Florida tips and car hire

la_lucha

la_lucha

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Just found out that we're going to Disney next year. No not you and me, me and the family.

Anyhoo I really fancy a convertible while I'm there. Anyone been recently and have any tips on the best place to hire a ve hi cle and generally planning to do Disney and anything else of merit with a 6 and 2 year old?

We will probably be staying in a Villa and the car needs to hold me, Mrs and two kids.
 
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You don't want a convertible with a 2 year old. They will be burnt to a crisp if you drive a long way with the roof down.

We always book a car before we go and pick it up from the airport. Too many to chose from so only you can decide which company is the best for you.
 
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Here right now having been working for a fortnight and now joined by the family in Orlando. Don't do a convertible, order the mid-size SUV and resist all temptations and offers at the car hire place to upgrade. Then keep a ton of dollar bills and quarters in the car for the drive out of the airport on 528 down to Orlando itself.
 
I had a convertible years ago, great to do once but that's it. I agree on the mid size SUV, I go to Florida every year and it's what I rent every time
 
Initial thoughts are that you'll struggle to find a convertible that will hold all the stuff needed for you and the Mrs plus kids of that age. I'm off in a months time and am hiring a SUV, boring but practical. ;)

As for villas then I'm staying at http://www.ihg.com/holidayinnclubvacations/hotels/us/en/kissimmee/discv/hoteldetail stayed there before and everything you need really. Golf courses on site ;) and near to all the parks. We stayed in a 2 bedroom villa and it was excellent, very large and I got one next to the 5th green on the Legends golf course. Also there's a massive pool and big supermarket on site so you can just chill out for a day or two in the resort if you want.

As for the parks then Disney of course, probably worth at least a couple of days there. I really enjoyed Sea World and Epcot was great. Also Discovery Cove is great for some parental R&R.
 
Only me driving Val. But the linky no worky.

If we don't get a convertible I fancy something really American. Like a massive stinking suv or something.
 
Top tip........Hire the smallest, cheapest car. When you go to collect it, ask what deals they can offer on an upgrade. You will be offered a better deal than booking a better car upfront. I do this every year when we go to Myrtle Beach. Last couple of years we have had a Mustang convertible, a top end C class Merc, a Volvo XC90 and a Ford Edge SUV. Usually works out about $5-10 a day extra which is a lot cheaper than booking those cars up front. Don't be afraid to ask for a nicer car than they offer you :thup:
 
la_lucha said:
Only me driving Val. But the linky no worky.

If we don't get a convertible I fancy something really American. Like a massive stinking suv or something.
Click to expand...

Save your money, get something boring but practical and put the money saved towards a sneaky 18 on one of the courses. Last time I went I had a VW Tiguan. Not very American but it did the job.
 
Hacker Khan said:
Save your money, get something boring but practical and put the money saved towards a sneaky 18 on one of the courses. Last time I went I had a VW Tiguan. Not very American but it did the job.
Click to expand...

I'm not paying for the holiday so I reckon I've got a bit to waste on a motor. I wanna do it big and be over the top US style. Do they still have supersize at maccy ds over there?
 
Last time I had a Lincoln continental. It was huge. The Mrs sat in the back, and with her legs stuck out, couldn't touch the front seats. Go big, it's fun.
 
Get something wife a roof and air conditioning, you will need it. You won't even want to have the windows down, as when it gets hot, driving at speed with the window down is like having a hair drying on hot setting blasted in you face.

Get something with a sat nav, a mate a good few years back, landed late, it was dark, he picked up his car and got lost, he saw flashing lights, so pulled over to ask for directions and he'd pulled into a well dodgy neighbourhood and the police man he went to talk to was hiding behind his car as he was getting shot at. My mate was told to in short shrift to go back the way he came and clear the area.
 
La_Lucha:

Not meaning to be disrespectful but your stereotyping of how things are in the USA may cause you some surprise when you get over here. I have lived in the USA since 2001. If you have not driven in the USA before getting the largest vehicle you can find (because you think it is part of the American experience) may not be the best thing. Firstly the roads in Orlando are pretty much full 24/7, secondly a bigger vehicle does not especially equal safer...do you know how to secure the car seats for the kids so they meet state law...do you understand the traffic laws in Florida, a state that has lower speed limits than a lot of the USA?

If it is a free holiday, great...but I would seriously reconsider going to Orlando. It is not the American experience at all. Indeed much of International Drive is so catering to Brit and South American tourists, you will see just as many people wearing football shirts as you would back in Blighty! Disney may be great for the kids but once they see through the facade, they cannot suspend their disbelief any longer...

