Advice!?! Driving from MI, summertime crowds/heat!

[marciemi]

Okay - we just got back from a trip to Disneyland. We'd decided this was our last Disney trip for a while, if not forever, based on the cost, time between vacations, and ages of our kids. We do a big trip about every 3 years, and want our next one to be a ski vacation in Colorado. Our boys are 7,9,11 now, and going out 3 years after that one puts my older two in high school! So we thought this was it!

But everyone had too much fun on the trip, and now we're contemplating trying to squeeze one more trip (this time to WDW) in before they're really too old to enjoy it. Thinking of next summer ('04), but it would definitely have to be a driving trip - 5 plane tickets are just too much! And since it's driving, and my oldest will be in middle school next year, I'm also thinking it has to be over the summer to allow enough time to drive and do everything down there.

SO...my questions are:

1. Has anyone done the drive from Michigan to Florida or something similar? How bad was it, particularly on the return? I'm guessing anticipation will carry you through the drive there. Obviously we don't have a baby or anyone who can't amuse themselves somewhat (plus a tv/vcr & would put gamecube in car too), but 20+ hours is a long time. Is 2 days enough to split it over or do you need more? We've never done more than about a 9 hour drive before and always split that over 2 days!

2. If we've done our last 2 trips to WDW (2000 & 1997) in the early December, definitely off-peak time, will summer seem so hot and crowded that we just won't have any fun? How bad is it? What if we're there really early each day? Are prices really bad then too (hotels, etc.)? Should we just forget this whole idea?!

Thanks for any suggestions/input!

 

[Simba]

Just a couple of answers:

1. We have drove from MI twice, and it's not as bad as you think. Your right about the way down, the anticipation carries you through it. The drive home also isn't terrible. We have never stopped, both times we have drove staright through which isabout 20 hours from where we are. I would think 2 days would be plenty of time exp. if you can drive about 10 hours a day.

2. The crowds and the heat might be a little overwhelming. We drive down once in the summer, and it was very hot. But if you plan ahead and get your Ps's early, you should be fine. The only downfall is that it supp. rains a lot in the summer.

IMO, your children might never get too old for Disney. We have a 19 year old who LOVES WDW. He knows just about everything you could ever know about the place. He helps plan our trips and looks forward to every trip. So,maybe if your lucky you'll get to experience WDW more than you think. If you have any q's feel free to post them.

 

[mudhen]

We drive down from Toledo, and the I-75 route
is not that bad. Going down is the easy part,
coming home can be a chore, but after a long vacation it's almost as exciting just to get
back home.

Couple of tips from my experience:
Have AAA map you out a route, you don't really
need it, BUT....they will give a heads up on
any construction snags along the way.

We also make it a point to drive through the night,
I know that may sound crazy, but less traffic
and construction snags usually cuts about 2-3 hours
off of the trip.

Have fun!! We'll be starting our trek down July
28 =

 

[kamgen]

We always drive!!! We live in MI and drive to WDW.
We drove down 5 times in 2001! LOL!!!
We can do it in about 18 hrs...straight. We stop for gas/bathroom, and to eat one sit down meal. We also drive some through the night and it is great, no traffic!
I would never think to split it up, but if you did, 2 days is more than enough! JMHO.
In terms of summer, we don't go at that time of year. Too busy, too hot and we figure why leave MI in the summer when it is actually nice here! LOL!!!!!
We have taken middle and high schoolers out of school for a week to go, so it has worked out.

We plan to drive to FL in May and again in October of this year! It's not a bad drive!

Kamy

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

We did a road trip last year from WI, pretty close. We had a 16 yr old and 2 yr old with us. BTW we use to do the drive every year straight, no stopping, starting when my oldest was about 5. We only started flying to Orlando in the past few years.

With kids that age, you should have no problems driving it straight through. What we did is left our house just before dinner time. We'd make a stop just before Chicago for dinner, so the traffic let up a bit, it can get pretty ugly between Chicago and the IN border. After dinner we'd keep driving until we needed gas or a potty break and then switch drivers. We'd hit TN/KY border around breakfast time, stop and eat, while traffic was heavier. Then keep going. Stopping for breaks. We usually get to FL around dinner time. For us it's about 18-19 hours. The only problems we ever had was traffic in Chicago and Atlanta. We figured out how to avoid the Chicago traffic, but never Atlanta. LOL No matter what we did we never could get around it.

I also used the AAA maps, and they really helped with construction. There was a lot between North GA and Atlanta last year. And a bit in IN.

