Traffic outside of WDW

[ladyjayhawk]

I was wondering if anyone would be able to give me an idea of what the traffic is like around WDW? We will be staying at the Swan but will need to make a few trips off-site. Any suggestions for how much time to allow for the following trips:

1. Airport to Swan on a Saturday around noon

2. Swan to Gaylord Palms Resort (my DH has a convention there during the first part of our trip, he will leave about 6:30 am and return about 5:30 pm on a Sun, Mon, and Tues)

3. Swan to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church for the 4:00 pm Mass on a Saturday

4. Swan to airport on a Sunday around noon

We will be there the last week of February. I'm not trying to plan our trip down to the minute, I am actually known for being late a lot because I never plan for enough time to get somewhere. This makes my DH grumpy, so I thought by planning ahead it might make our trip go a little smoother. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[ladyjayhawk]

bump

 

[Lew]

If you take the Greenway to and from MCO, you're looking at 30 minutes max. This is suggested travel time only and, of course, cannot be guaranteed.

The church is about 12 miles away, so figure 20 minutes.

Never heard of Gaylord Palms Resort, sorry...

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Swan to Gaylord: 15 to 20 minutes tops, Exit 65 Osceola Parkway

for more information on Palms try www.gaylordhotels.com/gaylordpalms

From MCO on Saturday, I suggest taking the Central Florida Greeneway South (SR417) to Exit 3. Turn right onto Osceola Parkway and go West, taking note of the time from MCO. (hotel is on the left) It will cost $2.25 in tolls, but it is money well spent. That takes care of your numbers 1 and 4. Lew took care of number 3 to Mass on Saturday. Thanks, Lew.

How about your number 2? Easy. Just look again at your watch when you pass the Gaylord Palms on the left as you continue west on Osceola Parkway. Go over I-4 (about 1/4 from the hotel), and continue west about 2+ miles to World Drive. Turn north on World Drive following signs to the Epcot Resort area. Follow signs to Epcot Resorts and you will come to the Swan. As you know, check-in is listed as 3pm, but we are going to assume that your room is ready for early check-in for you folks.
Since you remembered to check your watch as you pulled into the parking lot, you have number 2 solved for Sunday morning.
Ole potentially grumpy Husband will be more than happy with you and you will have started out your time at WDW and the Swan, a very happy camper, since your hubby will be totally at ease.

Good Luck.

 

[ladyjayhawk]

Lew and WDWisTheBest, thank you so much!! This will really help with my planning and I won't be running late for once. And my DH may finally believe that at WDW dreams really do come true!

 

[kylara]

Actually you don't need to go on I-4 to get to Gaylord palms. You can take the back route. If you are coming from the Swan, take the right out of the parking lot and follow the road towards the Boardwalk. When you get to the main road (MGM entrance is across the way) take the left on Buena Vista drive. Then take a right on Victory Way (which is heading towards Wide World of Sports). Take the left on Osceola Parkway and you will see Gaylord Palms on your right. Just turn into the parking lot. This is very quick and at 6:30am you won't find much traffic.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

The Gaylord Palms is located at exit 65 on I-4 at the intersection with Osceola Parkway. "Exit 65 Osceola Parkway" was mentioned only to locate Gaylord Palms for ladyjayhawk, not to say that they should go onto I-4. Sorry if that was confusing but I believe that I said to "go over I-4". using the Osceola Parkway bridge "over I-4", when they continue west on Osceola Parkway after passing the Gaylord Palms, which is on their left.

They are coming into WDW for the first time on Saturday from the airport. For their first entrance into the WDW complex I suggested just continuing straight West on Osceola Parkway and then making a right hand turn north on World Drive (the second intersection after I-4; the first is Victory Way at the Wide World of Sports Entrance). then following the Epcot Resorts signs on World Drive to the Swan. Isn't it great that there is more than one way to get from place to place?

ladyjayhawk:if you have the Adobe PDF program, this will help:
http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/media/reservations/maps/ritrmappropertyimg1.pdf The Swan is the number 12 purple triangle.

 

[kylara]

I was just trying to give them an alternate route, but you are right, you didn't say to go on I-4...I read it wrong.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

kylara, your alternate route is certainly a good one and I'm sure that it will serve them well.

BTW, you certainly do give great tips about a wide variety of subjects on the DIS boards. Congratulations about your wide-ranging knowledge of happenings in and around WDW and the help that you give on various threads.

Have a good one!

 

[ladyjayhawk]

Thank you everyone!! I really appreciate the info.