Shortcuts to the Fort?!?

[ahc]

Hi Guys,
Just some last minute details before heading to the FORT! We are so excited and appreciate all the useful info provided on the DIS-Anyway, we are leaving out of Knoxville, Tennessee and traveling down 75 South. Now, I know we will take the bypass through Atl, but past that I am not sure. Are there any shortcuts, bypasses, or toll roads that we should be aware of? We are open for suggestions on how best and most quickly get to the Fort after arriving in the general Disney area-Thanks for the help

Amy

 

[MandMLUVMMandDVC]

be sure to take the Macon bypass.

 

[retired and happy]

Whether you take a bypass around Atlanta or not depends greatly on the day and time you hit here. If you do take I-285, go around the west side of town. It's shorter than the east side. If you come at a low traffic time, I-75/85 through town may be ok.

Either way, the Macon bypass is I-475.

I assume you will come down I-75 to the Florida Turnpike. From the Turnpike take exit 267A onto hiway 429 south. Continue on 429 to exit 8 (Western Way) until it dead ends at W Buena Vista Dr. Turn left and follow WBV to World Drive and turn left. Continue past the EPCOT exit. At the gate get in the right lane (not the most right...reserved for busses), tell the CM you are going to Ft Wilderness, and they will direct you toward the purple line on the road which will take you a short block to a right turn onto Vista Blvd which leads to the Fort entrance on the left. You have avoided all the Orlando and I-4 traffic.

Oh, the Turnpike is a toll road, with a couple of toll stations. I don't recall how many you will see on 429.

 

[clkelley]

Whether you take a bypass around Atlanta or not depends greatly on the day and time you hit here. If you do take I-285, go around the west side of town. It's shorter than the east side. If you come at a low traffic time, I-75/85 through town may be ok.

Either way, the Macon bypass is I-475.

I assume you will come down I-75 to the Florida Turnpike. From the Turnpike take exit 267A onto hiway 429 south. Continue on 429 to exit 8 (Western Way) until it dead ends at W Buena Vista Dr. Turn left and follow WBV to World Drive and turn left. Continue past the EPCOT exit. At the gate get in the right lane (not the most right...reserved for busses), tell the CM you are going to Ft Wilderness, and they will direct you toward the purple line on the road which will take you a short block to a right turn onto Vista Blvd which leads to the Fort entrance on the left. You have avoided all the Orlando and I-4 traffic.

Oh, the Turnpike is a toll road, with a couple of toll stations. I don't recall how many you will see on 429.

I would just go straight through Atlanta, you lose all the semis. 285 always seems slower to me.

As far as tolls, the main turnpike is 1 toll at $2.50 for 2 axles, and an extra $2.50 per additional axle.

429 has one toll at $1.25 for 2 axles, then an extra. .50 per additional axle.

As the previous poster stated make sure you are as far right over as possible going through the MK toll booth as you have to make an almost IMMEDIATE right hand turn to head down the road to the Fort.

 

[Shan-man]

Totally agree with Carol that going through Atlanta is often faster... and more scenic. Also agree that you don't want to make the mistake of going through Macon, the bypass is actually shorter. As for your approach to the Fort itself, I recommend a slightly different route. It is a bit further, but it is much easier IMO as you don't have to deal with the MK toll plaza:

• I-75 S
  
• Get off at exit 328 (approximately 140 miles from Georgia/Florida State Line, approximately 107 miles from I-10)
  
• Travel on Florida Turnpike to Exit 267A (429S) (approximately 42 miles)
  
• Travel on 429S to Exit 8 (Disney World/Hartzog Rd) (approximately 14 miles)
  
• This road will take you to West Buena Vista Dr near Coronado Springs.
  
• Turn left from West Buena Vista to World Drive, travel 2.6 mi. Ignore the signs!
  
• Just past Downtown Disney you will cross over an overpass. Take the next left, Bonnet Creek Pkwy.
  
• In 1.5 mi. Bonnet Creek will dead end into Vista Blvd. Take a left.
  
• Fort Wilderness will be on the right in a 9/10 mile. Welcome to the Fort sans toll-plaza drama!

 

[DisneyRose&Boys]

Totally agree with Carol that going through Atlanta is often faster... and more scenic. Also agree that you don't want to make the mistake of going through Macon, the bypass is actually shorter. As for your approach to the Fort itself, I recommend a slightly different route. It is a bit further, but it is much easier IMO as you don't have to deal with the MK toll plaza:

• I-75 S
  
  Where in heaven's name does I-75 originate? I see on a FL road map that it pretty much parallels I-95, but I can't see where it comes from.
  
