Anyone done the drive to WDW from the East Coast??

[Applemomma]

We're leaving mid september to drive down from Nova Scotia. Just wondering if anyone has done it and where did you stop for rest breaks? We're about 6.5 hours from the Maine Border (would Houlton or Calais be the best place to cross?) and will be traveling with a 6 and 10 year old. We plan to take two nights to do it if necessary because we don't want us to be worn out before we even get there. Any advice?

Thanks!

 

[Bea]

We have done it a few times from Halifax . First night we stayed in Boston,the second night we stayed in Rocky Mount, NC. The first day wasn't bad, around 12-13 hours. The second day is brutal, around 15 hours and the third is around 9-10 hours or so. The last time we did it, we had a 5 and 8 year old so we tried to stop alot for rest breaks and play times. Invest in a portable dvd player if you don't already have one. We also have a plug in cooler, which the girls had access to. That way I didn't hear "I am thirsty, I am hungry" every 10 minutes.

I recently bought the book "Driving I-95" by Stan Postner. It lists the exits and the available hotels, restaurants and gas stations, fast food places with playlands etc. I look forward to using it this trip.

It is a great drive. We live in Ottawa now and are looking forward to doing the drive down this March. Good luck with your planning!

 

[tribus121]

I have made the trip several times ( From NB ) the best place for you to cross the border in September would be Calais unless the weather is real bad then Houlton would be the choice Because it is 4 lane highway all the way One tip you may want to try is to leave in the middle of the night ( kids will be sleeping and Quiet ) then stop at suppertime allowing you to get a good night sleep and a early start on day 2 . I use this rte I95 to just this side of Boston then 495 to the mass pike to I84west to I81 South to I64 east to I 95 ( at Richmond Va ) This rte bypasses all the big cities and is very scenic it slightly longer but you make up the time by missing city traffic

Boston would be about 13 hrs + stops from Halifax

If you are not a CAA member Join it is well worth the money they can provide you with maps , trip ticks ( with detailed maps of your rte with turn by turn instructions ) tour books ( That list hotels and resterants )allso their 1 800 could be worth it's wait in gold if you brakedown on rte

 

[Applemomma]

Thanks to the both of you.....I'm glad noone came back and said "are you NUTS!" I'll probably be looking for more advice as we get closer to the date. Snowing for the first time here now ( 0 centimetres the whole of Nov! ) so I'm definitly on the count down to warmer places now!!

Did you do anything to make the trip home more interesting? That's the one I'm not looking forward to.

Dawn

 

[Bea]

Most people thought we were crazy to, especially because we drove twice in the middle of summer . Our kids look forward to the drive, it is part of the trip. Amazingly enough, the drive back is easier and goes by faster than the drive there. On the way down the kids are so hyper and "are we there yet" starts on day One . On the way home we all look forward to getting back into our own beds, and the kids are so tired from their vacation they are pretty quiet.

Good luck with your planning.

 

[tribus121]

September is a great time Crowds are low traffic on the roads should be low and if you are lucky Disney may offer the free Disney Dining Plan

 

[Applemomma]

September is a great time Crowds are low traffic on the roads should be low and if you are lucky Disney may offer the free Disney Dining Plan

FREE Disney Dining? OHHHHHHH! Tell me more?!! I hadn't heard of this! Please educate me? I'm a Disney newbie since the only time I was there was 28 years ago and we stayed off-site so ate off site.

Thanks!!

 

[peigirl]

Former Nova Scotian here.

We are leaving in 8 sleeps to drive down from PEI. We are leaving at midnight as our youngest is 17 months old and I want to get as much driving in as possible while he sleeps. We will be away from home from Dec 12th to Jan 8th.

In June 2003 we drove down. I don't mind the drive. Left at 5:30 after I got off work. Got as far as Houlton, Me the first night. Stayed on I95 and then cut across to the Garden State Parkway in NJ. Stayed in NJ the second night. Went back to the I95 and made it to St Augustine's, Fl the 3rd night (very long day). The next day we made it to Disney in a couple of hours.

On the way back, we went up the I75 to Tennessee and stayed just past Knoxville. We drove up the I81 to the 90 and stayed in Worchester, MA the second night. We made it to New Glasgow, NS by 8pm the 3rd day. the route back was about 5 hours longer but more bearable because of less traffic.

The girls were 7 and 11 back then and did not mind the drive too much.

This time we are taking the I95 to the I90 to the 84 to 81 to 64 and back to I95. Alot of my coworkers have recommended this route

Paula

 

[Bea]

PEIgirl, when we drive in March, my youngest will be 20 months (and will have a 9 and 12 yr also). I will be picking your brain when you get back for ideas and tips on how you kept your 17 month old happy . Have a safe drive.

 

[tribus121]

FREE Disney Dining? OHHHHHHH! Tell me more?!! I hadn't heard of this! Please educate me? I'm a Disney newbie since the only time I was there was 28 years ago and we stayed off-site so ate off site.

Thanks!!

For the last 2 years disney has offerd their Dining plan free to those staying onsite at one of their hotels they usualy do this around march or april no word if they will do this again in 2007 but there have been some rumors

The DDP will give you one table service , one counter service , and one snack per day per person for every night at a disney hotel

http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...agespecific/eng/nontheme/tickets/07Dining.pdf

This can be purchased as part of a package