What's behind the magic kingdom?

[Traveliz]

Hey, Traveliz, if you're still on here, I have a question for you:

I know you can go out of the south end of the Hess parking lot and get back on Floridian

Way. I'm just trying to figure out how you get back to Reams going north on World Drive without going through the parking lot kiosks.

Can you go north through the parking kiosks before the Magic Kingdom Parking lot if you're in the right lanes? Or do you have to cut around Epcot and then cut back on Beuna to get headed north on World Drive and then Center drive?

I'm asking because my wife and I are looking into the apartments right across the street from the employee parking lot, but I don't want to drive completely around Disney to get back home if we go south of the Hess station. That would be ridiculous.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Ike

Ok Ike you must be a guy because you are talking North/South and I am a girl and deal with landmarks so let me try and sort out this question.

Before I go on let me say that we don't have this quite down yet...and we think there must be an easier way than how we do things.

To get to Reams Road from the Disney area we seem to always have to go through the parking booths at MK unless we go back around behind the Grand Floridian. The only time we do that is if we are down by the Poly or GF anyway.

Otherwise we seem to go up to the return to MK cut across on World Drive, go to the far right parking booth and go through there to go behind MK and to Reams Rd. I don't think there is anyway to do it from the Hess going North without going back through the parking booths (well you go out and come all the way back around off 535 but that would just be silly).

I hope this makes a tiny bit of sense.

Liz

 

[eickman]

OK. So you can go through the far right kiosk to go north? Is it manned, and does anyone ask you why you're driving through? Or are you saying that you are cutting across World Drive in front of the booth to get headed back north from the Hess?

By the way, if you look at GoogleEarth or a map program, there seems to be two ways to get back on Floridian Way going north from the Hess without cutting across World Drive.

One is to go back to the entrance that you entered the Hess from and make a left at the stop sign, which then jogs over about 20 feet. At that point you make a right, go about 1/3rd of a mile north to the next stop sign, then you make another right onto Floridian Way from there. That's right where Floridian Way becomes two-lane traffic.

It seems like another way to get onto Floridian Way going north from the Hess is to go out the south end of the Hess station like you're going to enter World Drive, where there is a loop going off to the right and back around into some kind of bus return/employee parking lot. If you go through that lot, you'll wind up going north as above, and then you take the right at the stop sign at the T-junction (as above), and then immediately turn left onto Floridian Way where the two-way traffic starts (as above).

This might save your life, as cutting across World Drive looks dangerous as hell. <chuckle>

In my opinion, whoever designed the Disney Road system should be shot...twice. I've gotten lost and missed exits several times over the years because of their non-standard signage and crazy directional secrets that only a local resident would know (like how to go back north out of the Hess). For instance, the speed limit on World Drive is 55, but you're supposed to read through a whole list of resorts to find your destination, instead of putting the names of the exits and their crossroads prominently on one sign, and the names of the resorts at that exit on a second sign--like an interstate. (Not everyone in the Federal government is stupid.)

Here is another tip for you: There is a way to go north on World Drive to Reams from any point south of Epcot without going through the parking lot kiosks, but it's a bit convoluted: Going north on World Drive, exit onto East Beuna Vista Drive. Go east east on Buena Vista Drive to Bonnie Creek Parkway, and make a left. Take Bonnie Creek Parkway north all the way to Vista Boulevard. Turn left onto Vista Blvd, and head back west. Just as you're about to go under the tracks for the monorails, veer right and that will put you on World Drive ABOVE the parking kiosks and lanes going into the MK parking lot. Then take World Drive the way you would normally go home, i.e. all the way to Center Drive north, and onto Reams.

Thing is, if you can go through the parking lot kiosks in the far right lanes, that would make life a whole lot simpler.

What do the attendants ask you at the kiosks, if anything?

(Another option that we have at our disposal is that our daughter works for Disney Cruise Lines, and she could probably get an employee parking sticker or something, which would make things easier all the way around.)

Thanks for your imput, and I hope my post saves your life, 'cause I don't think you're going out of the Hess the right way.

