Driving from Vistana Resort -- how long?

[Kitty-chan]

On the map in Fodors, it looks like it's a short drive from Sheraton Vistana Resort to WDW, and that you don't have to get on I-4. What's it like in real life? How long does it usually take to get onto Disney property from there? Do we need to be concerned about rush hour traffic?

Thanks in advance for the info.

 

[safetymom]

No I wouldn't worry about rush hour traffic but that area can be congested at times. You could also jump on I-4 for a very short distance to bypass the DTD area. It should take about 15 mins to Epcot.

 

[WillCAD]

Forget I-4. Completely. There is absolutely no need to use it at all when you stay at Vistana.

Vistana's main entrances/exits are on SR535. Come out to that road and make a right turn, then make another right a few hundred feet later at SR536. Less than five minutes later you will pass under the arches that signify the beginning of Disney property, and the road changes names from SR536 to Epcot Center Drive. Five minutes after that you will pass the entrance to Epcot, and a minute or two later you will come to the interchange of World Drive, where Epcot Center Drive ends.

Along the way you will pass under I-4 and you will pass a signalized intersection with Buena Vista Drive. Buena Vista Drive is the main east-west road at WDW, so if you are heading to Downtown Disney you would turn right, and if you are heading to Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, MGM, AK, any of the Epcot resorts, the ALl-Star resorts, Pop Century, WWOS, or AKL, you turn left.

Vistana is 15 minutes or less from almost anything on Disney property, and maybe 20 minutes from MK.

Side note: at one of Vistana's exits there is a Walgreens. Make as much use of this Walgreens as possible! Buy snacks and water there, get film developed there, download digital pics to CD there; you can even find a few pieces of luggage and various minor travel sundries like sewing kits and luggage tags and sunglasses there. For more extensive grocery shopping, you can go to a nearby Publix (I can post directions if you need them).

 

[gjw007]

On the map in Fodors, it looks like it's a short drive from Sheraton Vistana Resort to WDW, and that you don't have to get on I-4. What's it like in real life? How long does it usually take to get onto Disney property from there? Do we need to be concerned about rush hour traffic?

Thanks in advance for the info.

As others have commented, it really is a short drive. It is no more than a 1 - 1 1/2 mile or so from WDW property. And no, you don't need to get on I-4. The times given by others is accurate, It is a nice resort.

 

[safetymom]

Forgot about that way.

 

[ttfn3]

Actually, Vistana Resort's main entrances/exits are on Rt 535. Turn right on 535, stay in right hand lane, the next major road is Rt. 536 - turn right on that road and the road will lead you directly onto Disney property. It's very easy to get to. We have never had a issue with the traffic going to Disney and we have gone at busy times.

If you need to turn left onto Rt. 535 out of Vistana, I would highly recommend using the road directly in front of the back section of the Vistana (near the Fountains/Lakes). It runs right by the Walgreens that Willcad referred to and it has a traffic light.

We love the Vistana Resort and were it's located. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[Kitty-chan]

This is all good to know, thanks! I had a brief moment this morning when I asked myself "ack, what was I thinking to stay offsite!" but now I feel better.

I'm bookmarking this very useful thread.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Now we come out of the resort via the main drive (by the lobby/check-in) and make a LEFT onto SR 535. We go down maybe 2 or 3 lights and make a left again directly into the entrance to WDW via the Marketplace/Downtown Disney route.
You can make a right out of the resort and then make the first right again at the light which is I-4 and follow the signs to WDW. This was is probably marked a little better with signs if you're not familiar with navigating WDW property.
Either way, never takes us longer than 10-15 min to get inside any park (we timed ourselves at 8-9 min a couple of times to Epcot's parking lot). It's about 5 min to the Disney Marketplace/DD/PLeasure Island.

 

[Kitty-chan]

Now we come out of the resort via the main drive (by the lobby/check-in) and make a LEFT onto SR 535. We go down maybe 2 or 3 lights and make a left again directly into the entrance to WDW via the Marketplace/Downtown Disney route.
You can make a right out of the resort and then make the first right again at the light which is I-4 and follow the signs to WDW. This was is probably marked a little better with signs if you're not familiar with navigating WDW property.
Either way, never takes us longer than 10-15 min to get inside any park (we timed ourselves at 8-9 min a couple of times to Epcot's parking lot). It's about 5 min to the Disney Marketplace/DD/PLeasure Island.

Great! That's what it looked like to me from the map.

