How easy is it to drive around Disney?

[3prettyprincesses]

We'll have our car with us and have several early breakfast reservations, before the park opens. Is it easy to navigate going from the Grand Floridian to Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios? Thanks!

 

[Brian Noble]

Generally, getting to a theme park is easy: just follow the signs. Getting back *from* a theme park can be a *little* tricky, but as long as you remember which "area" you are closest to, it's pretty simple. In the Grand's case, just follow the signs to the Magic Kingdom, and it's no worries.

 

[skelooch]

As Brian Noble said it is very easy navigating WDW. It might also be helpful to obtain a map of the property to have with you in the car. You can get one from bell services or the valet desk if your resort has one, that way you can plan your routes in advance.
Also if you're at or visiting a resort with a valet desk they will be happy to give you directions to go to just about anywhere. As a matter of fact if you use the valet service they will always ask if you need any directions after retrieving your car.

Have a great trip

 

[goofy4tink]

In the interest of being an informed moderator, I am once again throwing myself under the bus...so to speak. When we are there in April, it will be for a very short stay..only 2.5 days. So, I figure that since I'll have a rental car at my disposal, I'm going to try driving to the parks from AKL for the most part. Then I'll be able to speak to the ease of driving around WDW.
The things I do for this board. But, those that are going to be there at the same time may want to be forewarned....I'm not at all sure of where I'll be going, especially when trying to get out of parking lots.
To our bus drivers.....have patience with those driving around just before Easter. It could be me!!!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Thanks everyone. It seems pretty easy, hope I didn't just jinx myself! I did look on google maps and it appears to be simple. I just don't want to have to wait around for the buses or change monorails early in the morning when we have 8:00am breakfast reservations. Now, watch me get lost and end up missing our breakfasts all together!

 

[ilovethisplace]

I always have to scratch my head when I see posts about people getting totally lost "on property." If you can read signs you really shouldn't have any problems. I never take the WDW buses and I've never gotten lost. I may have missed a turn while half asleep returning after evening EMH but that's it.

 

[skelooch]

In the interest of being an informed moderator, I am once again throwing myself under the bus...so to speak. When we are there in April, it will be for a very short stay..only 2.5 days. So, I figure that since I'll have a rental car at my disposal, I'm going to try driving to the parks from AKL for the most part. Then I'll be able to speak to the ease of driving around WDW.
The things I do for this board. But, those that are going to be there at the same time may want to be forewarned....I'm not at all sure of where I'll be going, especially when trying to get out of parking lots.
To our bus drivers.....have patience with those driving around just before Easter. It could be me!!!

I'm sure you will do just fine, you probably already know the way around the property like the back of you hand just not where the parking lot exits are.
Anyway I'm glad I won't be there in April

Drive carefully

 

[Brian Noble]

If you can read signs you really shouldn't have any problems.

The one place that took us a couple stays to really "get" was OKW. It's sort of tucked in a corner, and if you've ever stayed there with your own car, I'm sure you've either heard, (or said), "Drat! That's Overpass Drive, over there!"

Excepting of course the interjection was probably something saltier than "Drat".

That said, it is impossible to get well and truly lost. You might take the scenic route once or twice, but you'll get there.

 

[Magicbus]

But, those that are going to be there at the same time may want to be forewarned....I'm not at all sure of where I'll be going, especially when trying to get out of parking lots.

Why should you be any different. Just so you don't stand out and get mistaken for a good driver, make sure you stop anywhere at anytime to look at your mapquest printout that's taking you to AK via Gatorland.

To our bus drivers.....have patience with those driving around just before Easter. It could be me!!!

Do we have say in the matter? I've talked to 4 other bus drivers from New England, and in effort for us to live past your stay, we've takin up a collection to cover cab fares for your entire stay. All I had to say was that you're from MA. We know how they drive.

 

[OKW Lover]

We've never had a problem driving around WDW. There are signs everywhere.

Just watch out for all those "tourists" that suddenly realize that they were supposed to turn right here.

 

[CanadianPaco]

We've never had a problem driving around WDW. There are signs everywhere.

Just watch out for all those "tourists" that suddenly realize that they were supposed to turn right here.

Couldn't agree more!!!! It's important to pay extra attention to those people! !

 

[goofy4tink]

I always have to scratch my head when I see posts about people getting totally lost "on property." If you can read signs you really shouldn't have any problems. I never take the WDW buses and I've never gotten lost. I may have missed a turn while half asleep returning after evening EMH but that's it.