  Thanks!
  Rose

 

[mnsprk]

Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia (Atlanta), Florida

 

[clkelley]

Totally agree with Carol that going through Atlanta is often faster... and more scenic. Also agree that you don't want to make the mistake of going through Macon, the bypass is actually shorter. As for your approach to the Fort itself, I recommend a slightly different route. It is a bit further, but it is much easier IMO as you don't have to deal with the MK toll plaza:

• I-75 S
  
• Get off at exit 328 (approximately 140 miles from Georgia/Florida State Line, approximately 107 miles from I-10)
  
• Travel on Florida Turnpike to Exit 267A (429S) (approximately 42 miles)
  
• Travel on 429S to Exit 8 (Disney World/Hartzog Rd) (approximately 14 miles)
  
• This road will take you to West Buena Vista Dr near Coronado Springs.
  
• Turn left from West Buena Vista to World Drive, travel 2.6 mi. Ignore the signs!
  
• Just past Downtown Disney you will cross over an overpass. Take the next left, Bonnet Creek Pkwy.
  
• In 1.5 mi. Bonnet Creek will dead end into Vista Blvd. Take a left.
  
• Fort Wilderness will be on the right in a 9/10 mile. Welcome to the Fort sans toll-plaza drama!

While you don't have to deal with the toll plaza with that route, if you have a large rig, it is a HARD right into the Fort entrance and is a little bit difficult. The entrance was designed so that large campers would have an easy left hand turn to get in if they came through the MK toll booth.

If you do come in the back way, it is the 2nd Fort Wilderness entrance that takes you to checkin.

 

[bigdisneydaddy]

Where in heaven's name does I-75 originate? I see on a FL road map that it pretty much parallels I-95, but I can't see where it comes from.

Thanks!
Rose[/QUOTE]

It starts in Sault ste Marie at the US Canadian border

 

[campingdawgs]

If you are heading through Atlanta today or tomorrow, you would be better off on 285 (the bypass). There are an insane number of people coming to Atlanta this weekend for the Sweetwater 420 festival, the Dogwood festival, the Braves game, the Hawks game, and the dreaded Freaknik may even be back (let's hope not).

 

[we3peas]

I agree with Shanta on going in the back way from Bonnet Creek. We have a 35 ft MH with toad attached and it is much easier to get into FW without going through the toll booths. Also most people don't stop on a dime to take pics this way(it happens!). Now if it was easier going through check in life would be perfect!

 

[kc5grw]

Something else you might think of, especially if you make it down to the WDW once every year or so or more frequently is to get a Sunpass. I only make it to FL once every couple of years, maybe twice this year, but went ahead and purchased a Sunpass before my trip in March. It was a great time saver and I didn't have to worry whether I had the money for tolls or not. Now that I think about it, I probably used the Sunpass more on my last trip than I've used my Texas tolltag this year.

 

[ElementCamper]

clkelley and Shan Man voted for going through Atlanta, just my opinion but I do the bypass. I've driven hundreds of thousands of miles and I've never 'white knuckled it' like I do in downtown Atlanta, scares me stiff for some reason.
I will try the west bypass next time per Shan Mans recommendation, out of habit have always done the east.

My younger brother lives in Atlanta, calls from his car all the time, chatting away and I can hear cars/trucks whizzing by like its NASCAR.
Coming from 75 and the turnpike, you can find no better route than the back 'Western Way' the other posters listed earlier. Way less traffic than going into Orlando then back to WDW.

 

[Shan-man]

If it's Freak-nik weekend you might want to detour through Alabama!

As for driving through Atlanta, I just get in the third lane from the left and try to relax. If you get too far right you will be in merging traffic and exit-only lanes and have to change lanes too much... merging is the worst part! I generally aim to drive the speed limit or just under, and everyone else will be doing 10-20 mph faster than you (or more), so you will essentially be moving backwards in the traffic flow. Grab the third lane and let all the Nascar drivers buzz around you and try to drive based on traffic 3-400 feet up the road (easier done when you sit up high in the moho) rather than overreact to Mr Invincible in the Civvic that just popped in between your bumper and radiator! If you see closure between you and the forward traffic (and it really stands out when everything else ahead is normally moving away) you know to get on your brakes. That's how I handle it anyhow.

I lived in Atlanta for more than a decade, and really don't think the bypass is of much benefit unless there is something really major going on in town: Freaknik, a Braves or Hawks playoff game, or a MAJOR convention. The bypass is largely 3 lanes, so there is a lot more pressure from merging to the right and Nascar idiots to the left. Ideally you'd want to stay in the middle lane, but if you do so without going at least 10 over the speed limit you risk a drive-by shooting! If it is between 9am and 4pm or between 7pm and 6am I'm going through town. Other times I'd be using the West Bypass, unless the traffic status sign indicates the East is faster (i.e. there is a wreck, construction, or other congestion on West). This status sign is overhead about 2 miles before the exits for the 285-Bypass, so keep an eye out for it.

 

[ChristyBey]

kc5grw, How do you get to the Fort?? I've been looking for the best advice - we will be leaving from west of Ft. Worth. Where do you stop on the way? Any campgrounds to avoid or hit as you travel?? Thanks a bunch!!