We stayed once at the Wyndham near DTD, and were very happy with the driving distances from there. So, if it's 5 minutes to DTD, I'm sure we'll be quite satisfied.

I am feeling better about the decision to stay at the Vistana all the time.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I am feeling better about the decision to stay at the Vistana all the time.

I'm glad.....I hope you will enjoy your time there Kitty-chan
We own both at Vistana as well as DVC. Even when we stay onsite at OKW or one of the other DVC resorts, we don't feel it's that much quicker to get to the parks via wdw bus transport vs our stays at Vistana. Of course, the MK will be the most hassle/time consuming. Because even though it might take 10-15 min to get to the MK parking lot, you still have to go through the TTC/tram/monorail to get inside the MK. Sometimes we prefer to drive to Epcot and then hop the monorail over to the MK, bypassing parking at the TTC. But I'm not sure that saves a whole lot of time either....maybe a little.

But considering, Vistana is pretty close to wdw as far as offsite resorts go. Have fun !

 

[WillCAD]

Actually, Vistana Resort's main entrances/exits are on Rt 535. Turn right on 535, stay in right hand lane, the next major road is Rt. 536 - turn right on that road and the road will lead you directly onto Disney property. It's very easy to get to. We have never had a issue with the traffic going to Disney and we have gone at busy times.

If you need to turn left onto Rt. 535 out of Vistana, I would highly recommend using the road directly in front of the back section of the Vistana (near the Fountains/Lakes). It runs right by the Walgreens that Willcad referred to and it has a traffic light.

We love the Vistana Resort and were it's located. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Whoops, I completely forgot that the entrances were on 535 not 536! Sorry about that, Chief!

I'm going to edit my original post to prevent confusion. I wouldn't want anybody to get lost because gave bad directions!

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

This is all good to know, thanks! I had a brief moment this morning when I asked myself "ack, what was I thinking to stay offsite!" but now I feel better.

I'm bookmarking this very useful thread.

I hope you have as good a time as we did at Vistana. It was a GREAT trip. We didn't miss on site AT ALL, and you're talking to someone who has stayed at WL twice.

Have fun.

 

[Kitty-chan]

Of course, the MK will be the most hassle/time consuming. Because even though it might take 10-15 min to get to the MK parking lot, you still have to go through the TTC/tram/monorail to get inside the MK. Sometimes we prefer to drive to Epcot and then hop the monorail over to the MK, bypassing parking at the TTC.

Hmm, I think we might give that a try on this trip. One thing I loved about staying at POP last year was bypassing the TTC. And EPCoT's usually a quick stop for us, so I could see parking at EPCoT, taking the monorail over to MK, heading back to EPCoT when the crowds get thick at MK, and then taking the monorail back to EPCoT to hit our few favorites. We love Figment, and there's just never ever much of a line.

When MK opens earlier than EPCoT, do the monorails start running early enough in the day for this strategy to work?

 

[MiaSRN62]

When MK opens earlier than EPCoT, do the monorails start running early enough in the day for this strategy to work?

Good question. I'm not sure ? I do believe wdw transportation begins operating 30-60 min prior to park opening time, so perhaps it would.

 

[gjw007]

Good question. I'm not sure ? I do believe wdw transportation begins operating 30-60 min prior to park opening time, so perhaps it would.

I think it does but I usually don't show up much before 9 AM. I've used this strategy especially when I want to stay late and see Illuminations as this is where I expect my night to end.

 

[mej]

We are heading to Vistana Resort tomorrow. We went last year and loved it - so convenient to everywhere-including a really nice Bennigans, just beside Walgreens! Hope we get as good accomodation as we did last time! Have sent the "begging emails" - but there are no guarantees!

 

[disneygals]

Just back from the Vistana...easy to get to parks, not so easy to get back.

The fastest way back is from Epcot Center drive to 536, when leaving MK it doesn't exit you that way. It heads you to I4. If you do end up on I4 EAST, get off exit 67 and it's easy to find Vistana. I think when leaving MK, if you exit towards Epcot and Downtown Disney, it leads you back to 536.

Just noticed this is an old message, but maybe it will help someone else.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I think when leaving MK, if you exit towards Epcot and Downtown Disney, it leads you back to 536.

We always exit and get back to Vistana by following signs for DD and the Marketplace. It leads you right out to SR 535 (Crossroads/Goodings will be across the street) and you turn right here. We've gotten home in under 10 min going this route. Little longer during busy times.