Driving in/around DW? HOW???? (directions)

[asmit4]

So we are renting a car, staying at Bonnet Creek. We need to be able to navigate from airport to BC, to MK, to Epcot, and to perhaps Aquatica. We have a garmin and I know I can put in addresses but I get the idea that perhaps the addresses don't really work. Does MK HAVE an address?? (TTC lot)??

How will we know where to go and how to find the parks. We haven't driven since I was a kid- so we are 'lost'

 

[dmunsil]

I created a downloadable file that works with Garmin and TomTom GPS units that has all the important locations in and around WDW, and it's FREE on MouseSavers.com:

http://www.mousesavers.com/using-auto-gps-at-walt-disney-world/

You're right that the parks themselves don't actually have addresses. And the points listed in the GPS are often not useful for driving directions. Thus the MouseSavers POI are very handy.

 

[willowsnn3]

Once you're on Disney property, there are signs everywhere pointing out which way to go to the various parks & resorts.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

Once you're on Disney property, there are signs everywhere pointing out which way to go to the various parks & resorts.

This is great advice. Once you get into the World, toss the Garmin. Disney has great signage.

 

[Polydweller]

This is great advice. Once you get into the World, toss the Garmin. Disney has great signage.

Agree. The Garmin isn't needed and we just stow ours. The signage is great and the roadways are actually pretty straightforward. The other thing is that the GPS can mislead you and try to take you down cast member only roads on occasion. Trust the signs and you'll be fine.

 

[DebbieB]

The main roads form a box, if you remember that, it's easy to get around. East to West are: Vista Way on top, Buena Vista on the bottom. North to South: World Drive on the left, Bonnet Creek Parkway on the right.

MK is on World Drive, Epcot can be reached off of World Drive or Bonnet Creek, DHS can be reached off of Buena Vista, AK is farther way, you can take Buena Vista and keep going to Osceola Parkway.

 

[dmunsil]

Agree. The Garmin isn't needed and we just stow ours. The signage is great and the roadways are actually pretty straightforward. The other thing is that the GPS can mislead you and try to take you down cast member only roads on occasion. Trust the signs and you'll be fine.

The only way that would happen is if you used the POI built into the GPS. I've driven with a GPS using my own POI many, many times at WDW, and have never been directed down a cast-member only road. I've been directed down roads that are not normally driven by the general public, but they're perfectly OK public roads. Apparently people often end up on a cast member entrance to Epcot when they use the location for Epcot built into the GPS. But you will not have that happen with my points. You will get directed to the parking plaza.

I agree with everyone here about the signage, but really only for the main parks. If you want to get to, say, another resort, you at minimum need to know the "resort area" it's in. Trying to navigate from, say, the Poly to Port Orleans (maybe you want some beignets ) is actually a bit of a pain. Similarly, if you want to get to Bonnet Creek, there are no signs at all until you get to the entrance, because Disney doesn't offer signs to things that aren't on their property (and Bonnet Creek is technically not WDW property).

So if you plan to drive to the main parks, then you'll be fine without a GPS. You can get to any major park from anywhere in the World by following signs. If you want to get to anything else, like a resort, golf course, restaurant, water park, etc. it's much more hit and miss. Some places are easy to find and others not so much.

The MouseSavers points also have all the local 24 hour drugstores, every nearby urgent care center and hospital, all the nearby grocery stores, etc. And the location is smack-dab on the entrance driveway in every case, because I actually drove around and gathered the locations personally.

Ultimately if you have a Garmin, there's no downside to using the MouseSavers points. They're free; I made them for myself and put them on MouseSavers because I thought other folks might want them. There are no ads, no catches, and I personally handle the tech support.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Once you're on Disney property, there are signs everywhere pointing out which way to go to the various parks & resorts.

1) Yes.
2) Besides, some hotels/parks don't register on GPS systems
3) Or, the GPS gives bad info.
4) Disney has used the signs for over 40-yrs.
5) The signs are well displayed and easy to figure.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

There are GPS directions and addresses T www.disneyworldgps.com . I used the addresses on our last trip in July and it really made getting around a lot easier.

 

[JessM]

You won't need the gps. Disney is extremely well signed! We for some reason couldn't get gps signal at the airport our last trip and we made it to Disney no problems. We never turned it on again the rest of the trip.

 

[rwdavis2]

Here is .pdf file of a map of the entire property with road names. This should help you get oriented.

http://www.bferryhomes.com/xSites/Agents/bferryhomes/Content/UploadedFiles/WDW Property Map.pdf

 

[asmit4]

thanks! you guys are amazing!

 

[donnishobson]

Is there a way to put the GPS points into Google maps on my iphone 4s?

 

[sharadoc]

The Bonnet creek entrance/exit is at the intersection of Bonnet Creek parkway and Buena Vista Drive. You will turn left for all parks then follow the signs. No problem.

We drive all the time and never got lost, but if you use the map, you'll be able to take more "straightforward" routs. Disney's setup takes the most cars the most efficient way, not the easiest.

 

[pennyg]

If we are staying on site and have a car, is it easier to drive to parks or take the bus?

 

[sharadoc]

If we are staying on site and have a car, is it easier to drive to parks or take the bus?

Depends on where you're staying and where you're going.

