Anybody that drives to florida, how do they keep it from getting to them.

[maryliz]

We love the drive down ! And having the tv/vcr strapped into the van has become a life-saver the last few trips! It's funny how we all have our "favourite" stops. We always stop at the KY Welcome centre, and the rest area at the Macon by-pass is always a must (too funny, Darren!) My DH works midnights so we often leave at 7AM when he gets home from work. I start the driving while he tries to sleep a bit. We always get to Tenn and often northern Georgia that first night. And then on to WDW the next day. We've checked in as early as 3PM and as late as 9:30PM ... just depends on if it's snowing/icy in the northern states, and how long we "play outside" at our rest stops.

Used Dave Hunter's book for the first time last year ... it was a riot! The drive home is a little more depressing 'cause we're not on our way TO Disney But we always stay at the same hotel coming home ... Exit 141 in Tenn -- Comfort Inn --it's only about 6 years old and the free breakfast the next morning is really good (better on weekends because they have biscuits/gravy and sausage patties).


Mary Liz

 

[DSNY FN]

Hey Maryliz that is actually one of the kids favourite places to stop it is usually pretty warm there and sunny as we stop there around lunch hour. We like to check out the parking lot to see where the differnet cars are from. Wouldn't be right if we didn't stop at this rest area.

 

[excitedmom]

i'll be doing the drive down this sept. for the first time. I'm really looking forward to it! we're planning on driving straight thru with dh driving the first 6hrs or so then switching and so on and so forth till we're there. I LOVE to drive so i won't have any trouble with it so thats why dh gets to drive most of the daylight hours lol. i can't wait to see all the different states cause i've never been past michigan. i bought the i75 book and enjoyed reading it already so i can know what to look forward to. i can't wait to see the kids faces when they wake up and we're in florida!

for those of you who have done this before, dave hunters book stops at the florida border. Is there alot of directions for getting to disney? or should i mapquest it for direction?

 

[cdnmickeylover]

There are lots of directions to Disney so you don't have to worry. You can stop at the Florida Welcome Centre and get a map with your free orange juice but basically you continue on I-75 until the Florida Turnpike. We like to stop at the Disney Information Centre in Ocala and they will give you a map and directions from there. It has a small gift shop and you can pick up guide books as well. It's a great place to start the excitement.

 

[peigirl]

We drove from Charlottetown, PEI in June 2003 and I did not mind the drive down or back. Out of the total 7700 kms that we travelled, DH only drove 6 hours. And that was 2 hours at a time max and in early morning as long as he knew we were nowhere near any cities. I tried to sleep but woke up everytime he put on the blinker. And the funny thing is when we arrived home after 3 weeks away, we realized we had never once had the radio on in the car. The kids had walkmans and DH and I talked the whole way down and back. After 3 weeks, we had nothing to say to each other. lol

We left at 5pm and drove to Houlton, ME for the night. Next day drove from 6am til 9pm and stayed somewhere in New Jersey near the Delaware border. Next day we drove from 6am to 11pm to St Augustines and the last day was just a few hours to Orlando. We did the I95 all the way down. 37 hours driving

On the way back we did the I75 to Tennessee, and came up thru the Virginias and Penns. on the 88 (I think) to the I90 in New York State and got on the I95 to head to New Brunswick. 43 hours driving but much more relaxing. We left Florida at 8am and drove to just past Knoxville, Tenn stopping at 9pm. Next day drove from 6am to midnight staying at Worchester. The last day we drove from 6am til 8am when we arrived at my parents house in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

I am afraid to fly too so we will be driving again in August 2005 taking my BIL and his spouse with us so they will take turns driving if they want. But I will not mind doing it all as I like to be in control. lol

Paula

 

[NancyK]

Wow Paula! I love driving down but I'm not sure I could do it from that far away. And the radio definitely has to be on.

 

[cottontail]

Hi Paula:

That is funny, you and hubby had nothing to talk about after the 37 hr driving trip. Thanks for the reply and the distances.


Deb.

