Advice on drive from VA to WDW

[TeeterTots]

We are looking at doing our first drive this fall. We are in Loudoun County, per Google, 12 hours 20 mins to BLT with no traffic. Originally was thinking that we would drive to Savannah and split it into two trips. But DH would like to push through and, frankly, so would I. So now we're looking at leaving maybe 3 am on a Friday morning, plan to arrive at BLT around 5 pm - does that sound reasonable (two hours for stops)? I guess that puts us in Orlando during rush hour - how bad is it? Should I tack on another hour for planning purposes?

We're in Loudoun County too and heading to BLT next month! I'll be sure to let you know how it goes Driving with DD-4 and DS-1 along with my DH and mom.

 

[jbish]

We're in Loudoun County too and heading to BLT next month! I'll be sure to let you know how it goes Driving with DD-4 and DS-1 along with my DH and mom.

Oh yay!! You can be my guinea pig! What is your plan of attack for the drive?

ETA: Have I seen you driving around? There's someone I see often on Rte. 7 with a DVC magnet. DH wouldn't let me put my magnet on. LOL

 

[TeeterTots]

Oh yay!! You can be my guinea pig! What is your plan of attack for the drive?

ETA: Have I seen you driving around? There's someone I see often on Rte. 7 with a DVC magnet. DH wouldn't let me put my magnet on. LOL

Lol! Not me no magnet on our car!

We check in on April 25 so I think we're going to leave between 8-10am Friday and drive as close to Disney as possible so we are rested and ready for Saturday.

 

[DVC92]

I live in MD and have been doing this drive for over 20 years. First of all, you are lucky to be leaving from Richmond instead of farther north. The drive from your area should be relatively easy. I usually stop at the Hampton Inn in Santee, SC which is the midway point in that state. It leaves about a six hour drive to WDW. If you want to get closer the first day, as some people have said, Savannah is a good spot. Even closer is Kingsland, GA which is at the GA/FL line. There is a decent Hampton Inn there.

 

[thepops]

ETA: Have I seen you driving around? There's someone I see often on Rte. 7 with a DVC magnet. DH wouldn't let me put my magnet on. LOL

Lol! Not me no magnet on our car!

It could be us! We proudly display the two that we got! (and do a good bit of traveling on Rt. 7)

 

[gules]

We are looking at doing our first drive this fall. We are in Loudoun County, per Google, 12 hours 20 mins to BLT with no traffic. Originally was thinking that we would drive to Savannah and split it into two trips. But DH would like to push through and, frankly, so would I. So now we're looking at leaving maybe 3 am on a Friday morning, plan to arrive at BLT around 5 pm - does that sound reasonable (two hours for stops)? I guess that puts us in Orlando during rush hour - how bad is it? Should I tack on another hour for planning purposes?

You want to watch for traffic near Savannah, Jacksonville, and Orlando. Orlando traffic, when bad, can ratchet up your time by another 1-2 hours easily, Jacksonville and Savannah (unless there is an accident) at rush hour are easily another hour apiece. If you get stuck in either of the latter places, you may as well pull over and take a driving break to refresh yourselves if you're going to push all the way through. If you have small children you might want to plan on things not going to plan and have a contingency of what to do in case of ___. Such as, what to do in case someone gets really carsick. What to do if they just can't take it anymore. What to do if one of you gets too tired. What to do if it looks like you're REALLY behind schedule. Safety first! Angry or tired or frustrated drivers are not safe drivers.

Remember to fill your tank in Jacksonville, as gas stations are more expensive and slightly harder to find closer into Orlando. At the very least you'll have to get off the main highway, and there is a certain point where toll roads are everywhere. Easier to fill in Jacksonville and save yourself the headache.

 

[jbish]

It could be us! We proudly display the two that we got! (and do a good bit of traveling on Rt. 7)

Hi, neighbor!!

You want to watch for traffic near Savannah, Jacksonville, and Orlando. Orlando traffic, when bad, can ratchet up your time by another 1-2 hours easily, Jacksonville and Savannah (unless there is an accident) at rush hour are easily another hour apiece. If you get stuck in either of the latter places, you may as well pull over and take a driving break to refresh yourselves if you're going to push all the way through. If you have small children you might want to plan on things not going to plan and have a contingency of what to do in case of ___. Such as, what to do in case someone gets really carsick. What to do if they just can't take it anymore. What to do if one of you gets too tired. What to do if it looks like you're REALLY behind schedule. Safety first! Angry or tired or frustrated drivers are not safe drivers.

