2 or 3 days to drive there?

[mshanson3121]

Last time we went we took 3 days to drive (it's 28 hours driving from our home). We're considering trying to do it in 2 days next time (basically two 15-16 hour days by the time we stop for gas, meals, potty breaks etc), with our 10 & 7 year old.

It would save us roughly $300 with hotel/meals.

For that amount of savings would you push it in 2 days, or just spread it out over 3, so it's an easier drive?

(ETA: This is x-posted in the Canadians board. After I posted it, I realized it probably should have just gone here).

 

[maxiesmom]

I would only push it if you are certain you won't be exhausted when you arrive. If you are too tired to enjoy being at WDW you are wasting that day, and the money you spent on being in Orlando. Also, I would keep the money for that extra night on the road in hand, just in case you end up feeling to tired to continue while driving.

I would look for other ways to spend the money, if that is the main reason for cutting out one day of drive time. Pack a cooler with sandwiches. Freeze some sub sandwiches, and have those the second day of your drive. Freeze grapes for snacks. Use the guides you find at the rest areas for discounts on hotels. I'm a bit closer than you (I'm in Southwest Michigan) and we usually spend 2 nights on the road, sometimes 3, when heading to Florida. Part of the reason I haven't made the drive in quite a while is it makes me too tired to enjoy anything when we get to Florida.

 

[Pookasaurus]

We've driven from chicago twice - both times we drove, we did 3 days down and 2 days back. When it is time to go, we just want to get home. The 3 days down was definitely more relaxing, we'd stop to see relatives one night and a hotel with indoor pool the 2nd. For the drive home it was definitely doable, but annoying lol (and taxing). I think the drive home is regardless though. The first two times we drove with an infant and toddler then toddler and preschooler and they handed it at both ages fine (probably better than I did!). We flew our last trip but will be driving again this November and are planning 4 days down and 4 days back to drive but we'll be towing so not much of a choice. Not worried about the drive down as it is exciting, and split the drive back up over some beach stops, family stops, etc so I don't think it will be too bad

I agree with the previous poster that I don't know that the savings would be enough for me to push it, at least on the way down. I'd def contemplate doing the drive back in two though but again, that is more of a personal mentality than anything else.

 

[mshanson3121]

I would only push it if you are certain you won't be exhausted when you arrive. If you are too tired to enjoy being at WDW you are wasting that day, and the money you spent on being in Orlando. Also, I would keep the money for that extra night on the road in hand, just in case you end up feeling to tired to continue while driving.

I would look for other ways to spend the money, if that is the main reason for cutting out one day of drive time. Pack a cooler with sandwiches. Freeze some sub sandwiches, and have those the second day of your drive. Freeze grapes for snacks. Use the guides you find at the rest areas for discounts on hotels. I'm a bit closer than you (I'm in Southwest Michigan) and we usually spend 2 nights on the road, sometimes 3, when heading to Florida. Part of the reason I haven't made the drive in quite a while is it makes me too tired to enjoy anything when we get to Florida.

^^Great ideas But we already do all of them, lol. We drive to Florida on the cheapest budget possible. I mean money is part of it, but I was also wondering if two longer days driving would be easier than 3 longish days driving? I mean we can do roughly three 11-12 hour days, or two 15-16 hour days. Either way, our first full day in Orlando will be spent resting

 

[mshanson3121]

We've driven from chicago twice - both times we drove, we did 3 days down and 2 days back. When it is time to go, we just want to get home. The 3 days down was definitely more relaxing, we'd stop to see relatives one night and a hotel with indoor pool the 2nd. For the drive home it was definitely doable, but annoying lol (and taxing). I think the drive home is regardless though. The first two times we drove with an infant and toddler then toddler and preschooler and they handed it at both ages fine (probably better than I did!). We flew our last trip but will be driving again this November and are planning 4 days down and 4 days back to drive but we'll be towing so not much of a choice. Not worried about the drive down as it is exciting, and split the drive back up over some beach stops, family stops, etc so I don't think it will be too bad

I agree with the previous poster that I don't know that the savings would be enough for me to push it, at least on the way down. I'd def contemplate doing the drive back in two though but again, that is more of a personal mentality than anything else.

I could see this. We found the drive home much harder because we were tired, and that last day was a KILLER on the road. OMG we all just wanted to BE HOME! lol. I would love love love to fly, but DH quite honestly is scared to. Now last year it saved us a lot of money to drive, but if we could be more on the ball and watching seat sales with SW airlines, I think that we could probably fly for within $200 of our driving cost. But then I need to convince DH......

