Considering driving to WDW in January. Are we crazy?

[jfranklyn]

We (DH, DD and myself) are considering driving to WDW in January. Has anyone ever done this? Are we just asking for trouble as far as the weather goes? I'm nervous in snow and ice, although it doesn't seem to bother my husband, who does most of the driving.

 

[Candlelady]

Hi,
Regarding being crazy:
If you are, you'll have to get in line. lol. ;o)

We're driving down from northern ct in early Feb. Keeping my fingers crossed that there aren't any nor'easters (sp?) at that time.

Candlelady

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Hi,

I did the drive - I drove from Morris County (NJ), to Orlando last January. And you are right - it was tricky driving around weather systems! But I have a big advantage - my brother lives in North Carolina, so I drive to his house, and stay a few days, and then continue to Orlando. Since I can arrive at his house anytime, I can pick the best day to do that leg of the trip. Last January I remember I had to drive to his house inbetween an ice storm in the South and a blizzard in New Jersey (we got two feet of snow, I was told!). I do remember being very worried about driving and hitting freezing rain or snow, but it was fine since I had my pick of days to drive. I did take the Autotrain home from Orlando, though, just to make it easier.

JFranklyn - I know Wayne very well - my best friend lives there - we go to Preakness Movie Theater often!

<img src="http://home.att.net/~swill70/hugsmall3.gif">

 

[jfranklyn]

Thanks for the info hugs! I know Morris County pretty well myself. We're only 2 blocks from Pequannock!

We decided last night that if we do drive, we're going to build in a couple of extra days on the front end of the trip to account for weather. With the advance weather forecasts we can get now, we should be able to figure out when the best time to leave will be. And if it turns out there's a storm in the south, we'll just go as far as we can get and stick it out there until it's safe to keep going. I'm trying to keep this a "go as you are" kind of trip and not plan it to death! We'll see....

 

[ksdave]

I've done the drive from both Long Island to WDW and from St. Louis to WDW in December several times. Almost every time, we ran into some kind of weather problem. Once, it was an ice storm on the beltway around DC and we wound up having to sleep in the car in a rest area for seven hours until it melted. Another time, it was dense fog in Tenn.
If at all possible, try flying. It's quicker, easier.......and safer.

 

[Beanie]

I don't think you are crazy at all!! LOL...We have drove a few times from NH to Florida...We enjoy it...well I do anyway! I love stopping and visiting different places on the way...it is fun!

The only time we had weather problems was last December...we were driving down from NH and when we got to South Carolina, we hit a blizzard, believe it or not! LOL....It took us about 2 extra hours to get through, but once we were passed it, the rest was a breeze!! I would definitely consider driving again...I don't think it is bad at all!

 

[OKW91]

We drive down twice a year from South Jersey. You are right in allowing a couple of extra days to your trip for bad weather. We lucked out one year, we had to extend are Disney stay a couple of days due to a big storm in the northeast! We now have an advantage, now that I am retired we watch the weather forcast, when there are a couple of clear days up and down the coast, we leave.

 

[RussH]

I now drive every trip to WDW...I like to drive and now take too much stuff to ever fly. Usually early December or January and have learned just a few things. I have my CB with the big antenna on all the time it has a weather alert feature besides the local forecasts. My truck has an outdoor thermometer that starts beeping at 34f. Starting a very early Saturday departure around 03:00 the last thing I do while checking the loadout is get current forecasts covering the entire trip. If I start to hear bad weather en-route I just stop ASAP either a rest area (sleeping bag always in truck) or motel.
I might be luckier then many I live about 1/2 mile off I-75 and if except for gas stop exits there is exactly 1 traffic light between my house and WDW property. Doing my first peak holiday/peak in December.
RussH

 

[Hawk]

Well, I must be crazy too! We are leaving at the end of Feb. from northern Vermont with a 25 ft camper. With good weather we hope to be in WDW in 30 hours.

 

[cola1068]

hi, we'll be driving from Long Island last week in january and i am a little worried now that people are saying we will hit bad weather the way down, i thought we would be safe by the time we were out of NJ. i guess we'll just have to check the weather on the way down, any one know where i could get good directions and also to find out places to stop on the way down. we are thinking about leaving early sat. morning stopping at night and hoping being in disney by sunday afternoon.