Driving Disney World. Advice?

[annafab]

I'm looking at driving to Disney World for the first time and will probably be staying off-site and driving into the resort to visit the parks. Is there anything I need to know about driving around Disney World? Important traffic patterns? Parking lot costs? Any help would be awesome.

[MadEye]

First, do you know where you will be staying. That is a big help to give advice on which roads to take. I know most of the roads on WDW Property as I've driven them on a weekly (if not daily) basis. So I know the short cuts.

If I am not mistaken, I think parking is $14. I could be wrong as I haven't paid for parking in years. It might tell you on waltdisneyworld.com.

I'm going to bed now and I'll be out of the apartment most of tomorrow (playing in EPCOT Center ) so if you post and I don't answer, I'm not ignoring you.

[mindflipper]

Yes, parking fees have been increased from $12 (what I paid in December 2010) to $14 currently. I had a co-worker go down last weekend and that's what he paid.

[annafab]

Is that $14 per day??? I'm still exploring hotel options, but was hoping to stay at one of the preferred hotels (my optimal choice at the moment is the Hilton near Downtown Disney). But that may change depending on costs. But if it's going to cost $14 a day to park, then I might as well stay in a hotel that's a little more expensive than I'd like and just use the Disney transportation.

[Len90]

I would advise looking into hotel options. It is $14 a day to park at Disney parks and free if you are a guest on property. Remember to factor in the costs of the car (gas, rental, etc) and parking when weighing your options. It may not be much more to just go to a WDW value resort or stay at a downtown disney hotel.

As for navigating your way around the property, there really isn't that much traffic or hardships. We always rent a car since we tend to go off property for the outlets, maybe a day trip to Universal (dare I say that word), and eating off property. Disney is pretty good with signs and tell you how to get to everywhere from anywhere. I would watch my speed when driving as the OCSO has been hiding and pulling over more people over the past few years. The worst place you can drive is actually around Downtown Disney. There are just a ton of annoying traffic lights out there and traffic can get backed up a bit.

[DIAC1987]

You can always just park at Downtown Disney and take the bus to one of the resorts close to the parks. Its a mild case of cheating though. This also doesn't work with Animal Kingdom either

[Amy]

You can always just park at Downtown Disney and take the bus to one of the resorts close to the parks. Its a mild case of cheating though. This also doesn't work with Animal Kingdom either

They don't charge to park at Downtown Disney?
I agree with Len, you might want to check into hotel packages on property. With specials that they run, you might be able to get your hotel, tickets, and dining all for not much more, or maybe even less!, than you would spend if you stay off property and drive each day and have to pay for parking.

[MadEye]

They don't charge to park at Downtown Disney?
I agree with Len, you might want to check into hotel packages on property. With specials that they run, you might be able to get your hotel, tickets, and dining all for not much more, or maybe even less!, than you would spend if you stay off property and drive each day and have to pay for parking.

Nope. They don't charge a thing to park at DTD, thankfully!!!

As for booking a resort, having a rental is a good idea too. If you stay at a resort and have a car (rental or otherwise), you get a parking permit to park at the resort and it gets you in free to park in the parking lots for all four parks (thats a lot of usees of the word park...).

[Wizzard419]

I would say I am surprised they charge at DLR for DTD, but considering the parking lots are next to each other I am guessing they needed to,

If you stay onsite at a disney owned property, at wdw, it's free parking at the hotels, right? Plus you have the benefit of not having to drive anywhere else unless you really want to. If you stay at another company's property (like the Hilton or the Swan and Dolphin) you may end up having to pay to park at the hotel.

[Len90]

I would say I am surprised they charge at DLR for DTD, but considering the parking lots are next to each other I am guessing they needed to,

If you stay onsite at a disney owned property, at wdw, it's free parking at the hotels, right? Plus you have the benefit of not having to drive anywhere else unless you really want to. If you stay at another company's property (like the Hilton or the Swan and Dolphin) you may end up having to pay to park at the hotel.

I'm not sure, but I think the Swan and Dolphin will not receive the parking pass but will be able to park for free by showing a room key at the entrance gates.

[annafab]

Ok, on site is probably going to be more helpful.

In that case, does anyone have any experience with driving to the parks in your own vehicle vs taking the Disney transportation? Considering I'll probably be there around the 4th, I'm guessing the parking lots probably get full quick BUT I do have experience with how excruciatingly long riding the bus can be (especially from value resorts, which is definitely where we'd be).

[Amy]

Ok, on site is probably going to be more helpful.
In that case, does anyone have any experience with driving to the parks in your own vehicle vs taking the Disney transportation? Considering I'll probably be there around the 4th, I'm guessing the parking lots probably get full quick BUT I do have experience with how excruciatingly long riding the bus can be (especially from value resorts, which is definitely where we'd be).

The bus rides aren't that long unless you have to wait to get on the bus in the first place. I think the furthest ride seemed to be to Downtown Disney from the All Star Music resort where we stayed this past December. Are you talking about being there over the 4th of July? In that case, I would think you would want to get to whichever park you want to be in for the rest of the day very early as you might have to worry just as much about gaining entry to the parks as to the parking lot.
The Magic Kingdom is also far away from the Magic Kingdom but it never seemed like it took a long time to get there. You get to relax on the bus, listen to the music, look out the windows at the scenery. If you are intent on driving, you should have no problems as all the roads seem very well marked.
If you are only renting a car to drive from the airport to Disney, you might find that you keep the car parked for your entire trip, unless you venture off property to go to the "other" Florida parks or shopping or dining off property.

[horizons1]

Driving in the resort is easy. Blue road signs with purple poles are everywhere, pointing you to where you want to go. If you miss a turn, don't panic. They have other ways to reroute you.

[annafab]

Does driving between places take a long time? That's mostly what I'm concerned about...

[Amy]

Does driving between places take a long time? That's mostly what I'm concerned about...

Driving will likely take you a little longer than taking the Disney buses since you will have to park and then walk or take the tram to the park entrance. The nice thing is that you can control exactly when you are departing rather than dealing with the every 15 minute or so schedule of the buses. The buses don't stop at the toll gates either. Plus they drop you off right at the entrance