Driving to Disney Parks from Windsor Hills

[dtr_angel]

Our first off site stay is coming up very soon, and we will be at Windsor Hills. This is our first time driving in Disney. Should we just trust the GPS to get us to each park, or is there a certain route we should take? How much time should I allow before park opening to leave to go to each park? Thanks!

 

[rackerlee92]

You will love Windsor Hills! We have stayed there a couple of times.

We found it easiest to use the Sherberth Rd route, it takes you right out next to AKL (I think this is Buena Vista, but can't remember for sure). From there, just follow the WDW signs to whatever park you want to go to. It is very easy to navigate as everything is very well marked.

The closest park is AK - maybe 10 minutes to the parking lot. Maybe 20 minutes to EP and HS. MK is the farthest and you will need to either take the ferry or the monorail from the parking lot. It is hard to say for sure how many minutes, as it depends on the time of the day and the crowd levels (time of year).

Enjoy!

 

[ready2vacation]

During our first stay at WH, it was during the off season so we found that it was easiest to take 192 to the main entrance instead of Sherberth Rd for any park except AK. We are staying at WH again (checking in Friday!) and will judge the crowd/traffic to decide which way we will use.

We never used GPS and just used Disney signage which I think is very easy to navigate for the most part.

 

[ParkHopperFan]

We stay at Windsor Hills several times per year. I will agree that getting to Animal Kingdom using Sherbeth Road is the fastest route, however using 192 to access World Drive is by far the fastest, trouble free and most direct route to access the other parks. You can be on World Drive from Windsor Hills in 5 minutes. After that, follow the signs to the park. The longest part of the journey is getting from the parking lot to the gate. The earlier you get there, the closer to the gate you will be.

 

[daytondisney]

Here's a google map I did a while back. Red line is shortcut to AK, green line to all others.

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/v...0K4S1Sk.kyDKgBa9tsvE&cid=mp&cv=F1CHxKanAj8.en

Another tip for returning to WH from parks. Your inclination is going to be to turn left from 192 back onto Old Lake Road. There are 2 dedicated left turn lanes regulated by a signal. This takes forever.

I continue on on 192 through the intersection of Old Lake Rd and turn left Morgan Williams Rd (about 1 city block). This brings you right back to Old Lake Rd, where you turn right and continue onto WH.

If you zoom down you'll see Morgan Williams Rd is about where the sign is for Westgate Shopping Center. You'll also see there is a left turn lane into Westgate Shopping Center before the left turn lane for Morgan Williams Rd.

You can use Google's Street View to familiarize yourself with this (and any other facet of your drive).

If you drive this route once or twice, no big deal. If you are staying for a week and coming back and forth from parks multiple times, plus to and from meals, you'll fully appreciate how much time it saves.

 

[swilshire]

We also only used the Sherbeth Rd route for trips to the Animal Kingdom or the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Crazy easy to turn right on 192 and follow the signs.

At very heavy traffic time, the return trip can be a little tricky because you have to quickly get to the left lane on 192. Never really a problem, but the only part of the trip that isn't easy as pie. If you're coming from Hollywood Studios, it routes you around an easier way that puts you already in the left lane.

Sheila

 

[CrazyElly]

Thanks for posting this question. We're headed to WH and I was wondering the same thing.

 

[dtr_angel]

Thank you for all these suggestions! We pretty much just followed the signs to the parks and had no issues! We did use the Sherberth Rd. route for going to AK and to AKL for dinner. It is a very easy drive to all the parks from WH. It took under 10 minutes to be under the Disney World sign each morning. AK was much closer and HS was close too. Even on the night that we left MK at park closing we didn't hit traffic.

 

[JanaDee]

We also only used the Sherbeth Rd route for trips to the Animal Kingdom or the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Crazy easy to turn right on 192 and follow the signs.

At very heavy traffic time, the return trip can be a little tricky because you have to quickly get to the left lane on 192. Never really a problem, but the only part of the trip that isn't easy as pie. If you're coming from Hollywood Studios, it routes you around an easier way that puts you already in the left lane.

Sheila

Exactly what I was going to post.

 

[NeedaVacation03]

Thank you so much for posting this. It will help a lot come July.

 

[kitty2kidz]

Thanks for the map!!