Driving questions from a WDW and USA driving newbie

[jaceraden]

I'm thinking about renting a car for my next big WDW trip. I'm not worried about actually driving but I am worried about some details since I am from a small area where we don't have big freeways, etc. and certainly not toll roads.

1. I think the exits are well marked. Right?! I am always on a bus so I've never paid much attention

2. Parking fees are a daily rate, not a per park rate, right? What methods of payment are available?

3. What is a toll road? Do I want to avoid them? How much do you have to pay and how? I'm trying to imagine how you pay a toll on a busy road? (told you I'm a small town type of gal)

Any other driving tips? I appreciate anything you've got. It looks like hubby wants me to do at least half of the driving and of course he wants to rent a huge SUV so this could be entertaining.

 

[WIcruizer]

Yes, exits are well marked. Parking fees are daily: cash,credit, debit. Toll roads are roads where you pay to use them, there are toll booths where you stop and pay. Each one is a different amount. They can be avoided. If you have a navigation device, you can choose option "avoid toll roads." Or use Google Maps, AAA, etc. to plan your route to avoid toll roads. But not worth it, in my opinion, to save a few dollars when you'll be spending thousands at WDW. Hope that helps....

 

[siskaren]

According to your signature, you're planning on staying at BCV or BWV - if that's the case, there's no fee for parking at the WDW parks. And I agree with Wlcruizer regarding toll roads, especially since you would only have a possibility of encountering one driving to and from the airport - not driving between the parks and resorts.

 

[joelkfla]

How much do you have to pay and how? I'm trying to imagine how you pay a toll on a busy road? (told you I'm a small town type of gal)

Most locals have transponders (supplied by the local toll authority) in their car, and equipment above the main travel lanes recognizes them and subtracts the tolls from a pre-paid account.

Out-of-towners without transponders can either sign up with their car rental company to handle tolls for an exorbitant fee, or pay tolls in cash. To pay cash, you will exit the main highway to pass thru the toll booths, which are located off to the right of the main travel lanes. Just follow the signs for cash tolls, staying out of the "Prepaid Tolls Only" lanes. All toll booths on the main highway have attendants who can make change & give receipts (good things to get & keep in case your car rental company tries to double-charge you for tolls.) Toll at a mainline booth is typically $2 or $3.

Some exit ramps have toll booths that take cash coins only, but you shouldn't run into them taking the usual routes between OIA & WDW. If you're worried about it, just have a few dollars of quarters on hand.

At some time in the future, cash tolls will be phased out and cars without transponders will have tolls billed based on their license plates. When that happens, you'll be forced to pay the rental company. I don't think it will happen by 2017, but it's a possibility.

 

[richmo]

Assuming you're arriving at Orlando International, your best bet would be to take the toll road. In particular, as you exit the airport, follow signs for the South Exit that will take you to FL-417. Generally much less traffic.

There are two tolls on the way to WDW. Both are $1.50. The same will apply when you return at the end of your trip. The various rental companies have different options on transponders for electronic tolls. If the only tolls you are going to pay are at the beginning and end of your trip, I would just decline any of those options and pay cash. I usually try to have three $1 bills before leaving the airport (usually brought from home). There are some "exact coin" lanes at the toll booth, where you could also deposit 6 quarters. That can save a little time...I don't usually bother with that.

Exits for the various Disney World locations are well marked on the major roads approaching and once you're on property, the Disney purple signs do a good job of navigating you as long as you pay fairly good attention.

As others have pointed out, if you are staying at a Disney resort, you will not have to pay for parking. They used to give you a paper parking pass at checkin showing you were a resort guest, but I believe your ticket/MagicBand now is used. If you are not staying at a Disney resort, you will have to pay for parking once per day, no matter how many parks you visit. You'll get a card as a receipt that will get you into the second park and beyond.

 

[loves to dive]

It's pretty easy to get around Disney property. Just be aware of what park your resort is associated with. If you are staying at BW it's an Epcot resort. Some of the signs will say Epcot resorts, then later will say BW. As long as you know that, you are gold.

 

[berryinDC]

Have you driven an SUV before? If you're nervous about driving a new type of car, you could try renting or borrowing a similar vehicle at home for a day to get a feel for it in a familiar environment.

 

[jaceraden]

Have you driven an SUV before? If you're nervous about driving a new type of car, you could try renting or borrowing a similar vehicle at home for a day to get a feel for it in a familiar environment.

This is an excellent idea and luckily I have over a year to convince my sister to let me take hers for a few spins. Thank you!

 

[berryinDC]

Good luck! I think you'll find driving in WDW pretty painless. The signage is very clear--big colorful signs too. Make sure you know what "resort area" you're traveling to/from, as that makes it easier. For example, the BWI is in the Epcot area.