 

[ahc]

Thanks for all the info! We should be getting to Atlanta between 4: 00 pm and 6:00 pm next Friday! I assume Friday afternoon traffic will be bad any way you slice it, but just trying to get ideas as this is the first time we have taken our 35ft tt on the interstate and towed the trailer for more than a 45 minute trip. Needless to say, we are breaking it up into 2 travel days and planning to stop somewhere around the FL state line. Any ideas on where to spend the night and how long the trip will be from atl for the fl state line? Thanks again for the GREAT info

 

[gmflanigan]

If it's Freak-nik weekend you might want to detour through Alabama!

As for driving through Atlanta, I just get in the third lane from the left and try to relax. If you get too far right you will be in merging traffic and exit-only lanes and have to change lanes too much... merging is the worst part! I generally aim to drive the speed limit or just under, and everyone else will be doing 10-20 mph faster than you (or more), so you will essentially be moving backwards in the traffic flow. Grab the third lane and let all the Nascar drivers buzz around you and try to drive based on traffic 3-400 feet up the road (easier done when you sit up high in the moho) rather than overreact to Mr Invincible in the Civvic that just popped in between your bumper and radiator! If you see closure between you and the forward traffic (and it really stands out when everything else ahead is normally moving away) you know to get on your brakes. That's how I handle it anyhow.

I lived in Atlanta for more than a decade, and really don't think the bypass is of much benefit unless there is something really major going on in town: Freaknik, a Braves or Hawks playoff game, or a MAJOR convention. The bypass is largely 3 lanes, so there is a lot more pressure from merging to the right and Nascar idiots to the left. Ideally you'd want to stay in the middle lane, but if you do so without going at least 10 over the speed limit you risk a drive-by shooting! If it is between 9am and 4pm or between 7pm and 6am I'm going through town. Other times I'd be using the West Bypass, unless the traffic status sign indicates the East is faster (i.e. there is a wreck, construction, or other congestion on West). This status sign is overhead about 2 miles before the exits for the 285-Bypass, so keep an eye out for it.

We've been going to NASCAR races and WDW for many years and through Atlanta is a piece of cake--way better than the bypass. Close your eyes and drive about 80. If you're getting passed you're going to slow.

When you get to the other side you're on the downside. Have a great time--I'm sooooo jealous.

 

[kc5grw]

kc5grw, How do you get to the Fort?? I've been looking for the best advice - we will be leaving from west of Ft. Worth. Where do you stop on the way? Any campgrounds to avoid or hit as you travel?? Thanks a bunch!!

The easiest route is I-20 to I-49 to I-10 to I-75. It's all interstate, but is fairly sparsely populated on some stretches through LA. I've also taken I-20 to Jackson, MS to US-49 to US-98 into Mobile then to I-10. This isn't a bad route but traffic through Jackson and Mobile can be a pain sometimes. Where I stop really depends what I'm feeling like and if I'm on a tight schedule to get there; like trying to get there in time for the last MVMCP the Friday before Christmas when leaving Thursday morning. I've been know to drive all the way through. It's about 21 hours from my house in Mesquite to Fort Wilderness with plenty of pit stops along the way. If I have plenty of time I usually at least try to get into FL, then stop at a KOA along I-10 somewhere before Tallahassee.

 

[clkelley]

Thanks for all the info! We should be getting to Atlanta between 4: 00 pm and 6:00 pm next Friday! I assume Friday afternoon traffic will be bad any way you slice it, but just trying to get ideas as this is the first time we have taken our 35ft tt on the interstate and towed the trailer for more than a 45 minute trip. Needless to say, we are breaking it up into 2 travel days and planning to stop somewhere around the FL state line. Any ideas on where to spend the night and how long the trip will be from atl for the fl state line? Thanks again for the GREAT info

If you want to stay in the camper there is a GREAT campground at Exit 5 in Georgia.

Eagles Roost RV Resort https://www.eaglesroostresort.com/

There is also a KOA at that exit on the other side of the interstate if you prefer KOAs.

 

[railmail]

Thanks for all the info! We should be getting to Atlanta between 4: 00 pm and 6:00 pm next Friday! I assume Friday afternoon traffic will be bad any way you slice it, but just trying to get ideas as this is the first time we have taken our 35ft tt on the interstate and towed the trailer for more than a 45 minute trip. Needless to say, we are breaking it up into 2 travel days and planning to stop somewhere around the FL state line. Any ideas on where to spend the night and how long the trip will be from atl for the fl state line? Thanks again for the GREAT info

We always try to stop at the Jennings Campground. It is the first exit in Florida, and they are very friendly there. We love the pull through sites, you can call ahead if you are going to be stopping late, and just hook up and pay the next morning. Surprisingly quiet to be so close to the interstate. As for how long from Atlanta to Fla. state line, maybe 3 hours or a little longer?? Can't remember for sure.