Remember to fill your tank in Jacksonville, as gas stations are more expensive and slightly harder to find closer into Orlando. At the very least you'll have to get off the main highway, and there is a certain point where toll roads are everywhere. Easier to fill in Jacksonville and save yourself the headache.

Well, that statement is pretty much how I have to live my life. Nothing goes according to plan with little kids! Thanks for the tips - I'm going to write down Jacksonville in my notes that I'm taking. As for stopping, if needed, yes, sage advice. I'd like to get down there in one shot, but nothing is for certain until we are actually in that situation.

However, with regard to car sickness, that is something we've had to deal with before. And our strategy is that the kids have throw up buckets - those taller to-go food containers that would hold soup (you may find them from the grocery deli) - these make for excellent buckets. Sturdy (plastic bags do NOT hold up well), they fit over the kids mouths, and then you can put a top on it until you can dispose of it properly! And they're washable and reusable! I highly recommend this to anyone that has kids.

 

[TeeterTots]

It could be us! We proudly display the two that we got! (and do a good bit of traveling on Rt. 7)

Hello neighbor !

 

[TeeterTots]

Oh yay!! You can be my guinea pig! What is your plan of attack for the drive?

ETA: Have I seen you driving around? There's someone I see often on Rte. 7 with a DVC magnet. DH wouldn't let me put my magnet on. LOL

Howdy neighbor! So we survived our first drive to Disney and it wasn't bad! The kids were amazing and due to ample snacks and toys we only stopped for meals and potty breaks!
On the way down we got a late start and left about 9:30am. Our plan was to stay in J-ville. We took 81-route down. We stopped 30 mins for lunch, 60 for dinner with a brief hiccup for a potty break. The truck read it was running 12hr 20 mins which included 45 min thru J-ville traffic bc of a concert and poor navigation. We made it to our room in St Augustine by 12! We were up and out by 9 and rolling into BLT by noon...I think or maybe at Disney by noon.
On the way home we left around 11:00am took 95 all the way and were home by 1:30!
The trip was doable and our trip in oct/nov will be even smoother...I hope!

 

[WDWLODGE]

To combat that "downer" on the way home, you could take the Auto Train. It will put you about an hour north of home, but it would be something different (and you wouldn't have to drive all day!)

I was also going to suggest the Auto Train. It goes from Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL. We will often drive to WDW but take the Auto Train home to help ease the pain of leaving WDW.

 

[eliza61]

We are driving from Philly this year and we've driven many times before. We generally never try to make the trip in one day. We tried it once and we weren't like other posters. we were so cranky and miserable that it's not worth it but I am an additional 4.5 hours from where you are starting

LOL, stop at south of the Border and let the kids run amok to burn off energy. Be warned it's one gigantic tourist trap but after seeing the "Pedro says" billboards for hundreds of miles, you have to see it.

We usually leave about 4 in the morning, kids fall back to sleep easily. we stop and have a great breakfast at Cracker barrell (50 thousand along the way) and we also stop and have a nice lunch.

All in all we stop in Brunswick or Waverly Ga which is right on the florida/Ga line.

 

[nkosiek]

We are driving from Philly this year and we've driven many times before. We generally never try to make the trip in one day. We tried it once and we weren't like other posters. we were so cranky and miserable that it's not worth it but I am an additional 4.5 hours from where you are starting

LOL, stop at south of the Border and let the kids run amok to burn off energy. Be warned it's one gigantic tourist trap but after seeing the "Pedro says" billboards for hundreds of miles, you have to see it.

We usually leave about 4 in the morning, kids fall back to sleep easily. we stop and have a great breakfast at Cracker barrell (50 thousand along the way) and we also stop and have a nice lunch.

All in all we stop in Brunswick or Waverly Ga which is right on the florida/Ga line.

Okay, this is perfect for me. We are driving from Philly for the first time this year, with what will be an 11 month kid. We're thinking of stopping off and seeing some family/friends in DC and/or Richmond, but neither of us is enamored with that idea so much as it's almost an obligation.

