MCO TO Old Key West NO Tolls

[Twende]

I am looking for driving directions from the airport (MCO) into the resort area, specifically OKW. I would prefer this to be with NO TOLLS since we will be in a rental car and I do not want problems.

We were just in Disney a few weeks ago and used the unmanned put your coins in tolls booths and found they did not do a good job of recording the coins we inserted.

We do not need tickets or fees put out by the rental company.

Years ago someone on here posted no toll driving directions from the airport. We used them one time and they were great. It was just a few turns difference and thus no tolls. Now I can not find my printed directions nor that old post.

Can any body help either with directions or the old post?

 

[rmattman]

Exit airport following signs to road 528 (Toll Rd). Cross over 528 and turn Left on Frontage Rd. Frontage Rd becomes McCoy. Turn Left on S. Conway/Tradeport Rd. Take 1st Right onto McCoy. McCoy becomes W. Sand Lake Rd. Continue on Sand Lake until you reach I-4 West. I-4 West to exit 67 towards Epcot/Downtown Disney. Follow signs for OKW from there.

A few extra turns and innumerable stop lights but peace of mind (regarding tolls and rentals cars) is priceless.

 

[puffkin]

Honestly, the easiest route to Disney is taking the South exit out of the airport and taking 417 to Exit 6. It is a straight shot with no traffic. There are two tolls for $1.25 each. There are manned toll booths so you can pay and get a receipt. You should have NO issues with tolls.

There are no toll routes, but you have the potential for many more wrong turns and lots of traffic. For $5 round trip in tolls, 417 is MUCH MUCH easier

 

[Twende]

Exit airport following signs to road 528 (Toll Rd). Cross over 528 and turn Left on Frontage Rd. Frontage Rd becomes McCoy. Turn Left on S. Conway/Tradeport Rd. Take 1st Right onto McCoy. McCoy becomes W. Sand Lake Rd. Continue on Sand Lake until you reach I-4 West. I-4 West to exit 67 towards Epcot/Downtown Disney. Follow signs for OKW from there.

A few extra turns and innumerable stop lights but peace of mind (regarding tolls and rentals cars) is priceless.

Thanks. That was the route I remembered taking a few years back. It was easy to follow and seemed to parallel the toll route quite a bit of the way.

DH does not want to risk it in a rental car. Like I said we had our own vehicle there a few weeks ago and had trouble at the tolls. We do not need fees attached to the rental car!

 

[Brian Noble]

I would prefer this to be with NO TOLLS since we will be in a rental car and I do not want problems.

The "regular" route to OKW only has two tollbooths, both are manned. There will be no problems.

 

[docsnort]

DH does not want to risk it in a rental car. Like I said we had our own vehicle there a few weeks ago and had trouble at the tolls. We do not need fees attached to the rental car!

Could you let us know what problems you had? Will be renting in Oct and want to avoid any problems on the tollway. Thanks!

 

[Twende]

Could you let us know what problems you had? Will be renting in Oct and want to avoid any problems on the tollway. Thanks!

Here are two threads that discuss recent problems with the tolls.

When we were there a few weeks ago, DH kept putting the correct amount of change into the machine and the lights would not change to green. It was frustrating since we knew he had put the correct amount of money in. We paid it again and still the light would not change.

We do not want this to happen in a rental car. It is just a hassle that we do not need. We took the route that avoided the toll booths and it was quite easy to do. You just had to know where to turn and I had lost the directions. Thanks to a poster here , we can now avoid the hassle again!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2783901

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2782756

 

[gmeh1]

Here are two threads that discuss recent problems with the tolls.

When we were there a few weeks ago, DH kept putting the correct amount of change into the machine and the lights would not change to green. It was frustrating since we knew he had put the correct amount of money in. We paid it again and still the light would not change.

We do not want this to happen in a rental car. It is just a hassle that we do not need. We took the route that avoided the toll booths and it was quite easy to do. You just had to know where to turn and I had lost the directions. Thanks to a poster here , we can not avoid the hassle again!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2783901

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2782756

If you use 417, the toll booths there have toll takers in them, it would be impossible to run into trouble.
The lanes that use cameras for auto tolls are on the left of the manned toll booths. This is really quite simple, thousands of people use this road daily and don't have a problem.

