Daytona 500 Traffic Leaving Race? Heading Right to WDW...

[Luvamouse]

I have searched and looked and apologize if this specific thread/question exists...I am posting here and on the 2,000+ Mile Thread.

Next February we will be going to the Daytona 500 and then heading to the Poly. If any of you have been to Daytona-- preferably 2010, but I'll take any advice , how long did it take to leave the Racetrack? Leave the area? Get to WDW? We've done the drive in Nov. 2007 from Daytona Speedway, but obviously without a race it was quite quick. We are just trying to get a handle on our worst case scenario as we plan to stay in Daytona prior to the race, but drive to Disney after the race ends on Sunday night. No interest in waking in Daytona and then driving to Disney.

Thanks for advice or tips as I plan to book my Daytona hotel this week...

 

[Golf4food]

I'd plan for an extra hour at least, just in case. I've never done that, but having left other large events like football games it can certainly be a mess leaving. One advantage with Daytona is that the road by the speedway is multi-laned and very near the interstate so once you can get to 95 it shouldn't be as much of a problem to get to I-4. Still, you have tens of thousands of extra cars all in one place trying to mostly go the same direction, so...

 

[clarabelle]

I have some very recent experience with this!
I was leaving WDW yesterday and traffic on I-4 was horrible.
Almost bumper to bumper so I asked my GPS for a reroute -a different way to get to i-95 -and it put me in race traffic!
I didn't know about the race -I am not a follower

It was even worse -I was so mad at myself. I should have stayed on I-4.
This was at about 10:00 AM
The traffic put me at almost an hour behind schedule

 

[Luvamouse]

Thanks to you both... I had someone who goes to Daytona and then drives to WDW mention hours of delay after the race lets out. And I mean hours... I have had 4 hour delays leaving NASCAR race parking lots on occasion and so wanted to know if Daytona is better or worse...

 

[SideshowBob]

Thanks to you both... I had someone who goes to Daytona and then drives to WDW mention hours of delay after the race lets out. And I mean hours... I have had 4 hour delays leaving NASCAR race parking lots on occasion and so wanted to know if Daytona is better or worse...

SSB was driving back to LBV one year from a trip and was stuck for 2-3 hours in the post-race traffic.... it was pretty crazy.

 

[Disfan1]

When I have gone to the Daytona 500 I haven encountered about an hour and a half delay. I was driving from the race to Jacksonville. That normally takes about an hour & a half - after the race it took 3 hours.

 

[Luvamouse]

When I have gone to the Daytona 500 I haven encountered about an hour and a half delay. I was driving from the race to Jacksonville. That normally takes about an hour & a half - after the race it took 3 hours.

Thank you DisFan-- that's pretty much what I was looking for. How long did it take to leave the track or lot itself? Or is that what you referred to?

 

[goofyernmost]

A number of years ago, due to extremely good planning on my part, I got to the intersection of I-95 and I-4 just about 10 minutes after the Daytona 500 ended. That was about 4:30 in the afternoon. I arrived in at WDW at around 9 PM. It was like a two lane parking lot. Plan for two to possibly 3 hours additional time to get there after the race.

Accidents happen in a large group of race induced adrenaline people and that will shut everything down real quick.

 

[JDUCKY]

Anyone bother heading south and coming west? Or branching off I-4 at Sanford and taking the 417 down (several $ in tolls that way, though)

Just some thoughts on alternates.

 

[quentina]

We have in the past gone to the 500, we switched to the shootout because of the traffic.

My truthful example: We were staying at the Wilderness lodge. We left at 6:30am. Stopped at 9 at a Dennys (which was crowed with people in Dale Jr Shirts ) Arrived at Daytona at................2pm......I tell no lie......

Coming home was not as bad however; I think it took 3.5 hours. Just getting to the parking lot is a nightmare.

The shootout is amazing......no traffic coming in, about 20 minute hold up on exit.

We have also done the Pepsi 400. Not as long as a ride as the 500.....about 2 hours less.

All in all, it is an amazing time and worth it....just frustrating!

 

[taylor1293]

Done it many times!

Once you finally make it make to your car. It could take an hour (or more) to get out of your parking lot. Then another 3 to get back to Orlando.

We prefer 95 down to 50 to 408 .

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This year's race ended UNUSUALLY late due to 2 red flags to track damage. It didn't end until 7. You may wish to consider a back up plan--in the event that occurs.

Other than that--I have no idea. But I would imagine leaving parking might take you an hour or more.

What about leaving the hoopla of the race and watching it at the ESPN club on Disney property--unless you planned on physically attending the race.

 

[NotAmused]

We went to the Daytona 500 this year and we experienced no delays in leaving....though, that's because we left when there was about 20 laps to go and then just listened to the end on the radio to avoid traffic. As others said, I would definitely plan for 1-2 hours extra when leaving the event.

We arrived about 9:30am and it took us a good 45 minutes to get from the I95 exit to where we ended up parking. There was that much traffic even with people arriving at all different times. We thought we'd beat the traffic by getting there early.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Done it many times!

Once you finally make it make to your car. It could take an hour (or more) to get out of your parking lot. Then another 3 to get back to Orlando.

We prefer 95 down to 50 to 408 .

That sounds like Dover. Never done Daytona but been to Dover 3 times. The last time it took almost 2hrs to get out of the lot. But after we got out there we were home free.

 

[Luvamouse]

Done it many times!

Once you finally make it make to your car. It could take an hour (or more) to get out of your parking lot. Then another 3 to get back to Orlando.

We prefer 95 down to 50 to 408 .

Thanks for the alternate route tip!

This year's race ended UNUSUALLY late due to 2 red flags to track damage. It didn't end until 7. You may wish to consider a back up plan--in the event that occurs.

Other than that--I have no idea. But I would imagine leaving parking might take you an hour or more.

What about leaving the hoopla of the race and watching it at the ESPN club on Disney property--unless you planned on physically attending the race.

Discussed all of this as the race delay went on...and on...and on... DD's 16th B-Day gift, so we will be there.

We went to the Daytona 500 this year and we experienced no delays in leaving....though, that's because we left when there was about 20 laps to go and then just listened to the end on the radio to avoid traffic. As others said, I would definitely plan for 1-2 hours extra when leaving the event.

We arrived about 9:30am and it took us a good 45 minutes to get from the I95 exit to where we ended up parking. There was that much traffic even with people arriving at all different times. We thought we'd beat the traffic by getting there early.

Have often left the races early for this reason, but this year said there is no way we will leave early in 2011, just to know we were there for such an amazing finish!! We know 6 or 7 a.m. is the tie to arrive...sigh... can't wait to get our 5th wheel and be able to stay there...

That sounds like Dover. Never done Daytona but been to Dover 3 times. The last time it took almost 2hrs to get out of the lot. But after we got out there we were home free.

We've been stuck in the Loudon, NH Parking Lot for 4 hours, so I can feel your pain...

 

[taylor1293]

That sounds like Dover. Never done Daytona but been to Dover 3 times. The last time it took almost 2hrs to get out of the lot. But after we got out there we were home free.

Never been to Dover but it's one of the tracks that I really want to go to! Traffic is definitely an issue at the races!!! I've found, of the 5 tracks we've been to (Daytona, Homestead, Dega, Michigan, and Darlington), that Michigan was the worst. I've heard they made improvements, but the 2 lane road was AWFUL! A true nightmare getting in and out.