Newbie Car hirererererer :) hints/tips/warnings?

[Keith]

ok well I've said this before and chickened out but I really do need to think about hiring a car this time around.

We'd be getting into sanford airport.

What kind of documents do we need? is an old style uk paper driving license ok with passport?
Any dos/donts? watch out for extras being added at the last minute or anything?
How hard is it to find my way out of sanford airport?

Any and all advice however trivial more than welcome

[josh.p.]

Make sure you have clear instructions and/or a sat nav before leaving! This sounds silly but for some reason the villa owner had emailed us the wrong directions and we got lost in the middle of nowhere!

[Slowhand]

I`ve just sent you an email Keith.
To answer a couple of your points though, I have never been asked to produce the paper part of my licence although I do take it with me "just in case".
Also the staff at the rental desk are usually very good at giving you precise directions to make your exit from the airport without a hitch, however as Josh mentioned, a sat nav may be a good idea too. The car hire company charge around $10/day [I think] for this service.

[Isafari]

We take our satnav and it comes in very handy - especially when we do roads trips for a few days. However, it may be a good idea for a first time driver around the Orlando area just to get to the parks - do you REALLY pay attention to the roads when you have been on a bus/in a taxi.

Learn the rules of the road - such as turning right on a red light / under and over taking / passing a school bus etc.

You usually have to pay for your gas before filling the car.

[ukwdwnut]

just to add to what others have said and in answer to one query.

yes you can use the old style pink & green paper license keith as long as you have some form of photo ID which you have with your passport

id also get the platinum option, you get a full tank when you pick up your car and drop it off with a full tank, its way harder to drop it off with an empty tank with the other option

[MystikPiglit]

however trivial

So, I'm probably the only one that does this ( yes, I am totally paranoid about everything ) .....

Check all around the hire car, at the airport, to make sure there are no dents, scratches or broken lights that could be attributed to you upon return.

[foreverducky]

To be honest, I don't think I could drive without navigation anymore. I turn it on everytime I get in my car. Yes, I know where I'm going on a day to day basis, but what happens if there is an accident up ahead and I have to take a different route?!

Getting around on Disney property is pretty easy. They have big signs.

Orlando can be very congested, and I feel that as Americans we're not the friendliest on the road. I'm the first to admit road rage. I remember being in the Fort Worth area in January, everyone I met was so nice and friendly, and went out of their way to say hello. As soon as I was on the road it was a very different picture.

[Esmeralda]

If you ask at the desk they will set your sat nav to your destination for you. It is a godsend. Plus you can google a blow by blow picture account/vid of the route from sanford airport. We did this and printed them out but to be honest the sat nav did all the work.

[catrancher]

Any and all advice however trivial more than welcome

Tom (... )

[daveann]

the best and easiest way from sanford to disney which avoids toll roads and lots of road changes is to head out of the airport take a right towards lake mary follow it straight on until you get to the i4 then i4 right down to disney its simple we have never followed the directions given at car pickup as they take you on various toll roads.
if you turn down lake emma road the junction before 14 about 100 yards there is the best long horn steak house very local and is full of locals but the food is brill we call after the flight and before going back to the airport it really is a good find.
oh and remember that off ramps usually give you about a mile to get in the right lane and near and on disney most drivers dont know where there going either so dont worry