Main Gate vs the back way

[SCtigercock]

Can you come in the back way to the Fort so you make a right into the campground and avoid the main gate all together?

This will be the first time to the Fort as a RV owning adult. And I vividly remember my parents "conversations" while maneuvering from the right lane at the main toll booth and fighting buses to make the right turn headed to Fort Wilderness.

Suggestions?

 

[MomofSixinSC]

I don't know (my first trip to FW will be in Nov.) but as a fellow SCer, I was curious about your user name. Do you have a mixed marriage? Clemson and Univ. of SC?

 

[AuburnJen92]

I am assuming you are coming from north of Orlando, so you would want to take the Western Way in, if you are going the "back way". Then you can map your way around and come in from the new kennels and Port Orleans.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_State_Road_429

 

[SCtigercock]

Yup, Darling hubby pulls for South Carolina and I pull for Clemson.

 

[SCtigercock]

google maps is giving the following directions: I remember at point they didn't want you taking a left out of the Fort to head to Disney Village/Lake Buena Vista
12. Take exit 67 toward Epcot/Downtown Disney go 1.1 mi
13. Merge onto Epcot Center Dr go 0.9 mi
14. Take the ramp to Downtown Disney Resort Area go 0.3 mi
15. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Port Orleans/Eagle Pines/Ospray Ridge and merge onto Disney Vacation Club Way go 141 ft
16. Turn left at Bonnet Creek Pkwy go 1.0 mi
17. Turn left at Vista Blvd go 0.9 mi
18. Take the 2nd right onto Fort Wilderness Trail

 

[becky1960]

The Western Way route is much faster even though you come thru the main gate. You can still use the back way to Vista Blvd and the turn is not that bad, we used to use it before the New Western Way..

 

[Born 2 Fish]

I don't know (my first trip to FW will be in Nov.) but as a fellow SCer, I was curious about your user name. Do you have a mixed marriage? Clemson and Univ. of SC?

we have a mix'd marriage too,,
I want things done my way,
and she wants things done her way.

 

[SCtigercock]

Frank, that too!

 

[AuburnJen92]

google maps is giving the following directions: I remember at point they didn't want you taking a left out of the Fort to head to Disney Village/Lake Buena Vista
12. Take exit 67 toward Epcot/Downtown Disney go 1.1 mi
13. Merge onto Epcot Center Dr go 0.9 mi
14. Take the ramp to Downtown Disney Resort Area go 0.3 mi
15. Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Port Orleans/Eagle Pines/Ospray Ridge and merge onto Disney Vacation Club Way go 141 ft
16. Turn left at Bonnet Creek Pkwy go 1.0 mi
17. Turn left at Vista Blvd go 0.9 mi
18. Take the 2nd right onto Fort Wilderness Trail

yep, that's it

 

[SCtigercock]

Thanks everyone!

I will leave it up to the hubby to decide. I think he will be driving at that time.

Me, I will bouncing off the walls if he hasn't sedated me by then.

 

[AuburnJen92]

get an aircard for the computer....it will keep you sedated!

 

[SCtigercock]

Got the I phone to keep me occupied.

The problem is the closer I get to WDW, the more I resemble a kid let loose in a candy store on Christmas Eve. Bouncing off the walls, howling Disney theme songs, etc.

Hubby will probably slip something in my coffee. He knows better than not allowing me to have my coffee.

I have already told him that if I can't sleep the night before we leave, he might as well plan to sleep in the RV while I drive. What's the worse, we get down there and have to wait on a site? Oh well, at least I will be in WDW waiting on a site.

My folks, brother and I did that one time, arrived at 0400 and slept in the minivan outside the Reception Outpost while waiting for a site (was ina pop up for that trip). Yeap, security came around and checked on us. At least they didn't bring the white jackets with straps......... Or at least they didn't use them.

 

[Tigger in Naples]

That's a way that can be taken but, you are going to miss out on the excitment of coming into the main gate. We go to the Ft. 4 or 5 times a year and we still get excited seeing that main gate.
Who remembers when you could tune into the FM station on the way to the main gate and hear park info?

 

[SandrA9810]

CM's can be a big pain when going through the toll plaza. But just make sure you stay in your lane (resort lane).

There's a letter for each toll booth (W-E-L-C-O-M-E). During exceptionally busy times, E will be open, the right side is for Disney busses only (all the time). The right side of M is "cast only". Since every one just flashes their ID and gets waved right on through, it's a little tough in the morning to get through. Left side of M and right side of O are both considered "resort only". This is for any one going into the resort area and not the main parking. In a big rig, stay on the left side of M. Usually by 10-11am it quiets down and is much easier to get through with merging. And check in is at 3pm.

