Getting out of the parks!

[LindseyUK]

Hi,

Don't know if we're the only ones who have had this problem- we can always find our way into the parks ok but often get lost getting out again and end up going the wrong way or getting lost.I am usually the navigator and try really hard to pay attention to the signs but I'm often unsuccessful.

I guess the way out of a park will usually be different to the way in and it's really easy to lose your bearings- I don't know if some parks have several exit routes but once coming out of Universal we ended up miles out of our way and I honestly don't believe there were any signs to I-Drive or the I4 on the way out....

I wondered if anyone knows what the best maps are of Disney and/or Universal areas which show exit routes which we may be able to use to plan our routes "home" in advance instead of just hoping for the best!?

thanks
Lindsey

 

[gilld]

There are signs to the I4 on the exit roads from US but they aren't big and you do have to look out for them. As far as I remember you come out the same way you go in. Just drive really slowly and keep a sharp look out - failing that, a scenic tour of Orlando it is

 

[Miffy2003]

Lindsey I have no words of wisdom but oh my goodness I absolutely agree!

I remember one night - first time in Florida for 12 years and we had been ferried around by parents then - first night coming out of MK after a 14 hour day in the August heat.

We came off at the wrong exit trying to get onto the 192 and ended up driving round and round Celebration for what seemed like hours (cue Scooby Doo music, as once we got to a point where the road just stopped, LOL)

We stumbled across the Celebration Hotel and saw a Disney CM whom we could have kissed as we knew he would help direct us!

We were so close to the 192 I have no idea how we had managed to keep missing it

I always now drive slowly, and stay in the middle lane so I can get over to either side at short notice, but I guess what works for me may not work for all. Oh and I have a map too - it's a laminated one and is invaluable!

 

[JohnnySharp2]

I rely totally on my wife, who is a very good navigator - I am hopeless.
Every year we go I take a wrong turning somewhere along the way and I always will.
Familiarity is our main advantage.

There are a couple of websites that may be of help, not sure but try.

www.orlando-maps.info
and
http://maps.google.com

 

[tartangirl]

I'm always at a loss coming out of Universal but DH seems to find his way out - I dont know what he heads for. I think he keeps going until he sees signs for the I4 or Universal Blvd.

Coming out of Disney I find easier. If staying to the west we follow the signs for AKL and come out Sherberth Road. Otherwise we head for the Osceola Parkway which is pretty well signposted.

 

[musketeer]

Same here we always seem to get lost coming out of the parks, we even managed to get lost coming out of the airport to get to I-drive.

 

[FizzyPop]

We seem to just know the way out of the parks now But a holiday isn't a holiday unless we have a couple of detours

 

[marv]

I'm always at a loss coming out of Universal but DH seems to find his way out - I dont know what he heads for. I think he keeps going until he sees signs for the I4 or Universal Blvd.

Coming out of Disney I find easier. If staying to the west we follow the signs for AKL and come out Sherberth Road. Otherwise we head for the Osceola Parkway which is pretty well signposted.

We ahd the same problem with getting lost on the way out, happened a couple of times.

This time it seems that Sherberth road will be ar entry point as we are staying on the US27. So to get back even if your say at MK or MGM you would just find AK then head for Sherberth road, is it well signed?

Marv

 

[Miffy2003]

Marv - I don't know - and I think any information I gave you might be wrong (I am hopeless at directions!!)

Anyone else??

 

[tartangirl]

We ahd the same problem with getting lost on the way out, happened a couple of times.

This time it seems that Sherberth road will be ar entry point as we are staying on the US27. So to get back even if your say at MK or MGM you would just find AK then head for Sherberth road, is it well signed?

Marv

Sherberth Road isn't sign posted but Animal Kingdom and Animal Kingdom Lodge are signposted.

Basically you head for Animal Kingdom/Animal Kingdom Lodge. As you approach Animal Kingdom the road splits with the left lane going to Animal Kingdom Lodge and the right lane going to Animal Kingdom (this is reasonably well signposted). You stay in the left lane and pass Animal Kingdom. You turn left at the next set of lights (just before you get to Animal Kingdom Lodge)and this is Sherberth Road.

We take this route wherever we are at Disney

 

[marv]

Thankyou for that i have printed it of that can go with my holiday paperwork.

I presume once on sherberth road then would you follow it to the end then turn right to go towards the US27?

Thankyou marv

 

[tartangirl]

Yes,

You go to the end of Sherberth Road and turn right at the traffic lights on to the 192. You then go to the end of the 192 where you'll turn onto the US27.

 

[LindseyUK]

Thanks for all the great replies! I'm so glad I'm not the only one....
Tartangirl- cheers for the explanation of the Sherberth Rd thing- it was explained to me last year but we never quite got the hang of it. We're not staying in that direction this time but it's always worth bearing in mind- particularly as we'll prob end up there at some point if it's in the opposite direction to which we're supposed to be going!

I think the "driving slowly" advice is good- other drivers there seem more tolerant of "slowies" than here!

Johnny- thanks for those links- didn't find anything on the Disney area yet but on the orlando-maps one there are some good maps of the 192 which will be really useful too.

thanks again all.

 

[steve404]

Hello,

Our best ever unexpected detour ended up with us lost in the middle of the Tupperware HQ car park in the middle of the night, took us ages to find our way out

Steve

 

[JANNYANS]

Try this site it has maps of all the parks and an over view of the road system

http://www.*************.com/Walt Disney World Tour.html

 

[Deedee]

We always stay on i drive, so what we do when we leave the parks is head for down town disney and follow the signs for 536 which leads straight onto i drive so easy. I also use the Marriot hotel as a marker, if it is on our left we are ok if it is on our right we have gone wrong works for us.

 

[jns]

Part of our holiday
is us always getting lost a few times

 

[Red-Snapper]

Yes we stay at LBV and always take the signs to DTD - after about the 10th visit we began to know our way around

 

[Miffy2003]

Yes we stay at LBV and always take the signs to DTD - after about the 10th visit we began to know our way around

Only 10? I am sure it will take me longer than that

 

[Red-Snapper]

Ok I admit I still dont know the way

Did the backstage tour one year and the guide showed us how Disney deliberatly stop the roadside theming/ gardening etc to subtly get people on the wrong roads to turn around. They even build in turning places to prompt you to do it if you start to wander into backstage areas off the main roads.