Navigation systems and the road signs in WDW

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

For those who have cars with navigation systems no matter if they were built in or you purchased one later on, when entering an address for a WDW Resort has it ever said to go a different way then what the road signs at WDW says? When we drove to WDW this past August we were in a Lexus GX 460 which has a built in navigation system and when entering WDW from exit 67 off Interstate 4 or going down that same road from the Walmart along 535 we had put in the address in for the Boardwalk. Now I assumed it would say for us to turn at the sign which says Epcot Resort area, however it told us to get off the exit for Downtown Disney and then to make a left turn. Well as it turns out that way was faster for getting back there then following the WDW signs which we would have done if we didn't have the navigation system.

 

[vicki_c]

Disney's signage is not always the most direct or quickest way to get somewhere. I think it's designed to be tourist friendly. That said, not all GPS systems work that well in the World, either.

 

[joelkfla]

Yes, it seems like Disney points guests to the simplest route (i.e., fewest turns), which is not always the shortest or fastest.

I think they also try to balance traffic with roadway capacity. For example, traffic coming down I-4 to the MK is directed down to 192 and World Dr., when Epcot Center Drive is usually faster and a bit shorter.

But GPS's also sometimes point you to backstage roads, which may or may not be blocked by gates.

 

[BigTigger]

And to make things even stranger, your GPS didn't give you the best route either. The second exit loops around and merges you into the flow towards DHS and Boardwalk without requiring a left turn at the light like your GPS offered in having you take the first exit.

Even quicker from some points to get to DHS and Boardwalk is Osceola Parkway, but none of my Garmin or built-in units have ever offered that as a choice from anywhere.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

But GPS's also sometimes point you to backstage roads, which may or may not be blocked by gates.

Very, very true! Hertz's NeverLost is great at getting you from Point A to Point B, but there's no guarantee you won't be heading down a "cast member only" road (especially true around Grand Floridian/Polynesian and AKV).

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I think they also try to balance traffic with roadway capacity. For example, traffic coming down I-4 to the MK is directed down to 192 and World Dr., when Epcot Center Drive is usually faster and a bit shorter.

That's the same way we would always go back to the Contemporary if we were going along I-4 because we found it is faster.

 

[uva185]

Very, very true! Hertz's NeverLost is great at getting you from Point A to Point B, but there's no guarantee you won't be heading down a "cast member only" road (especially true around Grand Floridian/Polynesian and AKV).

Hertz NeverLost routed me through a secure naval base in San Diego when I was trying to find a light house.

Just yesterday my Garmin GPS tried to route me through a cemetery in Portland!!

 

[vicki_c]

Hertz NeverLost routed me through a secure naval base in San Diego when I was trying to find a light house.

Just yesterday my Garmin GPS tried to route me through a cemetery in Portland!!

Mine tries to send me into the employee-only entrance of Ft. Meade (the NSA!!) on BW Parkway (295) on my way to one of my company's offices nearby - uh, that's a no-go.