Question for driving experts or locals.

[WishUponAStar]

The "Orlando Official Visitors Guide for International Drive Area" is a little book with attractions in it- can be found all over the area. Centerfold has a map that shows the Orlando, Kissimmee, WDW area. When I go to WDW I come down I75 the to the Turnpike then West on I4. Not too much problem except that I4 always seems to have a traffic jam and so many cars that it makes me quite nervous. Pulled a travel trailer on it last Summer- scary. The map shows a road- 439 going South into the town of Windermere. Later 439 turns into Chase Rd. then into 535 which leads the back way into Disney Institute, Buena Vista Dr., WDW property, etc. This looks to be 10-15 miles shorter, than the traditional way of Turnpike, I4, plus much less traffic.
My questions-1 Is there an exit off of the turnpike at Hwy 439, Windermere, Ocoee?
2 Is this a good alternative?

 

[Caskbill]

I don't think you can go that way as I'm pretty sure there's no connection between the turnpike and 439.

You can get into Disney through the back door though. From the Turnpike, exit and take hwy 50 east toward Winter Garden. You'll go about 2 miles and then hit the junction with 535. Turn right (South) and follow it right to Disney.

Once you're on 535, it will be 13 miles to Disney. A word of caution. This is not a main entrance and there aren't any signs, so you could drive right past it if you're not careful.

Use your odometer carefully. Right at about the 13 miles, the road is going due South and then will make a 90 degree turn to the left (East). At that point if you go straight ahead it will put you on Dopey drive going right into Disney. Go to Vista Blvd, turn right (left will take you back to 535). Once on Vista you can go straight to go toward the Ft. Wilderness entrance and the security booth, and eventually straight to the MK resort area.

If you're going elsewhere, you can turn left off of Vista at Bonnet Creek and go up past the Port Orleans resorts, Old Key West, and eventually connect with Buena Vista Drive.

An alternative to this final segment is to not follow Dopey Drive, but make the left turn on 535 and go another 1/3 mile east and then turn right onto N. Buena Vista Drive. You can follow this all the way past Shades of Green, the Institute, and to Downtown Disney.

I presume that once you're on Disney property, you'll recognize your way around.

I know this route because we just drove it last May for the heck of it. We didn't drive it going in, but rather going out as I just wanted to see what it would be like for future trips. It's mostly 2-lane road, but misses most built up areas. You'll be able to drive about 50mph or so.

FWIW, there's another way to get to Disney that avoids I-4. We've done this dozens of times.
From the Turnpike, take Hwy 27 south, toward Clermont. Continue south to junction with 192, and from there go East to the Disney exits. Hwy 192 construction is now all completed and it's all 4-lane roads. The traffic is not bad at all anymore.

The back road will get you there, but if you have any concern that you'll get lost, then the hwy 27/hwy 192 route is a better one. Just be careful on hwy 27 as there are some traffic lights that can come up on you pretty quick.

Hope all this helps. Have a great trip. We're going down again ourselves for January.

 

[WishUponAStar]

Thanks for the info. Pretty detailed for someone who is not a "local". Will probably take the Hwy 27 route. That should take us past Wal Mart- poor memory. Thanks again.

 

[lisapooh]

Or take the turnpike and get off at Oseola Parkway and take that directly into WDW. I do it going north. Maybe someone knows if you cn do it going south.

 

[Caskbill]

WishUponAStar: You will not go past any Wal-mart stores by following 27 to 192 to Disney. You're probably thinking of the Wal-mart that is on 192 EAST of Disney. You would actually have to go about 8-miles PAST Disney to get to Wal-mart.

If you're just looking for groceries, there will be a couple of Publix Supermarkets on 192. The first will be immediately after getting on 192 from 27, maybe 1/2 mile on the left (North). The next one is probably 3 or 4 miles further down 192 and it again will be on the left. This one is a little easier to get in and out as there's a traffic light there.

From hwy 27, once you're on 192, it's 7-miles to the Disney entrance.

Lisa The Osceola parkway actually begins (or ends) in DisneyWorld. Coming from the Southeast Coast it makes sense for you, but for WishUponAStar, he'll be exiting the Turnpike North West of Disney, then going South and East. He'll already be at Disney before he gets to basically the Western end of the parkway.