Heading to WDW from Wisconsin

[Cinderaven]

Hi, is anyone leaving for WDW August 22nd from Green Bay or there abouts??? We are leaving about 0730 and expect to arrive in Kissimmee about 27 hrs. later.

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

 

[sandybobandy]

Hey there!
Well, we're from Minneapolis and drive every year so I know the drive you'll be having. It's a great drive and I hope you guys have fun!!!!!

 

[sassyat30]

Sorry, we're leaving from Green Bay in January...but we're flying.

 

[Mandalou]

We're from the Milwaukee area. . . and I'm working on my DH right now for a possible trip in October -- sorry, not August.

Just curious. . . we drive to WDW at least once a year (10 trips thus far driving). . . which way do you go?? Thru IL or IN? It's funny, the other WDW fans in our area who drive to WDW have their "favorite route" to get there. Our's is thru IL (NOT Chicago, but Rockford). Again, just curious, OP. . .

 

[sandybobandy]

We drive (again from Minneapolis) and go through Rockford like you do. It's so funny to stop at some rest stops in Illinois and look at the map and see we're hardly into the state when it feels like we've been driving for daaaaays. lol

 

[Mandalou]

Sandybobandy, I can see where you'd feel like you were driving for days and only in IL -- you've got further than we do, and that's how we feel in IL!! (But maybe that's just because we're in IL. . . sorry, Illini and Wisconsinites have a love/hate -- well maybe it's more like a not-really-love/mainly-dislike -- relationship. )

We have "our spots" along the way. . . like the Lonestar restaurant in Effingham, IL. (We LOVE the name of that city, btw. . . we always picture a senario like this at a restaurant: "And what would you like for your meal, sir?" "I'll have some Eff-ing ham, please. And can I have an Eff-ing diet soda with that too?" I know -- tasteless, but we find it funny). We even have our favorite rest areas in KY and TN. Can you tell we've been driving that route to WDW A LOT?!

Anyone else?? Any "favs" along the way???

 

[sandybobandy]

Don't worry-MN and WI have a "mainly dislike" relationship too. We won't talk about the Twins/White Sox thing, okay? lol We'll keep it pleasant since we're talking about Disney. Hahaha!

Anyway, we have never stopped in Effingham but now we might have to! lol We've got our favorite rest stop in Atlanta but usually go right through Kentucky. And Nashville, we usually stay over night.

And there's nothing like seeing the "We Bare All" signs once you hit the FL border with the "hot meals and fresh coffee". Joe and I always look at eachother like "riiiiiiiight". lol

 

[Mandalou]

HA! We, too, have driven past those "We Bare All" signs too many times. We were holding our breath, waiting for the day our DS's would ask us what they meant. Sure enough, on one of the last trips we were asked what "We Bare All" meant. We simply said, "They bare gifts. . . you know, like socks, pens, lightbulbs, maps. . . things most adults would like and not kids. . ." It seemed to appease their curiosity. . . at least for the time being.

 

[sandybobandy]

That's hilarious! I love your explanation. Hahaha! One of these days, we'll go in there and order a sandwich. We won't eat it for fear of catching something, but I just want to say I ordered a sandwich from We Bare All.

 

[Cinderaven]

We travel thru Il. I know it's long and boring, but it sure beats the tolls and traffic headaches in the Chicago area. We also enjoy seeing the "WE BARE ALL" signs in Fl. Our son is 16 and has plenty of ideas of what's inside and asks to stop and get a snack.

We just laugh and keep driving a little faster.

 

[sandybobandy]

Just bumping so the MN/WI/IL folks have a place to chat.

Cinderaven-looks like you're next to go to Disney!!!! Wanna share your ADR's?

 

[GBShorts]

Another SE Wisconsinite here.

I've only ever flown but then again, I've not been that many times, either. Got to get those Northwest world perks miles!!

Have a great trip

 

[flying_babyb]

OMG Im from Green bay too!!

 

[DVC Grandpa]

We drive from the Milwaukee area once or twice every year but were not going again until November. I never look forward to the Chicago part of the trip although last year we purchases I- Pass so that eliminates having to “Keep Right” at the toll booths. Also purchased GPS and followed it ‘s directions home …it took us off our normal route north of Nashville and it wasn’t until the Rockford IL area that we passes a toll booth. Now if it just takes us back that way in November.

