Use the Speedway drop off point, it works well!

[SL6827]

We used the Speedway drop off point this past Friday for our Hollywood Studios day and it worked perfectly. Uber pick up at 7:30, dropped off at say 7:40 maybe. Went in Speedway, got some water, doughnuts, chips and headed for our walk. A little chilly, but hand warmers helped! We were amongst the first 20 people in line.

As long as this is "allowed" I would do it. My 16-year-old daughter thought I was cra-cra and just couldn't understand why I was doing this, until we got in line and were some of the first ones there. Then she was like, ya, you know your Disney stuff, mom!! If you do this, do go in and purchase a few things to eat or drink from the Speedway. We ate breakfast as we made our walk.

 

[gatour]

We used the Speedway drop off point this past Friday for our Hollywood Studios day and it worked perfectly. Uber pick up at 7:30, dropped off at say 7:40 maybe. Went in Speedway, got some water, doughnuts, chips and headed for our walk. A little chilly, but hand warmers helped! We were amongst the first 20 people in line.

As long as this is "allowed" I would do it. My 16-year-old daughter thought I was cra-cra and just couldn't understand why I was doing this, until we got in line and were some of the first ones there. Then she was like, ya, you know your Disney stuff, mom!! If you do this, do go in and purchase a few things to eat or drink from the Speedway. We ate breakfast as we made our walk.

I had to look at Google maps to see what you were talking about. Paved pathways with marked crosswalks. Sounds like a great plan. Plus uber drivers have a tendency to hang out at that Speedway betweein rides.

 

[nkereina]

This is definitely a good option if you want to ensure you're among the first in the park when they open, but the value of doing this has diminished now that RotR boarding groups can be obtained prior to park opening. If you're ok with being at the park close to/around opening rather than at opening, then we found that the Skyliner or Uber drop off right at the park is fine as well.

 

[SL6827]

This is definitely a good option if you want to ensure you're among the first in the park when they open, but the value of doing this has diminished now that RotR boarding groups can be obtained prior to park opening. If you're ok with being at the park close to/around opening rather than at opening, then we found that the Skyliner or Uber drop off right at the park is fine as well.

Star Wars was of no interest to us on this trip. Just walked through that area once. Know nothing about that brand.

 

[Joeboo25]

We did it twice in December from POP and I think it's the only way to guarantee a good rope drop spot at HS these days. The Skyliner is a little crippled from POP since you have to get in the back of the line when you change over at Caribbean Beach. Both days got us on MRR and SDD either before the park opened or with minimal waits.

 

[hedberg1661]

Has anyone done this as a quick way to get in the back door of Epcot? Should be a hop over to the Boardwalk and walk right in to Epcot. I know right now that the resorts are being weird about dropping off guests at resorts without reservations so I was wondering if anyone has done this lately?

 

[Ralph&Pam]

Has anyone done this as a quick way to get in the back door of Epcot? Should be a hop over to the Boardwalk and walk right in to Epcot. I know right now that the resorts are being weird about dropping off guests at resorts without reservations so I was wondering if anyone has done this lately?

It’s easy to do this without passing by the guard entrance to the BW resort. Cross Epcot Resorts Blvd. to the west side of the roadway, then use the sidewalk along the road to the entrance to the BW resort that is used by the buses. Continue along the sidewalk that passes in front of the BW Convention Center Building and then down the stairs to the lower BW level. That stairway takes you to the Village Green area of the resort. Continue on to the IG at Epcot. The sidewalk along Epcot Resorts Blvd. is the one I use to walk to the Speedway to purchase supplies when we stay at BWV. Prices for beer, wine, pop, and bottled water are much better than in the Disney gift shops.

