How far to drive

[tinkerbell615]

Can you guys tell me how far of a drive it is from Disney to Universal? I posted on here recently that we are planning on Universal for a couple of days for the first time next year.

I think we are staying on Disney property and driving to Universal. I think that will be a bit easier than transferring hotels for just a couple of nights.

Thanks.

 

[Ileana]

I take the long way & it's about 20 minutes (but I speed so I don't think I'm the right person to answer this)

 

[Metro West]

Can you guys tell me how far of a drive it is from Disney to Universal? I posted on here recently that we are planning on Universal for a couple of days for the first time next year.

I think we are staying on Disney property and driving to Universal. I think that will be a bit easier than transferring hotels for just a couple of nights.

Thanks.

Depending upon where you are on Disney property and traffic, it takes anywhere from 20-30 minutes.

 

[tinkerbell615]

Thanks. We will probably be staying at POP.

 

[WillCAD]

It usually takes me 20-30 minutes, depending on the route I take, the time of day, and the amount of traffic.

 

[donaldduck352]

I've found the backroads the easy way.I just cann't remember how I got out of Disney to do it.Pure luck!!

But Apoka-Vineland brought me into Sandlake to I-drive.This is all backroads with not much traffic,till you hit I-Drive of coarse.

Google map it.I just cann't remember how I came out of Disney To hit Apoka- Vineland...With me luck.

 

[Metro West]

I've found the backroads the easy way.I just cann't remember how I got out of Disney to do it.Pure luck!!

But Apoka-Vineland brought me into Sandlake to I-drive.This is all backroads with not much traffic,till you hit I-Drive of coarse.

Google map it.I just cann't remember how I came out of Disney To hit Apoka- Vineland...With me luck.

Apopka-Vineland to Palm Parkway (turns into Turkey Lake) is the best route. Not much traffic and you don't have to deal with I-Drive or I-4.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Depending upon where you are on Disney property and traffic, it takes anywhere from 20-30 minutes.

very well put. some say it takes only 10-15 & that is not true! It can take up to 30 minutes depending on where you are at.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Last week when I was coming up it took me from 12:05 to 12:27 to go from exit 64 (Disney) to exit 74... and that is before Universal. There was a back up on I-4 as usual. I was on I-4 since I was coming up from my house. If I am on property, I would not take 4, but take Palm Parkway to Turkey Lake, then go onto Hollywood Way. It maybe a little longer milage wise but much faster since usually there are no back ups!

 

[Metro West]

Last week when I was coming up it took me from 12:05 to 12:27 to go from exit 64 (Disney) to exit 74... and that is before Universal. There was a back up on I-4 as usual. I was on I-4 since I was coming up from my house. If I am on property, I would not take 4, but take Palm Parkway to Turkey Lake, then go onto Hollywood Way. It maybe a little longer milage wise but much faster since usually there are no back ups!

You know what's funny? The last time I was at the MK, I timed how long it took from the gate to the car...30 mins exactly and it wasn't very crowded that day! How's that for some perspective?

 

[Ileana]

I've found the backroads the easy way.I just cann't remember how I got out of Disney to do it.Pure luck!!

But Apoka-Vineland brought me into Sandlake to I-drive.This is all backroads with not much traffic,till you hit I-Drive of coarse.

Google map it.I just cann't remember how I came out of Disney To hit Apoka- Vineland...With me luck.

That's the way I go - it's always calm & quiet (watch out for winderemere cops though)

 

[minniejack]

We plan on signing up for GPS service for a short time for our trip just so we can avoid traffic and find our way to places.

My DS's new cell phone came with a 30 day trial for GPS and it tells where traffic is and alternate routes. It helped get through Pittsburgh--with all of its lovely construction backups--already 3 times.

We wouldn't want me to have to kill my DH who can't find his way out of a box now would we?

 

[tinkerbell615]

We plan on signing up for GPS service for a short time for our trip just so we can avoid traffic and find our way to places.

My DS's new cell phone came with a 30 day trial for GPS and it tells where traffic is and alternate routes. It helped get through Pittsburgh--with all of its lovely construction backups--already 3 times.

We wouldn't want me to have to kill my DH who can't find his way out of a box now would we?

You know... that is a good idea. I think AAA rents GPS systems.

Thanks to all for the info. I like the backroads idea.

 

[WillCAD]

You know what's funny? The last time I was at the MK, I timed how long it took from the gate to the car...30 mins exactly and it wasn't very crowded that day! How's that for some perspective?

I always say, a little perspective is a fine thing - if taken in moderation!

A lot of people bring up the time it takes to get from your car to the MK gate (and vice versa) as a selling point for not renting a car and relying solely on Disney transportatin. But personally, I love the monorail and ferryboat, and consider them to be attractions rather than transportation, so MY Disney day starts when I get to the ferryboat dock, and ends when I come off the monorail ramp.

From that perspective, it only takes me about 3-5 minutes (depending on where I parked) to get from my car to the beginning of my day and back again in the evening.

...you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. - Obi-Wan Kenobi, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

 

[Ileana]

I always say, a little perspective is a fine thing - if taken in moderation!

