still hot although you may get the odd afternoon storm and everything is still very much open Orlando is never closed.

7. Not sure on the age restrictions, but there is an associated Car Hire Site with this Forum, the details will be at the top of the page.

You mention that you are under 21, just remember that under 21's will not be allowed alcohol in the USA so it will be a "dry" holiday, but that may not bother you.

Any one over 21 but looking under about 30 will need to produce I.D. to prove their age, so take out your Driving Licenses and Passports when you go out in the evening.

8. As mentioned above 45 mins to the east and around 90 mins to the west

9. We always stay on I'Drive there are a good range of places to eat / stay and have fun, if you can stay in any Hotel that is south of Wet & Wild is better as the middle / top end of I'Drive can be a little "tacky".

If you need anything else then feel free to ask.