 

[nalajms]

LOL, stop at south of the Border and let the kids run amok to burn off energy.

Always one of my favs! Can't wait to stop there for my kids. I think they'll love it.

 

[Theaberdeenkid]

We live about two hours west of Richmond. In the past three years we've been to Disney 6 times and have both driven and taken the Autotrain.
The drive is doable but I don't find it enjoyable, in fact I always dread the ride home. I favor taking the Autotrain down, it's just much easier on everyone not being cooped up in the car for all that time. If you don't insist (like we do) on getting a cabin for four, the price for the train is reasonable.

 

[NuJoy]

You'll pass by us about an hour and 45 minutes into your trip. We do it in one fell swoop that's generally 9.5 hours door-to-door. Do it 3-4 times per year, and we've done it since our DD (9) was born. We do it on 2-3 gas/bathroom stops every time. Leave 5:15a and pull in at the resort at 2:45 such that you can set your watch buy it 9 times out of 10, literally. Then, we go till park closing after check-in, crash hard and start over the next morning, just not too early that first morning.

Go 550 miles and take a right.

There is no way I'd waste overnight somewhere from Richmond, but that's just us. Put me there in 11 hours baby and give me an extra one-two days at WDW.

From what you described, you must live in our neighborhood lol. We drive all night, starting around 6:45pm usually, arrive around 4:30am, check in, take our luggage up, get settled, and are ready to enter park before rope drop. Our youngest is now 13yo so she and I get a little rest on the way. Husband is superman, and therefore, needs no extra sleep

 

[kirstenb1]

We're west of Richmond. We always stop in Savannah on the way down, and Florence SC on the return home. I prefer to do the bulk of the drive the first day, especially on the way down. The second day is a relaxing 5 or so hours.

 

[GeraldineW]

We are in Northern Va. We have done the drive several times with two kids, although now our kids are older ages 8, and 10. Each time we have done the drive it has been different depending on the time we started out and how tired we were starting out. As a result, some years we have slept out overnight, and some years we have driven straight through. Some years we have chosen to sleep out somewhere where there was a sight to see in the morning, a fort, or other attraction, and those stops we would plan. Other years we just stopped when and where we were tired. I prefer to drive at night when the kids are asleep. I recommend you check out the books/apps called kids love 1-95, or similar as they will list out hotels, attractions, food, at the various stops along the way. Our favorite find is a restaurant called the Purple Pickle in Darien Georgia, and we try to stop there for a meal if it is open when we pass through. We have been disappointed in South of the Border, we haven’t found it clean or pleasant and won’t stop there anymore.

 

[Jennasis]

We make the drive from NC to FL every time. Takes anywhere from 8-9.5 ours depending on traffic. We are towards the middle of the state so we take 77 south to 26 East (in Columbia, SC) and then pick up 95 south there. We stop at the same places each time for gas, food and potty breaks. It really is a relaxing, if not fun drive. One of our favorite parts of the trip! The drive home not-so-much LOL.

 

[jennib5426]

I live in Richmond and we have done the drive a few times and we are going to WDW again in 2 weeks. I have a 11 year old and a 10 month old.
We leave Friday about 1pm and drive to Hilton Head area to stay for night. We stay at the Hampton Inn Bluffton or the Fairfield Inn near Hilton Head both are 5-10 miles off 95.
Coming home we stay by the Savannah airport off 95 because we like to stay at hotel in WDW till check out on our last day.
We feel driving it all in one day is to much for us and kids but it is doable if the kids are older.
The Florida state line rest area is always fun lots of travel info and free orange juice samples.
We like stopping at Zaxby's for lunch, it's a chicken place like ChickFilA but very different, you will see them once you get into NC.
Sometimes we stop for fireworks at South Of the Boarder on the way home, always fun for the kids.

 

[jeepnjudy]

We are also in Northern VA and drive down every year. We typically drive the whole way in one day but start out around 3AM allowing the kids to stay in their PJs as they fall right back to sleep and we get in several hours of driving before we need to stop for our first break. That works for us... the best thing to do is just figure out what works best for you and your family. Have FUN!