A lot of people bring up the time it takes to get from your car to the MK gate (and vice versa) as a selling point for not renting a car and relying solely on Disney transportatin. But personally, I love the monorail and ferryboat, and consider them to be attractions rather than transportation, so MY Disney day starts when I get to the ferryboat dock, and ends when I come off the monorail ramp.

From that perspective, it only takes me about 3-5 minutes (depending on where I parked) to get from my car to the beginning of my day and back again in the evening.

...you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view. - Obi-Wan Kenobi, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.

I love it too - and let me tell you about the on property Disney buses

We waited HALF AN HOUR for the DTD one when we stayed onsite for our honeymoon

I hate waiting - it makes me irritable. We had our car too, but we wanted to take the bus so we could drink it up if we wanted to - I wish we took the stinking car instead!!!!

 

[WillCAD]

I love it too - and let me tell you about the on property Disney buses

We waited HALF AN HOUR for the DTD one when we stayed onsite for our honeymoon

I hate waiting - it makes me irritable. We had our car too, but we wanted to take the bus so we could drink it up if we wanted to - I wish we took the stinking car instead!!!!

Yeah, I took the bus from Pop to PI once, because I wanted to have a Kungaloosh and didn't want to drive back after imbibing - 50 minutes from the time I got to the bus stop till I stepped off at the PI stop:
20 mins wait time
10 mins load time
10 mins drive time to Marketplace
10 mins wait time
2 mins drive time to PI

I guess I could have walked from Marketplace to PI, but it would not have taken any less time than waitig for the bus. And it was a hot, humid night, so I didnt' want to get to PI all sweaty and tired.

Every time I think of that night, it makes me wish I could afford to stay on-site at Uni - everything is in walking distance or water taxi service - but even with Passholder discounts the Uni resorts are out of my price range.

Let me bring this back to the original thread topic, or at least in the ballpark: once you get to Universal, you park in one of the huge garages and walk into CityWalk. At CityWalk, you can go right to visit USF or left to visit IOA. If you go straight, you come to the waters edge, where there are water taxis to go to any of the Uni resorts. No interior driving will be needed at Uni.

While there, be sure to try some of the restaurants in CityWalk and the resorts. I'm particularly fond of an Asian restaurant called the Islands Dining Hall at Royal Pacific resort; it's one of the best restaurants I've tried in Orlando. I also enjoy Jummy Buffets Margaritaville at CityWalk. For lunch I will sometimes go to Lombards, in the Amity section of USF; it's not only excellent, but very reasonably priced for a table service place inside the park, and not usually very crowded.

 

[Ileana]

Yeah, I took the bus from Pop to PI once, because I wanted to have a Kungaloosh and didn't want to drive back after imbibing - 50 minutes from the time I got to the bus stop till I stepped off at the PI stop:
20 mins wait time
10 mins load time
10 mins drive time to Marketplace
10 mins wait time
2 mins drive time to PI

I guess I could have walked from Marketplace to PI, but it would not have taken any less time than waitig for the bus. And it was a hot, humid night, so I didnt' want to get to PI all sweaty and tired.

Every time I think of that night, it makes me wish I could afford to stay on-site at Uni - everything is in walking distance or water taxi service - but even with Passholder discounts the Uni resorts are out of my price range.

Let me bring this back to the original thread topic, or at least in the ballpark: once you get to Universal, you park in one of the huge garages and walk into CityWalk. At CityWalk, you can go right to visit USF or left to visit IOA. If you go straight, you come to the waters edge, where there are water taxis to go to any of the Uni resorts. No interior driving will be needed at Uni.

While there, be sure to try some of the restaurants in CityWalk and the resorts. I'm particularly fond of an Asian restaurant called the Islands Dining Hall at Royal Pacific resort; it's one of the best restaurants I've tried in Orlando. I also enjoy Jummy Buffets Margaritaville at CityWalk. For lunch I will sometimes go to Lombards, in the Amity section of USF; it's not only excellent, but very reasonably priced for a table service place inside the park, and not usually very crowded.

WHAT!! This is blasphemy!! get here for the $139/night rate

Ballin on a budget baby

 

[A Mickeyfan]

You know what's funny? The last time I was at the MK, I timed how long it took from the gate to the car...30 mins exactly and it wasn't very crowded that day! How's that for some perspective?

That can take 45-60 minutes when it is crowded!!! Disney even tells ya that when staying on property and using their transportation to allow an hours time to get to the parks...that is why the only park I take the bus to when staying on property there is the MK. The others, I take my car. And people complain about the walk from the garage at Universal to the parks. Give me that anyday! I can walk from park to park then back again Then to my car when I am done...

 

[Metro West]

That can take 45-60 minutes when it is crowded!!! Disney even tells ya that when staying on property and using their transportation to allow an hours time to get to the parks...that is why the only park I take the bus to when staying on property there is the MK. The others, I take my car. And people complain about the walk from the garage at Universal to the parks. Give me that anyday! I can walk from park to park then back again Then to my car when I am done...

I hear ya! AND...at Universal you won't come back to a car who's temperature is 1500 degrees!