Driving to the parks from CR/BLT

[AaronInWI]

On our last two trips to WDW, we drove down from Wisconsin and stayed at either the Contemporary Resort (2012) or Bay Lake Tower (this past August). Since we had our own vehicle, we drove to the parks (except for Magic Kingdom, of course). On that 2012 trip, since we were unfamiliar with how to get around, we used our GPS to get to the parks. It always had us take a right out of the resort parking lot onto World Drive, going behind MK, and then to Floridian Way. I noticed almost everyone else would take a left onto World Drive instead, but I followed the GPS because I didn’t know any better. Because I got used to taking a right, we continued to do so on that trip and on our trip a few months ago. I took a left once or twice, but it seemed less straight forward than taking a right. So my question is, did I do something illegal, or at least frowned upon, by taking a right out of the lot? Is that some sort of a service road or a CM-only road that I shouldn’t be on? To be honest, it always felt like I was doing something I shouldn’t be doing because we were sort of “backstage”, but I also never noticed any “Do Not Enter” or “CM Only” signs, so I never worried too much about it. (That’s not to say there weren’t any of those signs, I just never saw any.) I just want to make sure I follow the rules next time I’m there.

 

[StirlingSilver83]

That's the way our gps took us too. We never thought we were doing anything wrong. Honestly driving around Disney is very confusing lol. We try and limit our driving to 1 day at Hollywood studios and 1 day at dtd lol

 

[puffkin]

We don't use our GPS at Disney. We just follow the purple road signs. It's very easy, especially if you have someone in the passenger seat to watch the signs while the other watches the road. WDW is probably the easiest place we have ever driven....I never understand why people complain about it. There is hardly any traffic and tons of signs.

 

[supersnoop]

The big purple signs show the easiest route with the fewest turns. There are plenty of short-cuts, but they can get confusing, especially if you aren't familiar with the layout.

 

[figment_jii]

The route you used (going right) is permissible, but many folks would recommend that you just follow the signs when getting around WDW. The GPS is usually fine, but there have been more than one report of the GPS wanting drivers to use a back stage/restricted access road. The signage in WDW is designed to take you on the easiest route to a location; not necessarily the fastest, but theoretically the easiest (e.g., no left turn across a busy street without a stop light, etc.).

 

[MinnieGirl33]

Taking a right DOES put you in backstage areas. While not necessarily "wrong", it is not exactly preferred. And, FWIW, depending on how late at night you might be back there, that road can close off for a time due to fireworks.

Honestly, I feel its easier to go left & just follow the purple signs, as everyone else has said. No real need for GPS in the World as everything is marked very well.

 

[goofy4tink]

That's the same route my friend takes all the time to get to her favorite grocery store. No signage stating you shouldn't be there....pretty much a public roadway.