Anyone ever Drive to WDW from southern Maine?

[dtsaos]

Or an area close to it? We're thinking about it since we don't do airplanes and the train is just too expensive for us this year. We were considering stopping in Williamsburg and doing Busch Gardens for a day (probably on the way home) of course we'd be sleeping there for a night-thought that might be a good way to break up the trip, but will it be too much! We have a 5 year old, 3 yr. old and a baby. any other suggestions about how to break up the trip in a good way or good hotels to stay at along the way, etc. thanks!

 

[kay_key3]

I will be driving down from Kentucky, but I should think that if you make a plan of action for your trip and see other sights, the trip would be great!

 

[joym70]

We will be driving to WDW from New Hampshire. There are 4 DS' and DH and myself. We found a local place that rents conversion vans with TV DVD player so we will have plenty of room and entertainment for the ride. I actually cannot wait for the trip, I am looking forward to having the time alone with my family. We plan on making many stops to stretch little legs and hopefully it will be great. I'm sure you and yours will do great.

 

[dtsaos]

Joy, can you tell me which place rents the vans? We have a mini van but were considering renting a conversion van for the trip. thanks!

 

[joym70]

Its Northeast motors in North Hampton NH. They have a website
www.northeastmotors.com Hope this helps. We also have a mini van but couldn't see making that long trip in it.
GOOD LUCK

 

[DreadpiratK]

Maine? ouch! That's a long ride. We are driving down from CT, wich is not a whole lot closer. If you plan well for it, it's not so bad, we actually enjoy the trip.

One stop that we made last time on the way was Hershy PA. It's a little out of the way, but we went to the visitors center there, wich is free, and a fun hour or two to break up the trip.

 

[dtsaos]

Actually, we were thinking about stopping at Hershey Park, but thought that it may not break up the trip enough since there's still about 19 hrs to drive from that point.

 

[DreadpiratK]

Actually, we were thinking about stopping at Hershey Park, but thought that it may not break up the trip enough since there's still about 19 hrs to drive from that point.

Last trip we did Hershey, and the Gettysburg in one day, drove a few hours and then styed overnight, then went from there. Gettysburg is great, but a few hours is not nearly enough time to see it properly. Obviously we weren't in a big hurry that trip.

Anyone else stop at South of the Border?

 

[Schmeck]

When we drive down from northern MA (right on the NH/MA border) we try to get an very early morning start, or a late evening one, and get through to North/South Carolina before we stop for the night. If we do the evening drive, we have to get south of Washington DC.

Our first trip was when the girls were 5 and 2, and we took 3 days to get there - 2 nights on the road. The trip back home was painful - by then the little one was so sick of her car seat!

Now we have the conversion van, with TV/VCR, and lots of space to stretch out in it, when I limit what hubby wants to pack, LOL! We do the trip with one night on the road, and we've been able to make it to South of the Border that first day! Well, except last trip, when we had to detour west to drive around a hurricane!

 

[CherylinME]

Worse - we drove from Northern Maine, so add about 5 hours to your trip! I came from a family of car trippers with a rabid drive-all-night Dad. We may have stopped over night on one trip, but not usually. Just bring things for the kids to do, portable DVD players are great, and the idea of a stop on the way sounds great, much better then my trip down in a non air conditined car with vinyl seats. (ahhh, the memories)
Cheryl

 

[java]

Williamsburg is about an hour off your path- so be prepared for that. We sometimes do Paramount Kings Dominion just because it is right on 95- easier and does not add driving time. We drive from NJ and can make it in 16 hours- we usually stop one night but this time we are breaking it up even more because we'll have a newborn with us. The longest part of the trip for us is always NC and SC. Then when you get to Florida you feel like you are there and you still have a good 2+ hours to get to Disney. Good luck and getting there is half the fun. I will say be sure to book some hotels for the trip. One year we thought oh there are so many we'll just grab one when we get tired- and no room at the inn. So we always book a room around where we think we will need a break. Happy driving.

 

[pyrxtc]

I'm going to be attempting driving down in October with my crew. We are taking our clan (4 kids -2,4,8,11- and a babysitter -14- DH, MYself) in our minivan. My DB gave the kids a portable DVD player for Christmas and they also have videoNow's and we'll get some car games like license plate bingo and what state are we in? We plan on taking our time getting there and expect to get there on Sunday morning after leaving our home on Friday night. The trip thing sayd 20 hrs but we are going to let the kids run around a little at our stops. WE don't have anywhere special to go on the way down. We will just trade off driving, and drive through the night.

