Anyone drive to WDW from Pittsburgh or surrounding area???

[honeymooner2004]

Planning a trip to WDW Dec 2010 and my DH and I are considering driving from Pittsburgh. It would be me, DH, my mom and my 5 yr old. About 2 wks before Christmas. Anyone ever drive? What are the pros and cons? How do kids handle it? Not sure what to do, but looking for ways to save $$ and plane fare is unbelievable right now!!

 

[mousesweetie]

We havent driven from Pittsburgh, but the middle of the state. it's a two day trip, esp with a five year old. It can be done, but you might want to consider the weather that time of year. We usually drive to NC the first day then on to WDW the next day.

Whatever you chose to do, best of luck

 

[claytonsmama]

we actually drive most of the time. we are from the youngstown, ohio area. we just got back last week. we have a 4.5 yr old and a 2month old. all went really great. we have a dvd player that is essential!! we also play games with our 4 yr old, like spotting different license plates. we try to see how many different ones we can find. we also play games with road signs, etc. we look at driving as educational. yes, we have flown, but we like the family time we get when we drive. hope this helps! also pack tons of snacks!!

 

[lgjjp]

We live north of pittsburgh and always drive to wdw. We started when my oldest was 2(shes now 26). We leave at night usually, my husband prefers to drive at night and take turns driving. We are driving down right after thanksgiving 2010 with a 1yo and 2yo for 2 weeks. Take a dvd player and small toys, coloring books etc and snacks. I actually enjoy the drive and prefer it to flying.

 

[geniegirl]

We have driven 4 times from Pittsburgh the last 2 with a child. We like to leave around 4pm and drive straight through. This only works if one of you can sleep for a bit and switch off late in the night. The kid falls asleep and this last time only woke up when we pulled in for breakfast at the resort at 8 am. The way home we do break into two days mainly because we are tired from the week and its more day driving which is harder on the kid. Dvd's and kid music works great as well as games and books. Last thing we never did it mid winter so you need to think about the mountains.

 

[pittsburghmarc]

Hey "mooner" LOLNot sure about driving, but I'm trying to do a family trip that same week! Depends on work, but hoping we can go then. Never been there during the holidays.

Not sure what airfare will be in December, but Southwest and Airtran have been competing recently. I have flown to FL recently on Airtran for $79 OW and occasionally Southwest has had sales for $75. I would like to try driving once, but for me the time saved by flying is worth the money.

Staying on or off property?

 

[Momma2dakidz]

Fellow Youngstown'er here. (and NO i would NEVER ever drive. But then again i dont do well in the car I get way too bored.....LOL)

Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

We also drive straight through from Williamsport, PA area. Depending on when you prefer to drive, DH drives great in the day so we'll leave early and go. When he gets tired, usually when it's getting dark, we'll switch off. Most times we'd need to switch again since I don't get to sleep much in the daytime with a 6and 3yo, but with just our 6 yo I'd have been fine. We have found it to be nice to stop about half way on the way HOME, since we're all so tired from our "vacation", plus we can squeeze in some stuff before leaving. This Dec we stopped at Savannah, GA, Tybee Island. I'd highly recommend that! It was so much fun playing in the waves, we were there about 3 hours. Of the whole trip I think this was everyone's favorite part. Then we stayed about a half hour away for the night and came home the next day.

 

[cam&phoebsmom]

We just got back from a driving trip to WDW. Not from PA but from MD, so a few hours closer, but for my part I will probably never fly to WDW again--expensive for 4 people, especially with many of the airlines now charging for bags.

We stopped for the night at Brunswick GA, about 10.5 hours from our home. From there, it's a 3 hour or so trip to WDW, so that is an easy day. Coming back, we stopped in Smithfield NC, which was about 8.5 hours of driving from WDW.

Regarding electronics, we had DVD players, Nintendo DS, Leapster; however, we didn't break any of the electronics out until after lunch the first day. That kept them fresh, especially for 3 yo DD.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Fellow Pittsburgher here. One major thing is to consider is the weather. It can get pretty rough through those mountains.

We drove once when DS was 3 yo. It was right after 9/11, we were stranded and had no other choice. My DS is a good traveler and I still say no way.

Unless your family is huge, airfare from PIT has been so cheap lately. We went this past year the week after Thanksgiving. Going down the airfare was a little high, but coming back, dirt cheap. Did you check SWA, and Airtran. They are usually pretty reasonable, and if you can be flexible thats more of a plus.

I feel its so relaxing to be in Florida in 2 hours vs 17 hours straight through. Some people love to drive, to me its pure torture.

 

[honeymooner2004]

Hey "mooner" LOLNot sure about driving, but I'm trying to do a family trip that same week! Depends on work, but hoping we can go then. Never been there during the holidays.

Not sure what airfare will be in December, but Southwest and Airtran have been competing recently. I have flown to FL recently on Airtran for $79 OW and occasionally Southwest has had sales for $75. I would like to try driving once, but for me the time saved by flying is worth the money.