Ike

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Holy Cow, all this north/south talk has me dizzy

To get to Reams Road from MK area: take the road from the Contemporary (heading right as you exit the parking lot) to the stop sign, turn left, follow the road and there you are! No kiosks.

 

[doconeill]

Holy Cow, all this north/south talk has me dizzy

To get to Reams Road from MK area: take the road from the Contemporary (heading right as you exit the parking lot) to the stop sign, turn left, follow the road and there you are! No kiosks.

But if you are at the Contemporary, you are already beyond the parking gates. The question is how to get there if you aren't.

They will let you through the gates if you are heading to the resorts, etc. as opposed to parking at the TTC - but you want to be at the extreme right so you're not crossing traffic trying to get back to World Drive.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Avoid the gates all together and take 535 to Reams Road, no need to go through Disney
Or take 536 to the exit to FW, go past FW and there you go

 

[Traveliz]

Avoid the gates all together and take 535 to Reams Road, no need to go through Disney
Or take 536 to the exit to FW, go past FW and there you go

But if you are in the area of the MK Hess, going to 535 to get to the apartments on Reams behind MK is a long haul.

To Ike, yes the kiosk is manned during the day. If you have a cast ID or an AP you can just show that to go through with no explanation. I know other locals use the cut through but not sure what they say...we have APs. Later at night it is not manned and you can just go through.

Cutting across World drive is not really cutting across - they have an actual paved area to turn back on and around to World Drive so its not a problem.

If I am at Hess I typically turn right out of there into World drive, go to the cut across and come back through the toll booths. I have done the Floridian way thing before once but I tend to forget that is an option.

Liz

 

[Backstage_Gal]

But if you are in the area of the MK Hess, going to 535 to get to the apartments on Reams behind MK is a long haul.


Liz

No, you head back to the Contemp, turn right,
then Reams Road is right there

I've worked there for almost 40 years, I should know!

 

[Traveliz]

No, you head back to the Contemp, turn right,
then Reams Road is right there

I've worked there for almost 40 years, I should know!

I understand you -- I think we are probably talking about the same things - I know where Reams Rd is - we have a condo on Reams and 535. I was specifically talking about getting to 535 from the Hess near MK...coming around the other way - the poster was talking about NOT going through the MK toll booths.

Liz

 

[eickman]

Oh, sure. That's great if you want to drive a half hour out of your way to get from the south side (Irlo Bronson or something) back to the north side.

 

[eickman]

Thanks, Liz. That's pretty much what I was wondering, i.e. what happens at the toll booths.

We have a couple of options available to us, so I think it will work out. It's just that those apartments are 20 minutes minimum to get to civilization.

Ike

 

[Traveliz]

Thanks, Liz. That's pretty much what I was wondering, i.e. what happens at the toll booths.

We have a couple of options available to us, so I think it will work out. It's just that those apartments are 20 minutes minimum to get to civilization.

Ike

Our condo is at Reams Rd & 535 and I understand what you mean. Sometimes between the lakes and Disney property its hard to get from here to there. I do like the area though.

If you are working at Disney those apartments will be handy for you.

Liz

 

[nytimez]

Getting back to one of the earlier questions on this thread, I can confirm that the sign on the road just past the Contemporary -- right after the parking lot exit and Magic Kingdom bus turnoff -- reads "SERVICE & AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY." That's the sign that was too blurry to read on the Google streetview link posted earlier.

There are two of these signs one on each side of the road (both facing incoming traffic) and you can see them from the walkway between the Magic Kingdom and the hotels.

I was able to see them a few weeks ago when I stayed at the BLT.

So while no one will stop you from driving on these roads in most cases, it's clear that these roads are not intended for guests.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Getting back to one of the earlier questions on this thread, I can confirm that the sign on the road just past the Contemporary -- right after the parking lot exit and Magic Kingdom bus turnoff -- reads "SERVICE & AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY." That's the sign that was too blurry to read on the Google streetview link posted earlier.

There are two of these signs one on each side of the road (both facing incoming traffic) and you can see them from the walkway between the Magic Kingdom and the hotels.

