For those folks driving!

[Three cats]

We are doing our second drive from MA and we took 95 the whole way on a Friday of Easter weekend 2003. Not good.
Others that I know will only take the 95 route on a weekend and leave at 5-6am. (I will do that this year) On the way back we took I-95 to I-26 to I-77 to I-81. I agree it was a smooth drive with zero traffic. I think it is about 90 miles more but worth it to avoid NJ turnpike, Deleware Bridge and DC.

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[Prince Eric's Mom]

Anybody have a suggestion for the current best way from MCO to Downtown Disney area? Looks like we are coming in during rush hour. Any back roads or sneaky side paths would be appreciated.

 

[canlafre]

Has anyone ever made the trip from Mid Vermont to WDW in early February?

We are thinking of driving this time around, but not sure how it would go with 3 kiddos.

thanks!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Has anyone driven from WDW to Williamsburg, VA? If so how long is the drive. We always drive from PA to Fl and bac, but would like to spend a night or 2 near Williamsburg on the drive home.

 

[braddillman]

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Planning to drive Ottawa-Orlando around 20 Dec 2013 or so, back maybe around 2 Jan 2014. Family of 5 (me, DW, DS, DD, DD) in a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. Staying offsite at The Fountains on i-drive. Driven around Orlando plenty, but have always flown and rented a car. Planning to take the I-81 I-77 I-95 route. All plans subject to change, just getting started at this.

 

[PrincessMom4]

We leave near Ottawa, Ontario. Its a really nice drive down.

 

[Zuzu03]

Has anyone ever made the trip from Mid Vermont to WDW in early February?

We are thinking of driving this time around, but not sure how it would go with 3 kiddos.

thanks!

Our receptionist here just did it (from Williamstown, VT) over February break with pups and one kid. She said the weather was a bit dicey, but they were fine.

I'm actually MOVING down to Naples in June from Central VT and driving a rental truck, but planning on stopping at Disney for the night (DH is already there working) waiting for my DD and her DBF to arrive with the Jeep from the autotrain! I'm just wondering about parking the rental truck in one of the resort parking lots!! LOL!!!

 

[Zuzu03]

Ok, question for all of you driving veterans. AAA, Googlemaps and Mapquest give me 2 alternate routes to WDW from Central Vermont. One gets me to I95 through NYC and on the cross-Bronx Expwy and the other takes me to I87 to Albany and down I81 missing NYC and DC. I've done the I95 before ages ago and remember it being a bit hairy. I'm driving a 16 foot Penske truck - so I think I should choose the I81 route. What do you all think?

Oh and I'll be leaving around 3 or 4 a.m. on Sunday the 16th of June.

 

[dvczerfs]

Ok, question for all of you driving veterans. AAA, Googlemaps and Mapquest give me 2 alternate routes to WDW from Central Vermont. One gets me to I95 through NYC and on the cross-Bronx Expwy and the other takes me to I87 to Albany and down I81 missing NYC and DC. I've done the I95 before ages ago and remember it being a bit hairy. I'm driving a 16 foot Penske truck - so I think I should choose the I81 route. What do you all think?

Oh and I'll be leaving around 3 or 4 a.m. on Sunday the 16th of June.

i81 is a major truck route. i take i81/i77/i26/i95. just dont hit char. nc. at rush hour. other then that, wide open. just pay attention to the truck grade warnings coming out of the mountains on i81.

 

[billybobblockhead]

i81 is a major truck route. i take i81/i77/i26/i95. just dont hit char. nc. at rush hour. other then that, wide open. just pay attention to the truck grade warnings coming out of the mountains on i81.

What Dave said. IMO, once you get into NC on I77 (and if you manage to avoid Charlotte rush hour), the worst part of the drive that you have left is South Carolina on I95. 2 lanes, "woodsy" median, yuck. Easily manageable, but not as nice as when you cross into Georgia and pick up 3 lanes.

 

[Zuzu03]

i81 is a major truck route. i take i81/i77/i26/i95. just dont hit char. nc. at rush hour. other then that, wide open. just pay attention to the truck grade warnings coming out of the mountains on i81.

