GPS Use at WDW

[Akck]

We thought we’d never drive in the WDW/Orlando area with being unfamiliar with the roads and toll roads. Then COVID happened and there were mixed reports on Disney transportation. So now we’ve rented a car and have realized the benefits associated with it. I do take along my Garmin unit as I find it easier to view than my phone.

In 2019, we took a Minnie Van and in talking to the driver about the difficulty in driving the area, he said pay attention to the signs, not your GPS. There are a lot of service roads where you GPS will direct you to drive on as the shortest route. For instance, the GPS wanted me to turn into the CBR entrance to go to the Riviera Resort, even insisting I make a u-turn. Once at night, it wanted me to turn left into a parking area which might’ve led to a service road. On a side issue, the GPS turned us onto a toll entrance that was exact change only and we didn’t have any change.

My suggestion is to familiarize your routes on a map prior to driving. If driving on property, follow the signage for your route. I didn’t even mount my GPS if I was going from the resort to a park. Hopefully, knowing about my experiences will keep you from making the mistakes I’ve made.

 

[JimMIA]

Any GPS can be problematic in large places like WDW, many parks, or college campuses. With Garmin and like GPS's, they just may not be completely up to date. For Google Maps and similar, your cell signal may not be good.

The watch-the-signs suggestion is very good, but many signs are in series and only mention where you are going on one of 3-4 signs. If you miss it, or don't understand what you are really looking for, the signs can be challenging. For example, you're looking for Boardwalk but the sign just says "Epcot Resorts." Ooops, you missed your exit.

The other thing about driving is to be alert for other-driver drama. Driving at WDW is kinda like driving through an airport terminal area -- about half of the other drivers have no clue where they are, where they are going, or how to get there. So they will pull some pretty fancy driving gymnastics sometimes -- stopping suddenly, cutting across 3-4 lanes without warning, etc.

 

[RanDIZ]

So we’ve been driving down there for some years now from Philly. Hands down this year was the most successful using the preloaded “maps” app on the iPhone. FYI it’s an iPhone 8 but I think it’s the same one Apples been using. In the past, other GPS apps, units, etc. have been a disaster once you get to WDW. This year was flawless! Its vocal with step by step directions and literally tells you which lanes you should be in while preparing you for the next moves. Exit signs can be very confusing and misleading. Our vehicle GPS in a Lincoln Nautilus was completely useless. It had our trip total to WDW with more than 100mi and 2 hr difference.

 

[NJ Goofy]

The signage in Disney is pretty good. If you are going to the parks or major resorts, pay attention and follow the signs you'll usually have an easy ride. Keep in mind though the "signed" routes are sometimes not the shortest or quickest way, but in the grand scheme of things they may only add a few minutes to your drive.

 

[Moliphino]

Any GPS can be problematic in large places like WDW, many parks, or college campuses. With Garmin and like GPS's, they just may not be completely up to date. For Google Maps and similar, your cell signal may not be good.

Some of the roads have changed A LOT in the past couple years, so if your maps aren't up to date it could be a hot mess.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Some of the roads have changed A LOT in the past couple years, so if your maps aren't up to date it could be a hot mess.

X100

I’d be afraid to use anything but a phone map app (I use Waze) at WDW given the various changes.

 

[_19disnA]

Have used a few different GPS units, both the built-in types as well as the hand held Garmin units when traveling to several destinations. I find you still need to have a GENERAL sense of where you are going and even on the freeway, the unit will occasionally give directions that make no sense. Even when up to date with the latest maps, they can get confused about which exit ramp to use when many are located close together. I don't find they totally replace maps or having knowledge of where you are going. If new to the Disney area, signs can be confusing if you are looking for the name of a specific Disney hotel, but only see signs that say 'Magic Kingdom' resorts when you may not know where you are staying is classified that way. Make sure you buy a GPS unit that has an automatic 'recalculate' feature or else it will just keep telling you to turn around to take the road it thinks you missed. Sometimes due to construction/accident/etc. you will need to take a different route so lacking the 'recalculate' feature makes the unit fairly useless.

The Disney roads have LOTS of lanes usually with a huge amount of traffic, so expect to make a few mistakes if new to the area regardless of what type of maps/GPS you are using. I would print out a map of the Disney property to assist with your first-time navigation.

