Driving from Boston area to Disney - stops, tips, advice etc...please!

[NewEnglandCamper]

The last time we did this I went to sleep at 8pm, woke up at midnight and started our drive. After a stop for breakfast my wife drove for a few hours while I caught up on my sleep. We had made reservations at 3 motels separated by xx amount of miles along the SCar/GA stretch that could be cancelled until 4pm. So at 3:30 we decided how much further we could make it and cancelled the other 2. Checked in at 10 pm, somewhere in GA-forgetting where, slept and finished our ride to Disney the next morning, arriving for check in.

An adventure sounds great until you have been in the car for 16 hours and say do we really want to detour off 95 to spend 12 hours visiting some city?

I really really like your idea of booking 3 motels... that is something I'm going to look into when we head down later this month from Mass.... especially since we are traveling with a pet!!!

I don't like to detour either... just want to get there...

 

[NewEnglandCamper]

Hey there!

This will be our first time driving down.

We are allowing 2 days before and 2 days after to be able to take our time and make stops. Any suggestions on better stops than Myrtle and Savannah?

This is the very tentative plan right now:

Leave around 8p Wednesday night.
Stop in Myrtle Beach (approx 15 hours?) and sleep there.
Friday AM, head to Savannah, GA (approx 4 hours?) and stop for a bit.
Head to Orlando (approx 5 hours?) to stay in a motel there.
Saturday start our Disney trip early AM.

Going home:
It's still up in the air and changable (time we leave and the stop in Virginia) but right now we're thinking...
Leave either Sunday night or early Monday AM and head to Virginia Beach (approx 12 hours?)
Stop in Virginia Beach on Monday and sleep there.
Tuesday, get up early and head to NJ (approx 6 hours?) and stop there for a bit.
Continue on to home (approx 5 hours?).

Any packing tips? Any traffic jam advice?

What snacks do you guys pack? Soda, water, crackers, chips, fruit??

My girls are 13 and 16. Will bring their summer reading books, Gameboy, phones, ipods, computer and maybe our DVD player too.

It's 3 weeks away and I'm getting nervous!!

We've driven down twice now (and now planning for a 3rd time at the end of the month) and several times to BuschGardens VA.
* Leaving at 8PM -- you may still get into traffic in NYC/NJ area. Advice taking the Tappan Zee is good... from there you can take 287 and hook back on to the NJ pike. I thought about the western route I287-->I78-->I81 but I'm not sure... that adds time and miles...
* I have found that the DC / No. VA area is worse that NYC area but the time you are leaving seems like you may miss the brunt of it...
* Do you do well driving at night? I don't... but I'm thinking of leaving at 12 midnight after several hours of rest... (this is to avoid hearing the kids bicker and backer )
* For snacks... I love home made trail chex mix... DW wife makes up a big bag
* Good Luck and Have a safe trip!

 

[beattyfamily]

We are allowing 2 days down and 2 days back so that we can stop and sight see.

We are now....

Leaving Wednesday night at around 8p.
Stopping in DC and parking then going to the Shrine and then sightseeing.

Leaving for Florence SC before 4p, probably between 2-3p. Sleep.

Wake up Friday morning and head to Savannah, sightsee for a bit then continue on to Orlando and stay in a cheap motel.

Disney starts on Saturday morning.

Coming home is still open.
Either leave Sunday or Monday.

Need to be home by Tuesday night.
We definitely want to time it to stop in NJ on Tuesday for the Safari.
That's about it.

Thanks, again for all your help.

 

[GranddadTom]

You will love the Shrine. It has parking right there beside it (100 foot walk) and it is just beautiful. You can easily spend 3 hours there and not begin to see all of the alcoves. You can then just go right down North Capitol Street and if you leave town by 2:00 pm you should be okay. But I wouldn't stay until 4:00 pm because Rt. 95 in Northern Virginia will be a problem at that hour - a real problem!

 

[jkfandel]

Can't believe I just stumbled on this. We also are leaving on Wednesday 8/15 or more accurately early in the morning or late on 8/14. Can't decide exactly when yet. I have been scoping out places from the travel channel shows such as diners, drive in's and dives to create a list of places that we could grab something to eat along the way.

Stopping in DC to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and then in Richmond for the Museum of the Confederacy.

First reservation is in Richmond VA, second in Savannah GA where the only plan is to hopefully grab a carraige tour around the city. We need to make sure we get to WDW for our first dinner reservation on Friday. Our kids (25 and 21) are flying down to meet us on Friday.

Reservations start on 8/17 for OKW. Have a safe journey.
Jane

 

[beattyfamily]

Can't believe I just stumbled on this. We also are leaving on Wednesday 8/15 or more accurately early in the morning or late on 8/14. Can't decide exactly when yet. I have been scoping out places from the travel channel shows such as diners, drive in's and dives to create a list of places that we could grab something to eat along the way.

Stopping in DC to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and then in Richmond for the Museum of the Confederacy.

First reservation is in Richmond VA, second in Savannah GA where the only plan is to hopefully grab a carraige tour around the city. We need to make sure we get to WDW for our first dinner reservation on Friday. Our kids (25 and 21) are flying down to meet us on Friday.

Reservations start on 8/17 for OKW. Have a safe journey.
Jane

Wow, that's cool!

We are leaving somewhere around 8p or a bit later. Stopping in DC for a few hours to sightsee, leaving by 2p.
Sleeping in Florence SC.
Friday we'll drive to Savannah, GA to stop and look around for a bit. Then head to Orlando for the evening.
Start or Disney trip that Saturday!!

You have a safe trip too!