I was able to see them a few weeks ago when I stayed at the BLT.

So while no one will stop you from driving on these roads in most cases, it's clear that these roads are not intended for guests.

Actually I can also confirm that when driving back into WDW from Reams Road they have this sign which says anyone staying at a WDW Resort, Cast Members and etc are allowed to drive through. I saw this sign last month when my family and I drove back from the Winter Garden Shopping Village, so in my opinion that sign proves it is intended for the guests to drive there since it mentions those staying at WDW Resorts.

 

[nytimez]

Actually I can also confirm that when driving back into WDW from Reams Road they have this sign which says anyone staying at a WDW Resort, Cast Members and etc are allowed to drive through. I saw this sign last month when my family and I drove back from the Winter Garden Shopping Village, so in my opinion that sign proves it is intended for the guests to drive there since it mentions those staying at WDW Resorts.

You can have your opinion. My opinion is that the phrase "SERVICE & AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY" speaks for itself.

 

[pilferk]

You can have your opinion. My opinion is that the phrase "SERVICE & AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY" speaks for itself.

Except..you could both be right.

If he sees a sign (from one side) saying that WDW resort guests can use the road.

And from the other, you see "SERVICE & AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY"...I'd say that other sign confrims guests as being "authorized". No? At least from that direction.

 

[nytimez]

Except..you could both be right.

If he sees a sign (from one side) saying that WDW resort guests can use the road.

And from the other, you see "SERVICE & AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY"...I'd say that other sign confrims guests as being "authorized". No? At least from that direction.

Then why wouldn't they put a similar sign up past the Contemporary, instead of "SERVICE & AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY?" And not just one sign, but two of them -- they clearly want you to see it.

Again, I'll repeat that I don't think the company cares if guests drive that road -- the off-limits areas off that road each have security gates and such. But not enforcing a rule is not quite the same as not having the rule.

 

[pilferk]

Then why wouldn't they put a similar sign up past the Contemporary, instead of "SERVICE & AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY?" And not just one sign, but two of them -- they clearly want you to see it.

Again, I'll repeat that I don't think the company cares if guests drive that road -- the off-limits areas off that road each have security gates and such. But not enforcing a rule is not quite the same as not having the rule.

Well...the reverse question is also true: Why would they put up a sign, on the other side, telling guests they're welcome to use the road?

Logic would dictate that you grant "authorization" upon entry...and remove it upon exit. If you're authorizing a guest to use the road on the way in, you'd assume you continue to be authorized to use it when you're on your way out. No?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

You can have your opinion. My opinion is that the phrase "SERVICE & AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY" speaks for itself.

It's not an opinion, it's a 100% true fact that I saw a sign with my own eyes that said WDW Resort Guests, Cast Members and etc are allowed to drive behind the Magic Kingdom when entering WDW from Reams Road. So that sign also speaks for itself.

 

[Traveliz]

It is true that near the Contemporary there is a sign that reads service and authorized vehichles only BUT coming the other direction (as you turn in off Reams Rd) it reads Disney vehichle (or something like that) and Resort guests.

Our condo is back there and we come through there regularly.

The service sign (just past the Contemporary) I believe is left from the days when there was a guard booth back there and you were stopped there and had to show Cast ID or similar to continue on.


Liz

 

[nytimez]

Well...the reverse question is also true: Why would they put up a sign, on the other side, telling guests they're welcome to use the road?

Logic would dictate that you grant "authorization" upon entry...and remove it upon exit. If you're authorizing a guest to use the road on the way in, you'd assume you continue to be authorized to use it when you're on your way out. No?

I can't tell you what the company's intentions are and neither can anyone else. All I can tell you is what the sign says.

I could just as easily guess that they don't want people driving through the road from the Contemporary, but they also don't want lost guests wandering around on Reams Road wondering how to get back -- so they grant entry there as a convenience... but not exit because they don't want it to become a thoroughfare.

That's also logical. But it's also just a guess.

In any case, I don't believe the signs are simply left from some other period. Disney adds and removes signs all the time. They could easily take these out if they had wanted to.