 

[gharter]

Some of the roads have changed A LOT in the past couple years, so if your maps aren't up to date it could be a hot mess.

Absolutely need to have your maps updated or use Google Maps or similar. There has been so much construction at WDW in the last few years that a map 2 or 3 years old is terribly outdated.

 

[DVCjj]

We thought we’d never drive in the WDW/Orlando area with being unfamiliar with the roads and toll roads. Then COVID happened and there were mixed reports on Disney transportation. So now we’ve rented a car and have realized the benefits associated with it. I do take along my Garmin unit as I find it easier to view than my phone.

In 2019, we took a Minnie Van and in talking to the driver about the difficulty in driving the area, he said pay attention to the signs, not your GPS. There are a lot of service roads where you GPS will direct you to drive on as the shortest route. For instance, the GPS wanted me to turn into the CBR entrance to go to the Riviera Resort, even insisting I make a u-turn. Once at night, it wanted me to turn left into a parking area which might’ve led to a service road. On a side issue, the GPS turned us onto a toll entrance that was exact change only and we didn’t have any change.

My suggestion is to familiarize your routes on a map prior to driving. If driving on property, follow the signage for your route. I didn’t even mount my GPS if I was going from the resort to a park. Hopefully, knowing about my experiences will keep you from making the mistakes I’ve made.

So ironic you posted this. In very many WDW trips we have never ever had a car. End of January we will have a car because we are staying first in Cocoa Besch.
I am already freaking out and stressing over not only driving TO Disney but driving AT Disney. To make matters worse we are doing a 4 way during the 14 days. So resort to resort driving.

I pulled up a Disney area map and I’m AlREADY confused. Can’t even find a clear one. I’m going to be navigator and am very concerned. We’ve driving a few times previously in someone’s car and wondered how the heck they knew where they were going.

I’m concerned about this trip. Especially with the info my iPhone GPS won’t be a resource. Darn.

 

[DVCjj]

Any GPS can be problematic in large places like WDW, many parks, or college campuses. With Garmin and like GPS's, they just may not be completely up to date. For Google Maps and similar, your cell signal may not be good.

The watch-the-signs suggestion is very good, but many signs are in series and only mention where you are going on one of 3-4 signs. If you miss it, or don't understand what you are really looking for, the signs can be challenging. For example, you're looking for Boardwalk but the sign just says "Epcot Resorts." Ooops, you missed your exit.

The other thing about driving is to be alert for other-driver drama. Driving at WDW is kinda like driving through an airport terminal area -- about half of the other drivers have no clue where they are, where they are going, or how to get there. So they will pull some pretty fancy driving gymnastics sometimes -- stopping suddenly, cutting across 3-4 lanes without warning, etc.

Oh oh....as I just posted I’m freaked already and the first resort of the four resorts is Boardwalk!! I was going to look for Epcot resort sign!!! Now you say that’s wrong and
my stress level is rising. And to think I’ve stayed at BCV or BWV many times never paying the slightest attention. Left that to Magical Express or Uber. Now it’s ME! Poor driver DH.

 

[Heather07438]

Aren't the WDW road signs color coded somehow? Something makes me think it's helpful but I'm falling asleep and can't remember.

 

[sam_gordon]

Oh oh....as I just posted I’m freaked already and the first resort of the four resorts is Boardwalk!! I was going to look for Epcot resort sign!!! Now you say that’s wrong and
my stress level is rising. And to think I’ve stayed at BCV or BWV many times never paying the slightest attention. Left that to Magical Express or Uber. Now it’s ME! Poor driver DH.

I think PP was saying that if you didn't know to look for the sign saying "Epcot Resorts", you would have missed your exit.

The signage at WDW is generally pretty good, but it is "grouped". So you need to look for the grouping, not the exact name until you get close.

One thing you can do right now is go to googlemaps.com, put in your start/end locations, and let it map for you.

Then use the "street view" (the yellow man icon in the bottom right) and you can actually "drive" the route. It will be a bunch of clicks (I think every click on the road is maybe 100 feet or so), but you can look for land marks... (other resorts, gas stations, etc)

 

[DVCjj]

I think PP was saying that if you didn't know to look for the sign saying "Epcot Resorts", you would have missed your exit.

The signage at WDW is generally pretty good, but it is "grouped". So you need to look for the grouping, not the exact name until you get close.

