AZ Dis'rs - Driving questions

[snoodledoo]

I'm getting my driving directions ready for our trip and one of the instructions includes info that 91 is a Toll Road at some point. Is this true? And sorry, but having grown up in AZ, I have no idea how toll roads work. Thanks!

 

[darph nader]

'IF' I remember correctly,the 91 uses an electronic devise to cofirm use of the toll road. The regular 91 runs darn near paralell.(we use I-8 to I-5,know that route better) So Calers would know more abt this than me.

 

[kuusimo]

91 is half toll/half not. Just stay to the right and you are not charged a toll.

 

[DizneyMommy]

There is a 10 mile stretch of the 91 fwy, the last 10 miles before you approach the 55 interchange, where instead of carpool lane they have 2 toll lanes. These toll lanes require a transponder, you cannot pay cash to use them. If you have a FastTrak transponder that works elsewhere, such as San Fran or New Jersey, I have heard that it will work on the 91 also, but you'll want to verify that first if you have one.

There will be very clear signs before you get to the toll section so you know to get out of the carpool lane, as long as you pay attention - the beginning is just past Corona. The lanes are on both east and west 91, so going home you'll have the same thing.

 

[DizneyMommy]

snoodledoo - I just saw your sig... did you win the night in the Mickey Mouse Penthouse? JEALOUS!! Where/when were you when you won it? I am at the parks all the time, like once or twice a week sometimes, and I always see the family that won in the parade but we never see it actually given away. I know it must have been early because someone told me they do it before 11am or something like that?

 

[snoodledoo]

snoodledoo - I just saw your sig... did you win the night in the Mickey Mouse Penthouse? JEALOUS!! Where/when were you when you won it? I am at the parks all the time, like once or twice a week sometimes, and I always see the family that won in the parade but we never see it actually given away. I know it must have been early because someone told me they do it before 11am or something like that?

Yes - it was early in the morning. It was around 9:30ish. It was a Weds, so no EE. We were coming off Peter Pan - must've gotten some pixie dust inside! Thanks!

 

[HydroGuy]

There is a 10 mile stretch of the 91 fwy, the last 10 miles before you approach the 55 interchange, where instead of carpool lane they have 2 toll lanes. These toll lanes require a transponder, you cannot pay cash to use them. If you have a FastTrak transponder that works elsewhere, such as San Fran or New Jersey, I have heard that it will work on the 91 also, but you'll want to verify that first if you have one.

There will be very clear signs before you get to the toll section so you know to get out of the carpool lane, as long as you pay attention - the beginning is just past Corona. The lanes are on both east and west 91, so going home you'll have the same thing.

I borrowed my step-father's transponder one morning last year for the 91 and it saved a lot of time in the morning on the way to DLR. The important thing is not try westbound on the 91 in the morning, or eastbound in the late afternoon/evening, or you may be in for a wait (unless it is a Sat/Sun). In 2005 on another trip without the transponder we came thru 91 eastbound at about 2PM on a Friday and it took us four hours on the 91 to go about 40 miles.

 

[DizneyMommy]

In 2005 an another trip without the transponder we came thru 91 eastbound at about 2PM on a Friday and it took us four hours on the 91 to go about 40 miles.

Fridays Eastbound are the worst... a lot of people from So Cal head to Vegas or the river on that route and traffic starts around noon on Friday Eastbound and does not let up all evening.

I wouldn't try to come Westbound on a Sunday after 12pm either, everyone is coming back from Vegas.

 

[snoodledoo]

I wouldn't try to come Westbound on a Sunday after 12pm either, everyone is coming back from Vegas.

Yikes! That's when we'll be there!!

 

[DizneyMommy]

Well, you might want to consider re-routing around the 91. I know there are people who take the 60 to the 57, or something like that. It does not get nearly as bad as the 91. The rough part of the drive is from the 91/15 interchange and everything south of that for a good 20 miles or so. If you could hit that spot before 12noon, or after about 6pm, you'd be in better shape.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Last time I made the drive (this spring) I just took the 10 all the way to 57...more land miles but I swear it didn't add more the 20-30 minutes to the drive and avoided ALL that hassle of the 60/91 interchange and the traffic on 91.

Going home we took the 'diagonal' route however. You just need to be paying close attention to the exit from 91 to 60 as we didn't get much warning with all the construction.

.

 

[DizneyMommy]

Last time I made the drive (this spring) I just took the 10 all the way to 57...more land miles but I swear it didn't add more the 20-30 minutes to the drive and avoided ALL that hassle of the 60/91 interchange and the traffic on 91.

That's it - take that route if you can!

The 91/60/215 is a major construction nightmare and then you get to the 91/15 with the Vegas traffic so that can make the 91 an absolute headache.

 

[snoodledoo]

Ok - so going there, we'll take the 10 to the 57.

Which route would be best for heading out on Thursday morning?

Thanks!!

 

[DizneyMommy]

As long as you leave after 9am, I'd go with the 91. The bulk of the traffic will be going the other way, so you should have pretty smooth sailing. The 57 seems to have traffic all day long during the week.