Toll booths

[tngal]

This may sound like a really dumb question, but hey, I'm a country bumpkin lol. I've never had to go through toll booths before. how do I know which is the proper lane to get in...is there signs? how far ahead? please help me calm my nerves

 

[bumbershoot]

There are signs.

If you have another adult with you, pick one to be the navigator and one to be the driver. The navigator watches for signs and directs the driver over to the correct lanes. The driver then watches for traffic and all that, and follows the navigator's clear directions. Hint to navigator: no pointing! Use words.

If you have that other adult and you've chosen well, there will be no problems whatsoever in figuring out where the tollbooths are.

We have tollbridges in my state, but I refuse to use them (so far). So I don't have huge amounts of experience with them, but I found it all to be very well signed.

Get a roll of quarters, keep it extremely handy, and whenever you go through a tollbooth where you can get a receipt, get one just in case. (the booths are even labeled if they can give a receipt or not)

The Orlando-area tollbooths are very simple. Don't worry.

 

[joelkfla]

Most of the "mainline" toll booths in the Orlando area now require you to exit the main roadway to pay cash. The highway lanes are for "Prepaid tolls only", meaning you need a transponder from FL Turnpike or one of the local toll authorities (out-of-state transponders don't work).

You'll usually see a sign 1 mile before the toll plaza. As you approach the plaza, you'll see another sign directing you to exit right to pay cash. Once you're off the in cash pay area, there will be a sign telling you how much to pay for autos (always a multiple of 25 cents.) There will be at least one lane marked "Receipts & Change" that has an attendant; it's generally marked with a green sign. If you have the exact change in quarters, there may a lane with a blue sign marked "Exact change only", where you toss the coins into the basket.

If you're getting on or off the highway at an exit that requires a toll, there usually is not an attended lane; the only options are "Prepaid tolls" or "Exact change". So always have at least a dollar in quarters if you plan to get off a toll road and you don't know whether the exit requires a toll. Exits to other major highways either don't require a toll or have an attended lane.

 

[tngal]

thank you both for your replies! We are debating whether we should take the route mapquest gives to avoid tolls or just try our hand at the toll booths. it only adds 5 minutes give or take to the drive time. Thanks again!

 

[Traveliz]

thank you both for your replies! We are debating whether we should take the route mapquest gives to avoid tolls or just try our hand at the toll booths. it only adds 5 minutes give or take to the drive time. Thanks again!

If you are coming from TN I would imagine you need to go on the FL turnpike and then 429 if you are staying on Disney property? Any other route will cost you far more than five minutes. You would only have two tolls and they are very easy. VERY EASY. Both tolls require you stay to the right and are well marked. Remember these roads cater to tourists in a large part....so they make it easy to take your money!

Liz

 

[raftislander]

I suggest getting a roll of quarters before you leave for Orlando. We spent over a week there drove to and from airport, went to Universal two days and did some shopping as well. I still had quarters left over even though I took the wrong exit and had to pay at least one toll that I didn't expect. It is easy to get to Universal, Sea World and shopping without paying tolls.

 

[MIChessGuy]

If you're getting on or off the highway at an exit that requires a toll, there usually is not an attended lane; the only options are "Prepaid tolls" or "Exact change". So always have at least a dollar in quarters if you plan to get off a toll road and you don't know whether the exit requires a toll. Exits to other major highways either don't require a toll or have an attended lane.

I made this mistake while driving my Thrifty rental car in 2008. After entering an on-ramp for the Greeneway near Celebration, I noticed the "Exact Change Only" toll basket coming up. Oops. I counted about 14 cents in change. With no other option, I just drove past the toll basket without paying. My assumption was that the toll authority would send a citation to Thrifty, and then Thrifty would nail my credit card for some colossal fee.

And yet -- nothing happened! Weird. Either no citation was issued, for whatever reason, or maybe Thrifty decided just to eat it. Regardless, I now have plen-T of quarters when driving in Florida.

 

[ParrotBill]

Hint to navigator: no pointing! Use words.

LOL! My wife does that, as well at verbal outbursts that do not include words, usually after I did not understand the pointing and missed the turn.

Do not fear the Greenway and Osceola Parkway tolls! Bring quarters and follow the signs. The important advice was the one about direct lanes assume you have a Sunpass, move to the "exit lanes" to go through the toll booths.

These roads have far less traffic - don't assume the other route will only be 5 or 10 minutes longer. the Bee Line and I-4 get very congested for many hours of the day.

When I drive down I-4, if I am any where near rush hour I will take the Greenway all the way around.

 

[bumbershoot]

LOL! My wife does that, as well at verbal outbursts that do not include words, usually after I did not understand the pointing and missed the turn.

So sorry she does that. A friend was the navigator as I drove us around Ireland, and I was nearly forced to leave her on the side of the road in The Burren b/c of the pointing, sudden intakes of breath, and lack of highly important words like "wrong side of the road!". Years later, planning wedding to hubby, we had to navigate in the warehouse district of Portland and he did the same stuff. Maddening. I did teach him that words are good.

And if only we'd has the iPad and its mapping system then. Would have made for a higher amount of engagement bliss! iPad mapping program is good for marriages and friendships.