Going to parks - If you're staying at a value or a mod, or OKW or SSR, your car will be reasonably close to your room and easy to get to, so I would say it's easy to drive to Epcot, DHS and AKL. At the deluxes, there is usually a pretty long walk from the parking lot to your room, and the bus stop will definitely be closer (unless you use valet parking).

Going back - For us, we prefer to drive and walk out of the park and go right to our car. If you don't park within walking distance of a park entrance, there is usually a tram to take you to your car within 5 minutes. Sometimes the wait for a bus can be 20 minutes or more, depending on the time of day. That is really frustrating when all we want to do is go home.

Magic Kingdom parking is not at the front of the park, you have to take a ferry (recommended) or monorail to the park front. The ferry dock is the closest transportation to the front entrance, the bus and monorail are probably equidistant further away on either side. We prefer driving even to MK vs. a bus for the same reason as above - we can usually get on a ferry right away or within 5-10 minutes to our car. Trams run constantly at MK, so we're at our car, sitting down and relaxing vs. standing in the bus serpentine.

The only time we don't drive is when a boat is an option, from Fort Wilderness. That's the best!

However, some folks just like to take their time and take a bus. I would recommend trying it and deciding if you like it. I also believe that when you know a car is an option, you have less patience with the bus system. That's what happened to us

 

[rwdavis2]

If we are staying on site and have a car, is it easier to drive to parks or take the bus?

You will get some different opinions but, IMHO, driving is almost always quicker. The one exception may be going to MK since you have to park at the TTC and take a boat or monorail. But that assumes not long waits for a bus from your starting point.

We always have a car and always drive to each park except when we stay at Wilderness Lodge then we take the boat to the Magic Kingdom.

If you are park hopping then I would think driving is quicker as well.

 

[dmunsil]

Is there a way to put the GPS points into Google maps on my iphone 4s?

Not to my knowledge. There are one or two third-party (paid) GPS apps that you can use on an iPhone that can take custom POI, but no one has asked me to make a file that works with those apps. It's possible that people are just using free software to convert the files I put on MouseSavers to their phone app's format, but I think it's more likely that very few people are using the third-party apps.

Ultimately I find a separate GPS worth the $75 or so, so I don't bother with phone GPS, even though my phone comes with good driving GPS with turn-by-turn directions and so forth (Nokia Windows Phone).

Anyway, if you get an app that can use custom POI, or figure out a way to get it to work with your app, I'm happy to convert the points to a new format.

 

[donnishobson]

Not to my knowledge. There are one or two third-party (paid) GPS apps that you can use on an iPhone that can take custom POI, but no one has asked me to make a file that works with those apps. It's possible that people are just using free software to convert the files I put on MouseSavers to their phone app's format, but I think it's more likely that very few people are using the third-party apps.

Ultimately I find a separate GPS worth the $75 or so, so I don't bother with phone GPS, even though my phone comes with good driving GPS with turn-by-turn directions and so forth (Nokia Windows Phone).

Anyway, if you get an app that can use custom POI, or figure out a way to get it to work with your app, I'm happy to convert the points to a new format.

Thanks. Doubt I will do anything, but appreciate your willingness to help.

 

[pennyg]

Depends on where you're staying and where you're going.

Going to parks - If you're staying at a value or a mod, or OKW or SSR, your car will be reasonably close to your room and easy to get to, so I would say it's easy to drive to Epcot, DHS and AKL. At the deluxes, there is usually a pretty long walk from the parking lot to your room, and the bus stop will definitely be closer (unless you use valet parking).

Going back - For us, we prefer to drive and walk out of the park and go right to our car. If you don't park within walking distance of a park entrance, there is usually a tram to take you to your car within 5 minutes. Sometimes the wait for a bus can be 20 minutes or more, depending on the time of day. That is really frustrating when all we want to do is go home.

Magic Kingdom parking is not at the front of the park, you have to take a ferry (recommended) or monorail to the park front. The ferry dock is the closest transportation to the front entrance, the bus and monorail are probably equidistant further away on either side. We prefer driving even to MK vs. a bus for the same reason as above - we can usually get on a ferry right away or within 5-10 minutes to our car. Trams run constantly at MK, so we're at our car, sitting down and relaxing vs. standing in the bus serpentine.

The only time we don't drive is when a boat is an option, from Fort Wilderness. That's the best!

However, some folks just like to take their time and take a bus. I would recommend trying it and deciding if you like it. I also believe that when you know a car is an option, you have less patience with the bus system. That's what happened to us

We are staying at a value. We were at the mercy of the bus system the first time we went (although it was not the DW bus but our Motels bus). Last time we went we stayed OS and we drove down so just took our car to the parks, but that was 15 years ago and way off season. I just wasn't sure of the situation now. I am afraid we will be the wanting to get back to our room and not have to wait for the bus. The crowds will be heavy our first few days then thin out. Thanks for the feedback.

You will get some different opinions but, IMHO, driving is almost always quicker. The one exception may be going to MK since you have to park at the TTC and take a boat or monorail. But that assumes not long waits for a bus from your starting point.

We always have a car and always drive to each park except when we stay at Wilderness Lodge then we take the boat to the Magic Kingdom.

If you are park hopping then I would think driving is quicker as well.

The more I think about it the more I don't want to be at the mercy of buses. I would rather be able to leave quickly if need be and not have to stand and wait. Thank you for your feedback.