Directions from I4 south?

[loriandmatt]

OK, so i can handle the the 15 (yikes! ) hours on I95 from philly, but i am a bit confused where to go from there.

I have gotten mixed directions. Some say i need to be on I4 south for a very brief period and then get on I4 west. others don't mention the I4 south thing at all.

Also, where do i go from I4 west in order to reach FW?

sorry to bother everyone with this, but searching this site and several map sites have given me no real answers. I figure some of you folks drive this route and would know the way in your sleep.

thanks for any and all help.

- lori
p.s. blowing my own horn a little bit here.....i just jumped into vet status......i officially spend way too much time here!!!!

 

[welovemickey]

To get to WDW from I95: Take I4 west (I think it's exit 82, but it's well marked). Follow I4 all the way into and thru Orlando. Once you get close to Disney there are signs everywhere.

To get to FW, follow the signs to Magic Kingdom and take exit 25B (that exit number I DO remember). Go thru the MK toll plaza and stay to the right and follow the signs to FW.

It's all very easy. There is only one I4 exit off of I95, so you won't miss it. Any other questions, just e-mail me.

 

[Master Gracey]

Hi LoriandMatt

There's only one I-4. It runs north to south through Orlando, then turns to the west just south of WDW and goes to Tampa.

Your shortest way to FW is to take exit 26B. The signs will say Epcot and Downtown Disney. After exiting I-4 you will be on Epcot Center Drive. Stay to the right and take the first off ramp. At the light (Buena Vista Blvd) go straight through. You will be northbound on Bonnet Creek Parkway. Follow Bonnet Creek north past Port Orleans until it dead ends at Vista Blvd. Turn left onto Vista Blvd. You will come to a security checkpoint. Just tell them you are going to FW to check in. The FW main entrance is the second right past the security post.

Have a great vacation!

 

[Lisa P.]

"Interstate" highways, like I-4, are numbered with even numbers if they run east/west and odd numbers if they run north/south. I-4 runs east/west, technically. So all entrance signs will say "I-4 East" this way or "I-4 West" that way (with arrows). Coming from Daytona to Orlando and eventually to Tampa, you'll be on I-4 westbound. While it travels southwestward, there's no such thing as I-4 South.

I have no idea why it was named I-4, an interstate highway and not "FL State Rte. 4" (which would've been numbered differently, btw), when it only seems to exist inside of FL and doesn't carry travelers between states! Perhaps it had to do with the funding for building it and maintaining it, as a federally managed road.

 

[DVCDAVE]

MASTER GRACEY is 100% right !! follw those directions. It saves time, and you won't be back tracking. Further, you will be passing Goodings Grocery Store, and you can pick up some items before check in.

 

[loriandmatt]

thanks for clarifying that I4 thing. I am printing all of your suggestions now and will take them along.

DVCDAVE....thanks especially for the tip about Goodings. We will definitely have to hit a grocery store on our first day. We have no real plans for our first day other than to set up camp, go grocery shopping and recover from that long drive.
I have heard others mention that Goodings is a bit pricey and suggested making the journey to the super WalMart. Would you suggest it?
I don't mind the commute time if the savings and selection will be worth it. (deli meats, breads, produce...) But, if WalMart is just a bugger to find if you are not a local, I may just spend the extra cash and shop at Goodings. (even a pricey grocery store is still cheaper than eating at the parks or resorts daily.)

Geez- I just read what I typed up there.....do you think that should be a separate thread??!?!

thanks for everyone's input - lori

 

[DVCDAVE]

Yes !, Goodings is expensive. Even relative by pricey CT, standards. We usually just pick up a few items to insure the kids get 1 decent meal while we unpack. By the way the Goodings is located in the Cross Roads Plaza that you will be passing, you won't be able to see the store from the road, and there is a liquor store right next to it (expensive too). We do head out latter to Publix, which is few miles away. There is a Super Walmart nearby too. I am not an expert on the names of the roads, so I won't screw you up with my inaccurate directions, even though I know how to get to both.

Just noticed you're from Phili. My mom grew up on Townshend St. in Chester, back during WWII. My parents met in college in Phili.

 

[loriandmatt]

We actually live in the burbs. Norristown to be exact. DH is a cop in Norristown - just as rough as Philly!

I am actually a transplant from the Pittsburgh area. I went from lots of cows to skyscrapers!

I work in the city (at MCP Hahnemann Univ Med Schood - we are part of Drexel Univ.) and enjoy the all of the things to see and do here. (It's nice to be a short hop to NYC too. Talk about cultural bliss!)

I have gotten directions to Publix and WalMart from the boards in the past....now if i can only remember where i put them.

We will take our time and make the trek to one or the other....if all else fails we will backtrack and suck up the cash and hit Goodings. (We will do all of this WITHOUT GETTING TENSE! - i am reassuring myself here I will repeat my vacation mantra " I am on vacation and i will not stress out....")

thanks for your help - lori