Help - I can't find a thread! Directions needed

[MickeyManiacMom]

Well I have spent the last 40 minutes searching and can't find the thread I need. Someone had posted step by step directions from US to Disney World - they had even provided pictures they had taken all along the highway of landmarks to help people out.

Does anyone else know what I'm talking about? Or can someone give me directions from Hard Rock Hotel at US to Disney World? Thanks!

 

[patster734]

What part of Disney World are you heading to? Leaving Hard Rock to head towards Disney World is easy.

Turn right as you exit Hard Rock so that you're heading south on Universal Boulevard.

Turn right at Hollywood Way (opposite the Universal Studios parking garage entrance) so that you are heading west.

Follow the signs that direct you to I-4 West.

Stay on I-4 West until you reach the exit you need:
- for Downtown Disney and the Downtown Disney Hotels, exit to 535;
- for any other Disney destination, exit to 536 (Epcot Center Drive) and follow the Disney signs.

I hope this helps.

Oh by the way, welcome to the boards, neighbor. I live in Raytown!

 

[MickeyManiacMom]

Well hello there neighbor! Small world huh? (great, now the song is stuck in my head! LOL)

We're going to Disney World for one day with dd (5). Actually not even a full day, but what can you do? You can't go to Orlando and not take a 5 year old to see her beloved princesses! We land in Orlando at 12:40 or something. Then we have a limo taking us to Hard Rock, then we need to pick up our rental car and head over to DW. I'm hoping to be there by 2:30 and we'll have a few hours to take her around. We are then having dinner at 8:00 (when MK closes) 1900 Park Fare (Grand Floridian) to have dinner with Cinderella. She should be fast asleep long before we get back to Hard Rock! LOL!

Thanks for the info - that helps a lot!

 

[macraven]

aren't you the one family that won the free trip all expenses paid to universal and staying at hard rock?

since it covers all limo fees for your universal portion, why don't you take car service which wlll only cost you $35 with sunray transportation.

maybe sunray can give you a discount for a round trip to disney from hard rock hotel. i only mention that company as i know the rate since i used it this month. there are other car services in orlando also that you can check out.


since you have an all expense paid universal vacation, take car service for the disney portion of the trip you want to do. that would be your only cost

i just went back and read you are renting a car.
nevermind the car service then.

use the car for the disney portion and return it at the end of the 24 hours to keep your costs down.

the above poster gave great directions to get to disney. if you go when there is not traffic, you can do it within 20 minutes.

 

[robvia]

You might be talking about my site. But it goes from Disney to IOA, the other direction of what you're asking. I guess you could reverse it.
http://www.nogodforme.com/directionstoioa.htm

 

[MickeyManiacMom]

It WAS your site I remembered! (The mickey power pole pic gave it away!) LOL!

Thank you. That was exactly what I planned on doing - reversing the directions. I just liked that it had exit numbers and everything. THANK YOU!


In response to the other poster, yes we won the trip. They already set up transportation (Limo) with Mears for service from the airport to the hotel and then they will return and pick us up at the hotel and bring us back to the airport. We were going to get a cab to bring us to DW, then we found out that would cost us more than to just rent a car for 24 hours. So we're doing that, which also gives us the chance to pick up some snacks and things while we are out and about that first night.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[robvia]

No problem. Here's another thing you can do. Use hotel addresses and type them into maps.yahoo.com
Start with the HRH
5800 Universal Blvd
Orlando FL 32819

Now put in a Disney hotel like the All Star Resorts and click on driving directions.
1991 W. Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista FL 32830

There are two ways to get on I-4 from the HRH, you can do what the map says, or follow the advice up above, either will work.

Psssst. Drive your car to the All Star Movies and park in front like you're checking in, then take the bus to the park. Just tell the spouse and kids you're going to the food court afterwards to eat, which would save you a ton of money as opposed to eating in the park. As you approach the all star resorts, you'll run into a guard gate. No problem, just get in the left lane, show your license, and tell the guard you're going to Movies. They'll let you in, they just wanna make sure you know where you're going. That way you'll "feel" like you're part of the action and you don't pay to park.

 

[agnes!]

No problem. Here's another thing you can do. Use hotel addresses and type them into maps.yahoo.com
Start with the HRH
5800 Universal Blvd
Orlando FL 32819

Now put in a Disney hotel like the All Star Resorts and click on driving directions.
1991 W. Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista FL 32830

There are two ways to get on I-4 from the HRH, you can do what the map says, or follow the advice up above, either will work.

Psssst. Drive your car to the All Star Movies and park in front like you're checking in, then take the bus to the park. Just tell the spouse and kids you're going to the food court afterwards to eat, which would save you a ton of money as opposed to eating in the park. As you approach the all star resorts, you'll run into a guard gate. No problem, just get in the left lane, show your license, and tell the guard you're going to Movies. They'll let you in, they just wanna make sure you know where you're going. That way you'll "feel" like you're part of the action and you don't pay to park.

Psssst. I think the OPs are eating at the Grand Floridian/1900 Park Fare that one night and possibly going to MK that afternoon. Couldn't they possibly get a dining/parking-pass at GF? (depending on when they actually finish checking into the HRH, getting the rental car, getting snacks, getting to WDW...) I'm not sure how long those dining/parking-passes are good for, but I think it's at least 3 hours.

agnes!

 

[robvia]

You're right, I missed that part.

The address of the Grand Floridian is actually
4401 Floridian Way
Lake Buena Vista FL 32830

When I do the directions again, it has them coming in from the back of Disney.

If you wanted to get to the Grand Floridian from the main entrance, you'd have to go thru the main parking gate, and I'm not sure if they'll let them in for free or not. Otherwise they can study the back road way like Yahoo is showing.

 

[MickeyManiacMom]

You guys are the best! Thanks for all the info! You guys are the absolute best anywhere! We do intend to get to Disney World around 2:30 and our dinner ressie is at 8:00 at 1900 Park Fare. So I doubt we'll get the free parking, but that is ok. What I keep telling my husband is that we are going on this trip 99.99% free (well, we're paying the taxes, but still!) so he can buck up and spend the cash for one day at Disney World for his daughter. So we have planned accordingly and I have been given a pretty lax budget for the trip since all the big stuff was given to us!

So on that subject... How much IS parking at Disney World? I'm assuming it can't be much worse that football games for the KC Chiefs where it is freaking $20 to park a vehicle for 3 hours! Insanity. (Not to mention we have a horrible football team - everyone goes for the tailgating! LOL)

 

[robvia]

It's $10 to park at Disneyworld.