How is I4 these days?

[bluecastle]

We will be there this August and staying one night at Universal and then driving over to WDW during the early afternoon. MapQuest says to use I4 and I was wondering if that was a good route to take. In the past we have usually tried to avoid it. We will be making one stop at a Publix or WalMart before we get to the WL. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

BUSY.

From Universal I would Turkey Lake Rd which becomes Palm Pkwy which will run into 535. Turn left on to 535 and at the next light turn right and you will be headed straight for DTD. Also on Turkey Lake there is a Super Walmart open 24 hours. Google map Turkey Lake and you will see that it runs paralel with I4, It is just to the west of I4.

Here is a link to the map
http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=U...isney+m&t=h&mra=dpe&mrsp=3&sz=13&via=2,3&z=13

 

[Msmit002]

I had been pondering this very same question. We will be doing the same during our August trip and I was wondering about I-4, toll roads etc.

Thanks for the excellent information!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

WHATEVER you do avoid I4 and 535 on the weekends! That area is like a parking lot!!!!! Not to mention a lot of crazy drivers.

 

[bluecastle]

Thanks! The last time we were there there was construction, but I had a feeling it was probably still a busy road. Will add this to my notes.

 

[gmeh1]

I had been pondering this very same question. We will be doing the same during our August trip and I was wondering about I-4, toll roads etc.

Thanks for the excellent information!

I4 is not a toll road.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I-4 may look like a parking lot at times between Disney & Universal, but it doesn't have any tolls on it... not one single one from the Daytona entrance/exit (I-95) to the Tampa entrance/exit (I-75)....it is toll free

 

[JenSinMA]

I just stayed at Windsor Hills near WDW and drove to & from Universal once a day, every day from last Sunday to Thursday. I took I4 both ways every time and it was super fast and easy--usually under 15 minutes. The heaviest traffic I encountered was Thursday around noon, but even then I made it to Universal from Windsor Hills in 18 minutes. One afternoon there was a wreck. They moved the wreck off to the side quickly, but my timing was just wrong, so I was stuck in stop-n-go traffic for about 25 minutes. Other than that, I thought I4 was great and never needed to rely on the surface streets. Maybe traffic is heavier overall in August, though, when there are just so many more vacationers in the area.

 

[bluecastle]

I just stayed at Windsor Hills near WDW and drove to & from Universal once a day, every day from last Sunday to Thursday. I took I4 both ways every time and it was super fast and easy--usually under 15 minutes. The heaviest traffic I encountered was Thursday around noon, but even then I made it to Universal from Windsor Hills in 18 minutes. One afternoon there was a wreck. They moved the wreck off to the side quickly, but my timing was just wrong, so I was stuck in stop-n-go traffic for about 25 minutes. Other than that, I thought I4 was great and never needed to rely on the surface streets. Maybe traffic is heavier overall in August, though, when there are just so many more vacationers in the area.

Thanks for a different perspective Jen. We will be traveling from Uni to WDW on a Thursday some time in the early afternoon, depending on when we finish at HP. I wonder what the difference in time would be comparing the alternate route with a no-traffic day on I4. Anyhow, we want to make a grocery stop, so maybe the alternate way is best. Thanks for posting.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I just stayed at Windsor Hills near WDW and drove to & from Universal once a day, every day from last Sunday to Thursday. I took I4 both ways every time and it was super fast and easy--usually under 15 minutes. The heaviest traffic I encountered was Thursday around noon, but even then I made it to Universal from Windsor Hills in 18 minutes. One afternoon there was a wreck. They moved the wreck off to the side quickly, but my timing was just wrong, so I was stuck in stop-n-go traffic for about 25 minutes. Other than that, I thought I4 was great and never needed to rely on the surface streets. Maybe traffic is heavier overall in August, though, when there are just so many more vacationers in the area.

you are very lucky to have been able to do that.. I know there have been times that ended up stuck in traffic for up to 45 minutes going from WDW to just the Central FL Pkwy exit there was one day over Christmas break where they had to actually shut I-4 down. It was horrible. Cars were going nowhere... I guess it all depends on the time of year too.. I travel when schools are out.. more cars on the roads..

