Drivers--do you stop before or after Atlanta? And where specifically do you stay?

[faulks family]

We have driven from Nashville to WDW once, several years ago(since then, we have flown). Looks like we may be driving again the first of October. Do you get through Atlanta and then stop for the night?

At what hotel do you stay? We stayed in Macon and were not overly impressed. We want something clean and in a safe area...any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Dis_Dreamin]

We just did the drive and stopped in Byron Ga (just south side of Macon) at a Comfort Suites on Dunbar Road. Highly recommend the place. It's new within the last year or so. Staff were very friendly, rooms still smelled like new construction, and the pool and hot-tub were a welcome addition.

I know that when we go back, if we are driving, this will be on the top of my list of where to stop again.

Here is their website:
Comfort Suites Byron, GA

 

[2luvmickey]

We live in the Chicagoland area and last year, I drove to WDW with my 3 DS. We stopped in Atlanta and stayed at the Omni at CNN Center. Since we wanted to visit the aquarium and see the whale sharks, I had a great package deal that included VIP aquarium tickets, and a buffet breakfast - even more things are included in this year's package deal.

After breakfast, we walked through Olympic Park and went right into the aquarium. We were done by noon, in the car at at WDW by evening.

If it were me, unless you can't stand being in the car for 11 or 12 hours, I would drive straight through and not bother with an overnight stop.

 

[Traveliz]

We always stop after Atlanta and we love the new Fairfield in Macon off 475.

Liz

 

[JesB]

I drive from Mount Juliet/Nashville area, when we don't drive straight through we stop after Atlanta in the Lake Park/Valdosta area. After yours truly gets a little sleep we head out the next moring with only a few hours left in our journey. The Lake Park area has alot of hotels to chose from with reasonable rates for the night.

 

[CharliNye]

We live in the Chicagoland area and last year, I drove to WDW with my 3 DS. We stopped in Atlanta and stayed at the Omni at CNN Center. Since we wanted to visit the aquarium and see the whale sharks, I had a great package deal that included VIP aquarium tickets, and a buffet breakfast - even more things are included in this year's package deal.

After breakfast, we walked through Olympic Park and went right into the aquarium. We were done by noon, in the car at at WDW by evening.

If it were me, unless you can't stand being in the car for 11 or 12 hours, I would drive straight through and not bother with an overnight stop.

Out of curiousity, when you drive back to Chicago where do you stay, if you stay overnight? We're driving down for the first time from chicago in september. We're staying in Macon on the way down but I'm not sure where to book for the way back. I'm thinking Tennessee, but don't know where. What's the time/distance factor when hitting TN? Is there any place you could reccommend?

Oh and yeah I agree, 12 hrs doesn't seem bad at all. We would drive straight through if that's all it was.

 

[DSLRuser]

From st. louis....it is 1,000 miles.

We leave at 7:00pm after dinner at home. Turn the dishwasher on and put the kids 8 and 3 in their jammies and hit the road.

The kids watch 1 or 2 movies and go to sleep. My wife and I have no problem driving through the night. The kids wake up around 7am or so, just as we hit Ocala florida. We stop at a cracker barrel there for a nice long relaxing breafst.

Get in the car, and arrive at disney world around 12:00pm.

I only have to deal (you know what i mean) with the kids being awake and tired of being in the car for about 2 hours.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

My family and I stay in Valdosta, Georgia at the Hampton Inn & Suites Valdosta/Conference Center, which is located off exit 16 on Interstate 75.
http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/...ionid=LEN5GLMP3JM4UCSGBJBNMQQ?ctyhocn=VLDCCHX

 

[Poohs Pal]

I have stayed in Dalton, Perry, Tifton, Cordele, Valdosta. I have not stayed in the Atlanta area even though I have stopped at The Varsity for coney dogs. Gotta stop at The Varsity at least once. Susan

 

[DeeCeeSW]

We have stayed in Darien, Ga. at the Hampton Inn there at least three times on our way down. It is further south than Brunswick & Savannah, which makes the last leg the next morning seem very short. This year we will stop in Brunswick, but only because the Hilton Honors points are lower there.

 

[mrbghd]

We drive from the Chicago area and are big fans of the Valdosta area. Exit 18 on 75 is great, there is a Comfort Suites, a Sleep Inn and then a couple of dumpy hotels as well. Plus at this exit there is a Sonnys BBQ

 

[Donut23]

We are driving from Maryland beginning Thanksgiving Saturday.

I found a Saybridge Suites in Jacksonville, FL that night...for only $46 <---YES that is NOT a typo!

If I am looking for a hotel room on a weekend - I try to look for a hotel which would normally cater to business guests. They often "give away" the rooms on the weekends.

We did this one Valentines weekend in Washington, DC. We stayed at the Hamilton 2 blocks from the White House - across the street from the Metro station...perfect location- 3 night celebration.

The Hamilton is a Crown Plaza hotel - upscale hotel for the Holiday Inn group. Because I travel and stay at these hotels often, not only did we pay only $109 p/night...but they also upgraded us to a suite on the concierge floor. Later during the week.....the standard room was $365 p/night. YIKES!

 

[My_3_Mi_Princesses]

Hi guys I was looking at staying at The Drury Inn in Morrow (I guess via mapquest is a little south of Atlanta). Does anybody have comments on the area (Morrow) and/or specifically this hotel?

Thanks!

 

[SDSorority]

When we drove from Ohio we used to stop in Valdosta. It's just North of the Ga/Fl border. I think we used to stay at a Hampton Inn, but this was a number of years ago.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When we drove from Ohio we used to stop in Valdosta. It's just North of the Ga/Fl border. I think we used to stay at a Hampton Inn, but this was a number of years ago.

I think the Hampton Inn you are thinking of located off exit 18, which was also had 2 floors is no longer there because I didn't see it on their website. My family and I also use to stay at that one, however we now stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites Valdosta/Conference Center, located off exit 16 and it's a lot nicer. Plus I think since that Hampton Inn only opened a few years ago there was no need for them to have the other one.

 

[marymoon]

We drive down from Murfreesboro last Monday and stayed in a Days Inn off 75 in Byron, GA. It was cheap - $61 after tax - clean and recently updated.

 

[carlamouse]

Hi guys I was looking at staying at The Drury Inn in Morrow (I guess via mapquest is a little south of Atlanta). Does anybody have comments on the area (Morrow) and/or specifically this hotel?

Thanks!

I've never stayed at that location, but I have driven by it many times. The Morrow area is pretty congested most of the time. The weekends aren't quite as bad, but I don't recommend driving in the area during the weekday afternoon rush hour. There is Southlake Mall nearby if you like to shop. There are also lots of restaurants nearby. There is some construction going on on I-75 in that area right now, but it shouldn't slow you down too much. You may want to check the Georgia Navigator website while you're in the area if you have mobile internet access. Here's a link: http://www.georgia-navigator.com/maps/atlanta/southeast