What Dave said. IMO, once you get into NC on I77 (and if you manage to avoid Charlotte rush hour), the worst part of the drive that you have left is South Carolina on I95. 2 lanes, "woodsy" median, yuck. Easily manageable, but not as nice as when you cross into Georgia and pick up 3 lanes.

Thank you!!! I'm now leaving on Friday about 7:00 a.m. to get down earlier, hopefully things will be calm due to the weekend!

 

[PrincessMom4]

Maryland and DC plus some times Richmond is the ones we get struck in traffic the most

 

[SlightlyocdDisneyfan]

I apologize if this question has been recently answered, but I've poked around and not found an answer yet. Are booster seats required for children in Florida? I've seen conflicting information on-line.

We are flying into Pensacola and then driving to Orlando, and it's hard to believe that my children wouldn't need booster seats.

 

[java]

I apologize if this question has been recently answered, but I've poked around and not found an answer yet. Are booster seats required for children in Florida? I've seen conflicting information on-line.

We are flying into Pensacola and then driving to Orlando, and it's hard to believe that my children wouldn't need booster seats.

I don't know how old your kids are but it appears the "law" only requires Kids up to 3 to be in a car seat. 4-5 have to be "safely restrained" but not necessarily in a booster with a suggestion of the 80 pound rule that is elsewhere in the country, but not law in FL.

But we put our kids in boosters anyway even though by law we didn't have to.

http://www.sheriff.org/safety/carseat.cfm

 

[SlightlyocdDisneyfan]

I don't know how old your kids are but it appears the "law" only requires Kids up to 3 to be in a car seat. 4-5 have to be "safely restrained" but not necessarily in a booster with a suggestion of the 80 pound rule that is elsewhere in the country, but not law in FL.

But we put our kids in boosters anyway even though by law we didn't have to.

http://www.sheriff.org/safety/carseat.cfm

Thank you. Our state law is based on age/height of either eight years or 4'9". Our dds will be a few days away from the age requirement when we travel. Trying to decide whether it's necessary to lug their seats on the plane. Sounds like, at least legally, it isn't required.

 

[naomiswanson]

Actually, I am planning to visit in Disney and it is m,y first time to visit. But don't have any details and sorry for my ignorance, I want to have some further information about what are the different places that nice to hang out?

 

[floreksa]

We leave 3am tomorrow from Western MA! so excited! This will be our 2nd time driving. Last time we did 95S all the way, but also left at 9pm so did the NYC / MD / DC portions during the middle of the night. This time we're planning on taking 84 to 81 to 66 to 288 to 95. Planning on stopping overnight in Santee, SC again. Stayed at a nice Holiday Inn there last time.

Any thing we should be aware of taking this route instead of 95 all the way?

 

[armsom]

Too funny we are in western Ct. Leaving next wed taking the 84/81/66 route and plan in staying in santee sc. Have a great trip

 

[flafan]

HI Everyone,

We are driving from Massachusetts in June for our much needed WDW Vaca.

In the past we drive a straight 16 hours before we stop but I am thinking maybe we should cut that in half and stop a little sooner.

Does anyone know of a nice hotel that has easy access off 95 around Richmond VA or Emporia VA. Thank you. Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed.

 

[rockydek]

HI Everyone,

We are driving from Massachusetts in June for our much needed WDW Vaca.

In the past we drive a straight 16 hours before we stop but I am thinking maybe we should cut that in half and stop a little sooner.

Does anyone know of a nice hotel that has easy access off 95 around Richmond VA or Emporia VA. Thank you. Any advice or suggestions would be welcomed.

Have you considered the Auto Train in Lorton , Virginia? When you wake up
you will be 30 minutes from Disney. It would be like staying in a hotel that's moving. Amtrak has one that leaves Lorton at 4pm everyday and arrives in Sanford 8:30am the next morning non-stop...We are from Mass and love this option...We have our car, No need to rent one when we arrive and we pack it with all our food and such. Have fun!