 

[A Mickeyfan]

To put it in a nutshell what I-4 is going to be like.. it all depends on how many cars will be on the road that day and if there will be an accident, and how bad the accident is.. few cars and no accidents.. it will be a breeze.. few of cars, minor accident, you can deal with it..lots of cars & minor accident, you can somewhat deal with it...... lots of cars and major accident, they may very well shut it down and you can be stuck for an extremely long time..

as with any major road, you really cannot tell

Only thing for sure is that you will not be stuck in a toll both lane as we have said, there are no tolls on that road..but traffic, no one can say for sure.. it can be light, moderate or heavy at any time of day ....it all depends on what is going on...

 

[gmeh1]

To put it in a nutshell what I-4 is going to be like.. it all depends on how many cars will be on the road that day and if there will be an accident, and how bad the accident is.. few cars and no accidents.. it will be a breeze.. few of cars, minor accident, you can deal with it..lots of cars & minor accident, you can somewhat deal with it...... lots of cars and major accident, they may very well shut it down and you can be stuck for an extremely long time..

as with any major road, you really cannot tell

Only thing for sure is that you will not be stuck in a toll both lane as we have said, there are no tolls on that road..but traffic, no one can say for sure.. it can be light, moderate or heavy at any time of day ....it all depends on what is going on...

Your "nutshell" is quite accurate. I drive that road everyday to work and it can be a horror show, most especially when going through the Orlando city area (apparently BIG buildings scare people). I truly dread those few miles I need to travel on it. People are NUTS!!

 

[dougsmom98]

We have travelled I-4 a lot since the home we rent is off exit 58 in Davenport and the park exits start around 62-64. We have never had any issues except for the Downtown Disney area on a Friday night, and my father in law decided to take a drive on I-4 to the International Drive area around 4 pm on a weekday and got stuck in traffic because of an accident.

 

[bluecastle]

BUSY.

From Universal I would Turkey Lake Rd which becomes Palm Pkwy which will run into 535. Turn left on to 535 and at the next light turn right and you will be headed straight for DTD. Also on Turkey Lake there is a Super Walmart open 24 hours. Google map Turkey Lake and you will see that it runs paralel with I4, It is just to the west of I4.

Thanks again Shelly (and everyone else) for the I4 info. I was looking at the map and was thinking that instead of turning left on 535 I would continue NW around the northern border of WDW and then turn left on Vista Blvd. and then right on World Dr. up to the WL. I know it looks like it's out of the way, but I have read that the traffic near DTD can be bad and if I can avoid that by looping around, I would rather do that. Am I crazy?

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It all depends on the traffic on I-4. If you see that it is backed up and not moving, then get off and take back roads, but if it's moving do not take those roads. They can be worse than I-4 sometimes. You get many people who do not know where they are going on those roads and decide last minute they want to turn, and will cut you off. You also have traffic back ups on those roads too sometimes. I can tell you Palm Parkway to SR 535 @ that light can be murder at times.

There really isn't a sure fire way to tell you to go. You have to play it by ear and see how it is that day. For those that are saying they have done this and that and never had a problem, they do not travel those roads often and just happened to have lucked out. I don't want to sound like a downer but it is the truth. If you ask any local or anyone who travels to Orlando frequently (I am usually there once a month), the more you travel on the roads the more likely you are to see the "real" roads. Personally I would rather go into thinking it is going to be "horrible" and be pleasantly surprised that it wasn't, then go in with Rose colored glasses and be upset because I hit massive traffic

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Forgot to answer your question... yes, the way you stated about NW, that would be the least amount of traffic... but it is a long way out of your way if you don't have to, don't. Sometimes that time going out of your way is just as long if not longer than just sitting and making that left on 535.

