Lake Buena Vista / Int'l Drive Stay

Hello,

This is my first time going to Disney, and I am undecided as to where to stay.

Is it better to stay in LBV or on INT%26#39;L DRIVE?

(I would like to go to the Disney parks for about 4 days and then Seaworld %26amp; Universal Studios the other 2 days)

I will be travelling the 1st week of April with kids (6 %26amp; 13).

What do you recommend?

Lake Buena Vista / Int'l Drive Stay

LBV is better for visiting Disney, but I-Drive is better for SeaWorld and Universal.

Do you want one place only or are you willing to move hotels?

Lake Buena Vista / Int'l Drive Stay

Rental car or bus?

International Drive is better located for non-drivers than all but a small area of LBV (Hotel Plaza Boulevard). If you need more details on this - ask.

One place preferably, since I%26#39;m only going to be there for about 6 days.

Since you said LBV is better for the Disney parks aspect, can you recommend any places?

My husband and i will be staying at the Fairfield Inn Marriott Village in lake Buena Vista next week. Its highly rated and reasonably priced. It includes continental breakfast too.

In addition, some booking websites throw in free shuttle to the disney parks.

we%26#39;ve stayed in lbv 5 times now... first time at comfort inn..ok butt.. wouldnt stay again then other trips at the sheraton safri.... lots of restaurants around it.

SCAN60,

I%26#39;m not sure if renting car, so for now I would say bus/shuttle.

Don%26#39;t forget, I will be at Disney most of the time. So if I stay on I-Drive, how would I get around to the Disney Parks?

If you stay around LBV check if yor hotel does shuttles to the other parks. You can walk to Downtown Disney from many hotels and then hop on to a resort bus nearest the park of your choice.Most hotels in LBV do transport to Disney Parks.

If you need to get to Seaworld get the number 50 lynx bus at the top of Hotel Plaza Boulevard.

If you need to get to Universal, at Seaworld/or Primeium Outlets get on the I-Ride trolley going north and get off at stop 5 which is across a busy road and around the corner and you are in Universal.(always ask the driver what the nearest stop is-they may think you are mad walking a little way cos they don%26#39;t walk much in Orlando)

Try the golynx website and the I-Ride trolley bus website for the nearest stops. They have maps to help you.

We love LBV and stay there quite regularly,find I-Drive a bit seedy.

UnsureNow,

Other than the Comfort Inn %26amp; Sheraton Safari, where else have you stayed in LBV?

MinnieWigan,

Where did you stay in LBV?

QUOTE------------------

I%26#39;m not sure if renting car.....how would I get around to the Disney Parks?-------------END

First option: many hotels offer ';free'; shuttle services. I would only use shuttles if they are free. Paid ones work out too costly.

Otherwise:

The local public bus service LYNX operates along International Drive frequently and also serves Universal, Disney every 30 minutes, and various shopping choices and so on - all over Central Florida. Bus stops are every few hundred yards, as they are

Costs of using LYNX are (per person)

$1.75 for a one-way trip (which includes transferring buses to complete a journey where necessary)

$4 for a day ticket

----------buy these from the driver, no change given

$14 for a week%26#39;s unlimited use - buy this from one of a couple of sales locations on I-Drive.

It%26#39;s expected and part of the ';system'; that you will transfer buses some of the time to finish a journey. Drivers are helpful and, so long as you tell them your intentions, will assist in telling you where to transfer and will even sound horn/flash lights to attract the attention of another driver.

EXAMPLE:

The journey from any International Drive hotel to a Disney attraction is like this:

LYNX 8 from I-Drive going south. Lynx 8 runs every 10-15 minutes during the daytime Mon-Fri, every 30 minutes Sat and Sun, and in the evenings. Alight at any one of three or four stops near Sea World. Wait at the same stop (some have seating and shelters). Journey time will be 10-20 minutes depending on where you are staying.

From the same stop, transfer to LYNX 50. This runs every 30 minutes and alight at the terminus, which is Disney%26#39;s Transportation %26amp; Ticket Center. (Journey time about 30 minutes).

From the Transportation Center, Disney runs its own free transport to all their attractions - Monorail to Epcot and Magic Kingdom; buses to the others. You can also go by boat to Magic Kingdom.

This is an easy trip to make; I%26#39;ve done it many times. It WILL take you longer than driving, but will save a LOT of money over to cost of renting and insuring a rental car.

You can see details of all LYNX services at

www.golynx.com

Look especially at the schedules for buses 8 and 50 (for Disney); 37 and 21 for Universal; 8 and 42 for local trips along I-Drive, 42 for the Florida Mall (shopping) and so on.

Given the ease and frequency of these services, and given your intention to visit Universal as well as Disney, then I would recommend using an I-Drive hotel, especially if you choose NOT to drive. It will be the best compromise in terms of location and transport. There are hotels of all standards on this strip, along with probably the most diverse choice of places to eat and/or drink.