Orientation

Visitor Information

Once you've arrived, you can stop in at the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau (Orlando CVB), 8723 International Dr., Suite 101, Orlando; however, it's best to call ahead (tel. 407/363-5872; www.orlandoinfo.com) for information on the area's offerings. Staffers at the CVB can help answer your questions, as well as send out maps, brochures, and coupons good for discounts or freebies. The CVB sells discount tickets to several attractions. Savings on single-day passes to Universal run about $10 (but only for multipark passes) while SeaWorld savings run $2 or less; only Disney's 3-day or longer passes are discounted with savings from $3 to $27 depending on the ticket. The CVB's multilingual staff can make dinner reservations and hotel referrals for you. The CVB is open daily from 8am to 7pm, except Christmas. From I-4, take Exit 74A east 2 blocks, turn south on International Drive and continue 1 mile. The center is on the left, at the corner of I-Drive and Austrian Row.

The Kissimmee-St. Cloud Convention & Visitors Bureau is located at 1925 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy./U.S. 192, Kissimmee (tel. 800/333-5477 or 407/847-5000; www.floridakiss.com). It also offers maps, brochures, and discount coupons. From I-4, take Exit 64A/U.S. 192 east about 12 miles to Bill Beck Blvd., then go left into the CVB's parking lot. They're open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. Again, you can call and have these items sent to you ahead of time so you can do some planning at home.

Five tourism centers around Florida have statewide information. They're located 4 miles north of Jennings on I-75 south; 3 miles north of Campbellton on Highway 231; 7 miles north of Yulee on I-95; 16 miles west of Pensacola on I-10 east; and at the capitol in Tallahassee.

Finally, nearly all hotel lobbies and many restaurants, highway rest stops, and attractions have racks brimming with brochures for area activities (except for Disney brochures -- they're only available at Disney-owned and -operated hotels, "official" Disney hotels along Hotel Plaza Boulevard, and designated "Good Neighbor" hotels). Many are filled with dining discounts and cost-cutting coupons, so cover your bases and pick up a few of everything.

Information (& more) at the Airport -- Passengers arriving at or departing from Orlando International Airport can stroll over to one of two Disney shops. The Magic of Disney (tel. 407/825-2360) is in the main terminal, third level, right behind the Northwest Airlines ticket desk. Disney Earport (tel. 407/825-2339) is in the main terminal, across from the Hyatt Regency. They sell WDW multiday tickets, arrange dinner show and hotel reservations at Disney resorts, and provide brochures and assistance. They're open daily, usually from 7am to 9 or 10pm, but know that the airport stores are filled with a rather run-of-the-mill selection of Disney merchandise; unless you're on your way home and forgot to buy that must-have Mickey for Auntie Gertrude, you'll find a far better array of offerings elsewhere.

The Universal Studios Stores (tel. 407/825-2473), usually open daily from 6am to 9pm, sell park tickets at two locations: Airside A, main terminal, and Airside B, Delta side before security -- both on the third level. SeaWorld stores, at airsides A and B, are open from 7am to 10pm (tel. 407/825-2614). Kennedy Space Center (tel. 407/445-1788) has two locations at the airport, located in both the East and West halls, for space buffs coming through town. Even the Ron Jon Surf Shop (tel. 407/825-2217) has an airport outpost (open 7am-9pm).

City Layout

Orlando's major artery is Interstate 4. Locals call it the I-4 or that #@$*%^#!! It runs diagonally across the state (though directional signs are always marked east or west) from Tampa to Daytona Beach. The exits along this route will take you to Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, International Drive, U.S. 192, Kissimmee, Lake Buena Vista, and north to downtown Orlando and Winter Park. Most exits are well marked, but construction is common and exit numbers have been changed through the years. If you get directions by exit number, always ask the name of the road to help avoid getting lost. (Cellphone users can dial tel. 511 to get a report of I-4 delays.)

The Florida Turnpike, a toll road, crosses I-4 and links with I-75 to the north and Miami to the south. U.S. 192/Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway is a major east-west artery that reaches from Kissimmee to U.S. 27, crossing I-4 near World Drive, the main Walt Disney World entrance road. Recent construction has widened this stretch of highway and made driving a bit easier while the addition of large numerical markers have made locating hotels, restaurants, and attractions much easier as well. The Beachline Expressway (Hwy. 528), also a toll road, goes east from I-4 past Orlando International Airport to Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. The East-West Expressway (also known as Hwy. 408) is a toll road that can be helpful in bypassing surface traffic in the downtown area. The 417, also a toll road, runs from north of the Orlando International Airport to I-4 just below U.S. 192. This route is a good alternative to I-4 if you are staying on the lower end of International Drive, World Center Drive, or areas east of the I-4, as it is far less traveled than the main highway.

If you're jockeying between Disney and Universal, one of the lesser traffic evils is Apopka-Vineland Road. It tends to be less cluttered than I-4 or International Drive. Follow it north from Lake Buena Vista and the northeast side of Disney to Sand Lake Road, then go right/east to Turkey Lake Road, then left/north to Universal Orlando. Another way to avoid the highway when driving between Universal Orlando and Disney is to take the Palm Parkway (just off Apopka-Vineland Rd.) to Turkey Lake Road, which will take you right to Universal.

I-4 and Highway 535 roughly bound Walt Disney World to the east (the latter is also a northern boundary) and U.S. 192/Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway bounds it to the south. World Drive is WDW's main north-south artery. Epcot Center Drive (Hwy. 536/the south end of International Dr.) and Buena Vista Drive cut across the complex in a more or less east-west direction; the two roads cross at Bonnet Creek Parkway. Despite a reasonably good highway system and explicit signs, it's easy to get lost or miss a turn here. I've gotten lost or passed an exit on Disney property at least once or twice on every trip. Again, pay attention and drive carefully. Don't panic or pull across several lanes of traffic to make an exit, especially once you're on Disney property -- there's always another exit just ahead where you can get turned around. All roads lead to the parks, and you'll soon find another sign directing you to the same place. It may take a bit longer, but Goofy will still be there.

Clever landscaping hides the fact that many parts of WDW are very close together. It took me several trips to discover that Disney-MGM Studios was just behind the BoardWalk, which is right next to the WDW Swan and the WDW Dolphin, which is across the lake from Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, which are next to Epcot -- you get the picture. Walking can occasionally be the most efficient way to get from one place to another; it's always worth looking at a map to check before you set out anywhere.