Not as easy as one would think. My dad, lives in Pompano Beach for the winter, drove up to visit us one Thanksgiving while we were at WDW. He drives a lot, seldom gets lost. Well....he drove around the Epcot area for an hour trying to get to BWV...he even asked several people...all gave him directions to the Epcot parking lot.

Why should you be any different. Just so you don't stand out and get mistaken for a good driver, make sure you stop anywhere at anytime to look at your mapquest printout that's taking you to AK via Gatorland.


Do we have say in the matter? I've talked to 4 other bus drivers from New England, and in effort for us to live past your stay, we've takin up a collection to cover cab fares for your entire stay. All I had to say was that you're from MA. We know how they drive.

Hey...I'm a very good driver!!! I am not the quintessential driver from Mass. My dh???? Oh yeah, he is. I tend to be more 'considerate' than most and although aggressive, I'm polite as well. While I will wait until you get through going through that rotary, even though I have the right of way, I will wait for only so many 'non-yielders' to go...then I get a bit testy. Man, I love rotaries..or roundabouts...whatever you wish to call them. You need some in sunny Fl.
Get your crash helmets ready boys!!!

 

[Magicbus]

Hey...I'm a very good driver!!! I am not the quintessential driver from Mass.

That's good to hear.
I judge how good a day it is by how many times I shake my head in amazement to some of the stupid things drivers do. Today on the "head shake" meter it was probably one of the worst, at least a 5. The average day is a 1 or a 2. And it's not that busy.

 

[Vivianne]

Now this is the type of Map I like:

http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Walt_Disney_World_Resorts/_ResortAssets/Walt_Disney_World_Map.pdf

We pretty much know our way around...after having gotten lost more times than we care to admit. I think getting to some resorts is more difficult than the parks.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Now this is the type of Map I like:

http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Walt_Disney_World_Resorts/_ResortAssets/Walt_Disney_World_Map.pdf

We pretty much know our way around...after having gotten lost more times than we care to admit. I think getting to some resorts is more difficult than the parks.

Thank you! This will be extremely helpful, now I have a better idea of where everything is.

 

[Elmo007]

The only place I ever see anyone having an issue is when leaving the Contemp after Chef Mickeys.

On the way in its easy, stay right at the toll plaza and straight in.

On the way out, remember to turn right, travel across the top of the MK lot, keeping resort transport to the right and then make a left going past the WDW raceway and care care center then second star at the right and straight through to dawn

 

[1tufgt]

Like everyone says it's easy to get around since the signs are very readable. Also like someone said watch out for the "tourist" who have to make the sudden dash for the exit.

 

[DebbieB]

Now this is the type of Map I like:

http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Walt_Disney_World_Resorts/_ResortAssets/Walt_Disney_World_Map.pdf

We pretty much know our way around...after having gotten lost more times than we care to admit. I think getting to some resorts is more difficult than the parks.

If you take a look at this map, there are 4 main roads that form a square: Vista Blvd, World Drive, Buena Vista Drive and Bonnet Creek Parkway. If you know those 4, you can find your way anywhere.

 

[Magicbus]

Here is one of the maps that Disney used, maybe still do, to teach new bus drivers the WDW road system. All of the roads you need to know are on there. It's compressed and not to scale. It's strictly to learn the roads.
Drivers were asked to fill in the road names and resorts. Try it, it works.

 

[sharadoc]

Now this is the type of Map I like:

http://www.kingdom-travel.com/Walt_Disney_World_Resorts/_ResortAssets/Walt_Disney_World_Map.pdf

We pretty much know our way around...after having gotten lost more times than we care to admit. I think getting to some resorts is more difficult than the parks.

Thank you! This will be extremely helpful, now I have a better idea of where everything is.

You can get a good printed version of this map from any Bell Services desk. They have them at every resort - I think they are provided by Alamo rental car. We have one permanently in our van, but hated when we didn't have it. You can't use the little map in your visitor guide - the large driving one is great.

Also, if you use a GPS system, make sure you use a voice that is computer-generated and will actually speak the name of the road. There are roads really close to each other, and others look like driveways. If you just do the "turn right in 1/4 mile" you might get on the wrong road, whereas getting instructions to "turn right on World Drive" is much better.

I believe it's on Mousesavers - there's a download for your GPS with all the addresses in Disney World, so you can choose them as POIs. It came in handy a couple of times for us because who keeps a list of all the addresses at Disney????