How difficult to drive to and around Disney?

[minerva78]

I'm trying to decide between an offsite stay, possibly at the Homewood Suites in Lake Buena Vista, and an onsite stay at Pop Century. The overall price will be very similar (which includes parking costs and gas estimates and dining plan vs. OOP costs), so I'm trying to find other ways of making my decision. I realize one of these should be how difficult will it be to drive to and around Disney.

We'll be driving down from NC, so we'll have a car. I like the idea of not having to drive, since we've never been to Disney as a family and I haven't been since I was a kid, so I don't know my way around. I rely on the Google Maps app on my phone a lot for getting me from one point to another, but I've read that GPS can be unreliable, which is concerning to me. I have rarely used maps to get around, which I may need to do at Disney. So using Disney transportation is appealing. However, I am the kind of person who likes to be in control of where I'm going, so I'm not sure how I would do with relying on buses to get everywhere! I realize I can still drive if I stay onsite, but I don't know if that will really be any easier than driving from offsite.

For those of you who have driven around Disney, especially from offsite, how difficult did you find it to get to your desired location? And how did you prepare yourself for driving beforehand? Did you study maps or primarily use GPS? Are certain parks and resorts easier to get to than others?

 

[joelkfla]

Driving around WDW is very easy, especially getting to the parking lots for the major parks. Getting to the resorts is a bit trickier, because sometimes all the resorts are not listed on the signs, just the "resort area." If you just find out which "resort area" your destination resort belongs to beforehand, it's simple.

A good thing about WDW is that you can always pull into a resort or park, and ask at the toll plaza or security gate for directions.

If you have a stand-alone GPS unit, you may want to look at MouseSavers for a downloadable POI file. Instructions for loading it onto the major GPS brands are included. The trouble with GPS's is that they will occasionally send you backstage, or to a gate you can't get through. If that happens, just back out and follow signs to a nearby park or resort, and ask for directions.

If you're a map person, search Google for WDW road map and you'll find a pdf of a road map. It also tells you which "resort area" each resort is in. I believe you can get a copy of this map at any WDW resort concierge desk. There's also an interactive map on the official site.

I will say that getting to Homewood Suites will take you thru the DTD/Crossroads area, and traffic can be bad there at times. Not bad as in dangerous, but you may have to wait thru more than one traffic light cycle at places. And you need to get into your lane ASAP when turning.

Driving from Pop, OTOH, is very easy. And you'd have the option of using the buses if you get tired of driving, or want to party some night.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I have driven before. It is fairly easy to find your way around.

You should factor in parking costs for the off site stay. Parking is free at Pop and free at all the theme parks if you stay on site. Otherwise parking at the parks is $15 per day, unless you are an annual passholder. If you change parks, keep your receipt and it is valid at the other parks that day.

When I drive, I usually drive to a park for rope drop (hardly any traffic and GREAT parking spots near the front). In the evening, I often take the bus so I am not driving alone at night.

 

[bumbershoot]

I rely on the Google Maps app on my phone a lot for getting me from one point to another, but I've read that GPS can be unreliable, which is concerning to me.

GPS units that a person owns aren't always updated by the owners (my brother, for instance, who has a wonderfully comfortable lifestyle, has chosen to not update his Garmin maps for 10 years) or by the companies. Googlemaps, however, IS updated from what I understand.

Googlemaps did us just fine on our last trip, though I got us into a jam because I didn't zoom in enough to see that the route I chose led to a one-way street going the WRONG direction for what we wanted. Whoops! But it was my fault, not google's. Their info was right. I just didn't see it.

So especially if you have another adult to navigate I see no problem in using googlemaps on your phone or an ipad.



Best way to get around is to know what area you are in and know what area you are going to. If you don't have another adult but at least one of the kids can read, have them help! Once you narrow down the area you are going to and once you hit that area, then the park or resort info comes next.

It's highways with near highway speeds, with big huge signs...it was disconcerting the first time we went because I wasn't expecting THAT (I thought it would be like a medium size town!), but I find it to be well signed.

 

[figment_jii]

I've driven around WDW quite a bit and have ultimately found is pretty easy to do. I started with a GPS, but it does sometimes give conflicting information with the road signs. The road signs do not always send you via the shortest/fastest route, but they do send you along the easiest route (e.g., making rights instead of lefts, crossing intersections with stop lights, etc.). So now, I follow the road signs and forgo the GPS when inside WDW property.

