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Home / Type of trip / Attractions / Family Days: Getting lost at Walt Disney World

Family Days: Getting lost at Walt Disney World

August 17, 2013 by Gretta Schifano 12 Comments

Disney 1st visit badge. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Did J K Rowling get the idea for magical places being ‘unplottable’ after a visit to Disney World? I think she may have done. Despite being armed with maps and guidebooks we managed to lose our way nearly every time we drove to Walt Disney World during our recent two-week trip to Orlando. There are six separate parks there, as well as resorts, golf courses and shopping and dining areas all spread out over 43 square miles and connected by a web of roads.

On the first day of our trip the alleged 5 minute journey to Disney’s Animal Kingdom from our resort took us 40 minutes because we got so lost. Our maps only showed some of the roads and missed out many others, and we couldn’t use the Google maps app on my phone as we wanted to avoid the extortionate data roaming charges we’d incur. We put the experience down to jet lag, but the following days were no better. Under pressure in the front passenger seat, I became desperate for a map showing all of the roads in Disney World. I was after a kind of Ordnance Survey map, but when I asked in local shops nobody knew what I meant. I eventually asked at the Hess gas station inside Disney World and was told that the area is not mapped because it’s privately owned!

I found it incredible that an area so large, visited by millions of tourists a year isn’t properly mapped, so I checked with a police officer outside the gas station. He confirmed what I’d been told: ‘Yep, and you can turn off your GPS too, that won’t help you.’ We didn’t have GPS, but I was amazed that even that wouldn’t have helped.

We eventually got our bearings and didn’t get lost quite as often or for so long. We managed to visit all of the Disney parks as well as SeaWorld, Aquatica and some places beyond the theme parks. I had various maps but found the most helpful to be a small one at the back of DK’s Eyewitness Travel Family Guide Florida (which was published this year and I was sent to review). We had a great time and I’ll be writing about our excursions over the next few weeks.

Have you had a great day out with the kids recently? Whether on holiday or close to home, we’d love to hear about it. Join in with the Family Days Linky and share your posts below. Here’s how to take part:

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Categories: Attractions, Family Days Linky, USA
Tags: family days out, Walt Disney World

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. kriss MACDONALD says

    August 20, 2013 at 7:44 pm

    We’re currently travelling in Florida where drivers love to tailgate on some of the motorways which would make me quite nervous then getting lost at the same time!! We won’t be able to make Disney World this year but will in the future so it’s good to know that even the gps won’t be of help.
    kriss MACDONALD recently posted…On the road with kids: Adirondacks Wild CenterMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      August 20, 2013 at 7:51 pm

      Fantastic, I hope you have a great time and I look forward to reading all about it!

      Reply
  2. Pinkoddy says

    August 19, 2013 at 5:57 pm

    Hope you had an amazing time. We would be pulling each others hair out without GPS.
    Pinkoddy recently posted…Wear it for AutismMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      August 19, 2013 at 6:11 pm

      It was a bit stressful getting lost all the time, but we always found our way eventually!

      Reply
  3. Actually Mummy... says

    August 19, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Oooooohhhhh! Hope you had a fabulous time!
    Actually Mummy… recently posted…Silent SundayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      August 19, 2013 at 12:18 pm

      It was great, but pretty full on because there’s just so much to see and do!

      Reply
  4. becky @ lakes single mum says

    August 18, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    At least Euro Disney only has 2!
    becky @ lakes single mum recently posted…#SilentSundayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      August 18, 2013 at 8:06 pm

      May be we need to go there instead – it must be easier to navigate!

      Reply
  5. Sarah Ebner says

    August 17, 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Looking forward to reading more about your Disney/Orlando adventures! It sounds fabulous so far, even with getting lost…
    Sarah Ebner recently posted…Our Fabulous Day At The Science Museum (by Jessica)My Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      August 17, 2013 at 2:59 pm

      I have a lot of posts to write, we did so much!

      Reply
  6. anna says

    August 17, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    wow thats unbelievable you cant even find your way round on gps!! I would still really love to go though!!!
    anna recently posted…Photobox – Review and GiveawayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Gretta says

      August 17, 2013 at 2:30 pm

      I’d definitely recommend it, we had a fab time despite getting lost!

      Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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