 

[Bellefan66]

Dreadpiratk
When was the last time you stopped at South of the Border???It's horrible. Waste of time and money. We live in Eastern NC, and it's about 3 hrs.from our home. On a trip to SC in Aug.we stopped as a joke. We told our girls, we were checking it out as a possible trip INSTEAD of Disney. The looks on their faces were priceless! The place is VERY dirty,overpriced and we went into one of the public restrooms, we RAN out of there. It's gross.

Back to original post, from our home, it's a 10.5 hr drive. I'd definetly stop and do the Hershey's Park and maybe Gettsyburg. VERY awesome place to see. Of course DC has ALL those FREE monuments etc. Have fun

 

[Mac and Us]

We live in Central NH and will be driving to WDW in April with a 3yr old. She's been traveling since she was born. The longest trip was 7 hours in the truck and she had no problems with that trip. We have made that trip 2 times (at 20mo & 30mo)

For the 1st trip I went to the dollar store and bought a bunch of things she had never had before. I bought a bright pink calculator, watch, stickers, etc. She loved the calculator -- she just sat there pushing the buttons. The stickers were a big hit though. She played with them for at least 1.5 hours. She stuck them all over her legs (she had shorts on), all over her baby, etc. My husband was finding stickers in his truck for months after that trip!!!

Anyway, the second trip was in the motorhome. She did well on that trip as well. We had bought a DVD player. When she wasn't watching a movie she was coloring with one of us.

I guess we're lucky in that she is a good rider. It also helps that she rides to work with me everyday (40 min each way) so she's used to the car.

The trip to WDW in April will really test her patience. We plan to leave around 1pm on Friday and drive until we get past Fredericksburg, VA. After resting a few hours drive again until we reach St. Augustine, FL where we will rest for the night and finish the drive on Sunday morning. Of course, plans are always subject to change with children!!! ha ha

 

[Chris22]

Doing our first drive from NJ (we've flown the prior 3 times) with my DD's 3 & 9, and DS 5. We'll be visiting friends in Tampa & Ft. Myers first then heading over to WDW. Just purchased a new mini van with DVD to help keep the kids busy during our 17 hour drive. Wish us luck!

 

[DreadpiratK]

I absolutely agree, but it's kind of a joke in my family. When I was a kid, we used to drive from NJ to FL every summer, and of course us kids would beg and plead to stop there, because of the approximately 800 signs for it on the highway. My dad would always say "It's all junk, we're NOT stopping" and of course we didn't.

So, on our first big trip down to FL 3 years ago with me as the dad, I made of point of stopping, and of course it was all junk and dirty just as you say. My kids hated it! So.. We figure it skips a generation. Our kids will never stop there, and guaranteed thier kids will be begging to so... viscous cycle I guess!

My buddy flies jets in the airforce, and he told me that they use South of the Border as a waypoint, since it so brightly lit and garish it's impossible to miss, even from the air!

Counting the number of signs for it makes a good car game though. Just make sure your kids can count up pretty high!

 

[bigsis1970]

Hi I am from maine and used to Ride all the time but now as the parent I prefer to fly.. I got some really nice fares out of Portland (PWM) for july into Tampa $ 129.30 each on Delta ... so don't think you have to drive to save $$ all the time if you can be flexible you might just land a deal . HTH Michelle

edit to say : Sorry I didn't read very well and see that you said you don't fly!! oh well

 

[Bellefan66]

Dreadpiratk,

Too funny about all the signs for SOTB!! My DH always says they spent more money on the advertising then the park itself! We did the same thing,drove by it a zillion times, and never stopped. Finally did and was it a shock. From the hwy it doesn't look too bad, but ugh! Close up and in ALL that color, gross!

 

[areno79]

We're driving from Portsmouth,NH, right on the NH seacoast (as non-existant as it is! )
DH and I have driven before and stopped in Florence SC for the night, when we had left at 4am. This time we're leaving at around 5pm and hope to make it past DC without stopping, but we'll see how we feel This time we're bringing my 9 and 11 year old cousins, so we'll see how the drive is with them too, although I think they'll be fine

 

[dtsaos]

South of the border is pretty bad. I stopped there once on the way back from FL a long time ago and the experience was not very nice. I Wouldn't go back there!