The first time I drove to Disney World, we got a bit lost.
These were the days before GPS – or more accurately the days before I used GPS. I’d printed off a map with directions to Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.
I took a wrong turn. Instead of taking us through one of the main roads that cut across the Disney property, we came in on some back road that is usually reserved for the locals.
The magic of Disney is somewhat lessened when you don’t enter through the great big beautiful welcome signs. It was a lesson learned.
It is better to use the addresses to get around the Disney property?
I think so. Look, it’s easy to pick up your phone or tell your car’s GPS system to get directions to Hollywood Studios or Disney Springs.
But have you ever been driving and told the phone where you want to go only for it to hear something completely different?
I prefer to get the address and plug it in before you get on the road. Plus, you need to consider some technicalities.
For instance, cars can’t park at the Magic Kingdom park itself, they park at the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC).
Therefore, If you want to drive to the Kingdom and see Cinderella Castle, Frontierland and Fantasyland, you need to go to the TTC. Pick-ups and drop-offs should also be done at the TTC.
Do I really need GPS?
You could try to follow the signs instead. But I’ve found that when I’m staying off-property, I can get confused by the Disney signage.
Once, over the course of our last week-long stay, I discovered three or four alternate routes to our condo after missing my turn or exiting too soon.
What is the address of Disney World?
Disney’s address isn’t a single thing of course. The Disney complex is essentially as big as several major American cities. Some sites are listed with an Orlando address, others are Lake Buena Vista while still others can be Bay Lake.
Remember the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District – formerly the Reedy Creek District – has two towns, Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista within its boundaries.
So here are the addresses you’ll need to get around the massive Walt Disney World Resort Complex – or at least most of them.
The theme parks
1. Magic Kingdom
The listed address for the Magic Kingdom is 1180 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.
However, that’s actually for the Ticketing and Transportation Center. You’ll take the monorail or ferry from there.
2. EPCOT
The address is 200 Epcot Center Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. You can park at the TTC and ride the Monorail to go to EPCOT to see Spaceship Earth, but you’re better off parking at EPCOT.
The only reason to park at TTC to go to EPCOT is if you plan to park hop to the Magic Kingdom to watch the fireworks or something at the end of the night.
3. Hollywood Studios
The address if you want to spend the day at Toy Story Land or Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is 351 South Studio Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830.
4. Animal Kingdom
If you want to see Pandora: World of Avatar, you don’t have to cross time and space. You can just put 551 Rainforest Rd., Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 into your GPS.
5. Blizzard Beach
Type in 1534 Blizzard Beach Drive, Orlando, FL if you want to get to the temporarily closed for renovations water park.
6. Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
The address to head to Typhoon Lagoon is 1145 East Buena Vista Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32830.
Disney World Parks quick reference
| Magic Kingdom | 1180 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| EPCOT | 200 Epcot Center Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Hollywood Studios | 200 Epcot Center Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Animal Kingdom | 551 Rainforest Rd., Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Blizzard Beach | 1534 Blizzard Beach Drive, Orlando, FL |
| Typhoon Lagoon | 1145 East Buena Vista Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32830 |
Other Disney properties
| Disney Springs | 1486 Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex | 700 S Victory Way, Orlando, FL 34747 |
Disney Resort hotels
| Disney’s All-Star Movies | 1901 W Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s All-Star Music | 1901 W Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s All-Star Sports | 1701 W Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge | 2901 Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL 34747 |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas: Jambo House | 2901 W Osceola Pkwy, Kissimmee, FL 34747 |
| Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas: Kidani Village | 3701 Osceola Pkwy, Bay Lake, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Art of Animation Resort | 1850 Animation Way Orlando, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Beach Club Resort | 1800 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Beach Club Villas | 1800 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s BoardWalk Inn | 2101 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Orlando, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s BoardWalk Villas | 2101 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort | 1114 Cayman Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Contemporary Resort | 4600 N World Dr, Orlando, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort | 1000 W Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa | 4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Old Key West Resort | 1510 N Cove Rd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort | 1600 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32836 |
| Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows | 1600 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32836 |
| Disney’s Pop Century Resort | 1050 Century Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Port Orleans Resort: French Quarter | 2201 Orleans Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa | 1960 Broadway, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Wilderness Lodge | 901 Timberline Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Yacht Club Resort | 1700 Epcot Resorts Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Disney’s Riviera Resort | 1080 Esplanade Ave, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
Other Disney hotel properties
| Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort | 4600 World Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge | 901 Timberline Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge | 901 Timberline Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort | 4510 N. Fort Wilderness Trail Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort | 4510 N. Fort Wilderness Trail Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
| The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa | 4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 |
Can I use Siri or Alexa to get around Disney?
Sure. That’s my chief mapping method these days.
Hold the button and demand directions to wherever you want to go. That usually works great until it doesn’t.
My Siri success rate is slightly hit or miss. I think it’s my Southern accent, which isn’t that strong but seems to be enough to occasionally flummox my digital assistant.
Example? The “Hey, Siri” feature works 100% of the time on my iHome speakers. Never misses. On my phone? Zero percent.
However, when I want to talk to my co-worker Sherry I’ll call out, “Hey, Sherry,” it activates my iPhone about 85% of the time.
The real kicker is when I’m driving and can’t get the phone to answer. That’s usually when I start cursing.
Once I get on Disney property, do I really need to drive?
You really don’t.
When I’m staying on Disney property, I park the car and leave it. The only time I’ve driven when staying on property is when I wanted to go from one resort hotel to another for a character meal or something.
The bus system isn’t really built to take you from, for example, Ft. Wilderness to Coronado Springs. It can be done, but you have to go to Disney Springs or one of the parks and switch buses.
I’d rather just drive.
Still, the Disney transportation system is really the best way to get around. You save money on having to park at the theme parks and the public transportation pick up and drop offs are almost always better than the car park.
The main mode of transportation is the buses which begin in plenty of time for early theme park entry.
If you’re at a resort with the monorail, that’s an incredibly efficient way to get to the Magic Kingdom and a pretty good way to get to EPCOT.
I hope they run the Skyliner, which connects several resorts to EPCOT and Hollywood Studios to more Disney properties. I really like the Skyliner and find it a more pleasurable way to get around than the bus system.
It’s like getting to ride an attraction before getting into the parks. It’s also a great way to get to the EPCOT resorts if you’re staying at the Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation or Riviera Resort.
Can I use Uber or Lyft to get to Disney?
If you don’t want to drive but are leery of public transportation, you can order an Uber or Lyft. But honestly, that seems an unnecessary extra expense.
Do you use a GPS to navigate Disney World? What are your tips for getting around the parks? Share them in the comments.
