Orlando: Worth hiring a car?
Discussion
I'm off on a (largely business related) trip to Orlando next month. I'm going to be staying near the Orange County Convention Center and most days I'll just be walking across to the exhibition centre with no need for a car, but I've got to go to Walt Disney World Speedway on two separate days at either end of the trip. Is it worth hiring cars for those two days or should I just get a cab? Does anyone know if there are pickup/drop-off points at the speedway?
Cheers,
Chris
Cheers,
Chris
I disagree - if you're staying on I-Drive and you only need to get out to WDW Speedway twice, it will be much simpler and cheaper to use a cab. Which hotel are you at? Many of them have a shuttle bus service that will get you there for free - just tip the driver.
By the time your done fannying around with car rental from the airport, paid CDW and run the gauntlet of all the other fees they try to tag on - then dicked around with parking, refilling it with gas on return etc, for two short trips, it just isn't worth it.
If your hotel doesn't have a shuttle, it will have a cab stand close/outside, as does OCCC, naturally.
By the time your done fannying around with car rental from the airport, paid CDW and run the gauntlet of all the other fees they try to tag on - then dicked around with parking, refilling it with gas on return etc, for two short trips, it just isn't worth it.
If your hotel doesn't have a shuttle, it will have a cab stand close/outside, as does OCCC, naturally.
Matt Harper said:
I disagree - if you're staying on I-Drive and you only need to get out to WDW Speedway twice, it will be much simpler and cheaper to use a cab. Which hotel are you at? Many of them have a shuttle bus service that will get you there for free - just tip the driver.
By the time your done fannying around with car rental from the airport, paid CDW and run the gauntlet of all the other fees they try to tag on - then dicked around with parking, refilling it with gas on return etc, for two short trips, it just isn't worth it.
If your hotel doesn't have a shuttle, it will have a cab stand close/outside, as does OCCC, naturally.
That was my thinking.By the time your done fannying around with car rental from the airport, paid CDW and run the gauntlet of all the other fees they try to tag on - then dicked around with parking, refilling it with gas on return etc, for two short trips, it just isn't worth it.
If your hotel doesn't have a shuttle, it will have a cab stand close/outside, as does OCCC, naturally.
I'm staying in the Sheraton Vistana Resort apparently (booked through work...) and it looks like it might actually be rather close to the Speedway anyway. Actually, looks like it's going to be much more of a trek (comparatively speaking) getting to the convention centre.
Depends what exhibiton / conference you are going to but most of them will have a shuttle bus service, however I've never known a bus service that will pull in your hotel. They usually just cover the hotels on I drive.
Eg see this one for PowerGen Intl which is at OCCC in December
PGI2010 Shuttle info
Depends what you want to do in the evenings. tbh when we've been in Orlando for work we have always had one or two cars depending on how many of us there are. Usual solution has been a monster SUV, Expedition / Excursion / Suburban types, and take turns as to designated driver. Opens up a whole load of other options re restaurants, bars, shopping, strip clubs
Plus we've usually been staying much nearer to Pointe Orlando and Mercado on I-Drive itself.
Eg see this one for PowerGen Intl which is at OCCC in December
PGI2010 Shuttle info
Depends what you want to do in the evenings. tbh when we've been in Orlando for work we have always had one or two cars depending on how many of us there are. Usual solution has been a monster SUV, Expedition / Excursion / Suburban types, and take turns as to designated driver. Opens up a whole load of other options re restaurants, bars, shopping, strip clubs
Plus we've usually been staying much nearer to Pointe Orlando and Mercado on I-Drive itself.
Which convention are you attending? Is it this one?
http://www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow/
Sheraton Vistana Resort is not really close to the Convention Center (about 5 miles to the south west) but a very short cab/shuttle bus ride. That resort has it's own shuttle and is serviced by the WDW shuttle service too - so you could manage without a hire car, if this is all work. i.e. your rental car would spend 99% of the time parked at OCCC at $15 per day, or in the hotel lot.
If it's all work, I wouldn't bother with a renter. The usual tourist attractions on I-Drive are all walkingdistance from the convention center (just an aside, The Mercado Center doesn't exist anymore).
There is, of course a lot more (nicer and not so nice) Orlando, away from tourist hell, for which you would need wheels. I live here, so feel free to PM me if you need specific info.
http://www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow/
Sheraton Vistana Resort is not really close to the Convention Center (about 5 miles to the south west) but a very short cab/shuttle bus ride. That resort has it's own shuttle and is serviced by the WDW shuttle service too - so you could manage without a hire car, if this is all work. i.e. your rental car would spend 99% of the time parked at OCCC at $15 per day, or in the hotel lot.
If it's all work, I wouldn't bother with a renter. The usual tourist attractions on I-Drive are all walkingdistance from the convention center (just an aside, The Mercado Center doesn't exist anymore).
There is, of course a lot more (nicer and not so nice) Orlando, away from tourist hell, for which you would need wheels. I live here, so feel free to PM me if you need specific info.
Matt Harper said:
Which convention are you attending? Is it this one?
http://www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow/
http://www.performanceracing.com/tradeshow/
I think the shuttle bus runs to most places, but my colleagues should have a car anyway. I only have two days to spare either side of the show and on at least one of those I'm off to the track.
K50 DEL said:
Matt
Is Reigs Gun Shop still on Orange Blossom?
The first place I ever fired a sub-machine gun.
$50 and I got an hours one-on-one with a 6 shooter, a 9mm and finishing with an Uzi
an excellent use of $50 and highly recommended (assuming it's still there of course!!)
Hi DerekIs Reigs Gun Shop still on Orange Blossom?
The first place I ever fired a sub-machine gun.
$50 and I got an hours one-on-one with a 6 shooter, a 9mm and finishing with an Uzi
an excellent use of $50 and highly recommended (assuming it's still there of course!!)
Yup, Reigs is a bit of a Central FL institution, from a firearms perspective. I bought my first shotgun from them (a Benelli Nova 12g pump). It's in a bit of a dodgey area of South OBT and has been robbed several times in the l0 years that I've been here. You can still shoot long guns in their range - but I'm not sure about auto's anymore. I worry too much about getting my car boosted, to go there, to be truthful.
I use Oakridge on S. Orange Ave, which is close to where I live and were very helpful to me when I started looking at handguns. You may only use hand/shotguns there but the place is well run and safe. They have a varied assortment of rental pieces and it's always full of British tourists, so they must market to vistors somewhere....
Edited by Matt Harper on Wednesday 3rd November 17:41
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