GPS navigation at WDW

[jkl2000]

At home I don't use a GPS device - I pretty much stare at maps and make notes, then find my own way (asking directions only when completely necessary, like that car in Cars!). However, I've never driven in Orlando. How easy or difficult is it for someone completely unfamiliar with the area to find their way around between the resorts, the parks, etc? Do any of you do it without GPS, and if so, do you use maps, rely on the signage, etc? Without GPS do you find you're having to refer to the maps over and over?

I have a pretty good sense of direction, but since it's an area I'm not at all familiar with, and I don't want to be late to park openings, etc., I'm trying to gauge if I need to use a GPS unit (IF I rent a car). If you use GPS, how easy is it with GPS, using the exact addresses of the parks and resorts, etc?

 

[The Mighty Tim]

I've never driven at Disney (I don't like driving in my home country, let alone a foreign one that drives on the wrong side of the road!), however I have been a passenger, and am usually in charge of navigation. Once in the parks, you'll find the friendly purple road signs are enough to assist with your navigation.

One thing that might help you out is knowing which resort area your destination resort is in, since IIRC, the signs often refer to the "Magic Kingdom Resort Area" or some such. Once in a "resort area", the individual resorts should be well signposted.

 

[Bob]

Orlando is pretty easy to get around. I used to go there all the time on business (before I caught the WDW bug). I got around easily using the maps supplied by the rental car company or ones that I printed out back at home. Granted that was before I had a smartphone. These days I'd probably tell my Android phone/tablet where I wanted to go and it would get me there.

 

[wannab@dis]

We've driven to Disney and around Disney many times. A GPS is a good addition when you're not familiar with the area. Most of the time when you're on property, the signs will suffices. With that said, MouseSavers offers a great download for GPS that includes many POI (points of interests). It includes all the Disney locations plus many places off property and surrounding area.

http://www.mousesavers.com/using-auto-gps-at-walt-disney-world/

Well worth the download and install for quickly finding a place without searching by address.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The signs at Walt Disney World can sometimes be a little confusing in regards to what lane to be in, but they tend to be family good. There is some sense of order if you pay attention to where you are driving.

 

[rufio]

I wouldn't do it without a GPS! No way, no how! But I live in a mid-sized city and big cities freak me out. Oh, and I'm completely dependent on my GPS anyway...

 

[bethram]

Once we've been to our resort the first time, we are usually ok getting around by reading the purple signs. Occasionally, when returning to our resort in the evening, we do use the gps to get us back so we don't have to be as vigilant watching for the correct purple signs.

Also, Orlando is not the city your WDW resort is located in. I think it may be Lake Buena Vista, but I'm not completely positive.

 

[Susan Savia]

We've always driven to WDW and have never had any problems finding our way around from park to park. We also drive around Orlando and Kissimmee without issue. Signs are clear.

 

[RedDad]

We've driven to WDW many times and never with a GPS until this most recent trip, when we needed it to go to some unfamiliar places after Orlando. Its really not necessary as long as you're on property as there are plenty of signs to get you everywhere.

I will note that using a gps on property can be perilous, as we found several times. It seemed to be unable to distinguish service and other backstage area roads, and we kept getting sent into places we weren't supposed to be...

We were glad to have it, though, as we ended up needing to find a local wireless provider store to replace a phone.