Although it sounds like a pain to merge to the right. Don't be afraid of cutting off a CM (you're probably in something much larger than them), just becareful of the busses. They do have to come to a complete stop at the toll plaza so that would give you the opprotunity to get in.
If you come in from the north end of the Magic Kingdom on reams rd (so you can make a left into the campgrounds), you have to stop at a stop sign and wait for the traffic to clear coming from the toll plaza. So it's even more of a pain to get across sometimes. But some bus drivers are usually nice and will slow down some to allow a big rig or another bus go through the stop sign.
If you come from the North end of the property, you can also make a right onto Vista Way, which then you have to make a right into the Fort. Which for some big rigs can be a pain.

If you do wind up arriving very early, you're best bet it to park in the overflow lot. Which is the parking lot on the left. It'll say "pioneer hall" and "kennel" on the sign. This is a regular turn in, so you can come in from either direction. This is were you'll park your rig till your site is ready, and just across the way is the bus shelter for the theme park busses.

The red line is coming in Vista from 535, the purple line is coming in from reams road, the yellow line is coming in western way but up through World Drive main entrance.

 

[Magicbus]

CM's can be a big pain.
Thank you. I guess it's better than being a little pain.

the right side is for Disney busses only.
Not to be picky but, it's for all buses.

The right side of M is "cast only".
I didn't know that. I use the lane with the shortest line. I guess I've been breaking the rules all this time. No one has ever said anything.

Since every one just flashes their ID and gets waved right on through, it's a little tough in the morning to get through. Left side of M and right side of O are both considered "resort only". This is for any one going into the resort area and not the main parking. In a big rig, stay on the left side of M.
I never flash. Me flashing wouldn't be a pretty site and something else I didn't know.

Although it sounds like a pain to merge to the right. Don't be afraid of cutting off a CM (you're probably in something much larger than them)
They won't be bigger than the big white bus I'm driving.

But some bus drivers are usually nice and will slow down some to allow a big rig or another bus go through the stop sign.
I hope I'm one of nice ones.

I guess I'll have to find out what the rules are regarding the toll plaza so that I won't be breaking the Disney rules.

 

[SandrA9810]

I was one of those big pains going through the toll plaza too. But I've seen many hot rods fly through the plaza and cut off any one in their way, buses or other CMs trying to get to work. There was one idiot at DAK, drove a red pick up. Always flying down Osceola PKWY (which is 45, NOT 50mph). CM too, I got cut off by him more than once trying to get to work.

I know in recent times they took down the "cast only lane" sign that used to be at the end of the traffic cones that block the E booth.
However if you look at the ground through the O-M lanes you'll see written "resort guest" and the other lanes "MK parking"

I'll admit, it was annoying to get stuck behind an RV that needed direction. But I was also one of the first to allow an RV/camper to merge in front of me, just cause I know they're going to be making a right turn immediately.

 

[Magicbus]

Can you come in the back way to the Fort so you make a right into the campground and avoid the main gate all together?

This will be the first time to the Fort as a RV owning adult. And I vividly remember my parents "conversations" while maneuvering from the right lane at the main toll booth and fighting buses to make the right turn headed to Fort Wilderness.

Suggestions?

It's unacceptable. This is your first time as an RV owning adult and you have to go thru the MK toll plaza. It's not that bad, go for it. I think it will add to your WDW experience. Come on, it's the Magic Kingdom, think of the memory. Even if it's not the shortest way for you to go, do it. On the off chance that I happen to be going thru there at the same time you are, I let you in. I'll even wave to you. I have a soft spot for fellow RVers and always let them cut in front of me. I'm one of you. And who knows, you may be in the site next to me.
And even though it's the round about way for me, I go thru the plaza when I stay there. I expect to see pictures on here of you approaching the plaza.

 

[dtum]

We have always gone through the main gate and never had a problem. It was always exciting for the kids when they saw the main gate and new they were there. Getting over in the right lane was never a problem either. Go for it!

 

[ftwildernessguy]

While I usually prefer to make an entrance thru the back way in most situations, I go thru the main gate when going to FW. Maneuvering into the right lane is not such a challenge, since my truck and trailer are much bigger than most soccer mom vans and I just haul butt over there. I don't like the hard right into FW while pulling a trailer when taking the back door approach.

 

[mikeymouse1]

I come in off 535 and its just as exciting because we start looking for the castle and the Contemporary so its almost a game to the kids