What you can do, is make the left on 535, go to Hotel Plaza Blvd, make your right. Take that to where DTD is, and make a right (East Buena Vista Dr). Take that until you get to Saratoga Springs and make a left (Disney Vacation Club Way). Take that till you get to Old Key West and Port Orleans (Bonnet Creek Pkwy). Make a right at that light and go to the end of the road... which is Vista Blvd. Make a left onto Vista and it will take you right to FW.

I am not sure what way you were going to go if you didn't go NW. Most people make a left on Buena Vista Drive and follow the signs to MK/FW area.. that is why I mentioned these directions.

again.. everything will depend on what traffic is like when you are doing this.. sometimes a little patience.. it can be worth waiting.. then other times you can be waiting forever.. and not worth the wait.. good luck and have fun!

 

[bluecastle]

Forgot to answer your question... yes, the way you stated about NW, that would be the least amount of traffic... but it is a long way out of your way if you don't have to, don't. Sometimes that time going out of your way is just as long if not longer than just sitting and making that left on 535.

What you can do, is make the left on 535, go to Hotel Plaza Blvd, make your right. Take that to where DTD is, and make a right (East Buena Vista Dr). Take that until you get to Saratoga Springs and make a left (Disney Vacation Club Way). Take that till you get to Old Key West and Port Orleans (Bonnet Creek Pkwy). Make a right at that light and go to the end of the road... which is Vista Blvd. Make a left onto Vista and it will take you right to FW.

I am not sure what way you were going to go if you didn't go NW. Most people make a left on Buena Vista Drive and follow the signs to MK/FW area.. that is why I mentioned these directions.

again.. everything will depend on what traffic is like when you are doing this.. sometimes a little patience.. it can be worth waiting.. then other times you can be waiting forever.. and not worth the wait.. good luck and have fun!

Thanks! My DH hates sitting in traffic, especially if there are back roads and alternate routes that we could have taken to avoid it. I will add your route to my notes-its got enough zigs and zags to make him happy! I know that there is a chance that I4 could be OK, but I am just afraid that once we commit we will be stuck. We also have to make a stop to get supplies, so I thought maybe the Walmart on Turkey Lake would be a good stop. I don't have a Walmart near me and I am assuming they are like a Super Target and have some basic food items? (milk, fruit, waters, etc.) If not, I guess we will have to go to Publix. Thanks for your help! It's always best to hear from someone who travels the route often.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Yes, that is a Super-Wal-Mart on Turkey Lake and it will have all you need there. Once you leave there, take Turkey Lake down to where it turns to Palm Parkway @ that stop sign (there is an Extended Stay on the left) you also can make a right there and go down to SR 535 & make your left from there and avoid that left turn by the Olive Garden where it backs up. You will end up with 2 more traffic lights that way but sometimes it is easier than trying to make that left @ Olive Garden

There is another short cut to avoid one light, instead of going down to the light after you make the right at the stop sign, you can make the first left and follow that winding road through Cypress Point Villas and end up out by the light where Walgreen's is.. (and the plaza where Giordano's is). It cuts out one light, but I don't want to confuse you too much If you went that way, you would also make a left at the light where the Plaza is..

I know.. I just totally confused you.. but those are other options ... if you had to use them

 

[bluecastle]

Yes, that is a Super-Wal-Mart on Turkey Lake and it will have all you need there. Once you leave there, take Turkey Lake down to where it turns to Palm Parkway @ that stop sign (there is an Extended Stay on the left) you also can make a right there and go down to SR 535 & make your left from there and avoid that left turn by the Olive Garden where it backs up. You will end up with 2 more traffic lights that way but sometimes it is easier than trying to make that left @ Olive Garden

There is another short cut to avoid one light, instead of going down to the light after you make the right at the stop sign, you can make the first left and follow that winding road through Cypress Point Villas and end up out by the light where Walgreen's is.. (and the plaza where Giordano's is). It cuts out one light, but I don't want to confuse you too much If you went that way, you would also make a left at the light where the Plaza is..

I know.. I just totally confused you.. but those are other options ... if you had to use them

It may sound confusing, but I think once I look at it on a map it will be very clear. Thanks a lot for the info!