Detroit to Disney...

[LadyBeBop]

It takes us 20 minutes from the time we park our car, check in at the ticket counter and get through security. And I am not kidding 20 minutes! Akron airport is such a small airport only has three gates and the airport is hardly busy at all.

Perhaps, but let's take the trip home. Remember, getting through Orlando's airport is much different than getting through Akron's.

Assuming car rental in Orlando.

Drive to airport: 30 minutes
Drop off rental: 15 minutes
Time in airport: 2 hours (Need every minute since Orlando security is slow.)
Flight: 2.5 hours (assuming non-stop)
Retrieving luggage: 45 minutes
Drive home: 4.25 hours (allowing 15 minutes for border crossing).

Total time: 10 hours; 15 minutes. And that's driving over four hours at night after a long day travelling.

To me, spending several thousand dollars on plane flight to only save 10 hours? Not worth it.

OP, I can't belive the cheapest flights you could find was out of Cincinnati. We have the second most expensive airfares in the country. (Although, I would love for y'all to spend the night here and stimulate our local economy.)


I don't have any real good suggestions going down, other than make sure you haev plenty of coffee or pop, and if you feel tired, pull over in a lighted area and rest for a few hours. Welcome stations are good for that, and you'll probably make it to the Tennessee Welcome Station sometime around midnight. Georgia Welcome Station about 2:30 AM.

Meals going down...Five hours on the road will put you right around Cincinnati. I'd eat in the Florence area, just south of Cincinnati. We have most of the chain restaurants here, from McDonald's to Olive Garden. One suggestion I'll make...try some of our Cincinnati Chili. Either Gold Star or Skyline (I'm partial to Skyline, myself). Have the chili either as a cheese coney/hotdog, or try it on spaghetti as a 3-way (cheese, chili, spaghetti), 4-way (3-way plus either beans or onions) or 5-way (3-way plus both beans and onions). You'll find either Gold Star or Skyline on most exits between Dayton and Dry Ridge (about 30 miles south of Cincinnati).

Saturday brunch depends on what time you want to eat and if you stopped for a few hours. Based on your criteria, you could be as far north as Atlanta (sleeping for a few hours at a Welcome Center and eating about 8 AM) to close to Orlando (pretty much driving straight through and eating brunch about noon). Based on your goals, I'd think Macon would be a reasonable stop. There are a number of restaurants along the bypass (I-675).

Coming home is easier since you're spending the night on the road. I'd try to make Knoxville. There's a lot to do there, and it's about 8 hours from home.

Good lu

 

[Madame]

Perhaps, but let's take the trip home. Remember, getting through Orlando's airport is much different than getting through Akron's. Assuming car rental in Orlando. Drive to airport: 30 minutes Drop off rental: 15 minutes Time in airport: 2 hours (Need every minute since Orlando security is slow.) Flight: 2.5 hours (assuming non-stop) Retrieving luggage: 45 minutes Drive home: 4.25 hours (allowing 15 minutes for border crossing). Total time: 10 hours; 15 minutes. And that's driving over four hours at night after a long day travelling. To me, spending several thousand dollars on plane flight to only save 10 hours? Not worth it. OP, I can't belive the cheapest flights you could find was out of Cincinnati. We have the second most expensive airfares in the country. (Although, I would love for y'all to spend the night here and stimulate our local economy.) I don't have any real good suggestions going down, other than make sure you haev plenty of coffee or pop, and if you feel tired, pull over in a lighted area and rest for a few hours. Welcome stations are good for that, and you'll probably make it to the Tennessee Welcome Station sometime around midnight. Georgia Welcome Station about 2:30 AM. Meals going down...Five hours on the road will put you right around Cincinnati. I'd eat in the Florence area, just south of Cincinnati. We have most of the chain restaurants here, from McDonald's to Olive Garden. One suggestion I'll make...try some of our Cincinnati Chili. Either Gold Star or Skyline (I'm partial to Skyline, myself). Have the chili either as a cheese coney/hotdog, or try it on spaghetti as a 3-way (cheese, chili, spaghetti), 4-way (3-way plus either beans or onions) or 5-way (3-way plus both beans and onions). You'll find either Gold Star or Skyline on most exits between Dayton and Dry Ridge (about 30 miles south of Cincinnati). Saturday brunch depends on what time you want to eat and if you stopped for a few hours. Based on your criteria, you could be as far north as Atlanta (sleeping for a few hours at a Welcome Center and eating about 8 AM) to close to Orlando (pretty much driving straight through and eating brunch about noon). Based on your goals, I'd think Macon would be a reasonable stop. There are a number of restaurants along the bypass (I-675). Coming home is easier since you're spending the night on the road. I'd try to make Knoxville. There's a lot to do there, and it's about 8 hours from home. Good lu

Thanks!! We used to stop in Knoxville at a truckstop all the time!! I talked over the Akron flights suggested with my DH & it really doesn't seem worth it to us. We both are used to 15+ hour trips in the car as kids, so maybe that's why a longer time in the car is more acceptable to us than paying an extra $1000.

