The westbound I-4 entrance ramp from Apopka-Vineland Road (State Road 535) closes overnight tonight, Wednesday, October 7, and Thursday, October 8, from as early as 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. After those closures, the ramp works differently for about four months, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
This is the Exit 68 interchange, the I-4 access point for Disney Springs, the Hotel Plaza Boulevard hotels and the Lake Buena Vista area. Westbound I-4 from here heads toward the other Walt Disney World exits and Tampa.
Tonight's detour
FDOT's detour during the overnight closures: "Motorists will head south on Apopka-Vineland Road, turn right onto westbound World Center Drive (S.R. 536), then take the loop ramp on the right to access westbound I-4."
What changes after the overnight closures
| Before | For about four months | |
|---|---|---|
| Southbound Apopka-Vineland drivers turning onto westbound I-4 | Free-flow right-turn lane, no stopping | Dedicated right-turn lane that must yield |
| Who has priority | Northbound drivers turning left on the green arrow | |
| Southbound through lanes | Four | Three (the right-most lane becomes the turn lane) |
FDOT's wording: "The existing free-flow lane to westbound I-4 will no longer be accessible. The right-most of the four southbound through lanes will become a dedicated right-turn lane to westbound I-4." Drivers turning right "will yield to motorists with the green left-turn arrow turning onto the westbound I-4 entrance ramp from northbound Apopka-Vineland Road."
FDOT says the setup is "expected to be in place for approximately four months while crews complete work for the ramp's final configuration."
Dates to know
- October 7 and 8, 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.: ramp closed overnight, detour in place.
- October 11 and 12, same hours: backup closure nights if the work is not finished on schedule.
- After the final closure: the yield-lane setup starts and runs about four months, which puts it into early 2027.
What it means on a Disney trip
- Coming from the north on Apopka-Vineland Road and heading to westbound I-4? You no longer get a free right turn. Get into the right lane early and expect to wait for the green-arrow left-turn traffic to clear.
- Coming from Disney Springs or Hotel Plaza Boulevard (northbound, turning left onto the ramp)? You keep the protected green arrow.
- Leaving Disney Springs late at night October 7 or 8 (or October 11 or 12 if the backup dates are used)? The ramp may be closed. Use the World Center Drive (SR 536) detour above.
FDOT posts the detour map and project updates at I4Beyond.com/SR535. Current closures are listed at CFLRoads.com.
The work is part of FDOT's I-4 at Apopka-Vineland Road interchange project. We'll update this post once the new traffic pattern is in place.