I'm thinking about renting a car and was wondering how easy it is to get to/from the parks and airport. I will coming solo so I will have nobody to help me with directions. If I was doing all of my driving in the daytime, I wouldn't be worried, but at night I am afraid that I will get lost. So is there good signage or landmarks to prevent me from getting lost? Will the front desk give me good driving directions? Also, if I do rent a car, how much time should I allow to get from Epcot to the airport for my return flight?
Thanks
It's VERY easy to find your way back to the resort at night. And finding your way to the parks is also extremely easy. Chelonia Parkway, the road the resort is located on, only has 1 outlet which is on Buena Vista Parkway. This is probably the single most important surface street on Disney Property. With both Hess stations, Downtown Disney, and most DTD and EPCOT resorts in some way requiring you to be on this road at some point, it really is very difficult to miss Buena Vista Parkway.
Beyond that, the road is easy to spot because it's the first road/light next to Epcot Center Drive..... which is the only bridge OVER Buena Vista Drive. (World Drive goes under Buena Vista). It's actually the intersection that has the big red Goofy in a minivan "Best Kept Secret" DVC sign.
There are also a few signs closer to the intersection pointing you to the resort. The signs say "Bonnet Creek Resort area" are are a more "rose-ish" color from the usual signage on Disney Property directing you to thing.
A General rule which can help you get around the Disney Property as you familiarize yourself with the road layout.... When you exit the resort make a right. (Left will be a dead-end....right connects you back to the Disney property) At the light.... If you make a Left, You can get to every one of the Disney Parks, and should be able to follow the Disney signs to let you know how to get around. A Right will take you to Downtown Disney. (There are other ways to get places that may be quicker/shorter, but I figure keep it simple would be best here until you are more comfortable driving around and know the property.)
To get back to the resort, You can follow the signs to the "Downtown Disney Resort Area". I'm pretty sure that every park will lead you a way that will take you by the road WBC is located off of.
For the Airport.... figure 30-45min drive time between the EPCOT parking lot and the Airport Rental Return would be a realistic estimate. This is a VERY simple drive since you can Exit the EPCOT parking lot following the signs to I-4....and then once you are on EPCOT Center Drive, rather than take the I-4 ramps outside the arches, just follow the road straight until it merges with 417 which is the toll road that take you to the airport.
To GET to WBC from the Airport, Take the South exit from the Airport towards 417. 417 West towards Disney (think the sign even says Kissemmee/Disney). Exit 417 at the International Drive exit (after the 2nd toll booth). Follow this road straight thru the Welcome to Disney arches, exit the first exit... Make a left at the light, and then the next left after you cross under the bridge.
I know you are planning on taking a GPS, but hopefully these directions will also help you by giving you some idea of how to get around without needing to constantly look at the GPS. (Keep you honest and help keep you from getting lost, but not being your primary way of knowing where you are going.)
That was a fast reply! I plan on taking a GPS but I need the GPS address for BC. Thanks for the fast reply.
9560 Via Encinas, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
This year, we booked an extra bedroom so that we can take my dad with us and try to keep him as happy as possible during what will likely be a difficult time for him. We just want to make it as special as possible for him!