 

[hedberg1661]

It’s easy to do this without passing by the guard entrance to the BW resort. Cross Epcot Resorts Blvd. to the west side of the roadway, then use the sidewalk along the road to the entrance to the BW resort that is used by the buses. Continue along the sidewalk that passes in front of the BW Convention Center Building and then down the stairs to the lower BW level. That stairway takes you to the Village Green area of the resort. Continue on to the IG at Epcot. The sidewalk along Epcot Resorts Blvd. is the one I use to walk to the Speedway to purchase supplies when we stay at BWV. Prices for beer, wine, pop, and bottled water are much better than in the Disney gift shops.

I wasn't sure if the guard would stop you if you tried to enter the main entrance way since it is closer to speedway but your recommendation also looks great!

 

[goofy4tink]

To be clear, there is no sidewalk between the Speedway station and either entrance to BW...you have to walk along the roadway or in the grass. In the grass in nothing I ever advise..to many crawlie things in there!!!

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

It’s easy to do this without passing by the guard entrance to the BW resort. Cross Epcot Resorts Blvd. to the west side of the roadway, then use the sidewalk along the road to the entrance to the BW resort that is used by the buses. Continue along the sidewalk that passes in front of the BW Convention Center Building and then down the stairs to the lower BW level. That stairway takes you to the Village Green area of the resort. Continue on to the IG at Epcot. The sidewalk along Epcot Resorts Blvd. is the one I use to walk to the Speedway to purchase supplies when we stay at BWV. Prices for beer, wine, pop, and bottled water are much better than in the Disney gift shops.

How would this compare distance-wise from being dropped off at Swan or Dolphin and walking from there to IG?

 

[SL6827]

How would this compare distance-wise from being dropped off at Swan or Dolphin and walking from there to IG?

I think the Speedway may be a tad shorter. Nothing major.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

To be clear, there is no sidewalk between the Speedway station and either entrance to BW...you have to walk along the roadway or in the grass. In the grass in nothing I ever advise..to many crawlie things in there!!!

Although there are no sidewalks along the driveways for the Speedway station, there certainly is a sidewalk along the north side of Buena Vista Drive leading to a crosswalk with traffic light over to the west side of Epcot Resorts Blvd. This sidewalk goes all the way to both entrances to the BW resort. You do not have to walk along any roadway other than the paved driveway of the service station. This drive is very wide and has little traffic, since it’s just the vehicles entering and leaving the service station. The sidewalks along Buena Vista Drive and Epcot Resorts Blvd. are quite visible on the Google Maps satellite view.

 

[SL6827]

A little part of the sidewalk here.

 

[goofy4tink]

I stand corrected.

 

[heresabe]

I always use the Speedway across from Disney Springs to pick up supplies. Under normal circumstances, one can use the bridge designed for Cast Members to walk between Speedway and DS, then carry one's purchased items on a bus to any resort.
I heard that 7-11 has purchased Speedway...wonder how that will affect the WDW Speedways.

 

[joelkfla]

Although there are no sidewalks along the driveways for the Speedway station, there certainly is a sidewalk along the north side of Buena Vista Drive leading to a crosswalk with traffic light over to the west side of Epcot Resorts Blvd. This sidewalk goes all the way to both entrances to the BW resort. You do not have to walk along any roadway other than the paved driveway of the service station. This drive is very wide and has little traffic, since it’s just the vehicles entering and leaving the service station. The sidewalks along Buena Vista Drive and Epcot Resorts Blvd. are quite visible on the Google Maps satellite view.

If you look at Google Street View, the stretch of sidewalk between BW & Speedway magically disappears as you move down the road. Apparently that section was removed sometime after the satellite view was captured. It looks like the crosswalk markings were also partially removed.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

If you look at Google Street View, the stretch of sidewalk between BW & Speedway magically disappears as you move down the road. Apparently that section was removed sometime after the satellite view was captured. It looks like the crosswalk markings were also partially removed.
View attachment 554427

View attachment 554424

That’s really interesting. The first image is from May 2019 and the second from February 2020. I will miss that sidewalk along Buena Vista Drive, since I would walk it down to the fire station further east for variety on some of my morning walks. It used to end at the fire station.

