Landmarks.

[LIMA TIME]

We all come from different places and get to Disney World in different ways. We always drive to DW and our trips usually takes about two days. It is about 8-9 hours, but since we have a little one we break it up into two days and take our time. So the drive is all excitement from the time we leave our driveway, but the excitement level gets ramped up, for me, when I pass the Chaddy Shack store on I-95 right before we turn on to I-4. That is when I know we are really close. It is such an arbitrary thing, but that and giant LPGA overpass in Daytona lest me know I am super close.

I want to know what landmark sets off the "Oh Man, we are sooooooo close" and lets you know that you are just a short time away and all the planning and packing and waiting will be worth it. (aside from driving under the giant Disney sign when you get on property) I'm interested to see what people think.

 

[WDW 3]

When we land and our first "ride" is the tram at the airport

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Our first monorail ride:


First Monorail of Vacation by Melissisms, on Flickr

 

[princessmommy]

The power station on I4 that has the Mickey ears- 10 minutes away!

never saw this! Gonna look for it!

 

[danpam1024]

never saw this! Gonna look for it!

We come across I4 from the west coast

 

[bethymouse]

. We see the Pedro signs going down 95 and then pass South of the Border. (You never sausage a place!)
. Spotting that first palm tree.
. The Florida Welcome Center...that little cup of cold orange juice and browsing thru all the Disney brochures and maps. At that point it's usually when we can put the windows down a little and enjoy the sunshine...

When we see Pedro signs, we count them! We know then that we're 1/2 way there!

 

[bethymouse]

Our first monorail ride:


First Monorail of Vacation by Melissisms, on Flickr

Where is this please?

 

[Disvillain63]

Florida State Line...the 7-up can or Canada Dry can just outside Jacksonville...LPGA overpass...Lake Monroe...Church Street Station...Uni...Disney Exits....we're home.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Where is this please?

That's the tram that takes you to and from the gates at the Orlando airport.

 

[bethymouse]

That's the tram that takes you to and from the gates at the Orlando airport.

Dumb question... if you take DME, will you be boarding this tram?

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Dumb question... if you take DME, will you be boarding this tram?

Yes. All of the gates at MCO are separated from the main building. You'll take the tram the central building, then go downstairs to the DME queues.

 

[bethymouse]

Yes. All of the gates at MCO are separated from the main building. You'll take the tram the central building, then go downstairs to the DME queues.

Thank you. This is our 1st flight. We usually drive.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Thank you. This is our 1st flight. We usually drive.

Safe travels! It's an easy airport to navigate. Pretty much all you have to do is follow the signs.

 

[Jo DeVil]

Our holiday starts when we leave home!!! We have an 1 hour drive to the airport (Inverness) then the flight to London Gatwick, an over night stay at the airport, and a 9 hour flight to MCO. but it is when they open the aircraft doors it is the smell of Florida. I can explain it I just smell it!!!

 

[disneyfan56]

We usually always drive down and take two days to get down. For us it's waking up the second day, usually in Georgia, that our excitement really starts. Getting on I-4 is another high point and we start planning what we are going to do first.

 

[foreverbelle]

When we drive down, from Northern VA, we hit the JR signs until after about Smithfield area, then after we hit the South of the Boarder. For some reason we always think of look well we know we are getting closer when we start seeing

 

[KappleB2]

Signs for the Florida Welcome center (with free juice!) are what do it for me! It still leaves a bit of a drive but what's ahead is NOTHING compared to the 9-10 hours before!

 

[disneygirl1024]

Landing at MCO and riding the tram to the main building. Then getting on the DME bus. From there when I see the swan and dolphin then the Walt Disney World sign. That's what does it for me!

 

[WDW-Crazy]

We drive from the Central PA area going down Rte 15 to 29 and over to 17 which takes us to I-95. We've counted the numerous Waffle House's and South of the Border signs many times. I always feel that South of the Border is somewhat the mid-point.

 

[bigorangeandy]

Driving down at night if you time it right you can see the fireworks from Wishes on the Florida Turnpike. We did this years ago and every time we are at that spot I feel that we are almost at Disney. Another good landmark is the Welcome Center on I-75, a little over half way from the Atlanta area, about 140 miles to the turnpike so the excitement starts building.