 

[maxiesmom]

^^Great ideas But we already do all of them, lol. We drive to Florida on the cheapest budget possible. I mean money is part of it, but I was also wondering if two longer days driving would be easier than 3 longish days driving? I mean we can do roughly three 11-12 hour days, or two 15-16 hour days. Either way, our first full day in Orlando will be spent resting

I would play it by ear then. Plan on not stopping, but don't be so tied to WE MUST NOT STOP that you push too hard, and end up on the road when you really should be resting. For me, anything longer than 12 hours a day is too much. You wouldn't want to be in the car with my be the end of the second day if the first day went over that.

 

[maxiesmom]

I could see this. We found the drive home much harder because we were tired, and that last day was a KILLER on the road. OMG we all just wanted to BE HOME! lol. I would love love love to fly, but DH quite honestly is scared to. Now last year it saved us a lot of money to drive, but if we could be more on the ball and watching seat sales with SW airlines, I think that would could probably fly for within $200 of our driving cost.

Will he not see his Dr for meds? I'm not thrilled with flying either, but 3 hours in the air beats the heck out of 2+ days in the car. I have meds that I only take when flying, and I don't even need them all of the time. They are quick acting though, so if I feel anxious I take them, and then I don't feel anxious any more. They don't make me at all drowsy either.

 

[mshanson3121]

Will he not see his Dr for meds? I'm not thrilled with flying either, but 3 hours in the air beats the heck out of 2+ days in the car. I have meds that I only take when flying, and I don't even need them all of the time. They are quick acting though, so if I feel anxious I take them, and then I don't feel anxious any more. They don't make me at all drowsy either.

He's not to the point of needing meds for it. He has flown before (granted it's been 13 years, lol), but he really, REALLY prefers not to. Part of me looks at it as a compromise - he's really not a hot weather, crowded places or theme park kind of guy, so for him to go to Florida in summer is pretty big So... I'm willing to drive as a compromise. On the other hand... lol, the other part of me just wants to be there as quick as possible. Plus the kids want to fly, lol.

At one point, MIL/FIL were going to go back with us next year, so MIL, myself and the kids were going to fly down. DH and his step-dad were going to drive down, and spend a day golfing But it doesn't look like they're going to go back now. So they kinda shot that plan all to heck, lol.

 

[babesboo99]

Last year when we drove we had only 2 drivers the rest could not we made it in 24hrs but that is only because we didnt want to stay at a hotel and spend more money. If we wanted to take our time I would ( for us ) stay only one night in a hotel we are coming from NY so unless we get tired it should be enough for us. I guess it depends on where you are traveling from.

 

[mshanson3121]

Last year when we drove we had only 2 drivers the rest could not we made it in 24hrs but that is only because we didnt want to stay at a hotel and spend more money. If we wanted to take our time I would ( for us ) stay only one night in a hotel we are coming from NY so unless we get tired it should be enough for us. I guess it depends on where you are traveling from.

We're driving from Atlantic Canada, it's 28 hours driving time, and thats without gas, meals etc...

 

[loves to dive]

With two drivers it doesn't sound too bad to do it in two days to me. You could switch off at the halfway point each day. I drive down and it's a 7 1/2 hour drive which I do myself. The kids will most likely go to sleep when it starts getting dark, at least mine would have at that age.

 

[babesboo99]

It's not bad at all. We like to get there in a 24 hr trip if possible but we have stayed in hotels and when we stop at like maybe 10pm give or take and we are out by 5 or 6am it just seems like a waste of money. We have been thinking this trip maybe mwe will take our time and enjoy some of the other states I would love to go to Georgia and just spend a day .

With two drivers it doesn't sound too bad to do it in two days to me. You could switch off at the halfway point each day. I drive down and it's a 7 1/2 hour drive which I do myself. The kids will most likely go to sleep when it starts getting dark, at least mine would have at that age.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Will he not see his Dr for meds? I'm not thrilled with flying either, but 3 hours in the air beats the heck out of 2+ days in the car. I have meds that I only take when flying, and I don't even need them all of the time. They are quick acting though, so if I feel anxious I take them, and then I don't feel anxious any more. They don't make me at all drowsy either.

I couldn't agree more.
We are just the opposite of OP. Any drive that's more than 6-8 hrs. and we'd much rather fly, even if it's a LOT more expensive. A lot of people need meds to fly. The more he does it, the easier it will get.

 

[mshanson3121]

It's not bad at all. We like to get there in a 24 hr trip if possible but we have stayed in hotels and when we stop at like maybe 10pm give or take and we are out by 5 or 6am it just seems like a waste of money. We have been thinking this trip maybe mwe will take our time and enjoy some of the other states I would love to go to Georgia and just spend a day .

Yes I would love to spend a day in Savannah.

