How difficult?

[Sugar Jones]

How difficult is the drive from MCO to Disney resort area?


I am not a big driver, and originally planned to stay on site to avoid renting a car and having to drive. However I am more and more leaning towards booking at Bonnet Creek.


I'm mostly worried about highway driving, multi-lane, busy traffic. I think I can handle from resort to parks, but I'm not so sure about Airport to resort.


So how difficult is it?

 

[Cotton's Parrot]

It's hard for me to judge what might be difficult for you because I'm one of those road warrior commuters who drives about 110 miles round trip each day to and from work, so not a lot phases me traffic-wise. That said, I don't think it's a horrible drive from MCO to the Disney area. To be honest, the hardest parts are probably going to be getting from the rental car garage onto the correct road out of MCO and then actually navigating around WDW once you get there. And that's not to say either of those are that difficult. I just remember the first time we stayed at Bonnet Creek, I'd miss a turn on the way back to BC just about every time, but we always got there, maybe with a little detour or two.

I would recommend taking the south exit out of MCO and picking up 417 and taking that over to WDW. The other option is taking the north route out of MCO up to 528 and then pick up I4 over to WDW. I think 417 is probably less traffic, less congestion than I4 and an overall easier drive.

Maybe map it out on Google maps and see what you think. Hopefully others will share their opinions and tips, too.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

It's a short drive. Take the 417. Two lanes, well marked, a couple of tolls ($1.25) - get a map ahead of time and mark out your route. Very easy.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

You could also search on mapquest and click on "avoid highways" and it will show you more back roads. It will prob take a bit longer but you won't be so stressed out.

 

[DebbieB]

I always take the south exit to 417. It's a very easy drive, there is little traffic on that road. Very few trucks, unlike I-4. Get off at exit 6, there are 2 tolls of $1.25 each.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When my family and I have flown from YYZ - MCO we never had any problems driving to WDW. Now we like going on 528 - I-4 because we found it to be a lot easier then 417 and the tolls are less expensive.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We don't rent or use a car but have traveled a few times from MCO and a few times from the Orlando and Kissimmee train stations and from observing out the window of the car service we use....want no part of Orlando driving....to us it seems people in Florida drive with no one else in mind...no courtesy, signals, constant lane switching to get ahead, way over the speed limits, and if we were driving and not knowing where we were going, and watching for the Disney signs.....too stressful and not what I need to start or end a vacation.. Especially trying to use a map, map quest or what, even a GPS.....We use a car service for pick up and mentioned to the driver on the craziness of Florida traffic and he's from NY and said, down here anything goes.....good luck but we'll always pass on using our own car or renting....Disney on site transportation has served us well in 44 trips and we'll continue to rely on it..

 

[ToddyLu]

We have traveled to Orlando by motorcycle, car and plane. We never ever use our car on property...oh wait we did dinner one night at the CR and drove...in 11 trips. We do not do DME and always use Tiffany Towncar. We love Disney transportation to the parks. THe traffic just seems average to me and we have flown in at different times. I am sure 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. are difficult, but it should be very easy with maps. I have read on here that GPSs do not work well in Disney

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I have read on here that GPSs do not work well in Disney

Our car has a built in GPS which has always worked when putting in an address for any of the WDW Resorts.

 

[Sugar Jones]

Our car has a built in GPS which has always worked when putting in an address for any of the WDW Resorts.

We drove in September and our GPS took us to the service entrance at POR, and the attendant said it happens all the time.

If dh would just come with us I wouldn't have this problem because he would drive. However he hated Disney and will never return I am bringing my MIL & my mother - both non-drivers.

CR Resort Fan 4 Life - We live about 2.5 hours from TO. Is the drive from MCO to the resort area easier than driving on the 401 or Queensway? Because I can barely handle being a passenger on those roads let alone driving lol

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

CR Resort Fan 4 Life - We live about 2.5 hours from TO. Is the drive from MCO to the resort area easier than driving on the 401 or Queensway? Because I can barely handle being a passenger on those roads let alone driving lol

Well no matter if you took 528 - I-4 - WDW or 417 - WDW, those roads aren't as big as the 401. Don't forget the 401 Westbound goes all the way to Windsor, Ontario and the 401 Eastbound goes all the way to Quebec border. Now when there is no traffic I guess you can say those routes are easier compared to the 401, although the 401 is easy to drive when there are no problems. So I guess it depends on the time of day and etc.

 

[NancyIL]

When my family and I have flown from YYZ - MCO we never had any problems driving to WDW. Now we like going on 528 - I-4 because we found it to be a lot easier then 417 and the tolls are less expensive.

I don't think 528 to I-4 is easier at all! I-4 is often backed up, and there is easily twice as much traffic on I-4 as on 417. It's true that the tolls are a bit less on 528, but I'd much rather pay a little more in tolls on 417 to avoid the travel headaches on 528/I-4.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I don't think 528 to I-4 is easier at all! I-4 is often backed up, and there is easily twice as much traffic on I-4 as on 417. It's true that the tolls are a bit less on 528, but I'd much rather pay a little more in tolls on 417 to avoid the travel headaches on 528/I-4.

While I agree there are some times during the day when I-4 might be busy with traffic and etc, most of the time we have never had any problems. Plus living in Toronto we are use to major highways being busy and I-4 is nothing compared to them. Besides that the one time we decided to take 417 I remember going on an access road leaving MCO that leads to it and personally we didn't find it any faster.

 

[NancyIL]

While I agree there are some times during the day when I-4 might be busy with traffic and etc, most of the time we have never had any problems. Plus living in Toronto we are use to major highways being busy and I-4 is nothing compared to them. Besides that the one time we decided to take 417 I remember going on an access road leaving MCO that leads to it and personally we didn't find it any faster.

I didn't say 417 was faster than 528/I-4, although I'm sure it is when I-4 gets backed up.

The OP said, "I'm mostly worried about highway driving, multi-lane, busy traffic. I think I can handle from resort to parks, but I'm not so sure about Airport to resort." For someone who does NOT like busy highway driving, suggesting 528 to I-4 is NOT good advice.