Daytona 500 2010? Unit on 24 hr hold

[shagnut]

Kelli really wants to go to the Daytona 500 next year and I can get a 1br at Vacation Village at Parkway in Kissimmee check in on 2/12 which would give us Sat & Sunday availability to go to Daytona. How crazy is this idea, I imagine the traffic is horrible. I can't find anything in Daytona, Ormond,or New Symrna . I can't imagine anyone depositing that week in RCI bank as you should be able to rent it for big bucks. I can spend the night in Orlando with my MIL to cut down on travel time. Should I take it and fight the traffic or give up.

Do you know of any shuttles from Orlando ? TIA shaggy

 

[lifestylehvc]

The trafic is bad but if you leave plenty early its ok , park at mall across the street in back its a walk but you get out easy after race, go early and eat breakfast and make a day of it, the traffic is about like charlotte

 

[Nancy]

V V at Parkway

We stayed there this Fall and had a gorgeous unit (really 2 as we had 2 bedrooms). We requested at check-in, and were given, one of the newest buildings. The only downside there wasn't a pool at that building, but not too far.

As for the drive to Daytona, I think maybe 1 1/2 hours. One year we were in Daytona visiting a friend and got off at the South Daytona exit. They were routing traffic to racetrack from there.

Nancy

ps. If you have any questiions about Vacation Village I can help. Races at Daytona, I can not!

 

[amanven]

I wouldn't necessarily say you'll get out easy after the race. Regardless of where you park because you and everybody else there will be leaving at almost the same time so between walking out of the speedway and getting on your way down the highway don't expect it to be easy . Unless you are prepared to spend time at the track after the race and wait till the crowds disperse start heading for an exit immediately after you see the cars cross the finish line. Don't stick around to watch the post race festivities. BTW some people who live in close proximity to the track will sell parking space on their lawns but it comes at a hefty price!

You might want to consider staying in St. Augustine or Cocoa Beach as well. They are as close to the speedway as Orlando however I doubt you will be able to find shuttle buses from either place.

Check out myracetravel.com and some of the other providers of sporting event travel packages you might be able to find transport and race ticket packages from Orlando with one of them otherwise buy race tickets that include admission to the hospitality tents and/or the fanzone, go very early (in the am)before the highway gets busy and the parking runs out and pass the time in those areas while you wait for the pre-race show. Buy your race souvenirs before the race because they are pretty much sold out of many things if you wait till after the race.

This is just a suggestion if you have never been to the 500 before. Don't buy your seating tickets in the Superstretch or in the Oldfield or Lockhart sections of the Frontstretch. The other sections will cost a bit more money but the better view makes it well worth the extra. Buy your tickets early once the 2010 tickets come on sale because the good seats will sell out fast regardless of how bad the economy is.

 

[shagnut]

Thanks for the advice. I guess we are going to the race. Kelli will be thrilled. What I do for that kid. :whoopie: When I did my search I did all of Florida and couldn't pull anything but 7 resorts for that week so St Augustine & Cocoa Beach weren't on the list. I guess Orlando it is, which isn't a bad thing, I told Kelli no Disney but we will go to Seaworld , maybe Busch Gardens. shaggy

 

[hefleycatz]

maybe Busch Gardens. shaggy

IMO, forget about Busch Gardens. Alot of hype and alot of money for not very much. Everthing there seems to be extra money. You can just walk thru the actual park and they have 1 good roller coaster, but other than that, pretty boring. SeaWorld, yes.

 

[shagnut]

IMO, forget about Busch Gardens. Alot of hype and alot of money for not very much. Everthing there seems to be extra money. You can just walk thru the actual park and they have 1 good roller coaster, but other than that, pretty boring. SeaWorld, yes.

I appreciate your opinion but I actually love BG. We love the animals. Last time we did a behind the scenes tour and it was great. Got first row on the coasters without waiting, special safari and animal nursery tours. Would do it again. shaggy

 

[amanven]

The Daytona 500 is as much an experience as it is a sporting event so do some research online about the track and the event itself. You don't have to spend a fortune to have a great time there but a bit of research first can give you a lot of tips on how to make the most of your day there. You can PM me if you have any questions.

 

[shagnut]

Thanks, I'm hoping for some concerts on Sat or early Sunday. I have never been to a race (too noisy & crowded for me) but Kelli wants to go really bad so I know I'll have a good time. I'll let you know if I come up with any questions. shaggy

 

[amanven]

No problem. One more piece of advice...make sure you take earplugs to the track or purchase them there. You will still hear everything but it won't be so quite so loud. As a die hard nascar fan though, there is nothing like the sound of 43 race cars accelerating at the starting line.

