Driving to WDW - Signage

[Raidra]

We have to go to FL for a funeral, and we're planning on stopping at WDW on the way home to attend MNSSHP. We're planning a big trip in January that the kids know about, but we'd like to surprise them for this little mini-visit.

So my question is.. when we're driving in, when is the best time to surprise them? I want to get their reactions on video, so I need to be prepared about when the signage becomes obvious. It'd be great to surprise them as we approach the big sign, but my kids can read and I don't know if they'd figure it out sooner. I think some minor signage would be okay, because we could just say, "Yup, we're in FL, so there are WDW signs, but we'll be going in January, remember?"

Also - what should I look for as MY cue to get the camera ready? How will I know when the big sign is coming up, before actually seeing it?

 

[OKW Lover]

Are you flying into MCO? If so there are WDW signs almost immediately.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

There are several road entrances into WDW and nearly all of them have the huge over-the-road Welcome to Disney World sign. Without knowing where you're coming from and where you plan to enter WDW, it would be difficult to tell you how much advance warning there will be or what other signs prior to that might give away your secret.

BobK/Orlando

 

[figment_jii]

It's not fool-proof, but you can try using Google's street view to get a sense of the road signs you'll probably see along your chosen route. That might give you a sense of how many signs/billboards you might see before getting to the big welcome sign.

I remember seeing several big billboards advertising MNSSHP on the route from MCO to WDW (when using ME), as well as the small road signs.

 

[DonaldnDaisy5]

We surprised our kids with an August trip, they are 9, 7, & 2. The older two have been twice. We left a relatives in Savannah to head "home" to Michigan...we got to about a mile before the gates AFTER we started saying wow look at the signs...hmm EPCOT...the 9 yr old started yelling we're going to DW! The 7 yr old was MAD and telling him we are not! Then when they both saw the purple gate with Mickey and Minnie the 7 yr started crying, I started crying...we did video them...on my husbands phone, which he then lost in the world and it was NEVER returned, so bummed I lost that video...

 

[champ5601]

I would try and take Western Way into DW, I dont remember a whole lot of signs, there isnt too much along the way. Might be a good way to surprise them.