Lake Buena Vista V International Drive

Can you advise which area is the best to stay in. I am trying to decide between them. Is International Drive long in terms of distance? Which end is best to stay at? We have three teenage sons and would like to stay where the action is and close to all visitor attractions

Many thanks

Ann-Marie

Lake Buena Vista V International Drive

If you are wanting to see Disney and Downtown disney then Lake Buena Vista is closer. If you are visiting Seaworld, Universal, IOA and Wet N Wild then International drive is closer. If you want to see all the attractions I would say , International drive is better so your teens can take the I ride trolley to visit things on their own. You could do a split visit and stay part of your trip on Disney or in Lake Buena Vista and the other part on International Drive near Seaworld, Universal etc.

Lake Buena Vista V International Drive

There isn%26#39;t really an easy answer on where to stay. If your driving then it doesn%26#39;t really matter too much in terms of theme parks (DIsney, Universal, Sea World, Busch gardens etc are spread out enough that theres no obviously easy place to stay with them in mind.

I-Drive is a long road though (Universal is at the northern end, Sea World at the southern) but they do have a trolley servie now running the length of it (haven%26#39;t used it though so can%26#39;t comment).

Personally I like to stay in the Wet n Wild area (north of Sand Lake Road) as theres a good selection of places to eat within walking distance of the hotels (and Universal Citywalk is a short cab ride away) so nightlife is easy (and after a day slogging around a park you won%26#39;t want to go far most likely!).

South of Sand Lake (from what I remember) it gets a bit more spread out and developed (more big hotels and chain stores).

If you decide to stay near Seaworld DON';T look for a place near the Southern end of I-Drive, Seaworld is nowhere near the Southern end of I-Drive.

The southern end of Idrive and LBV are much nicer in my opinion. and a place withing walking distance to DTD like the Double tree suites would be great.

But if you are going to spend more time at Universal parks(and at their gesyou might), you might be happier at the northern end of Idrive. Choose your hotle carefully there, some are nice and some are a bit past it. Check reviews and come back here for more unbiased opinions on particular properties before you book.

Whichever way you go, they will ove water parks and even if you stay near W%26amp;W and go there, try to fit in Typhoon lagoon. My 3 boys are 12-16 and it%26#39;s still their fav.

We have just returned from 2 weeks staying in LBV which was wonderful but would perhaps stay on I drive next time. The only down side to LBV area was that on an evening there was nowhere you could take a stroll or catch any form of public transport to enable my husband to have a few beers and relax watching the world go by after driving all day. When we drove up I drive it did seem to offer better possibility鈥檚 in getting around by foot and seemed more pedestrian friendly and it has the I trolley bus running the full length very frequently ( handy for teenage sons LOL). Everything in Florida is so big and so far apart you have to drive everywhere anyway so in terms of closeness to parks / attractions I don鈥檛 think areas matter. Have a lovely holiday Florida is wonderful. Amanda.

I think I%26#39;Drive might be the best place to stay or maybe combine the two

We stayed with 3 teens and a younger one on I%26#39;Drive, right over Pointe Orlando and used the trolley service a lot, it%26#39;s easy for the teens to get around on their own and there%26#39;s a lot to see or do in the area as well.

Hope you have fun!

Tatty,

or if you go back to LBV stay somewhere like Cypress pointe that has 5 bars/restaurants on your doorstep for that evening drink!

we have three kids 5 12 and 13 we go to orlando sometimes 2 or 3 times a month we have stayed at alot of hotels in orlando our favorite places to stay are on 192 also known as irlo bronson highway the tropical palms resort is alot of fun and very economical also the quality suites at old towm is very good the radisson resort pkwy is great too all the resorts have transportation to and from the park and all these hotels are located within walkjing distance to shopping and restaurants

LBV is turning into a fairly large catchment. If staying there I%26#39;d recommend one of the hotels on Hotel Plaza Boulevard. It is walking distance to Down Town Disney and the West Side, Pleasure Island etc, as well as having the Crossroads Shopping Complex at the other end.

Scenically (if that is a real word), it is a lot nicer than Northern I Drive.

Our last visit we stayed in the Staybridge Suites on I Drive. Free brekkie sorted out the teenagers for the long day ahead. Smack in middle between Seaworld and Universal which is more teenage oriented. And on I Ride trolley stop.