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Lake Buena Vista
You will find yourself right in the middle of the magic in Lake Buena Vista as its home to the most magical place on earth - the Walt Disney World Resort. It includes all that is Disney…and more.
This area offers a plethora of dining and shopping experiences, hotels and resorts, both on – and off Walt Disney World property. While Lake Buena Vista is a bustling suburb, some of the areas within it’s boundaries are more congested than others, including the area near The Crossroads and Downtown Disney. These areas are chock full of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and shopping at every turn. As you get farther on down Route 535, there are still plenty of hotels and dining options, but it becomes far less congested, creating a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere. As you approach World Center Drive, you are the most removed from all of the hustle and bustle, yet still only minutes from Walt Disney World (via a relatively un-traveled route alleviating the need to hop on the busy highways), SeaWorld and Discovery Cove, along with the numerous hotels, restaurants, and businesses that cater to the millions of vacationers who flock to the area every year.
No matter which resort you choose in the Lake Buena Vista area, you are only 5 to10 minutes from the Walt Disney World parks. Many of the resorts found along Hotel Plaza Boulevard are within walking distance to Downtown Disney, others within walking distance to the many shops and restaurants along S.R. 535, though you’ll find a car is truly the best and safest way to travel here under most circumstances.
Universal Orlando is a reasonably quick drive up I-4 - roughly around 15 minutes on a good day - with SeaWorld only about 10 to 15 minutes away (depending on the rout you take) as well. Lake Buena Vista is an area that can truly claim that it’s in the middle of it all.
International Drive
International Drive, or I- Drive as it is often called, is an area that truly offers something for everybody. Over the years it has become practically a destination unto itself, offering hotels, resorts, dining, shopping, and attractions both large and small.
There over 150 dining options catering to every taste and budget, unparalleled shopping experiences with over 375 retail shops, and a collection like no other of over 100 hotels and resorts – with more springing up every year.
This densely populated strip even offers its own transportation system, the I-Drive Trolley, which services the majority of I-Drive’s many resorts, restaurants, and attractions. While International Drive has a great deal to offer, it is also one of the most congested tourist areas anywhere in or around Orlando. It is most noticeably so just to the north of the Central Florida Parkway (right where SeaWorld is located). You’ll find the hundreds of hotels, resorts, restaurants, shops, and attractions located not just along the main thoroughfare, but along the several offshoot roadways and cul-de-sacs required to accommodate the sheer number of properties that line the roadway.
Traffic (especially during the peak seasons) can be torturous at times, but when you add to it the multitude of lighted intersections, it can become downright infuriating. While the maps may show short distances between the properties, the sheer volume of traffic (especially during the dinner and evening hours) in addition to the many stoplights along the way, can make traveling along I-Drive a rather time-consuming proposition. Now, this is not to say that it isn’t a great area to stay - it most definitely is. You simply need to be prepared for the somewhat overwhelming experience and to understand that staying in the middle of all the action means slow going at times along this route.
As an alternative to driving, the I-Drive Trolley offers service to the majority of resorts, restaurants, and attractions, with over 87 stops. And with so many properties in the area, it is often quite easily to walk to the numerous restaurants, shops, and even attractions right from the doorstep of your hotel or resort. The bonus is that walking or riding (the IDrive Trolley) alleviate the difficulty of having to find (or at times pay for) a parking space, saving you time and allowing you to enjoy the ambience of the area. Those of you planning to spend most of your vacation time at SeaWorld or Universal Orlando may find the I-Drive area a very convenient choice (though Disney isn’t really all that far away).
Overall, International Drive, with its vast array of offerings including themed restaurants, retailers, and resorts, quite literally offers something for everyone, no matter their taste or their budget and it’s location is hard to beat as it’s in the middle of it all. An array of smaller through very worthwhile attractions as well as a few of the areas more notable attractions are within a short trolley ride or even a short stroll from the many resorts that can be found lining the roadway. Walkways wind their way past the busiest and most populated sections of I-Drive, which makes walking a real option along this very busy thoroughfare (though crossing this thoroughfare is another subject all together), although a reasonable amount of caution is required to do this safely.
Kissimmee
The U.S 192/Kissimmee area has undergone a great deal of transformation over the lastseveral years. What began as one of the Orlando area’s first vacation hot spots years ago had lost a lot of its luster and appeal as time went by. Other areas such as I-Drive and Lake Buena Vista were being rigorously developed to capture the vacationer’s attention and dollars. But, with millions having been spent to revitalize the area, the U.S. 192/Kissimmee area is back, bigger and better than ever.
The beautification (or “rebeautivacation” as it’s called) of this area has brought with it many welcome changes. Along the 12-mile stretch you can now find that large, numbered roadside markers have been added all along the highway to help you find your way. Extra-wide sidewalks, complete with an abundance of streetlamps, an occasional bench, and inviting landscaping, have all been added, to allow vacationers the option of walking to the many nearby restaurants, shops, and attractions (rather than having to fight the traffic).
The U.S. 192/Kissimmee area, while offering numerous choices in the way of dining, accommodations, and recreation, is slightly less congested in the physical layout of its properties than are the other tourist areas. The addition of a 6-lane highway and new turnaround lanes has made driving easier and safer (though it’s still slow goings at times) along this family-friendly strip. For those planning on spending the majority of their vacation at the Mouse’s House (Walt Disney World) staying in Kissimmee (along US 192) ensures that your morning commute to the parks will be relatively easy - the entrance (one of many) to the Walt Disney World Resort is located near the I-4 and US 192 interchange. Those headed to Universal Orlando (located approximately 17 miles north of the interchange) and SeaWorld (approximately 10 miles north of the interchange) will have a far longer haul. There are, however, a few shortcuts that can shave a few minutes off your commute.
The U.S. 192 Kissimmee area, one of the original tourist hot spots some 20 to 30 years ago, has once again reemerged as a popular destination. The difference is apparent, though, as what once was considered a destination strictly for the budget-conscious has now diversified. Several moderate resorts have sprung up along the main strip, vacation homes are sprinkled throughout the area, and some of the most upscale, luxurious, and grand destination-style resorts in the entire Orlando area have begun to emerge just south of the thoroughfare.
So You Know: Downtown Orlando is truly a spectacular area to stay and play too – for adults. Filled with eclectic upscale neighborhoods (truly removed from the theme park frenzy), the downtown area can claim as it’s own a handful of the areas best hotels, bed & breakfasts, inns, shops, and eateries – almost all however cater to grown ups and business travelers – not the typical family with children in tow (and given it’s location, roughly a 30 to 60 minute drive from the theme parks depending on the time of day, most with plans to trek through the theme parks would prefer to stay elsewhere anyway).
As this site is dedicated to family travel, I have only listed downtown Orlando’s offerings in brief (as it’s an area that really shouldn’t be completely overlooked) however you’ll only find the information in the Parent’s Night Out pages – a section that’s designed specifically for adults in need of a well deserved break and wanting to spend an evening out on the town (without the kids along).
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