Not meaning to sound a downer but there are many better places in the USA to go too that will cost less, give you guys a chance to experience America and truly be a trip of a lifetime for a lot cheaper than Orlando.
 
craigstardis1976 said:
La_Lucha:

Not meaning to be disrespectful but your stereotyping of how things are in the USA may cause you some surprise when you get over here. I have lived in the USA since 2001. If you have not driven in the USA before getting the largest vehicle you can find (because you think it is part of the American experience) may not be the best thing. Firstly the roads in Orlando are pretty much full 24/7, secondly a bigger vehicle does not especially equal safer...do you know how to secure the car seats for the kids so they meet state law...do you understand the traffic laws in Florida, a state that has lower speed limits than a lot of the USA?

If it is a free holiday, great...but I would seriously reconsider going to Orlando. It is not the American experience at all. Indeed much of International Drive is so catering to Brit and South American tourists, you will see just as many people wearing football shirts as you would back in Blighty! Disney may be great for the kids but once they see through the facade, they cannot suspend their disbelief any longer...

Not meaning to sound a downer but there are many better places in the USA to go too that will cost less, give you guys a chance to experience America and truly be a trip of a lifetime for a lot cheaper than Orlando.
Click to expand...


Whilst I appreciate what you're saying, we are going on a holiday that's plastic fantastic. I loved it when I was 12 and my
Kids will love it at 6 and 2. I'm not going to experience USA, I'm going for Florida, Disney and all the escapism that comes along with it.
 
craigstardis1976 said:
La_Lucha:

Not meaning to be disrespectful but your stereotyping of how things are in the USA may cause you some surprise when you get over here. I have lived in the USA since 2001. If you have not driven in the USA before getting the largest vehicle you can find (because you think it is part of the American experience) may not be the best thing. Firstly the roads in Orlando are pretty much full 24/7, secondly a bigger vehicle does not especially equal safer...do you know how to secure the car seats for the kids so they meet state law...do you understand the traffic laws in Florida, a state that has lower speed limits than a lot of the USA?

If it is a free holiday, great...but I would seriously reconsider going to Orlando. It is not the American experience at all. Indeed much of International Drive is so catering to Brit and South American tourists, you will see just as many people wearing football shirts as you would back in Blighty! Disney may be great for the kids but once they see through the facade, they cannot suspend their disbelief any longer...

Not meaning to sound a downer but there are many better places in the USA to go too that will cost less, give you guys a chance to experience America and truly be a trip of a lifetime for a lot cheaper than Orlando.
Click to expand...

Wow, did the Orlando tourist board let you go recently?

The roads are not that bad, especially compared to the gridlock you get in most UK cities nowadays. I was there for 2 weeks and I never once thought the traffic was as bad as it is driving into Birmingham every day.

As for the American experience then you could argue that is exactly what Disney and the rest of the parks are. The Americans do that kind of thing so well and kids absolutely love it. And it is exactly as you imagine it will be. The look on my daughters face when she saw the magic Kingdom was priceless. Same with Vegas, yes it is all fake but it's bloody good fun. I totally agree there are also many other fabulous places in the US to visit that are less corporate and manufactured. But I can't imagine kids of 2 and 6 will want to do anything else in the US.
 
Agree with the above, the USA has so much to offer, Mount Rushmore, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, t name the obvious few, but two kids of 2 and 6, unless they are deeply into natural wonders and engineering are not going to see the fun side of those things. Show them a 6 foot rat dressed in a tails and another in a polka dot dress, or Cinderella and their faces will light up and as a parent that's all you want to see.
 
craigstardis1976 said:
La_Lucha:

Not meaning to be disrespectful but your stereotyping of how things are in the USA may cause you some surprise when you get over here. I have lived in the USA since 2001. If you have not driven in the USA before getting the largest vehicle you can find (because you think it is part of the American experience) may not be the best thing. Firstly the roads in Orlando are pretty much full 24/7, secondly a bigger vehicle does not especially equal safer...do you know how to secure the car seats for the kids so they meet state law...do you understand the traffic laws in Florida, a state that has lower speed limits than a lot of the USA?

If it is a free holiday, great...but I would seriously reconsider going to Orlando. It is not the American experience at all. Indeed much of International Drive is so catering to Brit and South American tourists, you will see just as many people wearing football shirts as you would back in Blighty! Disney may be great for the kids but once they see through the facade, they cannot suspend their disbelief any longer...

Not meaning to sound a downer but there are many better places in the USA to go too that will cost less, give you guys a chance to experience America and truly be a trip of a lifetime for a lot cheaper than Orlando.
Click to expand...

When you are 2 and 6 years old do you really care about any of the following?

Empire State Building
Liberty Bell
Golden Gate Bridge
Mount Rushmore
Grand Canyon
The Vegas Strip
The Whitehouse
Marthas Vineyard
Memphis

etc etc etc.

America has tonnes to offer and see but when you are a todller life tends to revolve around kids tv and toys, Disney is like heaven.
 
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