Driving Directions from Birmingham, Al

[DCTM]

Good Morning

We have never driven to WDW before, but with the cost of airfare looks like we may went a car for our March trip. We were thinking of leaving around 3pm (after kids are out of school) and driving part way, staying overnight somewhere and then driving the rest of the way the next morning.
So, my questions are- if anyone can provide any information.....please....

What are the best driving directions anyone has from B'ham, Al to WDW?
Anyone stopped and stayed overnight, if so what town did you stay in and how long did it take to get there and how long to drive the remainder of the way the next morning?

We would also rent a car for this (which we have never done) and have not decided about keeping the car just for the day/night or just renting it for the week. We have always relied on the WDW bus system, so it might be nice having a car if we needed it.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[nytimez]

Good Morning

We have never driven to WDW before, but with the cost of airfare looks like we may went a car for our March trip. We were thinking of leaving around 3pm (after kids are out of school) and driving part way, staying overnight somewhere and then driving the rest of the way the next morning.
So, my questions are- if anyone can provide any information.....please....

What are the best driving directions anyone has from B'ham, Al to WDW?
Anyone stopped and stayed overnight, if so what town did you stay in and how long did it take to get there and how long to drive the remainder of the way the next morning?

We would also rent a car for this (which we have never done) and have not decided about keeping the car just for the day/night or just renting it for the week. We have always relied on the WDW bus system, so it might be nice having a car if we needed it.

Thanks so much for your help!

Not my region... but as someone who routinely makes long drives to WDW (roughly double your drive), I'd say go for it. If you have to leave in the late afternoon, use Google Maps to calculate where'd you be by 9 or 10 pm, to get the bulk of your driving out of the way. Then, you should have a much shorter drive the next day and arrive at Disney before lunchtime.

Happy driving.

 

[Wadecool]

Good Morning

We have never driven to WDW before, but with the cost of airfare looks like we may went a car for our March trip. We were thinking of leaving around 3pm (after kids are out of school) and driving part way, staying overnight somewhere and then driving the rest of the way the next morning.
So, my questions are- if anyone can provide any information.....please....

What are the best driving directions anyone has from B'ham, Al to WDW?
Anyone stopped and stayed overnight, if so what town did you stay in and how long did it take to get there and how long to drive the remainder of the way the next morning?

We would also rent a car for this (which we have never done) and have not decided about keeping the car just for the day/night or just renting it for the
week. We have always relied on the WDW bus system, so it might be nice having a car if we needed it.

Thanks so much for your help!

According to google directions, you just take I-65 to Montgomery, U.S. 82 to Tifton, GA, and then just jump on I-75 and head on in. That route looks to be a 9 and a half hours and a pretty easy ride. What we would do is leave very early in the am, say 6am and drive straight through to Orlando. That would put you in Orlando at around 4pm, check into your room and relax and get rested to hit the parks early the next day. As far as the car rental, you can find deals for a minivan for 7 days with unlimited miles at around $300 or so.

 

[DCTM]

Thanks so much for your help. I did an internet search today and looks like some people go through Dothan to avoid Atlanta and Montgomery, but I did not see any driving directions. Oh well, I will keep looking to see what I can find. Thanks again

 

[nytimez]

Thanks so much for your help. I did an internet search today and looks like some people go through Dothan to avoid Atlanta and Montgomery, but I did not see any driving directions. Oh well, I will keep looking to see what I can find. Thanks again

Try Google maps. You can enter your starting address, ending address and then you can even add stops along the way or drag the route around on the map to alter it to your needs.

http://maps.google.com/

 

[Murkin]

Ok, so after years of reading here is a post to make me register and reply to. I am also in B'ham and have done exactly what you are asking about 3 times. We pick up the kids at school in north Shelby county at 3 pm and go 65 down to Montgomery. Then take 231 down through Dothan to I-10 in the panhandle. We stop at Lake City which is the junction of I-10 and I-75 for the night. Lake City is about an hour or two past the half way mark. There are a couple of nice hotels there right off the interstate. We usually stop and eat dinner in Dothan and are at the hotel by about 11pm. Next morning we get up and head down I-75 to the Turnpike and take the new toll road into WDW. Last time we left Lake City around 7am and were in the parks about 1pm which included getting checked in and unpacking the car.

 

[Praise2Him]

We're an hour west of you but we always go to Atlanta then down I 75. It's right around 8 hours without stopping and Tifton is about halfway. When we stop overnight we usually stay at Cordele or Tifton, sometimes Valdosta or even Lake City, FL.

 

[disneybass]

you are looking at about 8.5 to 9 hours from Bham. Take I65s to Montgomery, 231s to I10e to I75s to Florida Turnpike. Get off at toll rd. 429 south and take the Disney world exit. Which resort are you staying at?

 

[DCTM]

Yeah! Thank you so much, this is just what I was looking for.....and to answer the question above, we are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge

 

[ronniewms]

We drove down in July. I live in North Mississippi. We hit Birmingham around 2 pm, drove down to Montgomery and on to Dothan. From there we went to Bainbridge Ga, and on down to I-10 at Tallahassee. from there we drove to Madison where there was a Best Western Plus. I didn't have a reservation, but they had a couple of rooms. The ride was just a few hours the next morning.

Coming home, went through Tifton Ga. over to Columbus up thru Alexander City to Birmingham.

I would go the Dothan to I-10 route if I drive it again.

 

[rabidstoat]

Tolls along the way are:

$2.00 for the Turnpike from Ocala to 429 toll road.
$1.25 for 429 toll road down to exit 8, the Disney Exit

Both places have manned toll booths so you don't need exact change.

Price current as of yesterday.