Staying on or off property?

Hello!! This is our first time to WDW during the holiday season too!! This will also be my daughter's first trip. She's cruised before, but is dying to go to WDW!! It will be a surprise. Not sure where we're staying yet. Definitely on property though. Trying to figure out how we are going to handle sleeping arrangements as my mom is going with us. We just need to have a meeting. How bout you? Where ya staying?

 

[honeymooner2004]

We also drive straight through from Williamsport, PA area. Depending on when you prefer to drive, DH drives great in the day so we'll leave early and go. When he gets tired, usually when it's getting dark, we'll switch off. Most times we'd need to switch again since I don't get to sleep much in the daytime with a 6and 3yo, but with just our 6 yo I'd have been fine. We have found it to be nice to stop about half way on the way HOME, since we're all so tired from our "vacation", plus we can squeeze in some stuff before leaving. This Dec we stopped at Savannah, GA, Tybee Island. I'd highly recommend that! It was so much fun playing in the waves, we were there about 3 hours. Of the whole trip I think this was everyone's favorite part. Then we stayed about a half hour away for the night and came home the next day.

Hi! Thanks! Yeah - we were thinking of leaving at like midnight and driving straight thru down there. There will be 3 of us driving so we'll be able to switch off a couple times. I think we're going to try it once. I'd like to save the money and stay somewhere nicer onsite instead of dumping it into plane tix!!

 

[pittsburghmarc]

Hello!! This is our first time to WDW during the holiday season too!! This will also be my daughter's first trip. She's cruised before, but is dying to go to WDW!! It will be a surprise. Not sure where we're staying yet. Definitely on property though. Trying to figure out how we are going to handle sleeping arrangements as my mom is going with us. We just need to have a meeting. How bout you? Where ya staying?

Wilderness Lodge. Ha, we went last August with my mother-in-law. We booked a family suite at ASM, then got a free upgrade PIN to a one bedroom suite at OKW. Last years trip was first for DD4 and DD1, although DD4 was on the Magic when she was 1. It's great taking them to WDW for the first time. I just had to keep reminding myself..."this trip is for them...slow down."

 

[singnring]

We are in NW Ohio and almost always drive.

I was born and raised in FL and my entire family still lives there, so we visit often.

I have made the drive for 25 years now. Until 2005, when DH started his own business, I made 95% of the trips w/out him; just me and the kids from the time they were born.

I learned over the years that the easiest way to make the trip was to leave at 4AM, and we would arrive between 9:30 and 11:30 PM, depending on the traffic, weather, etc.

We prefer to drive so that we have our own vehicle for getting around.

We hate the busses @ WDW and like to drive ourselves to the parks.

Even on the rare occasion that we fly in, we either rent a car or borrow one from my parents.

The drive is not that bad if your children travel in the car well. Mine always have; just a part of their lives from day one!!

 

[gandycat]

We just got back last night, we live just North of downtown. This was my 9 yo's 5th trip and my 6 yo's 4th. Before kids, I've driven probably 10 times, starting with my family when I was 5. My kids play their DS's, read books and watch movies on the DVD player. We usually leave at 4 pm on Friday, right after school, drive to almost Beckley WV and stay over. Then we stay over again near Savannah, then arrive early afternoon on the third day. My kids aren't good with sleeping in the car and I have to drive b/c I get carsick otherwise so driving all night doesn't work for us. On the way home, we do a 2 day, usually stopping near Charlotte NC for an overnight.

The only issue we had this trip was a speeding ticket on 19 in WV (be careful where the speed limit drops from 65 to 55). Otherwise, it went well. You do have to pay attention to the weather though if you are going in the winter. and really, I think it depends on your family and kids. My kids are great in the car and are used to it (we also drive to Boston almost every year). We prefer to drive b/c we have family in Orlando and don't want to have to have the added expense of renting a car to go and see them. Good luck deciding!

 

[natenapril]

We currently live in Alaska but have the possiblilty of moving to Pittsburgh, Youngstown, or WRight Patterson AFB this summer!
We will be driving down to WDW the same time frame in December. We have made the drive from Ohio and for us it was about 19 hours. We split it into 2 days, arriving late on the second day. We aren't big fans of flying and really enjoyed the drive. Can't wait to do it again! Now if my DH would just decide whick transfer he wants we could solidify our plansto drive!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I live north of Pitts., but I don't think we would ever want to drive that far.
Just hold out for airfare. Last year I bought our airfare in June, our dates were 12/25-1/1 and I got $79 each way on Southwest. But I did buy it on the morning the dates were released.

 

[Ennazus8810]

Another Youngstown resident here! I have driven, and won't do it again unless I absolutely have to! I don't mind driving, but with airfare below 100.00 from both PIT and CAK (Akron Canton) I can't see how it justifies the drive, the gas, and the wear and tear on the car. Not to mention the loss of Disney time!