Driving to parks, directions, maps or phone?

[NicholeB630]

Hi there! We decided to rent a car because we didn't want to deal with Disney transportation and having to give ourselves an hour to get anywhere. So anyways with that said, I've researched how far it is to each park from our hotel. My question should I print out directions to each park and where we want to go prior to our trip or do you think I can rely on my phone for that? I have an iphone with the standard map app plus I have Waze which is a pretty good direction app as well. I'd rather not spend the time printing out a bunch of maps but I'd hate to get there and for some reason the gps on my phone not know what to do or not know its way around?

 

[NicholeB630]

Also do the resorts provide a map for all of Disney like a big road map that shows the resorts and parks?

 

[vicki_c]

I wouldn't rely on any of the standard GPS programs, they will often lead you to dead ends and cast member entrances. Once on property. You don't need a GPS, just follow the signs to whoever you are going.

 

[NicholeB630]

I wouldn't rely on any of the standard GPS programs, they will often lead you to dead ends and cast member entrances. Once on property. You don't need a GPS, just follow the signs to whoever you are going.

Ok great. So we're at bay lake tower and when we leave there will be signs to each park, hotel?

 

[larry80]

Ok great. So we're at bay lake tower and when we leave there will be signs to each park, hotel?

Yep, just make a left out of the resort and follow the signs.

That is the best part of Disney is you can't get lost too easily.

 

[Alesia]

I found the GPS on my phone works perfectly.

 

[msb578]

The resorts used to have maps, if you asked for one. I imagine they still do. But I drove around in August and the road signage was all I needed. Except for one wrong turn into McDonald's rather than onto Osceola, coming out of the All-Stars. Definitely my fault- not the sign's

 

[purple figment]

We also found the signs were enough to get us wherever we wanted to go. You can ask at the valet desk for a map of DW.

 

[figment_jii]

Another vote to ask for a property map at the valet station of your resort and then use that and the road signs to find our way around WDW. The property map will show you all of the major roads, theme parks, resorts, water parks, and DTD so you can easily navigate around WDW.

The signs and GPS routes may match, but they may also differ depend on which device you use. I've found that the signs almost always give you the easiest driving routes; not necessarily the shortest/fastest, but the easiest. The GPS I have used (Garmin, Google Maps) do occasionally suggest using a cast member road/backstage road and/or making a more difficult turns (e.g., making a left across a busy road without a light). In either case, I would suggest either using the GPS or a map/signs and not try to mix the two.

 

[Chief Powhatan]

If you have a basic understanding of how the World is laid out, I think following the signs is the best way of getting around. My Garmin is already trying to send me down service roads.

 

[NicholeB630]

Thanks everyone! Glad to hear road signs are the easiest to follow

 

[KrazeeK120]

We've rented a car at WDW once. I printed out directions from our hotel to all of the parks beforehand. However, I found that if you can get heading in the right general direction, the road signs are very easy to follow and you shouldn't have any trouble getting to your destination.

 

[ericstac]

Seems like the iPhone maps worked pretty good.. The car gps was horrible, always ended up in cast member or maintenance entrance.

The signs work well if you know what you're u are looking for.. Like if you are staying at the port Orleans don't look for port Orleans resort but look for signs that say downtown resorts..

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

We moved here 6 months ago. I live behind MK. Although we visited 2-3 times a year before we moved here, I wasn't the one driving, so I have had to learn my way around. I used Waze when we first moved here and haven't had any issues. The signs at WDW are really easy to follow as well.

 

[richmo]

Thanks everyone! Glad to hear road signs are the easiest to follow

I agree. I almost always rent a car and find that Disney has done a very good job of getting you to where you need to go with the road signs. Even if you make a mistake and miss a turn, as long as you're still on property you'll be able to recover.

 

[lulucornbread]

I agree. I almost always rent a car and find that Disney has done a very good job of getting you to where you need to go with the road signs. Even if you make a mistake and miss a turn, as long as you're still on property you'll be able to recover.

any good rental company recommendations?

 

[richmo]

any good rental company recommendations?

Assuming you're flying into MCO, I'd stick with one of the onsite agencies so that you don't have to deal with shuttles, etc. I usually try to use Alamo if the price is right, mostly because if you set it up right you can bypass the counter and go straight to the garage and pick out a car. You can accomplish this with varying degrees with some of the other onsite agencies too. Some of the onsite agencies besides Alamo are: Budget, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Firefly, Thrifty. One other thing...don't pay a prepay rate. Book something, but the best rates are often just a few days to about 3 weeks before departure.