A driving what would you do....

[dvcfamily41801]

This is it, our first big drive trip this week

Originally were planning on leaving Philadelphia area between 4-5am Saturday, hoping to make it to Georgia (Brunswick I have a reservation at a Hampton Inn) and finish up the drive Sunday morning....

Now yesterday DH and I were talking, he was already off on Friday anyway, but we were thinking leaving at 4pm on Friday and doing the overnight drive straight through.

How has either worked for any of you?

We have been talking up the long car ride with our 4 year old and we have the TV DVD player and I have been collecting various surprises and stuff to give him for the way down. We were just thinking if we could get at least a few solid hours of driving time with Matt asleep it might be a little easier.

If we do the overnight, what time on Saturday would you think we would arrive...we have no problem stopping, stretching and eating and stuff like that but just do not know what all to expect.

Thanks so much!

 

[tinaluis]

How long is the total drive? We drive down from Chicago but we stay overnight after about 14 hours of driving and finish up the next 6-8 the next day. Mapquest usually has our drive listed as about 19 hours but it ends up taking us anywhere from 20-22 when you consider the time change, potty breaks, gas fill-ups, etc. When we're planning we think that we may be able to drive straight through but when we're actually driving, we're glad we have some place to stop and rest for the night. I know many who do leave at about 4 pm and drive straight through but I don't think we could do that.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

I suggest you consider breaking up the drive at least on the way south into two days. Then, you have a current feel for how your 4 yo will do on the long trip. If you are comfortable with how things have gone, you might consider driving straight through on the return trip back home.

Just be aware of the traffic around DC. I would try to miss that Friday afternoon outbound traffic leaving DC on I-95 South. Traffic starts to build after 3pm on Friday when people leave DC for the weekend. There was an interesting article about that subject in the Washington Post recently. After 3pm on Friday, if the weather is good, outbound traffic becomes a nightmare.

Enjoy the trip and I hope that your 4 yo will have a great time at Walt Disney World.

 

[ennisb]

We have done both the two day and straight thru. We have found it best to break the trip down into two days with stops every 3-4 hours for 10min or so. We leave about the same time 4-5am. On the trip down we stop for stretch, bathroom, snack, and then on the road to Georgia. The next day is 6 hrs or so, we start late like 8-9am after a good night sleep and breakfast. On the return we have on every trip gone straight thru, even when that was not the plan. Found it was the almost home, let's save the money, and get this drive done every time.

We have done straight thru down to WDW on one trip with three drivers. Even though the kids got some sleep the first day was a challenge since everybody was tired.

 

[DisneyPoly]

Hi dvcfamily!

We've driven from Holland, PA and have done both: 1) leaving at 10:00 p.m. and 2) leaving at 5:00 a.m. I vote for the 5:00 a.m.

After a good night's sleep, we place the kids in the car at 5:00 and off we go. We go to Hilton Head Island (have relatives who live there so we stay with them) it's a 12 hr. drive.

The next day we get up, have breakfast and then we're off by 10:00 a.m. It's 5 hrs. from HHI to Disney!

I didn't like the late departure because with the sun coming up in the morning, after have driven all night, I found it to be very tiring. Also, leaving at 4:00 on a Friday, you're going to hit a lot of traffic on 95 Southbound due to the rush hour traffic.

Good luck in your decision and have a safe trip! If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask!

 

[AspiringCindy]

We have done it both ways, and would never drive straight through again. We were all right until we hit 2:00am! The most difficult part of the drive was 2:00am-5:00am! If you do opt to drive through, most driving disers say it is best to leave around 4:00am so you are wide awake during the most difficult times!

 

[Uncleromulus]

I agree w/ Cindy.
I used to drive straight thru, but wound up so tired when we got to WDW that that first "day" was not enjoyable.
For the past # of years we've always broken up our trip--stopping at the Hampton Inn in Brunnswick on the way down, and the Best Western in Emporia Va. on the trip home.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Thanks for the replies!

For those of you that have broken it down, what times did you leave to go down and what time did you leave WDW to start the trek home.