 

[Tiggr88]

It appears there is a sidewalk from buena vista dr to the boardwalk. However, to get there from the speedway it appears that you need to do either one of two things if I follow this correctly:

1. Walk out the front of the speedway out to buena vista dr and walk along the road or on the grass to get to the intersection with epcot resorts blvd as it appears the sidewalk has been removed for this section. you can then cross epcot resort blvd. At that point you would go straight on the sidewalk up to the fork where you would stay to the right and down the path to the walking path to Hollywood Studios. Or after crossing epcot resort blvd you could hang a right onto a sidewalk that will take you most of the way to Boardwalk Resort although it looks like you might have to go onto the parking lot for a brief spell around the security gate.
2. Walk out the back side of the Speedway again on the grass or on the driveway and cross Epcot Resort Blvd by the Boardwalk resort sign. Hang a left back towards Buena Vista Dr on the sidewalk and then right at Buena Vist Dr and the follow the path to the fork as above. Alternatively, if you want to go to Boardwalk, once you've crossed epcot resort blvd just hang right and follow the sidewalk.

It looks like the picture from the OP was taken using this second option. It appears to be on epcot resort blvd heading towards buena vista dr with the speedway now on the left across the street.

Either way it appears that the trick is getting from the speedway to the epcot resort blvd. I don't see a sidewalk there from the front or back. But once you've crossed the epcot resort blvd there should be a sidewalk to both the Boardwalk and DHS.

Is that correct?

 

[Ralph&Pam]

It appears there is a sidewalk from buena vista dr to the boardwalk. However, to get there from the speedway it appears that you need to do either one of two things if I follow this correctly:

1. Walk out the front of the speedway out to buena vista dr and walk along the road or on the grass to get to the intersection with epcot resorts blvd as it appears the sidewalk has been removed for this section. you can then cross epcot resort blvd. At that point you would go straight on the sidewalk up to the fork where you would stay to the right and down the path to the walking path to Hollywood Studios. Or after crossing epcot resort blvd you could hang a right onto a sidewalk that will take you most of the way to Boardwalk Resort although it looks like you might have to go onto the parking lot for a brief spell around the security gate.
2. Walk out the back side of the Speedway again on the grass or on the driveway and cross Epcot Resort Blvd by the Boardwalk resort sign. Hang a left back towards Buena Vista Dr on the sidewalk and then right at Buena Vist Dr and the follow the path to the fork as above. Alternatively, if you want to go to Boardwalk, once you've crossed epcot resort blvd just hang right and follow the sidewalk.

It looks like the picture from the OP was taken using this second option. It appears to be on epcot resort blvd heading towards buena vista dr with the speedway now on the left across the street.

Either way it appears that the trick is getting from the speedway to the epcot resort blvd. I don't see a sidewalk there from the front or back. But once you've crossed the epcot resort blvd there should be a sidewalk to both the Boardwalk and DHS.

Is that correct?

I think that is correct, but I’ve not walked that part of the sidewalk since January 2020. I am already surprised that the sidewalk going east along Buena Vista Drive past the Speedway has disappeared. The sidewalk heading west includes a bridge over the canal between the Crescent Lake by the Epcot resorts and DHS. I doubt it would be removed. Just before reaching the bridge, there is an asphalt paved path down to the walkway along the canal that can be followed to the left to DHS or the the right to the BW (and eventually the Swan/Dolphin if you cross another bridge). The sidewalk on the west side of Epcot Resorts Blvd. runs along the BW resort property, and it appears to still be there as well.

 

[Victoria3]

If you look at Google Street View, the stretch of sidewalk between BW & Speedway magically disappears as you move down the road. Apparently that section was removed sometime after the satellite view was captured. It looks like the crosswalk markings were also partially removed.
View attachment 554427

View attachment 554424

I'm surprised they got rid of the crosswalk with the amount of people that walk to the gas station.