 

[jaysue]

I drove down solo in Jan/04 from Aurora

400>407>QEW to Fort Erie
Cross Peace Bridge
I-190 to I-90 to US219 (weather was not good on the 77/79 combo nor on I-75)
US219 south into PA - then wind through/across on the I-80 to I-99 then down onto I-76/70 into Maryland

I-70 to I-270 to I-495 Capitol Beltway onto I-95

I-95 straight shot down to I-4 and then to WDW

On the way down stopped in Roanake Rapids (started driving at 0900 and stopped at 2330) Started the next day at 0600 and was at AKL around 1400 or so - about 22.5 hours total

Stopped lots of times, drank lots of water and ate fruits and veggies - no protein or carbs or corn sugars - all this kept me quiet alert albeit with lots of bio breaks and stretches. I found the I-95 rest centres so well kept that it was almost a pleasure to stop

On the way back, left DAK about 1815 (it was 46 degrees- brrrr) went to the Publix at Intl Drive South and Vineland Road - picked up eats for the drive back. Got onto I-4 about 1915 and then drove up to North Georgia on I-95 just shy of the South Carolina border - this was just after midnight - call it 5 hours

Started the next day at 0645 - it was a glorious day - I was going to go 77-79 route but North Carolina had a huge snowfall with about 12 inches in Charlotte so that way was out - kept going up I-95 and then the reverse route the west of the way.

I should have stopped at about 14 hrs of driving but did not and drove all the way home getting in about 1am - did lots of little rest stops and eats but I would never drive that much time again in one shot - 16 1/4 hours was about 2 1/4 hrs too much - should have stopped in or around Fort Erie - will next time!

As a solo driver, I had a collection of CD's ranging from reggae and rock to talking books, listened to NPR a lot, enjoyed the scenary and watched what I ate

The trip went pretty fast - also had OnStar so was able to get directions with a simple call as needed

thanks
jaysue

 

[DisneyLisa]

I love the drive to WDW...I was actually jealous reading about everyone else's driving plans last year when we were flying.

The most important tip I can give you (at least it works for us) is to drive as far as you can that first day. For example: we'll be leaving Kitchener at 4 am this year & will probably drive until 7pm. Then when we leave the next morning, we only have about a 7 hour drive ahead of us and we get to WDW early enough to have a great meal & do some shopping at DTD (this year it'll be Bomas & DTD). I have to admit that we find the drive home much harder.

 

[harleyquinn]

All you Canadians are making me feel so much better about my drive! Now I'm getting really excited!

Thanks so much!!

 

[DSNY FN]

No problem harleyquinn we are always happy to help we are Canadian after all hehehe.

 

[mbb]

people do the drive with kids???

We've driven to SC several times - leaving lunch time, and driving straight through...4 drivers, stretch breaks only, and made it by 2 or 3pm the next day....and that has always been ok...would NEVER do that with the kids...


sometimes - like when the bill for airfare arrives - we're so tempted to try it ...and spread the trip out over four days...I don't think we could handle a "Marathon" 14 hour day...
...but we like to be AT wdw for two weeks...
...three weeks is just too long away from school...
...but we could take the two weeks Christmas vacation+1wk..
...which means we *could* go over Christmas...
...but the crowds are so heavy...

...which means we'll fly...

Anyone got any airmiles they want to donate???

 

[cdnmickeylover]

Have done lots of long drives with kids. My family used to always drive on vacation so got used to it. My son is a great long distance driver as well. I started him young though -- when he was 2 he and I drove to WDW and he was great. We then drove every year but one from then until he was 14. He's "too old" for Disney at the moment but am sure that he'll come around soon.

When he was 16 he and I drove 2 days to Yarmouth, N.S. for a family wedding, stayed for 2 days and then drove home again.

Btw we don't have a TV, DVD, game player or video in the car. He reads, looks out the window and listens to the radio and cd's.

I think long distance driving can be done with kids but I think you have to start young so that they get used to it.

 

[DSNY FN]

We started long drives with our kids from the time they were about 5 to 6 months old it really does help. They get accustomed to the sounds of the road and the car and radio etc and maes for a nice drive

 

[mbb]

really great in the car...we regulary drive between here - Cape Breton - and the grandparents in Saint JohnNB...so a 6 hour drive - complete with Game boys and new books - is ok

I guess *I'M* the one with the issues!!

Could I bear to leave WDW for the drive home...???

Mom and Dad drove down to meet us this past January, and they didn't mind it...but they did get caught in the Ice Storm that shut down SC for two days - I suppose the same thing can happen with flights...

We may just have to try it...

 

[jaysue]

Anyone got any airmiles they want to donate???

, mbb what about aeroplan points?


jaysue

 

[mbb]

xxx xxxx xxx


LOL...they will all add up someday...