Orlando-Disney World: Car Travel

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Car Travel

The Beeline Expressway (Route 528) is the best way to get to the International Drive area and Walt Disney World from the Orlando International Airport, though you should expect to pay about $1.50 in tolls. Depending on the location of your hotel, follow the expressway west to International Drive, and either exit at SeaWorld for the International Drive area or stay on the Beeline to I-4 and head west for Walt Disney World and U.S. 192/Kissimmee or east for Universal Studios and downtown Orlando. Call your hotel for the best route.

I-4 is the main artery in Central Florida, linking the Gulf coast in Tampa to the Atlantic coast in Daytona Beach. Although I-4 is an east-west highway, it actually follows a north-south track through the Orlando area. So think north when I-4 signs say east and think south when the signs say west.

Two other main roads you're likely to use are International Drive, also known as I-Drive, and U.S. 192, sometimes called the Spacecoast Parkway or Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway. You can get onto International Drive from I-4 Exits 72, 74A, and 75A. U.S. 192 cuts across I-4 at Exits 64A and 64B.

Walt Disney World has four exits off I-4. For the Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Fort Wilderness, and the rest of the Magic Kingdom resort area, take the one marked Magic Kingdom-U.S. 192 (Exit 64B). From here, it's a 4-mi drive along Disney's main entrance road to the toll gate, and another mile to the parking area; during peak vacation periods, be prepared for serious bumper-to-bumper traffic both on I-4 nearing the U.S. 192 exit and on U.S. 192 itself. A less-congested route to the theme parks and other WDW venues is via the exit marked Epcot/Downtown Disney (Exit 67), 4 mi east of Exit 64.

Exit 65 will take you directly to Disney's Animal Kingdom and Wide World of Sports as well as the Animal Kingdom resort area via the Osceola Parkway.

For access to Downtown Disney (including the Marketplace, DisneyQuest, Pleasure Island, and West Side), as well as to Typhoon Lagoon, the Crossroads Shopping Center, and the establishments on Hotel Plaza Boulevard, get off at Route 535-Lake Buena Vista (Exit 68).

The exit marked Epcot-Downtown Disney (Exit 67) is the one to use if you're bound for those destinations or for hotels in the Epcot and Downtown Disney resort areas; you can also get to Typhoon Lagoon and the Studios from here.

Rules of the Road

All front-seat passengers are required to wear seat belts. All children under four years old must be in approved child-safety seats. Children older than four must wear a seat belt. Florida's Alcohol/Controlled Substance DUI Law is one of the toughest in the United States. A blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher can have serious repercussions even for the first-time offender.

In Florida, you may turn right at a red light after stopping, unless otherwise posted. When in doubt, wait for the green. Be alert for one-way streets, "no left turn" intersections, and blocks closed to car traffic. Watch for middle lanes with painted arrows that point left. These are turn lanes. They are to help you make a left turn without disrupting the flow of traffic behind you. Turn your blinker on, pull into this lane, and come to a stop, if necessary, before making a left turn. Never use this lane as a passing lane.

Expect heavy traffic during rush hours, which are on weekdays 6-10 AM and 4-7 PM. To encourage carpooling, some freeways have special lanes for so-called high-occupancy vehicles (HOV) -- cars carrying more than one passenger. The use of radar detectors is legal in Florida and its neighboring states, Alabama and Georgia. Although it's legal to talk on your cell phone while driving in Florida, it's not recommended. Dial *511 on a cell phone to hear an I-4 traffic advisory.

Emergency Services

If you have a cell phone, dialing *347 (*FHP) will get you the Florida Highway Patrol. Most Florida highways are also patrolled by Road Rangers, a free roadside service that helps stranded motorists with minor problems and can call for a tow truck when there are bigger problems. The AAA Car Care Center (407/824-0976) near the Magic Kingdom is a full-service operation that will provide most emergency services, except towing, while it's open (weekdays 7 AM-6 PM, Saturday 7 AM-4 PM). On Disney property you can flag a security guard any day until 10 PM for help with minor emergencies, such as a flat tire, dead battery, empty gas tank, or towing. Otherwise call 407/824-4777. You can also gas up on Buena Vista Drive near Disney's BoardWalk and in the Downtown Disney area across from Pleasure Island.

Parking

Sections of the Magic Kingdom lot are named for Disney characters; Epcot's highlights modes of exploration; those at the Studios are named Stage, Music, Film, and Dance; and the Animal Kingdom's sound like Beanie Baby names -- Unicorn, Butterfly, and so on. Although in theory Goofy 45 is unforgettable, by the end of the day, you'll be so goofy with eating and shopping and riding that you'll swear that you parked in Sleepy. When you board the tram, write down your location and keep it in a pocket. Trams make frequent trips between the parking area and the parks' turnstile areas. No valet parking is available for Walt Disney World theme parks.

For each major theme-park lot, admission is $9 for cars, $10 for RVs and campers, and free to those staying at Walt Disney World resorts. Save your receipt; if you want to visit another park the same day, you won't have to pay to park twice. If you have reservations at a Disney resort, check in early (leave baggage at the bell station if you wish) and ask for your free parking permit.

Parking is always free at Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, Downtown Disney, and Disney's BoardWalk. You can valet park at BoardWalk for $7. Although valet parking is available at Downtown Disney, the congestion there is sometimes such that it may be faster to park in Siberia and walk. (Hint: arrive at Downtown Disney early in the evening -- around 6 PM -- and you'll get a much closer parking space; you'll also avoid long restaurant lines.) At Disney's BoardWalk, you park in the hotel lot, where valets are available as well.