Directions to Disney World Parks

**Note: This is Florida. For whatever reason, my phone maps aren’t always great in this area. My maps will always have me take the 4 freeway to get to Disney, but we like driving in the back route because it’s just a pretty drive and it’s the same amount of time! Traffic coming home on Old Lake Wilson is pretty bad between 4 pm and 6 pm, so just take any route that your maps suggest. We like to hang out somewhere instead of trying to drive during rush-hour.

Disney World:

Okay, on to the directions to Disney World! Here’s our favorite route:

Take Hills Bay Road (the road Lily Pad Landing is on) to Bridgewater Blvd
First Left on Bridgewater Blvd
Left on Ronald Regan Pkwy
Left at Old Lake Wilson Rd (1^st traffic signal), take Old Lake Wilson for about 6.5 miles, all the way down to the last signal just past Walmart.
Right on U.S. 192 (also known as Irlo Bronson)
Stay in the right lane! Drive for about 1.5 miles, and take the off-ramp for Disney World. It’s the 1^st freeway-looking off-ramp. The sign will not mention Animal Kingdom, but don’t worry, you can get to all 4 parks from there.
Then just follow the signs to the parks! Don’t be tricked by the resort signs (i.e., there’s a sign that says, “Epcot Resorts”, and you don’t want that!

Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom will be the first off-ramp on the right, so watch for that. You won’t be going under the big Disney World sign, but don’t worry – you’re still going the right way for those two parks! Keep going straight for Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Then just follow the signs to get to the park you want.

For all 4 parks, you will go through a booth where you will pay for parking. If you have a disabled parking pass, be sure to show the attendant at the booth, and they’ll tell you where to go. Otherwise, just follow the attendants. They’ll tell you exactly where to park. Pack up everything you want to bring to the parks, lock your car doors, and then here comes the important part: LOOK FOR THE PARKING AISLE YOU ARE ON BEFORE LEAVING THE ROW! TAKE A PICTURE OF IT WITH YOUR PHONE!! You will have a pretty terrible night if you think you’ll remember where you parked. I’ve been there literally 100 times, and even I can’t remember where I parked if I don’t know my parking row number. Pacing through one row after another trying to find your car is soooooo sad (I speak from experience, I did this once as an employee thinking for sure I could remember). Once you have your parking row number, then you can just follow everyone toward the main gate to the park. Make sure you have your park tickets before proceeding to the park, especially for Magic Kingdom folks, because your trip is a bit more involved. For all parks, get your masks on as soon as you see an employee because you must be wearing one anywhere on Disney property, including the parking lots.

For Magic Kingdom, after you pass the ticket booths, you’ll come out into a large space. You will have a choice to get to Magic Kingdom by Ferry (to the far left) or Monorail (straight). The employees won’t always tell you the truth about which is faster, they want to keep the crowds even. The Monorail is almost always faster, but the Ferry is a beautiful ride. If they happen to be loading the Ferry right as you’re getting there, then the Ferry could be quicker. It’s maybe a 10 minute boat ride, but the unloading and loading time for each boat is pretty long. It’s a gamble either way if every minute counts, but either route will be within 15 minutes of each other to arrive at Magic Kingdom. We like to take the Monorail in, and the Ferry back to the parking lot. It’s beautiful to watch the lit up castle slowly disappear in the distance at night.

Getting Home:

Again, for Magic Kingdom folks, you need to take either the Monorail or Ferry back. The Monorail line stresses us out a bit, and I’m not in any hurry leaving, so we prefer the Ferry especially on a crowded night. I’ll admit it, leaving Magic Kingdom is the least fun you’ll have during your whole vacation. Expect misery, and realize that if people cut in front of you it’s not going to actually get you home later. If you prepare for a long wait, you might be pleasantly surprised. I also suggest hanging out in the park for an hour or so after closing. Enjoy the lights and music, find a bench, and just relax. Food all closes at park closing (except Epcot, see Epcot tips), but merchandise stores usually stay open until 1 hour after park closing. You’ll avoid a lot of the mad rush if you sit it out a bit.

Once you’re back to your car, it’s probably best to use your phone maps to get back home or wherever else you’re going. It’ll have you take the 4 Freeway to get back to the house, and while it may be a bit longer, the maps do a good job of getting you back home. If you want to take the same way home, use your maps to find Walmart on Old Lake Wilson. Once you get there, just pass Walmart and stay on Old Lake Wilson all the way back until it dead ends. Turn right on Ronald Regan, Right on Bridgewater Crossing, and Right on Hills Bay Rd.