This past week I drove by the car care center when leaving the MK lot and got on Bear Island Road to go back to Western Way since I was staying at one of the Flamingo Crossings hotels. I know it's more of a backstage road, but could I have gotten in trouble if caught driving on that road? I know there is the gate at Western Way but it will let you exit if going toward Western Way.
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Bear Island Road
- Thread starter SingleRider
- Start date
It's not a private road if that's what you're asking... If it's not gated, to my knowledge, it's a public road and you can use it. I only ever use it when going to Cast Connections myself.
Not the situation you’re asking - but posting my experience if someone’s searching . Just tried to access road at Western Way and Bear Island road as Uber tried to make us go this route - has a gate that it seems only Disney vehicles have the pass to let the gate open. Annoying this was an option on uber and added 15 minutes for the detour
castlecake2.0
Well-Known Member
Might be wrong but pretty sure there’s an “authorized vehicles only” sign for that road. It is certainly not meant to be available for guest use
Tuvalu
Premium Member
Years ago Bear Island Road used to be gated on both ends, since it was a private backstage road under Reedy Creek domain. When GPS began routing vehicles that way, the gate was removed from Floridian Way likely due to safety issues from guests being trapped by the gate and having to u-turn onto busy Floridian Way.
There is a light at the intersection of Bear Island and Western Way and the gate can be clearly seen. There are “authorized vehicles only” signs on both ends of the road as @castlecake2.0 said.
There is a light at the intersection of Bear Island and Western Way and the gate can be clearly seen. There are “authorized vehicles only” signs on both ends of the road as @castlecake2.0 said.
Club Cooloholic
Well-Known Member
Is this the road kinda near AKL? I think my GPS led me on this one night when trying to pick up dinner. Definitely didn't feel like I should be on it. I remember some condos near the exit, I don't think they were on that road though.
jme
Well-Known Member
Here's the road in question. It does also continue down across Western Way to Savannah Circle which is part of Backstage for DAK. That being said, approaching from Western Way, there is a traffic light at this intersection and no gate or OBVIOUS signage indicating you shouldn't be turning here.
When approaching from Car Care Dr, you would have to turn left onto Bear Island Rd. There is a posted sign that says "All Guest Traffic Turn Right", but there is no gate to the left either. If you turn left there is a white sign that reads "Service & Authorized Vehicles Only".
So, would you get in trouble if caught back here? I think 99 times out of 100 the answer is most likely a no. You may be escorted out. I think at worst you could get a traffic ticket for failure to obey a posted sign (equivalent to running a stop sign or failing to yield, etc.) and repeat offenses might earn you a trespass - but with the lack of gates and signage really only on the one side of this, I think they've just accepted that GPS is routing people this way.
jme
Well-Known Member
Ah, if that sign is gone then it would seem that road is fair game for public traffic.
Club Cooloholic
Well-Known Member
What about Reedy Creek BLD and Sherbeth. Are there any gates on those? I feel like one of them might have(I am just looking at a map and it's been a year)
Disney Security doesn’t have the authority to pull you over.
Realistically, the most they’d do is call Orange County and hope someone’s available, or follow you within property until you park and exit your vehicle - then they might approach you.
But both of those options require more effort than it’s usually worth and take resources away from the onstage areas where Disney’s security theater is most visible.
Plus, “authorized vehicles” can include privately owned cars belonging to people who are formally allowed backstage, and Disney doesn’t necessarily know every single vehicle.
With all that said, would I recommend using this road? Absolutely not. But you're free to decide yourself.
Ayla
Well-Known Member
Sherbeth is a public road. We used it daily when we stayed in Windsor Hills.
vikescaper
Well-Known Member
I’ve always been tempted to drive down Bear Island Road but never followed through on it. Mainly due to the fact that going that way wouldn’t really provide any benefit to me. With the roadway improvements that have been occurring on property, I wonder if the CFTOD and Disney would consider making it an official roadway for public use.
JoeCamel
Well-Known Member
Never unless they can screen the huge piles of black gold and the tanks of the treatment plant.
surfsupdon
Well-Known Member
Join rundisney Marathon and get to run down Bear Island!! In years past WineDineHalf used this route too. It’s usually highly themed in this area!
On a windy day you can smell the stench of the Disney sewage treatment plant on Bear Island if you roll down your windows.
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
Yes, you can drive through this area, just as you can drive behind Magic Kingdom (where you will see the monorail maintenance bay/WDW Railroad maintenance bay, utility buildings, Disney University, Central Shops, and more) and the warehouse and service area off of Winter Garden Vineland Road where E. Buena Vista Dr and Vista Blvd meet. Just stay on the roads and don't go into the parking lots or facilities.
castlecake2.0
Well-Known Member
Those roads also have signs stating authorized vehicles only but no one follows that, people really shouldn’t be driving though the service areas but I dint think it’s been a big enough issue to ever really enforce
There are residential homes a few miles away I believe. The CMs driving need to get to their destination going through these areas. . A tourist there in their rental would just be plain lost.