Yes, about a month ago there were flights from Cincinnati to Tampa for $1660 round-trip for the five of us on Delta (this was Sunday thru Sat though, not Sat thru Sat). These were the cheapest I could find - I checked Flint, DTW, Cleveland & Buffalo - I didn't check Dayton or Akron though (didn't know they existed!).

I'll definitely try the Chili - all 5 of us are huge chili fans & if my boys can get it on a hotdog they'll be in heaven !

 

[marius97]

We are both going to stay awake during the drive, switching off every couple hours. If we get too tired we *will* stop for the night (even if it's just midnight to six.

I'm not going to endanger my family for a cheaper vacation.

With all due respect, I think that this is the biggest mistake in your plan. We've made the trip from MI seven(?) times. We've driven straight through over night after leaving at noon and in the evening, left at 4:00 am and driven straight through, and stopped over night...we've done it all. What made us switch to stopping overnight is the fact that DW and I can't sleep while the other one is driving. It is not safe to stay up for 20+ hours and still drive. The only safe way to do it is to sleep while you are not driving. No amount of walking around during rest stops or caffeine will help once you get past the 15 hour mark.

We are five people too. DW, DS9, DD12, DD14. We always book hotel rooms before we leave. Yes you may be able to find rooms while driving, but finding something that fits five people comfortably, cheap...and clean...can be difficult.

I hope you enjoy the adventure. Try to stop and smell the roses. DW complains that I rush us to get down there. This year we swung east and drove through the Smokey Mountains. While it blew our (my) itinerary, it was a blast with the kids. Be forewarned, there are not many more boring drives than 1,000 miles on I75.

 

[wendinator]

Apologies if you know this already, but here's a little trick for paying for gas at the pump in the States with a Canadian credit card.

If the pump asks you for your zip code, enter just the numbers from your postal code and then two zeros.

So if your postal code is M5A 2A1, you'd enter 52100.

Works like a charm!

 

[Madame]

Apologies if you know this already, but here's a little trick for paying for gas at the pump in the States with a Canadian credit card. If the pump asks you for your zip code, enter just the numbers from your postal code and then two zeros. So if your postal code is M5A 2A1, you'd enter 52100. Works like a charm!

Awesome!! Thanks!!

Soooo you all have got me thinking....
If we take Knoxville as the mid-way point, we could arrive between midnight & 1am and crash until about 7, hit the road & still be at POR by 6ish.

Next problem... I can't seem to find a hotel in the area for five??? I plug in 1 room 2adults 3kids & several hotels are showing a room with 2 queens which will not work.

Anyone have a hotel recommendation for 5 in the Knoxville area?

 

[maxiesmom]

Awesome!! Thanks!!

Soooo you all have got me thinking....
If we take Knoxville as the mid-way point, we could arrive between midnight & 1am and crash until about 7, hit the road & still be at POR by 6ish.

Next problem... I can't seem to find a hotel in the area for five??? I plug in 1 room 2adults 3kids & several hotels are showing a room with 2 queens which will not work.

Anyone have a hotel recommendation for 5 in the Knoxville area?

Call some of the hotels and see if they offer roll-aways. Or maybe pack a small air mattress along.

Just peaked over on Expedia, and the Country Inn and Suites offers roll-aways. So does the Ramada. It looks like many hotels offer them. Hop over to Expedia, and check them out.

 

[Madame]

Call some of the hotels and see if they offer roll-aways. Or maybe pack a small air mattress along.

Just peaked over on Expedia, and the Country Inn and Suites offers roll-aways. So does the Ramada. It looks like many hotels offer them. Hop over to Expedia, and check them out.

Thanks so much maxiesmom All booked both ways!!


Thanks for all the great advice guys!

 

[Mommee]

We always stay at the country inn and suites in Knoxville. They have a pullout couch and a decent free breakfast