Traffic and getting to the parks

[Warmwinds]

Honestly, for all of you who have stayed off-site - just how bad was getting to the parks every day (and night?)

Are you sorry you stayed off-site? What would you do next time?

 

[5mins2disney]

I think the answer depends on where you stay off site of course...but in the area we always stay (the Formosa Gardens area) the traffic is never bad going to/from the parks...you use a back entrance route that follows Sherberth road...and it's honestly better than if you were using the main roads...to areas like..DTD..other resorts..etc.

This area includes resorts like Windsor Hills, Windsor Palms, Indian Creek, Emerald Island, etc. http://www.thedibb.co.uk/villa/map.htm

I just stayed in a hotel (Royal Plaza) in DTD for 1 night in Jan...the traffic in that area was WAY heavier than over by our "home" area. Now..if you take the main roads / entrances / exits... I-4...the traffic is heavier.

From WHR I can be at AK in 3 minutes... MGM in 5...Epcot in 7... MK (parking lot) in 12. (of course then you take the tram / boat / etc). Last trip I left our park tickets at home by mistake...from the parking lot in Epcot to the front door of our townhome.. (I timed it just for fun) I made it door-door in 7 minutes, now granted... I did catch both of the 2 traffic lights green....so with a red light in your way it might be a few minutes longer.

Also...leave MK with the 1000s of other people all leaving after the fireworks at night..and the worst part of getting anywhere is getting on the boats or monorail to get back to the TTC....this is true though if you're staying anywhere besides a "monorail resort". Once you're at your car though it's a lot faster to get home offsite than to wait in yet another line for a WDW bus which then takes some time to drive to whichever resort you're staying in .... so we feel it's actually a lot faster to have your own car and drive home / offsite than to be in a resort property if you're using the buses... and if you check the map..these places are actually as close or in many cases closer than resort properties. (Depending on which park / place you're at of course).

Keep in mind WDW is absolutely HUGE...it's so big it's larger than Manhattan! Many people dont' realize just how big the property is....so you can spend some time just driving around WDW itself.

 

[sympatico]

We've never had any problems getting to the parks. We usually stay in the Kissimmee area and it's pretty easy and no more traffic than any city type area. We're from a very rural area and have always driven around Kissimmee, I Drive, Florida Mall and anywhere we wanted with no problems.
Last year friends of ours stayed on site and used the bus system while we stayed off site with a car. We all went to BlizB and then we were going to their room at ASMusic. We sat in the parking lot at BB while they waited for the bus. We sat there a good 15 - 20 min. before the bus came to get them and then we followed it back to ASM. No thanks! I'd much rather have my own vehicle and drive to where I want to go.

 

[Warmwinds]

Hmmm...we're not staying near you, we'd be staying close to Sea World, so we would be either on the 4 or the backroads might include passing by DTD (depending on what park we were at).

Like you said, the busses will also be really crowded at the end of the night, and there would really only be 3 nights that we would stay that late (to see each of the 3 fireworks shows).

And we're not early risers so might miss the rush to get there when the gates open in the mornings.

 

[Mrs Doubtfire]

We stayed a few years ago at Sheraton VV on Intl Drive (just below Sea World). Went to WDW most days - main traffic was at the intersection with SR535. You enter at entrance close to OKW resort. It wasn't a bad drive. This year we stayed at WH and that is closer.

 

[Mainebound]

Honestly, for all of you who have stayed off-site - just how bad was getting to the parks every day (and night?)

Are you sorry you stayed off-site? What would you do next time?

We loved offsite. We always stay offsite now. We found it easier to get to the parks with our own car from offsite. With the exception of walking to Epcot from Swan and boat to MK from Wilderness Lodge, offsite to park was faster and easier on us wih the kids.

 

[Jason71]

Hmmm...we're not staying near you, we'd be staying close to Sea World, so we would be either on the 4 or the backroads might include passing by DTD (depending on what park we were at).

I-Drive to World Drive is generally not too bad, other than the intersection of 535 and World Drive. Honestly, the stretch of I-4 between exit 71 and WDW is usually not that bad outside of traditional morning/late afternoon rush hours. Returning after the fireworks is not a problem at all, once you hit the open road.

To give you some ballpark numbers, I live in the same area, it's no more than 10 minutes to DTD, maybe 15 to EPCOT, and about 20 to MK (parking lot).

 

[spiceycat]

And we're not early risers so might miss the rush to get there when the gates open in the mornings.

then you are missing the least crowded times at the parks.

might reconsider in your place because of EMH - the morning you would miss - but the evening is 3 extra hours in a park.

if you are late riser it might make it worth while for you to stay at WDW.

of course I happen to love near Seaworld - you can be at Disney in around 10 to 15 minutes on I4 - now if I4 is back upped and believe some morning it can be awful - been on before for an hour going to that DD (first exit)

then ID - it become 536 World Drive.

 

[Warmwinds]

Thanks everyone. We've decided to stay put off site.

Yes, I know it's best to get there early...but we have 7 day hoppers, we're older, like to take our time, so if we only go on a few rides each day we plan on going back to each park 2-3 times. We've been to the parks before and know what we want to see or not bother with.

Plus, we live on the West Coast so it takes us several days to get used to the time change - I don't want to rush to get anywhere for an 8 am opening when it is really 5 am on my body - that's not fun or a vacation.

I've also found some other threads which give short cut driving directions from where we are, and they are great.