For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (III)

[Shir Kahn]

Who will be making the last 2,000+ mile round-trip WDW drive in 2012, and who will be making the first in 2013?

All the best.

We're driving down on Dec 26th and coming back January 6th! We're going to try to do two 16 hour days both ways. I've done 25 hours in one shot before, 16 should be a piece of cake!

 

[SamSam]

We would have a 1,423 mile trip (21 hours) and we've always flown. We have started staying longer in October (Food and Wine), so we keep discussing driving as opposed to renting a car (we like having a car), but we get hung up on the fact that we think we would be okay driving down (with an ovenight stop) but we're afraid the trip home could be grueling.

What has been your experience? There's just the 2 of us (empty nesters) and we would definitely take some time on the way down to see some sights.
Advice is welcome.

 

[NJRRK]

I actually sat down and figured out the cost. This is for us in northeast NJ.
All costs approximate.

Hotel (2 nights) - $150
Gasoline - $230
Tolls - $70
Food - $180

Total $630

As long as I can find airfare under $600, I'll fly.

 

[goofyfigment]

Leaving from eastern pa at 2am hope the weather cooperates

 

[SamSam]

I actually sat down and figured out the cost. This is for us in northeast NJ.
All costs approximate.

Hotel (2 nights) - $150
Gasoline - $230
Tolls - $70
Food - $180

Total $630

As long as I can find airfare under $600, I'll fly.

This is where I'm at...except for the car rental when we arrive. With 2 people, flying can be more economical for greater distances.

 

[edbo77]

I actually sat down and figured out the cost. This is for us in northeast NJ.
All costs approximate.

Hotel (2 nights) - $150
Gasoline - $230
Tolls - $70
Food - $180

Total $630

As long as I can find airfare under $600, I'll fly.

Are you eating at 5* places up/down I-95? Seems like a lot of money for food compared to what I've done at the past. Stay at a hotel that offers free breakfast and that takes care of one meal right there.

 

[LadyBeBop]

we would definitely take some time on the way down to see some sights.
Advice is welcome.

I would do the sightseeing on the way back to Kansas. Going down to WDW, you're pumped up and you're ready to go. The trip home drags, so it's best to make your little side trips then.

 

[marmalade]

I actually sat down and figured out the cost. This is for us in northeast NJ.
All costs approximate.

Hotel (2 nights) - $150
Gasoline - $230
Tolls - $70
Food - $180

Total $630

As long as I can find airfare under $600, I'll fly.

Is it just 2 of you? If that is the case I would pick flying over driver without a thought. We drove in August, but we have 4 and our cost to drive was around $700 and to fly it was $1300. We chose to do the 20hr drive and it wasn't that bad.

 

[NJRRK]

Are you eating at 5* places up/down I-95? Seems like a lot of money for food compared to what I've done at the past. Stay at a hotel that offers free breakfast and that takes care of one meal right there.

I'd rather over estimate for food and come home with money in my pocket. I figured, for round trip, 2 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners. And yes it's just the two of us can't do non-stop driving because my partner doesn't drive.

 

[magicalmoments]

Hi friends,
This is the first time we ever drove to Disney. We always fly but airfare is too expensive right now.

I am traveling with 4 children (4-8). We want to get as far south as we can before staying over at a hotel. Can you give any advice on the best route to go and also where you have stayed that was safe and clean along the way. I dont know what area to search in order to find hotels because Im not sure where to stop. We plan to leave very early in the AM Dec 26th.
Thank You,
Stacy

 

[Shir Kahn]

Hi friends,
This is the first time we ever drove to Disney. We always fly but airfare is too expensive right now.

I am traveling with 4 children (4-8). We want to get as far south as we can before staying over at a hotel. Can you give any advice on the best route to go and also where you have stayed that was safe and clean along the way. I dont know what area to search in order to find hotels because Im not sure where to stop. We plan to leave very early in the AM Dec 26th.
Thank You,
Stacy

We're also leaving very early in the am on Dec 26th, but I think you might have a bit of a lead on us! As for hotels, we usually go for the cheapies, Hojo, Econolodge, that kind. So far all the rooms have been very clean, no bedbugs and around $40 a night. We wouldn't even stop at a hotel with a mere 15 hour drive like you have, but I guess with 4 kids in the car, it might be a bit much!

 

[NJRRK]

Hi friends,
This is the first time we ever drove to Disney. We always fly but airfare is too expensive right now.

