can i walk from downtown disney to the closest ouytlet mall?

[newfiegirl]

i will be staying at pop and would like an afternoon of shopping at the closest outlet mall possible (btw, which one is this). i read somewhere that it is within walking distance from dtd...so can i take the bus to dtd and just walk to mall, or will i need a cab? please help

 

[DebbieB]

You will need a cab. Premium Outlets is probably a couple miles but there are no sidewalks to walk.

 

[TDC Nala]

There is a shopping center within walking distance (sort of long walking distance) of DTD. It is not an outlet mall.

The closest outlet mall I know of is not within walking distance.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The closest outlet mall is Orlando Premium Outlets, located across I-4 from Lake Buena Vista. While it's only a couple miles away, it would take forever to walk there and in this heat and humidity, you'd be drenched with sweat. You really need a taxi and you could minimize that cost by taking a Disney bus to DTD and the taxi from there. Or consider a 1-day car rental (24 hours) which would allow you to visit both major outlet malls and even a regular mall too.

BobK/Orlando

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Definitely not within walking distance. It would be suicide to even attempt it past Hotel Plaza Boulevard, as there is a VERY busy highway to cross. I cna't imagine that it would cost much to catch a cab from DTD to the outlet and there are usually many of them waiting in the parking lot closest to Pleasure Island.

Suzanne

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

The closest outlet mall is Orlando Premium Outlets, located across I-4 from Lake Buena Vista. While it's only a couple miles away, it would take forever to walk there and in this heat and humidity, you'd be drenched with sweat. You really need a taxi and you could minimize that cost by taking a Disney bus to DTD and the taxi from there. Or consider a 1-day car rental (24 hours) which would allow you to visit both major outlet malls and even a regular mall too.

BobK/Orlando

There are actually 3 major outlet malls in the area.

Suzanne

 

[Charleyann]

Take the free shopping shuttle from the Buena Vista Palace hotel in Downtown Disney. It goes to the Buena Vista Factory outlet mall. Google it and look under shuttles for the hotel and times.....

Charleyann

 

[DisneyWalker44]

White it's not necessarily the best way to go, it certainly is possible.

There are sidewalks the whole way.

The only busy street crossing is done with crosswalks and walk signs.

It's 2.5 miles each way, which is certainly "walkable" for many people. Every day in the parks - even with the heat and humidity - lots of families walk at least the 5 miles it would be round trip.

PS - As a general rule, don't believe what you read on the transportation board when it comes to walking.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Wouldn't they also need to cross some (busy) highway on/off ramps? Or are those regulated by traffic and walk signals as well?

 

[mmackeymouse]

My question is..........if you make the walk to the outlet malls, aren't you planning to buy something?

I know if you buy as much as we do, it would be a real pain in the rear to lug it all back 2+ miles in the Florida heat.

 

[5boyz]

We rent a car the first day we are there! We hit a few malls and the Walmart for groceries, then we start our Disney vacation. It has worked well for the last 4 yrs and we are doing it again this year!

 

[Lewisc]

A route is "walkable" if it's safe (sidewalks/walk signals) and a "reasonable" distance. Some people consider .5 mile walkable others a mile or so. I would never tell a poster a 2.5 mile distance is walkable. I might tell them it's safe to walk but the approximate distance. Is there any distance which you don't consider "walkable", even if safe. 10 miles? 15 miles?

There is a difference between walking 5 miles in a park where you stop to shop, eat and visit an attraction and walking 5 miles R/T to an outlet mall.

PP got it right. Many people go to an outlet mall to shop. I don't know how many bags you want to carry 2.5 miles to DTD then on a Disney bus.

A rental car makes the most sense.

It's a shame Disney didn't design AKL with a walking path to the AK. For some reason Disney discourages walking. It took years for Disney to construct the walking path between Boardwalk and DHS.

White it's not necessarily the best way to go, it certainly is possible.

There are sidewalks the whole way.

The only busy street crossing is done with crosswalks and walk signs.