Thank you!

 

[AspiringCindy]

We have left Jersey at 9:00am...stopped for lunch(fast food) and dinner(a sitdown) then have checked into a hotel in Santee, SC by 10:00PM. The next days travel is only 6 hours!

Originally posted by dvcfamily41801
Thanks for the replies!

For those of you that have broken it down, what times did you leave to go down and what time did you leave WDW to start the trek home.

Thank you!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Leave on Friday at 4:00 AM (to get by DC before all hell breaks loose). Stop for full breakfast and several gas/rest stops. Arrive in Brunswick Ga. nlt 5:00 PM (sometimes a bit earlier).
leave Brunswick a bit after 6:00 AM-checking into WDW at 10:30 at the latest.
Going home on a Saturday, we leave around 6:00 AM and are in Emporia va. by 6:00, at the latest. Includes usual rest stops and a stop for a full dinner. .Then leave at 6:00 AM and home by 11:00 AM

 

[mudnuri]

We're a bit north of you and we break our up to 2 overnights...

1st stop is Rocky Mount, NC...should be about 12 hours, give or take due to traffic...we should be fine in NYC, as we're leaving here at 330am...however DC will be an issue, but I'd rather have DC the issue than NYC!..

We should be in Rocky Mount no later than 5pm...hotel already booked, but if we end up making good time, and the kids are doing okay I'll cancel that one, and keep on truckin...

next day we'll leave the hotel about 830, and we have an 8 hour trip to Brunswick...should be there again, no later than 5pm....we wont drive any further this day regardless of the time..hotel already booked here too..

then the 3rd day- we have to only go from Brunswick to Orlando, we have no plans for sunday other than Chef Mickeys at 7pm, and a grocery/walmart stop, so we're planning on stopping in St. Augustine at the outlets, to stretch etc... then onward to WDW, should be there no later than 1pm or so...

On the way home- we'll leave St. Augustine (2nd week of our trip)...in the morning after breakfast, and drive to Rocky Mount hotel already booked, and then to New Haven CT the next...then our last day is 2 1/2 hours home!

Good luck!

Brandy

 

[mickeymom02]

Hi! I'm right around the corner from you in Trevose. We have done the drive many times when our boys were young and (teens now). We've always driven straight through to WDW. We usually leave between 7pm and midnight (depending how long DH can sleep before leaving). It's always worked out great because the kids slept for most of the trip. They would start to stir around 8am and by then we'd be in South Carolina and only have about 5-6 hrs to go. We usually arrive by 3pm, depending on traffic and stops. We do take turns driving and I'm usually awake for most of the trip to keep him alert. I will admit we are tired when we get there but we always plan on just settling in and going to bed early before the "action" begins. We can usually do it in 16-17 hours(and thats even pullling a trailer)
We also are missing all the DC, Baltimore and Richmond traffic, big plus driving through the night.
Have a good and safe trip

 

[Pirate-Jeff]

I live just inside of the Delaware line, From here if I leave at 3am I can be checking in at Disney by 7pm and I don't SPEED. I leave at 3am Just to miss the DC traffic jam at the south end of the beltway.(major road construction from the Potomac to just south of 495-95 exit)

Last trip we took the Motorhome and it took us 17.5 hrs from here to Fort wilderness.

We swap off driving dutys every 2-3 hrs too.

Jeff

 

[sconnell]

Wow! I just realized how lucky I have been! I grew up on Jekyll Island, on of the barrier islands off of Brunswick. (Went to school in Brunswick.) I never thought about how much people went through to get to WDW. I now live closer to Savannah, with DH and DD2. I was dreading the trip down in May, but now I feel lucky!
Let me know if you would like info about the current condition of I-95 in GA. I travel from Sav. to Jekyll Island quite often.
Oh, I thought that I should mention that Exit 87 Richmond Hill has recently built some new hotels, I mean within the past six months, they look nice, there are also plenty of gas stations with better prices than Savannah. (Exit 94 is usually 10 cents more pg) Lots of places to eat too.
However, Brunswick is a great stopping place, too.