HELP! Is it true that it's 8 MILES from WDW??

[fairytinkerbell]

http://www.hawthorn.com/reservations/locationdetail.asp?facid=552&view=attractions

I thought i would be just as close as parkway blvd in kisssimmee, so i booked
hawthorn suites in lake buena vista on palm parkway-

see site above, it says "8 miles to wdw"
i thought it was right there -- can someone clarify??

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

It's about 2 miles to DTD, 8 miles to the MK (TTC) parking lot, 1.5 miles to WDW eastgate entrance. Do yourself a favor and download the following map. It is a very large PDF file that will take a while but it's worth it.

WDW Map

Palm Parkway is near the lower right corner of the legend.

Here's your shortcut. Unless you are going to DTD do not use the WDW Eastgate entrance to get to the parks. Eastgate entrance takes you down Hotel Plaza Boulevard and past DTD, with many stoplights (8 to Epcot Center Drive and 13 to World Drive) and much traffic. Instead, take Vineland Apopka south past the Eastgte and get on I-4 West Tampa. On I-4 do not merge in with traffic but stay in the far right lane of the entrance ramp. This far right lane is an exit only lane, which you will take (exit 67, formerly exit 26a), that puts you right onto Epcot Center Drive, thus bypassing all the stoplights and traffic. From here, just follow the signs to wherever you want to go.

 

[CarolA]

This is a prime example of how big Disney is. I have commuted from there and it's not a bad commute to the parks.


My trick is to go behind DTD and take the road that leads by Saratoga Springs and OKW. Cuts out a ton of lights.

 

[fairytinkerbell]

any more ideas?? i'm printing all this out to help us
navigate the roads.

i can't believe it's 8 MILES to MK!

Is Parkway Blvd in Kissimmee CLOSER??
( i was going to stay @ Hampton Inn on Parkway Blvd)
and one of the reasons i changed it to
Hawthorn is bec. i thought i would avoid I-4 !

 

[JohnnyOldBoy]

Relax, it's not so hard...really. If you have downloaded the map you will see Parkwy Blvd down by Celebration. It actually does not end at 192 as shown on the map but continues north, about to where the green Exit 26D sign is.

As you can see, both areas are very, very close to WDW, yet. as CarolA said, WDW is very large and there is some distance to cover. No getting around that, even if you stay on site.

 

[RC Fan]

Hi fairytinkerbell!

I think the LBV area is a great choice. I hope to stay in that area myself the next time I go. It is really hard to understand how BIG Disney is until you go yourself.

 

[SB in KY]

Look at it this way...there are a bunch of Disney hotels that are probably 5+ miles from the MK...so 8 miles doesn't sound so much farther. I would also suggest taking Hotel Plaza Blvd to DTD and turning Right, then going down to What used to be Community Drive (but was recently renamed Vacation Club Dr or something like that)...anyways it is the road that passes Saratoga Springs and OKW and follow the signs from there. You miss a lot of lights and traffic that way.

Although I prefer onsite (mostly b/o Disney transportation) you are not in a bad location. Just plan on driving...the hotel shuttles are not very practical.

 

[sha_lyn]

anyways it is the road that passes Saratoga Springs and OKW and follow the signs from there. You miss a lot of lights and traffic that way.

Funny side story..... We took a bus from the Poly to DD right at park closing. The drive took this route. My sister, and others on the bus were complaining because they though he was going the wrong way. I pointed over to the MK traffic and said I think he knows what he is doing. LOL everyone agreed.

 

[SB in KY]

I love that road!!....it is never crowded and no lights....we are DVC'ers and often stay at OKW...DH always goes the usual way to DTD...I always go the back way. it has become a family joke!!

I think that bus driver and I would get along great!!