Driving in Florida to get to WDW.

[jondvl]

We are driving down next July or August. Planning on stopping for the night and leaving about a 3 hour drive to WDW the next day. Are there good and bad times to be on the highways leading to WDW? We are either going to be staying At ASMu or POR, not sure yet.

 

[marius97]

I think the main thing is to stay off of I4 at rush hour. It can get pretty bad. Most recomend taking one of the bypasses around Orlando which adds 20-30 minutes I believe. We had luck when we were drove down two weeks ago though. We stayed in Daytona and wanted to hit MK at rope drop. We have Sirius satelite radio in the car and they have a channel that does Orlando traffic and weather every four minutes. We listened to that coming into town and as of when we got to the bypass road, I4 was said to be moving just fine so we stayed on it. It got a bit slow at times, but ended up being much faster than going around. That being said, I wouldn't do that unless I had up to the minute info that I4 was clear.

 

[clkelley]

Will you be coming down 95 or 75?

Coming down 75 is a breeze. No major traffic problems to worry about.

Very uncrowded toll roads directly to Disney property.

 

[jondvl]

We are planning on coming down I-81,I-26,I-77,I-95.(I think I have all the routes in there)

Where and how would we get I-75? We are coming from Denver, Pa in Lancaster County

 

[clkelley]

For East Coast folks, 75 is not a good option. This runs through Central Georgia, then through Central Florida and veers over to Tampa, you then pick up the Florida Turnpike about 80 miles north of WDW.

Just come in the route you have planned, getting over to 75 is waaaay out of the way.

 

[Muhlenberg]

We are planning on coming down I-81,I-26,I-77,I-95.(I think I have all the routes in there)

Where and how would we get I-75? We are coming from Denver, Pa in Lancaster County

You'd have to go west on I-10 from Jacksonville...I don't think that would be worth the extra effort/time/mileage. Avoiding I-4 during rush hour is good advice. I'd also try to avoid Jacksonville during rush hour. I think it's about 3 hours from there to WDW.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Is there anyway to avoid I-4 when coming off I-95? I know when taking I-75 you take it to the Florida Turnpike just past Ocala and from there they have a specifc exit for Walt Disney World if you want to avoid I-4, however I have not seen or heard of a way to avoid it when taking I-95.

 

[JB2K]

Is there anyway to avoid I-4 when coming off I-95? I know when taking I-75 you take it to the Florida Turnpike just past Ocala and from there they have a specifc exit for Walt Disney World if you want to avoid I-4, however I have not seen or heard of a way to avoid it when taking I-95.

East Coasters can take I-95 South to Cocoa Beach and then take the Beach Line Expressway (a.k.a. Florida State Road 528) West (this is a toll road -- it's terminus is at I-4 in Lake Buena Vista, meaning you would be only be on that small segment of I-4 in WDW's backyard).

Hope this helps...

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

East Coasters can take I-95 South to Cocoa Beach and then take the Beach Line Expressway (a.k.a. Florida State Road 528) West (this is a toll road -- it's terminus is at I-4 in Lake Buena Vista, meaning you would be only be on that small segment of I-4 in WDW's backyard).

Hope this helps...

Thanks for posting that information. I also know what the Beach Line Expressway is, because that's the route my family and I take when going to WDW after leaving Orlando Interntional Airport.

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

Given your acceptance of a 3 hour drive, consider staying overnight in Saint Augustine. It would be around 3 to 3 and a half hours drive. Assuming you left Saint Augustine around 7am, I would not bother skipping to Beachline. At 9am, I4 rush hour has pretty well died down, barring a major incident. Check traffic on WDBO, AM580 when approaching Orlando. If I4 is toast, you have the 417 around Orlando as an alternate. It begins in Sanford, and will take you almost to Disney's gate.

 

[java]

The killer for us is ALWAYS Jacksonville. No matter what time we get there we are stuck in traffic. As we drive through I am thinking doesn't anyone work? This year we'll be driving on a Saturday. Fingers crossed!

 

[jimmytammy]

I recommend staying in Kingsland, GA which is about 3 1/2 hrs from WDW, just over FL line. Several motels, restaurants, gas stops at Intersection 3.

Avoid Jacksonville, FL at rush hr. Take 295 around. Exit 9A will take you to the East side of Jacksonville, but you will be traveling due South the whole time. This is shorter than 295 to the West. I learned this trick from a fellow DISer on this same forum. Swore to never go through Jacksonville I-95 again.

I-95 the rest of the way should breeze on by. I-4 isnt bad til you hit about 15 miles outside Orlando. You can pick up a toll road that loops you around for about $6 but is worth piece of mind not being stuck in traffic, or bumper to bumper NASCAR type driving I believe this is called the FL turnpike, maybe #417? Hopefully someone in that area can confirm. Anyway, take this all the way to Exit 3. Exit 6 will take you to WDW also, but more traffic. Keep quarters handy and a few dollar bills for tolls.

 

[MattM]

East Coasters can take I-95 South to Cocoa Beach and then take the Beach Line Expressway (a.k.a. Florida State Road 528) West (this is a toll road -- it's terminus is at I-4 in Lake Buena Vista, meaning you would be only be on that small segment of I-4 in WDW's backyard).

Hope this helps...

This is a good idea during extreme times. But I dont think its necessary as it adds miles/time. If you're coming down I-4, you would take the 417 southbound and follow the signs to Disney. By getting on the 417, you're able to use I-4 before you really get into the congested areas of Orlando (which is really only bad during the rush hours).

Thats my opinion, hope it helps.

 

[DOOM1001]

If coming anytime during rush hour get on the Central Fla Greeneway north of Orlando which is a toll road.You can get off the Greeneway at the Beachline (528) and take that to I-4 and go west on I-4,from that Beachline,I-4 intersection it's like 5 minutes to the Disney parks.You can also get off at (536) World Center Dr. which leads straight to EPCOT center Dr,one of the entrances to the resort.You could also get off at Osceola parkway.