Are we nuts for even considering this? We are booked for 8/25-8/30. I have not been able to find flights with the times we are looking for(arriving at Orlando before noon and leaving Orlando later than 8PM) for under $400 a person. Since we need 4 tickets, that's a lot of money.
We planned on taking the auto train. But now we think we are just going to drive....from NJ...with a 5 year old and a 2 year old.....and I'm starting to think we're insane.
DH does not want to drive straight through or drive overnight. The driving plan is leave super early in the morning on Friday Aug 23...like 5 AM. Pull the kids out of bed and toss them in the car(in their car seats of course!) still in their jammies. Hope and pray they fall back asleep. Stop around 10 or so to change the kids into clothes and grab a quick breakfast/early lunch at a rest stop or something. Hit the road and drive, stopping as needed for potty breaks.
Stop driving around dinner time. Stay overnight somewhere in one of the Carolinas(any suggestions for a good halfway point?)
Next morning, hit the road after breakfast, stopping once again as needed for breaks and lunch. DH estimates that we should be in Orlando by late afternoon. We are staying off site on Sat Aug 24(somewhere decent but cheap...around 80 or so for the night...once again any suggestions?) Rest up as needed and either go resort hopping or hit Downtown Disney for dinner before heading to bed for a good night's sleep.
Then on Sunday morning, wake up at the crack of dawn, drive to the Contemporary, and check in. Yes, I know our rooms won't be ready but we can still get our park tickets and head right to MK, right? And then during our midday break, then we can unpack all our stuff.
We'll be taking 2 days to drive home too.
We'll have plenty of snacks and drinks for the kids(and advil for me because the are we there yet questions are going to drive me nuts) for the drive. Plus an iPad along with a mount that attaches to the headrest so the kids can watch movies(planning on loading lots of Disney ones on there for them)
The longest car ride we're ever done with my older son was up to Boston when he was 2.5. We only needed to take 1 break both ways. With 2 kids, we're driven the 3 hours to Hershey. Took a break halfway for lunch and to visit a little train village display since they love trains on the way up. Drove straight home without any breaks. Both kids are good in the car. They were both awesome on a 6 hour flight this past year too.
So please tell me that the drive all the way down 95 with kids isnt' that bad. I survived the drive 2x in high school...on an bus...with the marching band...so I know how long it is. DH has also driven down multiple times with his parents...they never flew down.