Columbus, Ohio to WDW

[ohiominnie]

We're driving this December and wondered if anyone has taken this route that could give me an approximate time frame for getting to WDW.

We'll leave from Columbus, Ohio probably very early AM (5:30-ish) and get a few hours in before we stop for breakfast. We'll also stop for dinner (not eat while driving) and then a couple of 20 minute breaks inbetween.

We do have two kids, ages 7 and 4, if that plays into the mix. But we do have a Chevy Venture with the DVD player in it, so the kids travel pretty well!!! (we'll take a bunch of Disney DVD's)

We will stop overnight in some state....probably won't make reservations, will just drive until we can't anymore and stop wherever.

Anyone done anything like this or similar? How many hours did it take each day? How often did you stop and for what kind of meals (McD's as opposed to Bob Evans, for example)?

Thanks in advance,
ohiominnie

 

[Mom of 4 Princesses]

We drove from Cleveland about 5 years ago. Left at 8pm on a Saturday nite, got to Orlando about 2 or 3 pm on Sunday. Two kids, 5 and 3 with us. Did mostly fast food, with bathroom breaks, etc. The way home we did the drive in two days, stopped somewhere in Virginia overnight. It was a challenge, we are flying this time, especially since we added two more kids!! Have a great time.

 

[inky dinky doo]

We always fly, but someone here at work (about 80 miles south of you) said it takes around 13 hours to drive.

Inky

 

[goofy4mickey48]

hi, we've driven down from Cleveland for about 6 years now, we always stop at Tamarak plaza in West VA. for lunch, and stop in or around Columbia SC. on the first day ,about 11 hours including stops. I'ts about 8 hours on the second day, we usually stop at the Florida welcome center, free juice and great ifno, coupons, books for any part of Florida, but they have a huge amount of stuff for Orlando.We have been taking our kids and they each bring a friend, so we can't afford to fly! I usually have their friends pay for their tickets and fast food, we buy groceries and we find 2 bedroom condo's, this has worked great for us.but now hubby and me are starting to go on our own!! We also spen 1 week at the ocean ,Captiva Island which I love as much as disney! i remember one year I was really looking forward to the "family time" we would spend in the van, well ,after about half a day and a few small "fights" later I thought "was I nuts"!! Just kidding ,it can get stressfull, but theres alot of good memories and laughter, and I get alot of reading in!!!Have a great trip!!!!!!

 

[bobcat]

I drive from the Newark area and it takes us about 18 hours with stops. Are you taking the WV turnpike or going through Cinci? We take the WV turnpike leaving about 8-9 am, and we usually stop for dinner when we reach I95. Lunch is usually 45 min at a rest area to let the kids run. I like to make it to the Florida/Georgia border before I stop for the night. I think it is exit 3 has cheap gas prices and the hotels are inexpensive as well. We stayed at a Super 8 that was clean.

The next morning we leave by 9am and we make it to WDW by about noon. I drive alone with two kids and it is a really easy trip. The only trafic is Charlote if you hit there at rush hour. We hit there at 3:30 and it took us 20 min to go 3 miles.

 

[TinkerbellRules]

Check www.freetrip.com Like I said in the other two posts, it's a great site and very accurate.