 

[DWD DAD]

Hi, is anyone leaving for WDW August 22nd from Green Bay or there abouts??? We are leaving about 0730 and expect to arrive in Kissimmee about 27 hrs. later.

It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Sheboygan Area. Sorry. We are leaving late July. We go through IND., but are going towards cincinnati and taking HWY 1 (south) bypassing CINN. Found out by a trucker that it saves time. How much? We are going to try it this year. Last time we went through IND I-75 straight through and it took 23 hrs. Not bad with a 3 and 5 yr. old in the van. This is our 4th trip by van.

Have a safe trip.

 

[momoftriplets]

We are just north of the Twin Cities. We flew both times we went. I have considered driving but just can't fathom that long in the van with 3 kids & DH. (DH would be worse than the kids, IMO. ) Just how long does it take you to get to WDW from the upper midwest? Do you drive straight thru or stop overnight along the way? If you drive straight thru, are you totally wasted the first day of your time at WDW? (Sorry for the over load of questions. TIA!)
Barb

 

[Mandalou]

We're from the Milwaukee area and have driven to WDW 9 times (I'm pretty sure it's 9 times, maybe 10. . . sorry, I think each dose of pixie dust I receive replaces brain cells -- I forget a lot of things, it seems ). That first day, we usually leave the house at 4am-4:30am and we don't stop until around 7pm-8pm that night. (Of course, we stop to grab meals and go to the bathroom.) Depending on if it's a weekday or weekend, we stop in either southeastern TN (past Nashville) or in NW GA (just before Atlanta). We always try to stay in a place where we can avoid rushhour in either of those cities. Yes, it's a lot of driving that first day, but then we only have around 9 (ish) hours to drive the next day.

Incidentally, I do most of the driving (I'm the DW). . . my husband is satisfied with working on his laptop. Our two DS's (10 and 8) are great boys and we've never had to deal with them complaining or fussing (just one "up-chucking" incident, and, well, let's just say no bathroom and only an empty soda bottle. . . you figure it out ).

Seriously, I think my van has a "Disney World Auto Pilot" setting -- it just seems to know the way to go every trip.

 

[sandybobandy]

We are just north of the Twin Cities. We flew both times we went. I have considered driving but just can't fathom that long in the van with 3 kids & DH. (DH would be worse than the kids, IMO. ) Just how long does it take you to get to WDW from the upper midwest? Do you drive straight thru or stop overnight along the way? If you drive straight thru, are you totally wasted the first day of your time at WDW? (Sorry for the over load of questions. TIA!)
Barb

Hey Barb!
We're in Bloomington and have only driven to Disney. It's just my husband and I-I'm sure if we had kiddos we'd consider flying

We generally leave here around 3am and drive to Nashville (about 14 hours) and then drive from Nashville to Disney (about 10 hours). This year though we're doing Bloomington to St Louis (about 8 hours) and then St Louis to Atlanta (about 8 hours) and then Atlanta to Disney (about 7 hours).

And no-when we arrive, we are sooooo stinkin excited and are not tired at all. We are always rarin to go!

 

[momoftriplets]

Hey Barb!
We're in Bloomington and have only driven to Disney. It's just my husband and I-I'm sure if we had kiddos we'd consider flying

We generally leave here around 3am and drive to Nashville (about 14 hours) and then drive from Nashville to Disney (about 10 hours). This year though we're doing Bloomington to St Louis (about 8 hours) and then St Louis to Atlanta (about 8 hours) and then Atlanta to Disney (about 7 hours).

And no-when we arrive, we are sooooo stinkin excited and are not tired at all. We are always rarin to go!

Thanks for the info, Sandy! I'd be willing to try the drive but I just don't know if DH would go for it. Something to consider, though, as airline prices keep going up.

 

[sandybobandy]

Thanks for the info, Sandy! I'd be willing to try the drive but I just don't know if DH would go for it. Something to consider, though, as airline prices keep going up.

No problem

We love driving so I'm sure that has something to do with it too. The first time we saw the mountains in Tennessee was really amazing.

I hope you guys have a wonderful time!!

(enjoy the weather today-it feels awesome!)