I am traveling with 4 children (4-8). We want to get as far south as we can before staying over at a hotel. Can you give any advice on the best route to go and also where you have stayed that was safe and clean along the way. I dont know what area to search in order to find hotels because Im not sure where to stop. We plan to leave very early in the AM Dec 26th.
Thank You,
Stacy

Figure somewhere in southern SC. Stop at the SC welcome center on I-95 and pick up the hotel discount book. It'll give you some ideas and good prices on hotels.

 

[SamSam]

I would do the sightseeing on the way back to Kansas. Going down to WDW, you're pumped up and you're ready to go. The trip home drags, so it's best to make your little side trips then.

I was always planning to sightsee on the way down, but you are absolutely right sightseeing on the way home makes way more sense. I know there's plenty to see, so it could turn into a fun driving trip.

 

[chipper10]

What kind of car do you take for your drive? I am thinking about taking my Nissan Versa for our drive. It will be myself, DH and our two sons. We usually take the van (Chrysler Town and Country), but I was thinking we could save even more by taking my Versa. DH is worried the car will be too small for the trip though.

 

[Shir Kahn]

What kind of car do you take for your drive? I am thinking about taking my Nissan Versa for our drive. It will be myself, DH and our two sons. We usually take the van (Chrysler Town and Country), but I was thinking we could save even more by taking my Versa. DH is worried the car will be too small for the trip though.

We're driving down in our Mitsubishi RVR. We absolutely love it, especially for long trips!

 

[nono]

We're driving down in our Mitsubishi RVR. We absolutely love it, especially for long trips!

Is the RVR an Outlander in the US?

We have a Mitsubishi Outlander and a Chrysler Town and Country. We've also had smaller sedans...

The Chrysler T & C is our favorite to drive to FL.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is our 2nd favorite. (T & C's third row make it easier for someone to get horizontal to nap, and for a parent to sit and supervise some of the crafts the kids do in the second row. Otherwise it would be a tie).
All sedans we've ever had are in third place.

Both the T & C and Outlander, despite being higher or heavier than the sedans, perform so well on the highway (gas mileage), that whatever extra savings we'd get from taking a more economical vehicle isn't worth losing the comfort of those first two vehicles.

YMMV.

 

[SondraC]

What kind of car do you take for your drive? I am thinking about taking my Nissan Versa for our drive. It will be myself, DH and our two sons. We usually take the van (Chrysler Town and Country), but I was thinking we could save even more by taking my Versa. DH is worried the car will be too small for the trip though.

I'm with your dh on this. I think the extra room would be worth it.

 

[SondraC]

We are leaving on Friday (the 28th). We live a little East of Pittsburgh and worried about driving through WV. That's the more direct route for us, but might need to go towards D.C. to avoid it. Thoughts?

 

[Shir Kahn]

Is the RVR an Outlander in the US?

We have a Mitsubishi Outlander and a Chrysler Town and Country. We've also had smaller sedans...

The Chrysler T & C is our favorite to drive to FL.
The Mitsubishi Outlander is our 2nd favorite. (T & C's third row make it easier for someone to get horizontal to nap, and for a parent to sit and supervise some of the crafts the kids do in the second row. Otherwise it would be a tie).
All sedans we've ever had are in third place.

Both the T & C and Outlander, despite being higher or heavier than the sedans, perform so well on the highway (gas mileage), that whatever extra savings we'd get from taking a more economical vehicle isn't worth losing the comfort of those first two vehicles.

YMMV.

No, it's actually a bit more compact than the Outlander with even better gas mileage. Not too much smaller than the Outlander though, it's very roomy inside. We got the RVR GT, which has 4wd, a moonroof, paddle shifters so I can change from automatic to manual and shift gears with the paddles just behind the steering wheel, totally keyless, I press a button to both get into it and to start it, heated seats (oh wow is this nice when it's -25! ) and a Rockford Fosgate stereo system with satellite radio so we can listen to all the Disney music on the way down! I really love this vehicle! Now that I've gone keyless, I don't know if I can ever buy another vehicle that uses keys ever again!

 

[pwdebbie]

We are leaving on Friday (the 28th). We live a little East of Pittsburgh and worried about driving through WV. That's the more direct route for us, but might need to go towards D.C. to avoid it. Thoughts?

You need to watch the weather and make your decision on that. I've heard a storm is coming from the west on Tuesday night (when my dd and family will be traveling 10 hours west to visit the Indiana in-laws) and another later in the week. You might want to avoid mountains as much as possible. But from east of Pittsburgh, you will have to go over mountains to get to DC. Mountains no matter which way you travel.