The only other thing I noticed is that it's helpful to know the general area of a resort you want to go to. So, for example, if you want to go to the Boardwalk Inn, it's useful to know that it's part of the Epcot resorts. The early signs will say "Epcot Resorts" opposed to listing them individually. Once you get closer to the resort, you'll see signs with specific names listed. This is primarily the case with the Epcot and Magic Kingdom resorts.

 

[WishnDisney]

Last year was our first trip to WDW, and we rented a car while we were there. We had no problems between GPS and the signage at getting around. After a day or two, we had it down pat. And, I have to say, the evenings when I would be in my comfy rental car with the AC turned on headed back to our resort, I would look at those packed buses and be glad I was in the rental car. (I was even more glad the last night when we had to use the bus after turning in our rental car and had to ride both ways to Epcot standing on tired feet!)

I say go for it. You are on vacation, and what does it matter if you get a little turned around once or twice...it's all part of the adventure and you might see something you had never seen before!

Lynne

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Driving around is easy. If you stay onsite when you check in your check in packet will contain an information booklet. In the middle of the booklet is a very detailed map of WDW. It is very helpful. If you are still concerned about driving around take a bus to one of the parks as a test run. This will allow you too look around without the worries of operating a vehicle and give you a good idea just how easy it is. Then hop off the bus and ride a bus back to your resort. This should help you.

 

[minerva78]

Driving around is easy. If you stay onsite when you check in your check in packet will contain an information booklet. In the middle of the booklet is a very detailed map of WDW. It is very helpful. If you are still concerned about driving around take a bus to one of the parks as a test run. This will allow you too look around without the worries of operating a vehicle and give you a good idea just how easy it is. Then hop off the bus and ride a bus back to your resort. This should help you.

Oh that is very good to know! I wondered where the best place would be to find a good map, so I like it that the resort would provide a very detailed map. I think we are going to stay onsite at Pop, so it's also good to know it's fairly easy to get around Disney from the resort.

 

[DOOM1001]

Between looking at the Disney map of the entire resort area and the streets and highways that are in the area along with all the signs it's hard to get lost.I mean if you're staying in the Lake Buena Vista area you could just go into Disney property by the Hotel Plaza blvd entrance by DTD which is right in the LBV area and just veer left to Buena Vista drive in front of DTD and follow the signs on that road and you can go anywhere on property by just looking at the signs.If you wanted to save some driving time you could just hop on I-4 westbound right at 535 in the LBV area and the I-4 signs will also let you know where to get off and you'll get there faster.It's really an easy area to get around so don't worry.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Personally after driving in the traffic at the edge of and just off of WDW property (traffic is generally a NIGHTMARE!) I would opt to stay on property and let Disney do the driving or at least most of it. POP has some of the best bus service on property!! I WOULD DEFINITELY take the bus to the. MK! I hate dealing w/ the tram & then the monorail or ferry, esp when the bus can drop you off closer to the entrance!!
Personally the only park I would probably drive to would be AK. I think the bus service to the others is better!
DD has lived over near Little Lake Bryan and getting over there has been...well let's just say at times interesting!! I am used to pretty intense traffic in the balto/dc area but the orlando drivers on/around I4....oy vey!!! LOL!!!

Oh & just to add....I have a smart phone (android) that has the Navigation program on it (free) and it is awesome!!! Used it all the time at WDW and didn't get lost! Esp when DD needed to go to a DR or something like that or to take her car to the shop. Excellent program!!!

 

[Q-man]

Between looking at the Disney map of the entire resort area and the streets and highways that are in the area along with all the signs it's hard to get lost.

This. Just pull up the satellite view in google maps and spend 5 minutes studying it then print it and bring it along. There are about 4-5 main roads to know in WDW.

 

[Ladygoldenhair]

I have been driving everywhere on Disney property, but DTD. I agree driving off or near the end is brutal. Heavy traffic, drivers not wanting an exit cutting back on in front of you, poor signs.

I used my IPhone and Siri on site with no problems.

I did go to KMart. Dd had something she wanted there and it was near Universal. My gosh was it horrible! The rain was heavy as was the traffic. On the way back a car hydroplanes off the right side of the roadway really far into the grassy area.

But, I stayed offsite last
June at the Blue Tree resort Lake Buena Vista, two exits towards Tampa and had no problems. EZ on off, upfront signage and GPS instructions.