 

[OKW Lover]

Despite the stories of problems with tolls and rental cars, we have not had any problems in probably 40 rentals over the entire time the 417 route has been around.

 

[Polydweller]

Over twenty years driving to Disney and paying tolls on the 528 and then the 417 and not a single problem. The threads you are reading are the exception not the norm. People should never let very rare exceptions influence their plans. That's placing far too much importance on single events.

If thousands per day (and it is that many) can use the 417 daily with no problems then that's the norm and you can be sure you also will have no problem.

Don't let irrational fear win.

 

[seashoreCM]

1. There is a difference between fearing something that can never happen and fearing something that has some no matter how slight chance of happening.

2. The OP asked a question, got a direct answer, and that is what counts.

3. My suggestion is to, when traveling out of state, whenever possible, get a receipt, which means using a non-exact change lane.

4. At many toll collection areas (not only in FLorida) paying tolls using cash must be done by going down what looks like an exit ramp.

 

[leebee]

We arrive at MCO at 11:30pm and will be driving to POP, following the "regular" routes. Will the tollbooths be manned at this late hour, or should I have plenty of quarters ready? (I think I'll have quarters anyhow, just in case).

Are the cash-only manned booths clearly marked? Someone mentioned that it looks like you are taking an exit to get to these booths, but if they are clearly marked, I won't worry so much.

 

[gmeh1]

We arrive at MCO at 11:30pm and will be driving to POP, following the "regular" routes. Will the tollbooths be manned at this late hour, or should I have plenty of quarters ready? (I think I'll have quarters anyhow, just in case).

Are the cash-only manned booths clearly marked? Someone mentioned that it looks like you are taking an exit to get to these booths, but if they are clearly marked, I won't worry so much.

On 417 they are manned 24 hours a day. It looks like an exit, but, it is clearly marked for cash tolls. It does sound confusing, but, it is crystal clear when you are driving that route. Just keep to the right when you see the signs for an upcoming toll.

 

[gmeh1]

Over twenty years driving to Disney and paying tolls on the 528 and then the 417 and not a single problem. The threads you are reading are the exception not the norm. People should never let very rare exceptions influence their plans. That's placing far too much importance on single events.

If thousands per day (and it is that many) can use the 417 daily with no problems then that's the norm and you can be sure you also will have no problem.

Don't let irrational fear win.

Well said. I use tolls 2x's a day and have yet to have a problem.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Beware that traffic can be heavy on I-4. Especially getting off of I-4 on to 535 can be a nightmare if you need to cross 3 lanes of heavy traffic to turn left onto Hotel Plaza Blvd.

 

[Twende]

We too have been going to Disney since it opened and have never had trouble with the toll booths until this last trip. It was frustrating and I just wanted to avoid the potential hassle again.

As I said years ago we followed a DisBoarders directions and they worked very well but I had misplaced those directions. A kind poster here answered my question and now all is well. Thanks!

 

[NancyIL]

The only unmanned toll booth I've encountered between the airport and WDW was on 417 - Exit 3 at Osceola Parkway. That toll booth is unmanned, and I had NO change the first time I got off there. I normally get off at Exit 6, which is closest to Downtown Disney and the Epcot resorts.

 

[gmeh1]

We too have been going to Disney since it opened and have never had trouble with the toll booths until this last trip. It was frustrating and I just wanted to avoid the potential hassle again.

As I said years ago we followed a DisBoarders directions and they worked very well but I had misplaced those directions. A kind poster here answered my question and now all is well. Thanks!

Not sure when you last used those directions, but, there are an incredible amount of very long lights. But, it is obvious that you need to do what is comfortable for you. But, as was pointed out a few times here, all the tolls you would encounter are manned toll booths and pretty much fool proof. I also pointed out that I go through unmanned ones 2x's a day and have yet to have a problem.
Have a great trip.

 

[seashoreCM]

I go through unmanned ones 2x's a day and have yet to have a problem.

It makes a difference whether you live locally or have an electronic transponder (and can therefore easily put up a dispute to any error) versus are visiting from far away.

 

[Brian Noble]

But, remember---the OP's route from MCO to OKW (and back) *only* involves manned booths, where such things aren't an issue.