Best Route Boston to WDW Chrismas Eve

[dadschum]

I am helping a colleague plan her family's first Disney trip which occurs at Christmas. Yes she knows it will be crowded. It is Mom, Dad, 5 year old son. They are driving from Boston. My questions are as follows:

1. With a departure on 12/24 from Boston what is a good time to depart, best route (what kind of traffic on that day)

2. I think both adults will drive so good stopping points every few hours?

3. What is opened/closed for restaurants etc along recommended route as we get closer to the Christmas Eve time.

4. Should they overnight - if so where? Goal is to get to WDW CBR on Christmas Day. How far can they get on 12/24?

5. How long should the drive take? Estimated time of arrival on Christmas Day?

Any other tips/tricks etc to make the ride go more smoothly and for the little one to enjoy it more.

Many thanks!

 

[charmed59]

Mapping sites say it's a 20-22 hour drive, without traffic, weather, or stops. For me, the $2000 it would cost for round trip tickets for the family to fly out on Christmas and fly back before new years would be worth it. That way they could ensure they'd get to Orlando Christmas morning.

Given the drive time, I'd try and leave as early as possible, maybe 4am on Christmas eve to miss rush hour and get 4 hours of driving in before the little one wakes up. Around 8am stop for breakfast. Then you can get in another 8 hours of driving with stops every two hours before stopping for the evening, around Charlotte. Disney world is still 8+ hours drive from Charlotte, so again, get up early and you could get to Disney world by afternoon.

 

[rwdavis2]

I would recommend you consult google maps for various routes. Once that's done you can search specific areas for stops.

I would recommend you leave at such a time where you avoid rush hours in NY/NJ/DC.

 

[goofy4tink]

It takes at least 20 hours....not a drive that you should do in one shot. So, leave the Boston area as early as possible on Christmas Eve day....I would suggest leaving by 4am!!! Stop in the Rocky Mt area for the night...that's the half way point. Get up again, very early, and head out again. You won't get to WDW until late afternoon, but you won't be risking driving while exhausted either.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It takes at least 20 hours....not a drive that you should do in one shot. So, leave the Boston area as early as possible on Christmas Eve day....I would suggest leaving by 4am!!! Stop in the Rocky Mt area for the night...that's the half way point. Get up again, very early, and head out again. You won't get to WDW until late afternoon, but you won't be risking driving while exhausted either.

And keep your fingers crossed for good weather! A winter storm can totally disrupt driving plans.

 

[iScrap]

I've done this trip more than once (leaving from the Worcester, MA area). It's at least 22 hours with regular gas/stretch stops and good weather. I've also done both the I-95 and the "snowbird" inland routes (because all my retired relatives took that route when heading south for the winter). I would expect I-95 to be lots of pockets of holiday traffic, but the "snowbird" route (Mass Pike to 84 to 81 to 77 to 26 to 95) would have more possibility of weather related delays. I prefer the inland route because it's a prettier route with better restroom stops, it completely avoids the NY/NJ and DC driving and it's less than an hour longer than I-95.

They should leave as early as possible on 12/24 - 4am to 5am would be great so that they can get as much driving in while things are still opened. If they want to stay over, I usually stop somewhere in SC.

When I took the trip with my 10 year old DSD, I got her a little gift for every state line we crossed - Disney pins, new pajamas, a new outfit, etc. Try to find some road games they can play with him - different license plates, "yellow car" (like punch buggy for us older folks!), etc. Pack snacks and drinks. Take a pillow or two and a blanket for the car ride so the little one (or a parent) can nap when they need to.

It can be a decent road trip, but they really should be prepared for it to take 2 full 10-12 hour days of driving if the weather is bad or traffic is heavier than normal...and it most likely will be.

 

[pinkibekki]

We drove from southern NH a few years ago in April (and going to try it again this coming April). We left at 11pm and drove with a few rest/food stops in NJ, VA, and NC. We hit traffic around DC and stopped for the night outside of Savannah about 5pm the next day. We had an early dinner and good nights rest. The following morning it was about another 6hrs to the Orlando area (we were actually visiting relatives just north of Orlando before heading to the world). So it took us about 24hrs - with not killing ourselves to get there. However on the way home, we left later than we wanted to and hit so much traffic thru SC and NC that it put us in MD at 2am. Instead of waking them up and having a few hrs sleep, we decided to push it all the way home which was AWFUL! We were so exhausted. Not going to do that the next time and we'll have at least one more driver since my son will be 18 at the time.

 

[goofy4tink]

And keep your fingers crossed for good weather! A winter storm can totally disrupt driving plans.

That would be a given!!!! Anyone from NE should know to expect 'weather'!!!!