Last year we had to break up the drive because of the 2 yr old. It took us about 3 or 4 days to get there, but we had other things planned for this trip (some neat places to visit along the way), took us almost a month, to do it. LOL If you're planning on driving and stopping, if you want PM me and I can tell you some great places to eat and sleep and what ones you should avoid at all costs, depending on what interstate your driving.

Like I said tho, your kids should be fine, especially with a tv/vcr combo in the car!!

Pammy

 

[Bill3]

We go to WDW once or twice a year, and end up driving about 1/2 the time.We have driven straight thru but now usually make it 1 overnight.Driving straight thru we used at least 3 adult drivers and it was about a 21+ hours for us. With just my wife and I we try and drive 12-14 hours the first day and do the rest on the 2nd. We find ourselves not so wiped out that way and have alot more energy. There is no point breaking your neck to hurry down there and then spending the next 24 hours recovering from the trip down.Going home is the same just not as much anticipation
Summer is fine, pace yourself, use the pool and don't try to do commando disney.

 

[bobcat]

I drive from Central Ohio and usually do 12 hours the first day and then only have about 3 hours till WDW the second.

As far as summer it is hot. This will be our third trip during the summer so we have survived. You will need to plan for the heat and the rain. August is our favorite time to go. The summer crowds start to thin out and it is a great way to relax before the school year starts.

 

[Girls Scout Leader]

WE live 24 hours from Florida and have done it many times. We figure that Chattanooga is about 1/2 way, so makes a good excuse to stop.

I have some suggestions about the heat, coming from our area where we are not as accustomed to managing it. I will try not to gross out some of you.

Pay attention to yours and your kid's urination. Gross, I know. But if you haven't felt the need to urinate every couple-three hours or so, drink-drink-drink. You body is getting dehydrated.
Also, pay attention to the color. If it is darker than usual, you need to drik-drink-drink. Take a wash cloth in a zip lock. Soak it fresh every time at the bathroom or drinking faucet. Your mouth isn'th the only place to hydrate effectively. Mop your face and neck with it often. Refreshing and free.

 

[antmaril]

Can't give you any tips on the driving. We live in Michigan, but we've never made the drive - since there are only three of us, we fly.

However, we have been there in the summer. I won't lie to you - it is HOT and HUMID. We are thinking about going again this summer - we have reservations at YC, but I haven't booked the air yet. I said to my husband two years ago when we were there at the end of June, "If I ever suggest this again, talk me out of it." I think everyone will tell you the same thing -- get an early start at the parks. Drink plenty of water. Have a nice lunch perhaps and then go back to the hotel. Take a nap or go to the pool -- back to the parks in the early evening.

In spite of the heat, we had a good time. It will get to you at times, but you will look back on the trip and say you had a great time.


By the way, my son is 16 and he still enjoys WDW.

Enjoy!

 

[marciemi]

Thanks for all the help! I'm hoping my kids will continue to be Disney fans, and this time at 9 & 10 they seemed more willing to enjoy some things that at 6 or 7 they just pouted and said were "babyish" (character meals, Dumbo). But I also remember being dragged to Disney World in 10th and 12th grade and spending much of the trip screaming at my dad because I didn't want to be there and all my friends were doing fun things during their breaks (read "the beach"). And I'm a huge Disney fan! So I'm just being prepared!

I'm hoping we'll survive the drive. Honestly, I'm more worried about me than the kids. I hate driving and hate sitting in a car almost as much!

As far as time of year, my only question still is whether August really is better than June. I'd heard it got progressively worse throughout the summer, at least until the week before Labor Day (when my kids along with many others go back to school). But I'd prefer to wait as long as I could in the summer for 2 reasons: 1. To have something to look forward to. 2. My youngest is about 51 inches now and I'd really like him to be 54 inches by next summer for Universal Studios (many cool 54 inch min. rides there!)

Thanks again!

 

[bobcat]

marciemi we've been twice in August, 8th-17th, and we noticed the crowds getting smaller as the week progressed. From talking to CMs the crowds during our times are smaller than the previous summer crowds. We seem to hit the time where we get almost a week of the regula summer hours and then the last few days we get shorter hours, but the crowds are smaller. With FP we have enjoyed going in August and usually don't have a lot of waits. We have been during off season as well and we handle summer just fine.

The heat is another matter but splitting your time between outdoor attractions and the airconditioning, pacing yourself, drinking lots of water, plenty of pool time, and a misting fan you should be fine! LOL Besides its a great time to visit the water parks.

Our two summer trips we were always asked if we were from up north since many Florida schools are back in session already. Weekends can still be busy, especially at the MK.