Disney World Highway Turns to Chaos After Wreck Blocks All Lanes

One of the main highways to reach Walt Disney World became clogged and crash-ridden after all traffic had to be redirected in the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 1, due to a vehicle wreck blocking all westbound lanes of I-4.

According to Spectrum News’ Jerry Hume (@JerryHume), a wreck involving a flipped-over vehicle blocked all main lanes of westbound I-4 just before 5:30 am this morning. All traffic had to be directed off at World Drive, near Disney Springs, and reenter I-4 further down.

ALERT: CRASH with flipped over vehicle blocking all westbound lanes of I-4 at World Dr. #News13Osceola pic.twitter.com/CbC24G7EkN

— Jerry Hume (@JerryHume) February 1, 2023

First responders were able to reopen at least one lane to thru traffic just after 6 am, but that lane was reclosed less than an hour later.

Update: the main lanes of I-4 west are once again blocked. All traffic is being forced off at World Dr. Stay to the left and drivers will be able to reenter I-4 west. pic.twitter.com/KGbPTTUs17

— Jerry Hume (@JerryHume) February 1, 2023

The while the scale of the debilitating accident is clearly massive, the fatal severity for drivers and passengers involved remained unknown. But a medical helicopter arrived on the scene, suggesting that the persons involved were seriously hurt.

Medical helicopter landing on I-4 west at World Dr. pic.twitter.com/bYNX3UQYAA

— Jerry Hume (@JerryHume) February 1, 2023

All but one lane of traffic was able to be cleared just before 9 am today–nearly four hours after the first report. But just as this wreck was being sorted, a second crash involving multiple vehicles was reported before the original roadblock.

SECONDARY CRASH on I-4 west near Osceola Pkwy, before the road block at World Dr. #News13Osceola pic.twitter.com/oh6qWpHtZU

— Jerry Hume (@JerryHume) February 1, 2023

Related: PHOTOS: Disney World Police, K-9 Unit Involved in Car Crash

At 9:15 this morning, Apple Maps was still showing multiple wrecks on eastbound and westbound traffic, with the most troublesome area focusing around the World Drive on-ramp heading west to Tampa.

Related: “Absolutely Crazy”: Unbelievable Wait Times Posted at Magic Kingdom

Unfortunately, this is nothing new for Central Florida, albeit rare on this scale. I-4 is nicknamed by Floridians as “The Highway to Hell” as the combination of impatient commuters, oblivious snowbirds, and struggling tourists converge to create a stressful driving experience. Unfortunately, it is also a major pathway for the Disney-bound to reach Walt Disney World property. The exits around EPCOT Center Drive and US 192 deliver Guests straight from the Orlando Metro Area to Walt Disney World Resort, with Disney Springs, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort being the closest destinations.

If you are driving to Walt Disney World Resort today, we hope you have a magical time, but get through the traffic safely and patiently.

We will continue to update our readers on Disney Parks-related news and stories as more developments come to light.