Florida Turnpike questions

bumbershoot said:

You aren't on the FL Turnpike for MCO to WDW (unless there's a namechange in there).

You're on 417 or 528, and both have manned tolls and are super-easy. Have some ones and a roll of quarters. Just pay attention to the signs, stay to the right, and get off (to the right) for each tollbooth.


Pictures are from 2011 so don't trust the amounts, but this is how easy they make it (specifically on 417).

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puffkin said:

If you take 417 there are two tolls between MCO and the Disney exits. I don't remember the exact amount (we have a Sunpass now) but it is around $1.50 each. It is a quick and super easy drive. They have the high speed tolls though, so if you are not used to that type of toll, you have to be careful not to miss the manned tolls. It is almost like an exit that pulls you to the side of the highway and there are toll booths there (you do not need exact change for those). It is very easy to miss the exit for the actual toll booths though and just speed through so keep your eyes open.

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Horace Horsecollar said:

If you stay on SR-417 beyond exit 6 to Osceola Parkway, there's a THIRD TOLL at an unmanned toll gate at the exit. It's 50 cents, so you need two quarters.

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Horace Horsecollar said:

From MCO to WDW, regardless of whether you use the northern route (SR-528 to I-4) or the southern route (SR-417 to exit 6), there are two cash tolls in each direction. The driving time is about the same on both routes -- if there are no traffic delays. However, the northern route tends to have far heavier traffic. I prefer SR-417 because it avoids busy I-4 entirely.

Neither of these routes includes driving on "Florida's Turnpike" (which is a specific north–south toll road that's more than 300 miles long).

You'll pay slightly more on SR-417 ($1.50 + $1.50 = $3.00) than on SR-528 ($1.25 + $1.00 = $2.25), but SR-417 allows you to avoid I-4 entirely. If you've ever been in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-4, it's well worth the extra 75 cents.

The tolls work the same way on both routes. Both routes have attended "Change-Receipt" toll booths available. U.S. paper money is fine. You do not need quarters. You may want to ask for receipts.

Paying cash will avoid any rental car toll service charge. If your rental car company requires "opt in" or "opt out," you can safely opt out. Different car rental companies have different plans: https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

Just pay attention. If you don't exit to the right toward the traditional toll booths, both routes have open road electronic tolling. Open road tolling is like driving under a sign at freeway speed. Even if you don't have a SunPass transponder, it reads your license plate. On this forum, we regularly have threads from people who were charged an unexpected toll and service charge. In at least some cases, they probably overlooked the need to exit to the right for cash toll lanes.

If you get off of SR-417 at exit 6 and follow the signs, WDW is a straight shot down World Center Drive (which becomes Epcot Center Drive). Exit 6 is the best exit for most parts of WDW.

If you stay on SR-417 beyond exit 6 to Osceola Parkway, there's a THIRD TOLL at an unmanned toll gate at the exit. It's 50 cents, so you need two quarters. Osceola Parkway is closest for Pop Century, AoA, All Stars, and AKL. You'll also need two quarters if you get onto SR-417 from Osceola Parkway when your return to the airport.

There are no tolls on I-4 around Orlando. So once you're in tourist corridor, you don't have to worry about tolls.

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