One thing you can do right now is go to googlemaps.com, put in your start/end locations, and let it map for you.

Then use the "street view" (the yellow man icon in the bottom right) and you can actually "drive" the route. It will be a bunch of clicks (I think every click on the road is maybe 100 feet or so), but you can look for land marks... (other resorts, gas stations, etc)

Thank you SO much!!!
Never knew about the last paragraph suggestion re Google Maps.

 

[JimMIA]

I think PP was saying that if you didn't know to look for the sign saying "Epcot Resorts", you would have missed your exit.

The signage at WDW is generally pretty good, but it is "grouped". So you need to look for the grouping, not the exact name until you get close.

One thing you can do right now is go to googlemaps.com, put in your start/end locations, and let it map for you.

Then use the "street view" (the yellow man icon in the bottom right) and you can actually "drive" the route. It will be a bunch of clicks (I think every click on the road is maybe 100 feet or so), but you can look for land marks... (other resorts, gas stations, etc)

Yes, that's what I meant.

AND -- the rest of Sam's post is absolutely PERFECT advice as well.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

I think PP was saying that if you didn't know to look for the sign saying "Epcot Resorts", you would have missed your exit.

The signage at WDW is generally pretty good, but it is "grouped". So you need to look for the grouping, not the exact name until you get close.

One thing you can do right now is go to googlemaps.com, put in your start/end locations, and let it map for you.

Then use the "street view" (the yellow man icon in the bottom right) and you can actually "drive" the route. It will be a bunch of clicks (I think every click on the road is maybe 100 feet or so), but you can look for land marks... (other resorts, gas stations, etc)

All excellent advice. Another suggestion while on Google Maps: try to get a general idea of the major roads that connect the various parks and resort areas. If you know that World Drive is the major N-S road into the MK and the associated resorts, the Epcot Center Drive goes off World Drive east to Epcot, and Buena Vista Drive is a mainly E-W road that connects a number of resort areas including the Epcot resorts, and that Osceola Parkway is another major E-W roadway that takes you to AK and the AKLodge, and so forth depending on which resort you are using, you will have a better view of the road situation as you navigate.

 

[joelkfla]

So ironic you posted this. In very many WDW trips we have never ever had a car. End of January we will have a car because we are staying first in Cocoa Besch.
I am already freaking out and stressing over not only driving TO Disney but driving AT Disney. To make matters worse we are doing a 4 way during the 14 days. So resort to resort driving.

I pulled up a Disney area map and I’m AlREADY confused. Can’t even find a clear one. I’m going to be navigator and am very concerned. We’ve driving a few times previously in someone’s car and wondered how the heck they knew where they were going.

I’m concerned about this trip. Especially with the info my iPhone GPS won’t be a resource. Darn.

If you get lost at WDW, you're not going to find yourself in some deserted part of town surrounded by sketchy characters. Just pull into the nearest resort and ask the guard for directions. If you wander into a backstage area, ask a cm. And if you inadvertently end up off property, rely on your GPS to get you back onto property, and then ask for directions.

 

[JimMIA]

If you get lost at WDW, you're not going to find yourself in some deserted part of town surrounded by sketchy characters. Just pull into the nearest resort and ask the guard for directions. If you wander into a backstage area, ask a cm. And if you inadvertently end up off property, rely on your GPS to get you back onto property, and then ask for directions.

Right, and the road system itself anticipates some getting lost. I missed a turn once, drove a couple of miles further on the same Disney road and saw a sign for where I wanted to go! It was actually just a glorified U-turn, but I got where I needed to go.

 

[Moliphino]

If you get lost at WDW, you're not going to find yourself in some deserted part of town surrounded by sketchy characters. Just pull into the nearest resort and ask the guard for directions. If you wander into a backstage area, ask a cm. And if you inadvertently end up off property, rely on your GPS to get you back onto property, and then ask for directions.

I accidentally drove into the DHS entrance when trying to get to Pop and the person at the toll booth was very nice and pointed out where I should go to get out. I think the car in front of me had done the same thing because they drove off in the same direction.

 

[Cheburashka]

If you get lost at WDW, you're not going to find yourself in some deserted part of town surrounded by sketchy characters.

Actually, in almost every part of WDW you'll find yourself surrounded by sketchy characters. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, etc.