Best time to hit Orlando/WDW

[sunnydays28]

Can I assume they have morning and afternoon rush hours like any other major city? Is there a time getting to the onsite hotels are especially heavier?

We are driving in and are flexible, and since I have never driven around Orlando before I want to avoid the major traffic times.

Any good links to traffic pattern/updates?

 

[grimley1968]

If you're coming from the Florida Turnpike, 417 is a great option to avoid I-4's traffic jams. It is a toll road, but I happily pay the few $$ it costs to avoid the traffic.

At the onsite resorts, I'd say peak check-in times are from 9:00-12:00. If you do online check-in, though, this process can be greatly sped up.

 

[sunnydays28]

Thanks John! I see you are from Kentucky too (guess I need to update my profile), so this is extremely helpful, knowing we are coming from the same direction.

So any tips for the drive down, place to stay overnight?

 

[grimley1968]

Thanks John! I see you are from Kentucky too (guess I need to update my profile), so this is extremely helpful, knowing we are coming from the same direction.

So any tips for the drive down, place to stay overnight?

We normally go down for Fall Break, and start our drive after picking the kids up at school. From southern Ky. our favorite place to stop in that scenario is Valdosta, GA. We get there about 11 PM and then have about a 3.5 hour drive to WDW the next morning. We normally stay at the Hilton Garden Inn there at exit 18. It's very nice, and I get points for doing so. Halfway for us would be further north in central GA, such as Macon, etc.

From here, we also try to avoid driving I-75 through Knoxville. For some reason they can't ever seem to avoid major backups there. We get through downtown Atlanta faster than Knoxville. That's no exaggeration. Luckily, we can take Highway 27 all the way to Chattanooga from here, and it's 4-lane through about 2/3 of Tennessee. I also don't like the westerly, then easterly jog 75 does to get from Knoxville, over to Chattanooga (and avoiding the mountains), then toward Atlanta. This is after we have to travel east just to get on I-75. 27 takes us on a straighter southerly route to Chattanooga. Then it's I-75 from Chattanooga until the Florida Turnpike (Reagan Turnpike), then 417, then Western Way (Disney's own exit off 417).

Do NOT take the bypass around Atlanta. Waste of time. We get there later than rush hour and just stay on I-75 straight through downtown. We hardly go slower than 55 at any point in Atlanta.

DO take the Macon bypass. That really does save some time and congested driving in Macon.

 

[IlovePiglet]

You would actually take 429 off the Florida Turnpike. 417 can be picked up off of I4 in the Sanford area.
Both are toll roads, all tolls on the mainline are manned. Ramp tolls require exact change.
According to the Expressway Authority's website (expresswayauthority.com) the toll for 429 from the Turnpike to Exit 8 is $1.50.

 

[grimley1968]

You would actually take 429 off the Florida Turnpike. 417 can be picked up off of I4 in the Sanford area.
Both are toll roads, all tolls on the mainline are manned. Ramp tolls require exact change.
According to the Expressway Authority's website (expresswayauthority.com) the toll for 429 from the Turnpike to Exit 8 is $1.50.

Ahh, yes. I apologize for the mixup. I get those 2 roads confused.

 

[IlovePiglet]

Ahh, yes. I apologize for the mixup. I get those 2 roads confused.

Easy to do with almost everything starting with 4 around here