Quick "Back Way" from SSR to MK

[dolphinea]

Hi everyone,

I've seen a couple posts mention the new Saratoga Springs Resort as being "really far" from the Magic Kingdom.

If my memory serves me, you can take a left out of the SSR front gate, go down E. Buena Vista Drive, take a left at Live Oak Lane, go a couple blocks and then take a left at Vista Blvd., then just go straight and you'll get to the MK area.

Not far and it bypasses all the red lights through Downtown Disney.

~Amanda

 

[married@wdw]

Isn't that the way that goes past Fort Wilderness? If so, that's how we get to MK from OKW now. Getting on the highway always seems to get us stuck in some kind of traffic, so I think the backroads are much easier.

 

[Dean]

Actiually I think it's easier to take Community Drive to Bonnet Creek then left at the Red Light and through the guard gate.

 

[PamOKW]

Either way, it isn't all that far.

Heck, some people still think OKW is located somewhere near Jacksonville. People will be saying SSR is in Georgia.

 

[married@wdw]

Originally posted by Dean
Actiually I think it's easier to take Community Drive to Bonnet Creek then left at the Red Light and through the guard gate.

Checked the map and this is the way we go -- even from OKW -- to get to MK area. Very quick. Under 10 minutes. I have to say, unless you're travelling past DD after 6 p.m., I think you'll be able to get back and forth to all the parks within 10 minutes from SSR. From OKW, we've found we can be from room to front gate (well, International Gateway at Epcot) in under 20 minutes.

The exception is MK, where the parking situation can be "tricky." We usually have breakfast at Concourse Steakhouse or Chef Mickey's (don't like to lie to the guard and love the food at both anyway) parking as close to the MK end of the Contemporary lot as possible and take the monorail over after breakfast. While it takes more time to get to MK, it takes under 10 minutes to get from the front gate back to OKW.

And really, the last time we stayed at WL without a car the transportation was a disaster. The boats to MK took forever, we shared a bus with Fort Wilderness for one trip (can't remember where we were going though) and we had to ask for a bus back from eRide night because there weren't any running to WL. Can't be too much worse than that.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Heck, some people still think OKW is located somewhere near Jacksonville. People will be saying SSR is in Georgia.

Isn't that the truth. As long as they keep thinking that way, then there are more opportunities for us to book rooms at OKW. Suits me just fine.

 

[joepoe]

I really think this concern about distances is illusory. WDW is 50,000 acres, but it's not the size of Botswana! Things are actually quite close to each other and the differences in travel times by bus or car is measured in five minutes here or ten minutes there. The Imagineers did a fantastic job of placing attractions, landscaping and grading to make every resort and park seem like its own little world.

 

[dcfromva]

We accidentally discovered the back way a couple of visits ago--we were lost for a while until we saw Ft. Wilderness. (We were following the golf course signage figuring that would take us back to some familiar landmark)..

Anyway, on our most recent visit to WDW, we did an experiment (abiding by all the traffic laws, of course ) with my sister's family to see which way was quicker. Both of our cars were parked next to each other at MGM. We took the back way and my sister took the normal way. Our destination was the Contemporary. My sister arrived there 5 minutes ahead of us... and we didn't really have any traffic to deal with... so, I'm not so sure the back way is as quick as I thought I was going to be. (But it is still cool to go on the back roads.)

-DC

 

[nezy]

married@wdw-
What "map" are you referencing?

DH and I have noticed that any Disney issued map is so incomplete. Roads and backroads do not exist on some of the Disney maps!!
We found the best local street map at one of those walk in medical emergency rooms. Now where did I put that...?

 

[MarkRG]

Yes, but can you remember back to a time when the only thing on that road was the guard shack? Used to take it to the Village from Mk resorts all the time

 

[BCV23]

Originally posted by MarkRG
Yes, but can you remember back to a time when the only thing on that road was the guard shack? Used to take it to the Village from Mk resorts all the time

We used to do the same Mark. It was really dark back there years ago and we were usually the only ones on the road. I still prefer the back way from DTD. From MGM though it would be out of the way I think.

 

[dianeschlicht]

My question is, "why would you drive to MK when you can take the bus"? If you drive (from either OKW or SSR), you will be dumped into a very large parking lot, where you will take a tram to the TTC and then either a monorail or boat to the MK. If you take the bus from either resort, you will be delivered right to the front entrance of the MK. We have always considered driving to take longer than the bus for those reasons. After a day at the resort, you pretty much know the current bus schedule. We rarely wait more than 5-10 minutes for a bus. The trip to MK only takes about 10-15 minutes, depending on which bus stop you are at. That means about 15-25 to the front gate of MK. If we drive, it takes the same 10-15 minutes to get there, we have to take a tram to the ttc, plus we have to wait for a monorail or boat (walk the ramps etc) before we get to the front gate of the MK. I find it hard to believe that would take any less than 25 minutes!

 

[dolphinea]

Where is the map I looked at? Mapquest.com

Why do I want to drive to the MK? I have a small child and when he gets cranky, I just leave the park and drive around a little bit and *bingo* instant naptime.

~Amanda