 

[lifestylehvc]

One word of caution shagnut going to a race can become addicting. If you like it on TV you will love it after going to the track.

 

[amanven]

One word of caution shagnut going to a race can become addicting. If you like it on TV you will love it after going to the track.

Absolutely true, ITA. I got hooked at Daytona in 2005. Gonna try and get back in 2011. If I can manage to trade into Sheraton Broadway Plantation at the right time then Lowes Motor Speedway and the raceshops in Mooresville NC will be on my must see list.

 

[dioxide45]

I can agree that you can get hooked once you go once. We went to Homestead in 2007 and I thought it was going to be a miserable experience. We had a great time and went again in 2008. We plan to go again this year so we can see Jimmie win four in a row!

 

[shagnut]

Me hooked to Nascar? Hope not. The tour of Lowes motor speedway is $ 5,We did it last year for her bd. You ride around the track in a van. If you make it down this way let me know. I'm a 1 1/2 hr drive but would glad to meet you. shaggy

 

[amanven]

Well shaggy, I might take you up on that meeting some time. I am as much interested in the Mooresville race shops as I would be the Lowes track. The Richard Petty Driving experience offers a pretty extensive schedule at Lowes and I want to take a crack at driving that track. I have driven the track at Orlando. It's okay but not big enough to really get a good run going. I would love to do it again but at a different track next time. I just found out there were avaliable driving slots at Daytona for this coming March but as luck would have it the first day they are scheduled is the day we have to fly out to go home. That's what going to the Daytona 500 did to me so never say never,
I have also sent you a PM

 

[shagnut]

Kelli wants to go to all that stuff too. Maybe we can tag along? shaggy

 

[amanven]

Kelli wants to go to all that stuff too. Maybe we can tag along? shaggy

Sounds like a plan. Do I dare mention that when you are in Daytona you could always take Kelli over to Orlando and do the Richard Petty driving experience at the Walt Disney World Speedway. It runs much of the year down there and it's a good place for a first crack at a track. First time out for me was 8 laps at an average speed of 113mph. Now I'm really causing you trouble right?

 

[lifestylehvc]

Absolutely true, ITA. I got hooked at Daytona in 2005. Gonna try and get back in 2011. If I can manage to trade into Sheraton Broadway Plantation at the right time then Lowes Motor Speedway and the raceshops in Mooresville NC will be on my must see list.

Lowes is one of the best places to watch a race , the track and grounds are beautiful and the people there are very friendly, one the green flag drops they only stand for a short time then sit so you can see great , the size and layout of track make it great for viewing also. but the traffic is just as bad as everywhere. the shops are plentyful in moresville and hey are close to LMS as well

 

[shagnut]

Sounds like a plan. Do I dare mention that when you are in Daytona you could always take Kelli over to Orlando and do the Richard Petty driving experience at the Walt Disney World Speedway. It runs much of the year down there and it's a good place for a first crack at a track. First time out for me was 8 laps at an average speed of 113mph. Now I'm really causing you trouble right?

I don't think we want Kelli to try the Richard Petty experience. She doesn't have a drivers license!! shaggy

 

[amanven]

I don't think we want Kelli to try the Richard Petty experience. She doesn't have a drivers license!! shaggy

Ooops!!!

 

[bruwery]

If you want to go to the 500 from the Orlando area, I'd suggest leaving at 4:30 in the morning, and don't expect to be back before 10:00 pm.

 

[amanven]

4:30 am? Isn't that a little bit early. When we attended in 2005, we left St. Augustine at 6:00 am had plenty of time to stop for gas and supplies and get to the track early enough to score parking right across the road from the track by 8:00am. I have heard the companies who provide race travel packages based out of Orlando generally head out for the track between 5:30and 6:00am. We were guests of one of the sponsors in the corporate area so we did have a place to hang out in before the race but during the morning we spent some time checking out the souvenir trailers and noticed the entry lines didn't start to get really long till mid morning. I have heard Daytona has stepped up the security checks (checking bags and coolers) since we were there so I would admit you may be right. All the more reason to pay the extra for admission to the hospitality tent.

What time you manage to get out of the track depends a lot on how long the race runs and whether you choose to stick around the track after the race or try to leave immediately and end up sitting in traffic. The key is to be flexible with your plans for that day. Our host had made a post racedinner reservation for our group at a very nice restaurant but because the race ran long and we were held up in the exiting crowds and traffic, a change of dinner plans became necessary. It was close to 11:00 before we got back to St. Augustine. It makes for a long day but it's probably no worse than spending an entire day and evening in a crowded Disney park during Christmas or spring break.

 

[grest]

good for you, shaggy!
Connie