Western Way to open April 4, 2006

[1000th happy haunt]

New road access to Disney to open

Western Way, the new rear entrance to Walt Disney World from the new Western Beltway expressway, is set to open April 4.

The four-lane, divided boulevard will give Disney a western entrance for the first time, allowing tourists coming in via Interstate 75 to enter Central Florida on Florida's Turnpike and the Western Beltway (State Road 429), then enter Disney without ever entering Orlando or driving on Interstate 4.

The Western Beltway opened between Winter Garden and U.S. Highway 192 in Osceola County in December.

The new Disney road will come off the expressway at an interchange built by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise near Hartzog Road. Western Way will go east into Disney property, then turn south and connect with West Buena Vista Drive not far from Blizzard Beach and Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Florida's Turnpike Enterprise expects to erect signs on the turnpike and State Road 429 directing people along the new route to Disney, turnpike spokeswoman Christa Deason said. Disney also is expected to do some advertising of the new route.

 

[pumpkinboy]

That's great news for folks coming down the Turnpike Southbound. Avoiding I4 is a big plus.

 

[KIANGA]

Thanks For The Great News. Will Be Going To WDW Later In The Month Of April.

 

[plutospup]

I believe this new road will also be near Coronado Springs Resort. How do you think the new road will impact CSR? Noise? Congestion?

 

[JudithM]

Thank you for the info about the new road. We frequently use AIA to 301 to I75 to WDW, so this riad will help.

 

[mitros]

We have been using this new road to get to WDW since it opened. Started out really nice and quiet. Now, after only a few short months, people are beginning to realize that it is there, and traffic is beginning to increase. And once they go through with that new downtown type shopping district back there, it will wind up being as crowded as the current DTD area.
I guess we will just enjoy the quiet while it lasts.

 

[Minnie824]

We took this road in Nov last year after getting directions from the boards here. It was great! We actually stopped there on the side of the road for a few minutes for me to get a picture of the entrance sign and there were NO cars the entire time. It was great!

 

[ducklite]

We took this road in Nov last year after getting directions from the boards here. It was great! We actually stopped there on the side of the road for a few minutes for me to get a picture of the entrance sign and there were NO cars the entire time. It was great!

You were lucky you didn't get ticketed for stopping there. The road is clearly marked stopping for emergencies only, and I've seen at least a few people being written tickets by the police for stopping there for photo's.

Anne

 

[Minnie824]

You were lucky you didn't get ticketed for stopping there. The road is clearly marked stopping for emergencies only, and I've seen at least a few people being written tickets by the police for stopping there for photo's.

Anne

Really? Wow I didn't know that or I wouldn't have stopped! Thanks for mentioning that, now I know for next time.

 

[TinkOhio]

Is this something that will help us? We will be going from WDW south to Boca Raton on the turnpike, and then back up to WDW later. Also, is it easy to find? We'll be staying at the Pop and the Swan.

Thanks!

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I changed the thread title to add "2006" as to avoid confusion for those who might think it's not going to open until next April.

 

[mitros]

You were lucky you didn't get ticketed for stopping there. The road is clearly marked stopping for emergencies only, and I've seen at least a few people being written tickets by the police for stopping there for photo's.

Anne

Also, watch your speed limit. It's 45 when you first get on the road, but slows down to 35 once on Disney property. AND, Disney now allows Orange county deputy's to cruise their roads looking for speeders

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

Tink, while Western Way to TOLL 429 would get you up to the Turnpike, you'd really be going out of your way. Either take I-4 to the Turnpike or proceed east on Osceola Parkway (also a toll road) to where it meets the Turnpike. The new entrance really does not help visitors coming from the East or South.

BobK/Orlando

 

[TinkOhio]

Thanks!