Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
64
set along tree-lined cobblestone streets.
Many of Florida's moneyed snowbirds
used to hang out in Winter Park for the
winter, and this part of the suburbs is a
great adult getaway and a good place to
relax and escape the WDW, Universal,
and I-Drive crowds. It's not, however, a
good place to take the kids.
4
GETTING AROUND
In a city that thrives on its attractions, you
won't find it difficult to get around—
especially if you have a car. Don't count on
the city bus system to get you where you
want to go—not quickly or efficiently
anyway. If you're traveling outside the
tourist areas, avoid the 7 to 9am and 4 to
7pm rush if at all possible. Commuter
traffic (recently ranked as fourth-worst in
the nation) can be bad anywhere, but here
the complication of tourist traffic makes it
even more of a headache. And don't expect
weekends to be any better—the locals who
run the hotels, restaurants, and attractions
still have to get to work, making com-
muter traffic a 7-day-a-week problem.
Most of the parks don't open until 9am or
so, and they usually stay open at least until
dusk; you won't miss much by leaving a
little later. (The exception is Animal King-
dom, where the animals move around
earliest in the day and then seek shelter
and shade for the remainder of the day; see
“Animal Kingdom” in chapter 6, “Explor-
ing Walt Disney World.”)
International Drive has two alternate
means of transportation—pedestrian and
the I-Drive Trolley. I don't recommend the
former in the area around Sand Lake Road
because, though there are plenty of side-
walks, you quite literally may be taking
your life in your hands if you try to cross
this extremely busy road. The farther
south you move along I-Drive, the easier
walking becomes. The
I-Ride Trolley
(
&
407/248-9590;
www.iridetrolley.com)
is a safer bet. It makes 77 stops between
the Prime Outlets on the north end of the
drive and SeaWorld to the south. The trol-
ley runs every 20 minutes, from 8am to
10:30pm, and costs $1.25 for adults, 25¢
for seniors, and is free to kids younger
than 12; exact change is required. There's
an unlimited 1-day pass available for $4
per person. Thanks to I-Drive's high traffic
volume, the trolley offers a decent (and
fun) alternative to the bumper-to-bumper
traffic.
The good news, if you are driving, is
that road signs throughout the area are
more accurate than they were a few years
back. But to make sure you're heading the
right way, follow the directions supplied
for the various attractions and hotels later
in this topic. Call ahead to your destina-
tion to check if there is any construction
you should be aware of before heading
out. Most attractions give directions as a
voice-mail option when you call the main
number, but you can also ask for an opera-
tor to get clarification.
Several hotels offer transportation to
and from the theme parks (some to WDW,
others to Universal Orlando, with a select
few offering transportation to both) and
other tourist destinations; the service may
or may not be free, however, so be sure to
check with your individual hotel for
details. Depending on your itinerary, and
the shuttle service offered at your hotel,
you may find renting a car to be the least
expensive option. It's not difficult getting
around town, but it can get expensive, so
know your options when you're deciding
on your hotel.
BY DISNEY TRANSPORTA
TION SYSTEM
If you plan to stay at and spend most of
your time at Disney, there's an extensive,
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