Navigating around WDW

[rnin02]

How clear are the signs? We are staying offsite and renting a car this time and I have become obsessed today with printing directions from our hotel to every park, etc. However, google is not cooperative and is taking me a very strange routes and I am getting annoyed, lol. Can we just rely on the signs once we get to a certain point? Its been 9 years maybe since we drove ourselves around the parks so I can't remember at all.

 

[PSUGuy]

I like to think I've got a good sense of direction and ability to navigate, but even after 15 trips to WDW, averaging 7 - 8 days each, I still feel the need to use a GPS to get around. Others here praise the signage so perhaps my internal mapping is failing me with age, but I have all the important WDW destinations, including Publix for a grocery stop, entered in wifey's Tom Tom which we bring with us.

BillFromPA

 

[sam_gordon]

How clear are the signs? We are staying offsite and renting a car this time and I have become obsessed today with printing directions from our hotel to every park, etc. However, google is not cooperative and is taking me a very strange routes and I am getting annoyed, lol. Can we just rely on the signs once we get to a certain point? Its been 9 years maybe since we drove ourselves around the parks so I can't remember at all.

I've always thought the signs are very good. However, you might need to know how things are grouped. For example (extremely basic), you'd need to know GF, Poly, CR, & WL are "MK Area Resorts".

I suggest utilizing Google's street level mapping. I think there's even a way you can "drive" the route on Google. If you do that you can see what the signs say.

 

[rwdavis2]

It's best to have a navigator to help read signs. Also, if you're yakking away (been there, done that) you can miss signs as well. Try and find one of the resort maps that shows all the roads. That will give you an idea of where things are relative to one another.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I find the signage on property more than adequate. You do need to know which area you are headed to as sam_gordon mentions but it's pretty easy for me to get where I need to go with no problems.

 

[figment_jii]

I agree that the signage around WDW is pretty good.

The one caveat I would add is that either commit to your GPS or follow the road signs, but don't try to mix the two. Disney's routes are the easiest, but may not be the absolute fastest. They may also conflict with the GPS. If you do use a GPS, just be aware that folks have reported that the routing wants to use roads that have restricted access.

I've used the Google Street View to also help me get a sense of the roads/routes when going somewhere new.

Finally, you can also ask for a map of the property when you get to your hotel. That one will show the major roads (which is what the signage will suggest you stick to) and it helpful to study before heading out.

 

[rnin02]

Figment, that is exactly the pproblem I keep having with Google. and when I try to modify the route it just gets all weird and tries taking me even crazier ways. especially with animal kingdom...Google really doesn't like animal kingdom.

 

[figment_jii]

Figment, that is exactly the pproblem I keep having with Google. and when I try to modify the route it just gets all weird and tries taking me even crazier ways. especially with animal kingdom...Google really doesn't like animal kingdom.

Yikes!

Where are you coming from? Lots of folks on the Dis have driven around WDW and we can probably help you figure out the best/easiest route.

However, I would really try to just go with the road signs because you don't want to end up at gate (restricted access road) or trying to make it across a busy road without a light (there are a few).

 

[rnin02]

Yikes!

Where are you coming from? Lots of folks on the Dis have driven around WDW and we can probably help you figure out the best/easiest route.

However, I would really try to just go with the road signs because you don't want to end up at gate (restricted access road) or trying to make it across a busy road without a light (there are a few).

We are flying down and renting a car at MCO, so I am just trying to plot out the various routes from our hotel (Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa) to the parks, DTD, etc. Most of them I was able to tweak a bit at the end when it tried steering me through the restricted access roads, but not Animal Kingdom...whatever I tried to do it just kept sending me the wrong way. I have talked to DH now and he thinks he will be fine as long as I can get him to the general area...I hope he's right. But I guess there are worse places to get lost

 

[Melissabo]

We just returned dh drove and I used the signs to direct him. It was really easy getting around. I was also nervous but it was a breeze.

 

[figment_jii]

We are flying down and renting a car at MCO, so I am just trying to plot out the various routes from our hotel (Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa) to the parks, DTD, etc. Most of them I was able to tweak a bit at the end when it tried steering me through the restricted access roads, but not Animal Kingdom...whatever I tried to do it just kept sending me the wrong way. I have talked to DH now and he thinks he will be fine as long as I can get him to the general area...I hope he's right. But I guess there are worse places to get lost

I would guess you'll either be entering WDW via World Center Drive or Osceola Parkway. I think it would be easiest to take Osceola and follow the signs into WDW. Stay on that road all the way to AK. No extra turns! Osceola either goes to AKL (left lane) or AK (right lanes), so you really can't get lost that easily!

I don't know if you've seen them, but the road signs in WDW look like this:

Very big and pretty easy to read!

 

[kaytieeldr]

The signage worked well for (sometimes) decades prior to GPS. it should still .

 

[rnin02]

The signage worked well for (sometimes) decades prior to GPS. it should still .

good point, lol! but then we had AAA trip tiks (or whatever they were called)

 

[sam_gordon]

Let's see if this works...

http://goo.gl/maps/5jWXu

 

[rnin02]

Let's see if this works...

http://goo.gl/maps/5jWXu

Thanks, that's awesome!

 

[conniehar90]

I don't think you need maps to the parks. I think the signage is pretty good. If you are looking for some of the resorts, it can get kind of tricky as you really have to know what park they are near. The only time we have gotten really lost is trying to find Blizzard Beach - for some reason, the signage was not good and we had never been before so didn't know where it was. But, the main parks - don't obsess - plenty of signs and even if you miss one, there is usually another way to get there.