 

[tami82]

I would break up into 3'days. 14 hour days are exhausting. When I was a kid we had a 17-18 hour drive but broke down into 3'days to get to Disney from NJ.

we have done 13 hours on our first day leaving at 3:00 a.m. And stopping around 4:00 in the afternoon so next day was only 5 hours to Disney so had a one night stop. I don't mind it as it's exciting on the way up. On the way back is a different story. Everyone is tired and although we want to get home, I find driving I can only take so much of each day 6-7 hours tops, so we need at least 2 night stops on the way home.

 

[North of Mouse]

Last time we went we took 3 days to drive (it's 28 hours driving from our home). We're considering trying to do it in 2 days next time (basically two 15-16 hour days by the time we stop for gas, meals, potty breaks etc), with our 10 & 7 year old.

It would save us roughly $300 with hotel/meals.

For that amount of savings would you push it in 2 days, or just spread it out over 3, so it's an easier drive?

(ETA: This is x-posted in the Canadians board. After I posted it, I realized it probably should have just gone here).

No way! Yes, $300 is a lot of money when you are trying to be conservative, but considering that you will start out being exhausted, doesn't sound like a good plan for a very busy vacation. Even dividing it up into three days would be too much at one time for us.

 

[minnie mum]

We take 3 days for the drive, and we only need 22 hours driving time. We do longer legs the first 2 days, staying somewhere in SC on the second night so that we arrive in WDW before rush hour on the 3rd day. But that's because we usually go during months with shorter daylight hours. Neither of us like doing prolonged stretches of nigt driving.

We have occasionally made the return trip in 2 days because we're just DONE with travelling. But those are anything but pleasant, and we're really tired by the time we get home.

 

[BigTigger]

A few questions on driving to help focus on what you can and can't do from prior experiences:
1) What is the longest you have driven? Was it solo or sharing driving?
2) Will you have plenty of entertainment (tablet wiht tons of videos and games for each one, reading materials, car sized games, etc.) for the kids or will one adult be "the entertainer"?

From 2004 to 2015 I drove to Disney and back 26 times from central MA (about 22 hours of driving) or northern NJ (about 19 hours of driving). I would consider myself a very good long distance driver with one trip straight through with a co-driver and the rest being two day trips. Assuming a good night's sleep of at least 7 hours before departure, I'd do 14-15 hours on day one and the remainder on day two. This would get me into S. Carolina or Georgia on the southbound trip and just south of DC on the northbound trip. That much driving requires about 5% break time to stay alert on the road and meals and fluids that don't make you drowsy. I'd chew gum to keep my alertness up. You will also not be able to drive as long if you are in crowded urban areas during peak travel periods as that type of driving wears you down. You should consider trying to go through the northeast corrider at night or at least around the commuter hot periods. Once south of DC it's a pretty easy drive comparatively. It also may be worth getting an EZ Pass if you're traveling on northeast toll roads to reduce time in toll booth queues.

 

[nacho113]

Last time we went we took 3 days to drive (it's 28 hours driving from our home). We're considering trying to do it in 2 days next time (basically two 15-16 hour days by the time we stop for gas, meals, potty breaks etc), with our 10 & 7 year old.

It would save us roughly $300 with hotel/meals.

For that amount of savings would you push it in 2 days, or just spread it out over 3, so it's an easier drive?

(ETA: This is x-posted in the Canadians board. After I posted it, I realized it probably should have just gone here).

I have a question that hasn't been asked:
Are you doing this so that you have a couple of extra days in the magic, or just trying to shave a couple of days (and expenses) off your vacation?

If it's the first, you won't be saving any money since you will be spending it in Florida.

If it's the later, it may be worth the cost of booking flights (for at least part of the way)
We live in Winnipeg Manitoba and will quite frequently drive down to Grand Forks or Fargo ND or even Minneapolis to save on airline costs (driving 2,3 or 6 hours is way more doable than 30+ hours from home).

***Follow my logic here: if you have 2 weeks vacation but you are spending 6 days driving (plus another day at each end of the drive recovering from that drive), this gives you 7 days (maybe 8) to enjoy your vacation before you have to buckle down and make the drive back (We always hate the drive home - are we there yet? are we there yet?! ARE WE THERE YET!?!)

***Personally, we vacation pretty hard and need a vacation from the vacation when we get home, I don't know if I could drive for 3 days after 7 days in the parks.

***Now if you were to just plan on 7 days in the Magic, look for a discount flight from an airport near home or one that is just across the border into the USA and only plan out the 7 days plus 1/2 day air travel at each end, you may find that you save your sanity/marriage/kids/etc at a cost that isn't a whole lot more than the 14 day driving vacation.

JMHO