It's 2.5 miles each way, which is certainly "walkable" for many people. Every day in the parks - even with the heat and humidity - lots of families walk at least the 5 miles it would be round trip.

PS - As a general rule, don't believe what you read on the transportation board when it comes to walking.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since there are always going to be taxi's parked around Downtown Disney I would highly recommend you take one when going to the Premium Outlets and it's no more then a 5 minute drive.

 

[crashbb]

My question is..........if you make the walk to the outlet malls, aren't you planning to buy something?

I know if you buy as much as we do, it would be a real pain in the rear to lug it all back 2+ miles in the Florida heat.

You could always walk there and take a cab back - cuts the cost in half.

Assuming, of course, that the route is actually safe to walk.

 

[NotUrsula]

You could always walk there and take a cab back - cuts the cost in half.

Assuming, of course, that the route is actually safe to walk.

Which is the iffy part. You have to cross under I-4 at Apopka-Vineland (Outside the Marriott Little Lake Bryant complex) and then cross to Vineland Avenue at the I-4 off-ramp; which is a REALLY busy 8-lane intersection that includes two interstate ramps. It does have sidewalks for over 80% of the route (I just checked Google street view), but that's still a speedway through there.

The walk is a bit over 2 miles. In hot weather it would be very unpleasant; gulping car exhaust fumes all the way.

 

[newfiegirl]

will it be possible to get a cab outside pop? anyone know the approx cost to the closest outlet mall...premium i think

 

[kaytieeldr]

If there's not a cab, turn around and ask someone at the Luggage Assistance counter if they could please get one for you.

For the fare, there's a link to Mears' Taxi Fare Estimator in the Popular Transportation Links thread at the top of this forum.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

I would never tell a poster a 2.5 mile distance is walkable. I might tell them it's safe to walk but the approximate distance. Is there any distance which you don't consider "walkable", even if safe. 10 miles? 15 miles?

I'm sure there is some distance at which it no longer really "walkable." But I'd hate to think that distance is something that can be walked well under an hour. Believe it or not, tons of people get up early every day at Disney because they want to walk that far - they actually enjoy it. 2.5 miles is not some unreasonable barrier. Sure, lots of people don't want to walk that far, just as I would never want to take a multi-day cross country drive. But I'd never tell somebody that WDW isn't "driveable" from Michigan. Would you?

As you suggest, probably best just to tell somebody how far the walk is and let them decide if that is or isn't walkable.

PP got it right. Many people go to an outlet mall to shop. I don't know how many bags you want to carry 2.5 miles to DTD then on a Disney bus.

I'm going to assume the original poster isn't an idiot, and understands that you sometimes end up with a lot of stuff when you go shopping. I think it safe to assume we don't have to point that out. The OP specifically asked about walking to the outlet center. I think it better to assume either (1) they are thinking of walking there and taking other transportation back or (2) they are looking to buy something small.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

Which is the iffy part. You have to cross under I-4 at Apopka-Vineland (Outside the Marriott Little Lake Bryant complex) and then cross to Vineland Avenue at the I-4 off-ramp; which is a REALLY busy 8-lane intersection that includes two interstate ramps.

Can you clarify what you mean by that? I don't see any 8-lane intersection. What I see is that you have to cross a 2-lane off ramp (at which the cars have a stop light) then another 2-land off ramp (again, at which cars will be stopped at a light), then cross a single lane on ramp without a light. Considering that the whole route is clearly marked for walking, including zebra-strip-crosslanes, it seems at least the transportation board doesn't think it unsafe.

It does have sidewalks for over 80% of the route (I just checked Google street view),

I'm curious where you don't see sidewalks. I see them the whole route.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Everywhere is walkable......if you have the time.

This walk would be on the dangerous side. Orlando's crazy drivers plus tourists not looking where they are going or used to driving on the "other side". Ramps to/from I-4, even with traffic lights. It's not a pleasant picture and I love to walk.

Then there is the before-mentioned weather.....HOT, MUGGY, AFTERNOON RAIN!

This is just not a place to walk to from Disney World.

BobK/Orlando