Shorcuts and alternative routes at peak times

[Nostromo]

I have driven in Orlando before but we stayed in the Disney resorts and went by taxi to Universal area. But this time, we will be staying in the villas near US27/192 and have to cope with rush hour traffic on the I-4 to get to Universal, IoA, Sea World etc. We can start at 8:30 but not earlier, knowing the people in my group. Do poeple know of less crowded alternative routes to get to the Universal area from the US27 villas (near its junction with US192)? I am pretty good with following maps on side roads once I know the route, having done it regularly in the UK and USA.

[Carla]

Rush hour traffic often only slows the traffic down to the speed that it should legally have been going anyway!! It isn't really a problem. I use I4 at all times of day and night and have found that if there is a problem they move the cars out of the way really quickly and the traffic just carries on!!! Usual driving speed during rush hour is between 50 and 55 mph. Ususal driving speed at other times could be anything - depending on the drivers!!!!!

I have tried other back routes, but these roads are always slower anyway because of the many traffic lights - so you really don't gain anything.

Forgot to mention that 8.30am is very much towards the end of the rush hour anyway. Most Americans start work earlier than we do in the UK.

[fiona]

You could pick up the Osceola Parkway at Disney and then come off at I drive, cutting through the quick turn (at the giant bear) for Universal. We go that way unless I4 is deadly quiet.

[DMC]

We always stay in I'Drive, but have never had the need to hire a car as there is only the 2 of us, the Buses meet our transport needs.

We smile to ourselves at the traffic jams on I4 as it reminds us of the M25 most days. That said unlike the M25 it does seem to keep moving most of the time.

If it does get too bad, then try joining I'Drive south of Seaworld down near the Premium Outlet, then head north up I'Drive and just past the Peabody Hotel ( FAO Shwartz is in front of you ) take a right onto Universal Boulavard follow this road along and after 2 miles or so you will cross back over I Drive, with Wet & Wild on your left. Go straight over I'Drive across the bridge and Universal will be in front of you with the car park entrance on your right.

The only issue with I'Drive can be the Convention Centre Traffic, in the mornings & evenings, even more so now that they are doubling its size, that said the road system in this area is being upgraded.

But in short unless there is a major incident on I4, by the time you have tried the back routes you'll arrive at about the same time as you would have done if you had stuck with it.

DMC

[Nostromo]

Thanks everyone! What we need is a large scale paper map of Central Florida with all the roads named like our own A to Z maps. So far, I have not managed to find one at Amazon or anywhere else.

[Carla]

That may not be so easy Nostromo!! They don't seem to be as good at doing maps or at updating them!

Try www.mapquest.com and see what routesthat gives you. I think that you can put in certain criteria and say that you wish to avoid a particular road and they'll give you an alternative route.

[MTP]

The rush hour isn't really a problem in our experience, and going off the main roads is interesting, but usually no quicker. We have several routes that we take depending on our mood to get to and from the villa.

The main problem when driving is when accidents happen, or even if someone is broken down or has been pulled over. We experienced this for the first time on the last holiday, the rubber-necking by passing drivers was unbelievable, causing a huge tailback. This happens even if the incident is on the opposite carriageway. By the time you realise this is happening you are usually already committed to being on I4 and have to just put up with it. This did seem to happen on days when more tourists were about, which I guess isn't too surprising.

[chrisj]

We have just got back and to be honest what the locals would call Rush Hour I would call
a few extra cars on the road.

We left for the parks at all times and found the routes so easy to handle, We used I4 to
go to Busch but woke up late, At the gas station we filled up before we left the man
warned us it would be busy, to be honest if that is what they call busy they havent seen
london traffic., Its so easy

Ps: Must file our trip report as well

Chris