Anyone drive from WI to WDW??

[chip91]

Anyone drive from the Central, WI. area to WDW? We are thinking for our next trip (if there will be one) we will need to drive, can't afford airfare for 5, with the current costs... It says on Mapquest a little under a 23 hour trip, like 22 hours & 55 minutes.. Did it really take you that long?? How were your kids? We would be going late next October, so weather shouldn't be a problem anywhere along the route.

Our kids will be 11, 10 & 7 with a 6 1/2 mo old

Of course we have a portable DVD, but we would do most of our driving during day so kids would be awake for most of it. Plan would be to get up & leave around 4 a.m. & try to drive till 7-8 p.m. (stopping for potty breaks only, we would pack a cooler for breakfast lunch) get a hotel, get a good dinner, to bed & back up & on the road by 8 ish, hoping to be to Disney World by early evening...DH would do most of the driving, but I will help him out some..

Did you manage it, without going insane? Our longest car trip to date was 8 hours one way, when the girls were 3 mo's, 2 1/2 & 4... It wasn't too bad b/c we did hve a portable VCR at the time, so about 4 movies & we were there, but of course the trip home seemed like an eternity!!! So I can't imagine driving back home from Fl., already depressed from leaving Mickey!!

TIA for your help!
Chip

 

[lulu2]

We did! 2 years ago in August. We planned on leaving very early (around 4 ish). Well we were so excited that DD and I talked DH into leaving after work on a Thursday. It's hard to remember, I think we left around 5 PM, we drove until around midnight (IL). We stayed in a DUMP Seriously, I would not let my daughter touch anything in that room. Anyway, we left by 8 AM and drove (and drove and drove). I don't even remember where we stopped. We swam in the pool, went to bed. Again, left around 8 and were at WDW around 1:00. I enjoyed the drive, DH did not. DD3 did great! She watched DVD's, we played little games, little leap pad, and I saved up little happy meal toys and pulled one out when needed.
On the way home we were in Fort Meyers (longer drive) and we drove strait through. We left early afternoon and were home by 10:00 AM. DH and I took turns every 2 hrs. DD3 slept like a baby, she was so tired.
No problems, I would do it again. But people sure have different driving habits and we went right through Atlanta around 4 on a Friday, at one point I think we were in 6 lanes of traffic Needless to say, when I saw a car spin out going at least 70, I pulled over and let DH drive. Any questions let me know.

 

[sandybobandy]

My husband and I drive from Minneapolis so we're familiar with the drive. We've done it the past four years and will do it again in 30-some days!!!!

We generally stop in Nashville which is about a 14 or 15 hour drive and stay the night. Then we do Nashville to Disney which is about 10 hours.

The last couple of years we've split the drive and stayed over in St Louis (about 9 hours) and Atlanta (about 7 hours from STL) and then to Disney (about 6 hours from ATL).

The drive through Tennessee is gorgeous-wouldn't trade it for a thing!

 

[aladams2]

I live in Wi now and we are flying in Jan to WDW. But growing up in SD my family drove EVERYWHERE!! My dad does not like to fly. I was a freshman, my DB was a year behind and a DB6. I remember helping my DB6 tie his shoe for most of the trip. He was starting K soon. It has been done. I think that if you are prepared and know that things can go wrong, it will all work out. We would drive if we had too, but with the weather we are flying this year.

 

[katied]

My boss did it last year from the western burbs of Chicago with 3 kids, the youngest was 4. It took them about 22 hrs to get there.

However, last summer we did a trip to the east coast with DS at 3 mo and it was really rough. He hated being in the car seat that long, and it's really hard to distract him. Plus, with nursing, it meant that we had to take breaks all the time to feed him, and then breaks to change diapers, etc. What was supposed to be a 12 hr drive took more than 24 hrs (after some periods of 1 hr plus crying in the car, we all needed a break to just get some fresh air and walk around). At that point, we said we will not do a road trip again with kids under age 3. We figure at around the 3 yr old point, its easier for games, etc., in the car to keep them occupied.

The longest drive we do is about 6 hrs up to N. WI. Even then, what was once a 6 hr drive now takes about 7 1/2 with DS (starting from when he was 2 mo until now - at 16 mo). The only other option is to do our drive up North in the night - then he and I just sleep and we can make good time. Only that means DH doesn't get to sleep...

 

[Camno's Mama]

This is something we are always debating. We live in the western suburbs of Chicago, and I know it would save us a lot of money to drive. But I can't even imagine going for that long!!! I think three hours feels like a haul.

Just the thought of the drive home feels like it would be torture!

Are most of the people on here that drive doing it because they really like, or at least don't mind, the road trip? Or is this purely a financial thing?

 

[DonaldDuckFamily]

I'm from the Madison area. My family of 5 has driven to Disney 2 years in a row. We also do exactly what you do with the packing of food and only stopping for gas/potty breaks. On the last trip my kids were 9, 5 and 2. No problems. We have a DVD player in the van for the two younger kids and my oldest has his own DVD player.

We typically leave around 7am and can make it to Atlanta by 9pm e.s.t (8pm cst). We leave Atlanta around 8am and can be to my mother in laws by 3pm (she lives a hour south of Orlando and we visit her for a day before heading to Disney).

The trip home isn't so bad until you hit Illinois. We drive up the middle to avoid the Chicago area traffic.....it seems like an eternity though which is the worst part about driving.

Next year we are flying. Already got our tickets. It will be actually cheaper than flying since we bought them so far in advance. You should look into flying out of Rockford if you don't want to drive. I think the carrier is called Allegiant Air and they can have REALLY good prices. You can only book out about 6 months in advance though. A friend of mine got tickets for November to WDW for $89 one way ($188 round trip per person). Great price considering we spent about $800 round trip driving in March (gas, hotel, food).

 

[bkreitzel]

hi all! we are in la crosse and going to WDW in april. right now the tix out of Minneapolis are sooooooooooo pricey! we so can't drive b/c we will have DD 6, 4 and a newborn. w/ nursing and diapers I think we need to fly
so...w/ the airlines the way they are these days, and it being Easter (we fly out 4/8 and home 4/18) can we wait 6 months out or should I book now? any advice?

 

[DonaldDuckFamily]

We booked our tickets the 330 days in advance that we were allowed to. We went through Priceline and got our tickets for April 1-11 out of Milwaukee (including insurance) for $217 per person and there are 5 of us. With the cost of gas, that would be about the same as driving (we just get extra days at Disney since we are not driving ). I would think the earlier you book, the better chance you have of getting the "cheap tickets" that the airlines have. Good luck!

 

[katied]

I like Southwest because you can book as soon as the schedule comes out, and then if there is a deal, rebook and have a credit good for 12 months for the difference in price. We travel enough to always use these credits.

 

[Poohbug]

We have done the drive and will be doing it again for the same reason as you-high prices and we also have to pay for 5 people now.

We also start early on the A.M. and usually stop around N Atlanta. Try to leave at a good time the next day also and you can get to WDW at 2-3 P.M.

It's going to be hardest on the baby. Took a driving trip with our 14 mo. old in the spring and it was rough. The older kids were great and had no problem watching movies, games, etc. It will take 21 hours and that is with minimal stops.

The next time we drive we are going to try leaving at night so all the kids are sleeping for most of the drive time. I really don't like to stop until I reach my destination anyway.

Keep checking for flight deals-sometimes you can still find a good rate.