Driving around the World

[Uconnfan27]

Hi
Weird question and I probably already know my answer but,
When I was younger, I swore that I would never, ever again drive on Disney roads. Driving in Manhattan is easier in my book. No one knows where they are going, and a lot are driving cars that are rentals. I almost got rear ended, and sideswiped on the same vacation. However, finances change and now I do need to rent a car and brave the roads again. I am a solo traveler who is visiting a friends who work for Disney. Are the traffic conditions and bad drivers still that bad?
Scared in CT
Thanks

 

[com_op_2000]

Depends on definition of bad.
Yes, people get lost a WDW while driving and will make unexpected car moves.

 

[kwdw]

Wow - okay - so - IMO - driving at Disney is a piece of cake compared to Manhattan - and a piece of cake compared to the slightly smaller metro area I live in. At Disney, drivers are more courteous, less traffic overall, signage can be seen in advance. Yes, there are SOME drivers that may be a bit erratic because they don't know where they are headed, but the traffic is so light that's not really an issue, IMO.

I DO recommend, however, getting an official driving map of property so you have a general idea of where you are going in advance. SOME of the road signs aren't as helpful as you might like them to be. Like - you might need to know that "Pop Century" resort is the Wide World of Sports area. So - knowing the general layout in advance helps alot - because now you can navigate without knowing details - just general vicinity. I really like driving at Disney because since I know the overall layout - I know I don't need to know exact directions - I can just follow the signage. The map is posted on the internet, and you can get a copy at any guest relations place or at a Disney resort.

Driving at Disney is about comparison to your experiences back home. If you like the "grid-like" streets of Manhattan to guide your navigation - then navigating Disney might seem bizarre to you. If you live in a rural area - then the huge multiple lane roads and right and left merges and ramps might feel crazy for you. Me - I commute from the suburbs to a major city everyday - and I think traffic at Disney is light and a piece of cake to navigate compared to my daily life.

 

[jessicar82]

It's not that bad. We rented a car for our Sept trip and I actually found it more confusing to use my GPS rather than just follow the signs because GPS was just bringing me all over the place-service entrances etc lol

I live in CT as well and actually don't mind driving in NYC so I'm not sure how much of a help I am but it really wasn't too horrible.

 

[NH-to-FL]

I find it easy to get around Disney. I think the signage inside Disney is quite good. Of course my comparison is the bad signage and crazy traffic in Boston.

I agree with a previous poster to turn off your GPS once inside Disney and just follow the signs.

Here is what I do when I venture into unfamiliar territory. I spend a few minutes with Google Maps to get the sense of the roads. Turn on the satellite view to see the landmarks. I go as far as to 'drive' a few routes with street view. I just did this on my last trip when I had to drive to Sanford Airport to pick up my sister in law. I 'drove' the route from 417 into the airport on street view. When I finally drove it live it was familiar and I could spend more of my attention driving and not navigating.

If you do a little map work and route planning ahead of time you will be fine.

 

[bamacmac]

I've driven around there plenty and don't think it's that bad. No worse than anywhere else really. And I live in Alabama.

I agree with others that it is best to just follow the signs rather than rely on any kind of navigation.

 

[loves to dive]

I agree turn off the GPS, it is useless on property. The signs can sneak up on you and you don't know you are supposed to turn until RIGHT NOW TURN!!!!. So be careful with that. It has also been my experience that once you are on the roads going to the resort, the right lane will turn into a turn lane at the drop of the hat, another one of those where the sign will say Resort X next right turn when actually next right turn is the service road and you won't know this until you get the DON'T TURN HERE UNLESS YOU ARE A SERVICE VEHICLE AND GET OUT OF THIS LANE sign, then you have to be an Indie driver and swerve over to the next lane. I may be pushing the limits just a tad on how really bad it is, the signs don't really yell at you but they do come quick.

 

[spiceycat]

it depends upon when you are going - doing a Holiday week (or even weekend) - well use to say don't even go near WDW - but now may actually try to work there during holidays (have not applied yet)

do love being near WDW. know the area pretty well and will sometime go my way instead of the way that Disney suggested. that say avoiding now and until they end their upgrade - disney springs - the place was bad before but now have not even been there in years. so probably need to go by before saying anything.

if staying offsite - say where you are staying.

 

[Round the World Traveler]

No, it is still bad! I agree with you. I live in Orlando and get lost in WDW!!! Although they have lots of signs, I still find it hard to figure them out. One night it was pouring rain and I was leaving the park and could not figure out how to get out. I pulled over to the side of the road to look on my phone gps and within SECONDS there was a Disney security to help! That was wonderful, he directed me on how to go, and I even followed him a short way to get back on track. SO, if you get lost, pull over to the side of the road (even if it doesn't appear to have a shoulder, you can always pull onto the grass) and someone will be at your side in a flash!
The problem with Orlando and most of the US, if you don't have a car, you can't get around easily. The bus system isn't that great. If you can get to your hotel from the airport, many hotels have shuttles to the park, but not all. It is all very expensive!