PLEASE HELP - Driving from Toronto to Orlando

[Ali242]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first time at Disneyworld - along with my 8 year old daughter. I just booked the Polynesian and in hopes of saving money, I am really thinking about driving. We would be coming from Toronto - my reservation is on the Monday so I was planning on leaving very early Sunday morning to drive down. Is this doable? Has anyone else done this drive successfully? I will also have my best friend with me.

Thank you so much!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You are driving from Toronto, Canada to Orlando, Florida in one day? That would be a pretty rough trip; you're talking about almost a full day of continuous driving. You might want to consider breaking up the trip by leaving Saturday and stopping at least one night along the way.

 

[pigletto]

We've researched and considered it and our neighbours have made the trip several times.
In ideal conditions you are looking at about 20-22 hours of drive time. You will want to plan stops, and at least one hotel overnight if you are the only driver.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We have driven from multiple times from Toronto - Orlando and we like to take our time driving down, because this way we are more relaxed once we arrive.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

You are driving from Toronto, Canada to Orlando, Florida in one day?

OP said Monday reservation, leaving early Sunday. I assumed that meant 2 days of driving. Definitely doable, but also 2 pretty full days IMO.

 

[vicki_c]

I have driven straight through from Buffalo before, so 2 hours shorter than your trip. It is very difficult. And you will pretty much waste your arrival / first day because you will be so tired.

I would plan on breaking it up in the middle somewhere - we used to stay in Beckley, WV when we didn't drive straight through.

 

[MommyRobin]

We made the drive from London to WDW last summer and took the I75. We left in the late afternoon on Saturday (not by choice, we had plans that could not be changed). Drove until around midnight (with a long picnic dinner) and stayed in Florence, KY. Left the next morning after bkfast (10 am) and drove until around midnight again, stopping in Tifton. Left again after bkfast (10 am) and made it to Pop at about 2 or so. We had originally planned on only staying over 1 night, but were so thankful that we spread it out over 2. When we got to WDW we were quite rested and ready to go!

When we make the drive down again, we plan on spreading it out again with two longer days driving, and then hopefully only an hour or two drive the day of arrival so we can hit the parks with energy.

On the way home we only stopped one night and were fine with that because we could rest when we got back home.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

OP said Monday reservation, leaving early Sunday. I assumed that meant 2 days of driving. Definitely doable, but also 2 pretty full days IMO.

The total driving time, without an overnight stop which the OP did not mention doing, is about 21 hours, which is one full day (one day = 24 hours) of driving. Too much for me without an overnight break.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We live in Oakville and have done the drive many times. The last time we drove the gas was about the same price it is now and it ended up costing us about $850 RT....with gas/food and a hotel only one night going down. We drove straight through coming home.

You can quite easily find airfare from Buffalo for around $300/person. Even less if a sale comes along. We usually fly from BUF and so far the most I've ever paid was $220/person for March Break last year. In the summer we pay around $175/person.

Post this over on the Canadian board...you will get more local advice.

 

[dancin Disney style]

...wanted to add

When we drive we leave home at 2-3am and drive until 9pm. This gets us to the Savannah, GA area which leaves around 3.5-4hrs the next day. We can sleep in a little and still get to WDW for lunch. We don't make stops for things other than gas/food/potty. It's pretty much commando driving but there is not other way I will do it....I hate road trips.


My DH goes to bed around 9pm the night we are leaving so he's had a good 5hrs of sleep while I pack the car and finish things in the house. When we get in the car I sleep.

 

[disneymarie]

We live in Oakville and have done the drive many times. The last time we drove the gas was about the same price it is now and it ended up costing us about $850 RT....with gas/food and a hotel only one night going down. We drove straight through coming home.

You can quite easily find airfare from Buffalo for around $300/person. Even less if a sale comes along. We usually fly from BUF and so far the most I've ever paid was $220/person for March Break last year. In the summer we pay around $175/person.

Post this over on the Canadian board...you will get more local advice.

THis is what a family friend did and had a restful, enjoyable time. Sometimes saving $few hundred is not worth getting exhausted, overly tired behind the wheel. THere are so many choices out of Buffalo and I know to have our DD fly down and meet us was a not unreasonable. Certainly not with the fuel cost in CA, NY and most of the states you pass through.

I would say for each ticket cost, it may be a days worth of fuel and avg in the room stays. As to being rested to start the trip.

 

[MrMarv]

You can fly R/T from BUF/MCO for $273.20 on Southwest in mid-August, which is a terrifc airfare all things considered.

 

[Disfanx4]

Want to drive to at least half way from Toronto and was wondering if anyone has advice on great hotels, Lang the way maybe savannah area or SC. Would need a suite or room that sleeps 5 2 adults 3 kids TIA

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

Hi Everyone, This is my first time at Disneyworld - along with my 8 year old daughter. I just booked the Polynesian and in hopes of saving money, I am really thinking about driving. We would be coming from Toronto - my reservation is on the Monday so I was planning on leaving very early Sunday morning to drive down. Is this doable? Has anyone else done this drive successfully? I will also have my best friend with me. Thank you so much!

We drive down from Buffalo. It's not a terrible drive, especially if you have two drivers. The drive through WV is tough, especially at night.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

Want to drive to at least half way from Toronto and was wondering if anyone has advice on great hotels, Lang the way maybe savannah area or SC. Would need a suite or room that sleeps 5 2 adults 3 kids TIA

If you're stopping in Savannah we stayed at Homewood Suites. Was perfect for our family of 5.

 

[maxiesmom]

If you stop at least once, which for me would be the bare minimum, you will arrive in WDW late on Monday. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is roughly the same distance from WDW as Toronto. As noted the ride itself is around 21 hours or so, and then you need to factor in stops. The more I think about it, there is no way to do the trip with a stop and arrive on Monday before dark.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We live in Oakville and have done the drive many times. The last time we drove the gas was about the same price it is now and it ended up costing us about $850 RT....with gas/food and a hotel only one night going down. We drove straight through coming home.

You can quite easily find airfare from Buffalo for around $300/person. Even less if a sale comes along. We usually fly from BUF and so far the most I've ever paid was $220/person for March Break last year. In the summer we pay around $175/person.

Post this over on the Canadian board...you will get more local advice.

Completely agree . The drive vs. fly savings is exceptionally minimal when you factor in a party of 3 (the OP, her daughter, and her friend) or less. We are a family of three also, and at best we'd break even. It may even cost us more to drive when the vehicle wear and tear is added in.

OP, check out flights from Buffalo as dancin Disney style suggested. Flying from Buffalo is a great experience (its a tiny airport, and so much easier to navigate than Pearson) and may even save you money in the end.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

Living near Buffalo, we fly from there often. If you're looking to fly check there are Rochester. It's a little less than an hour from Buffalo and we often get a good deal out of there on SW. Both Buffalo and Rochester are great little airports.

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

We did it last year. Given that we are in Kitchener and you are in Toronto, our distance to the US should be close. It is doable but I wouldn't do it again. We did make a couple of stops whenwe were tired and I felt safer pulling into the parking lot of a big hotel than a rest stop
It can be done. Have fun, lots of friendly people on the drive down. Depending on what you drive, our Dodge Caliber costs us about $340 in gas for the round trip/