If we stay at the SeaWorld HGVC, will be drive past the Publix that is across from the other HGVC on our way there from the airport? This is our first time in Orlando, and I'm not sure what direction everything is in relation to everything else. Our flight doesn't arrive until 11 p.m., but we wanted to stop by a grocery store quickly on our way to the resort to grab milk and cereal for the next morning.
If you take the South Exit from the airport and then take SR 417 West you'd pass right by that Publix store on your way up International Drive toward your resort. If you take the North Exit from the airport to SR 528 West you'd take the International Drive exit and continue on past where you'd turn toward your resort on I-Drive for another 4 miles to the Publix and then backtrack. Both 528 and 417 are toll roads, you go through two toll booths on each road on the way to International Drive - $1.75 for 528, $2.50 for 417.
Here are the directions for each...
Airport South Exit:
The exit road is on the right, so move into a right lane as traffic permits.
Continue on the South exit road for about four miles to SR 417.
Turn right onto 417 West (Orlando/Disney).
Continue on 417 to exit 6 (International Drive/SR 536/Disney), about 11 miles.
- along the way the first toll booth is about a mile and a half after you start on 417 and the second toll booth is about 8 miles beyond that
- at both toll booths go way over to the right for the manned, cash lanes
At the end of the Exit 6 exit ramp get into the right lane and turn right onto International Drive.
It's about 1 3/4 to 2 miles to the traffic light at the intersection with Vineland Avenue, get into the left turn lane here (HGVC I-Drive is on the left there).
Turn left onto Vineland Avenue, the shopping center that Publix is in is immediately on the right.
To get to HGVC SeaWorld, leave the Publix shopping center and go back to the International Drive intersection. Turn left onto I-Drive. Continue about 2 1/2 miles to the intersection with Central Florida Parkway. (You could also take the earlier left turn on Westwood Boulevard to Sea Harbor Drive but, since you'll be there early in the morning and probably tired, I think taking CFP will be easier.) Turn left onto CFP and go about 3/4 of a mile to the traffic light at the Sea Harbor Drive intersection (you'll go past the SeaWorld entrance on the right). Get into the left turn lane and turn left onto SeaWorld Drive. The main entrance to the resort is almost immediately on the left.
Airport North Exit:
Also a right exit from the main airport loop road. Just follow the signs to the North Exit (SR 528). It's a couple of miles to the entrance ramp to SR 528 West (Orlando/Disney).
Once on SR 528 toward Orlando you'll go about a half mile to the first toll booth (this one is $1). The next toll booth (75 cents) is about 4 miles beyond the first one. As with SR 417, the manned, cash booths are way over to the right.
From the second toll booth, continue about five miles to Exit 1 (International Drive).
Get into one of the left turn lanes and turn left onto International Drive.
Continue almost 4 miles to the traffic light at Vineland Avenue (a Walgreens drug store will be on the right).
Turn right onto Vineland and then turn right into Publix parking lot.
Follow the same directions as above to get back to the resort.
I'd suggest that you go onto one of the online mapping sites - mapquest or google maps - so you can see how all of those words translate into visual form.
The part of Orlando that you'll be in is very easy to navigate as long as you've got a good map and a general idea of where things are. Have a great trip.
Dick Taylor
