Driving from Maine - just a tiny vent

[RebeccaB]

I've never flown before, but I have no qualms about that. Dh won't fly, wants to drive. So, instead of spending 3 hours on a plane we'll be spending God knows how many hours in a vehicle with a 5yo. Gargh! Anywho, dh thinks we should leave on Thursday to arrive on Sunday, so we'll have plenty of time and won't feel rushed. When we arrive sometime Saturday, I'll be the one standing in the parking lot with my arms crossed wearing the "I told you so" look....

Rebecca

 

[jimmiej]

Your DH won't fly-my DW won't drive! Never again she says. Once was enough. Luckily, IA.

 

[Servants of Evan]

Wow, I'm sorry to say this but ... I think your DH is completely NUTS! For my own amusement, will you kindly tally the number of times your five year old asks "Are we there yet?" or "How much longer?" Let's not forget "I'm tired for sitting in this seat!" Wow. You guys have guts -- it's a 20 hour trip for us and there's no way I'd even consider driving down. I'll take the 2:15 in an aircraft, thank you!

 

[mainewmn]

Hello fellow Mainer!

When DH and I first started vacationing together he was so adamant about not flying it was sad. He wanted to drive, I tried explaining the cons of it like the price, the wear and tear, the time, finally I figured out how much the vacation was going to cost us and I devided that by the number of days of vacation then I priced out the airfare from MHT and BOS and presented my husband with how much it was really gone cost us to drive versus fly. He finally agreed to fly and has been happily flying all over the country ever sense!

He has even taken some trips by himself to see his friends in other states and he flew there and back, like a big boy all by himself. (although I still had to book his airfare )

Also add another day to your travel plans if you do decide to drive because you will be too tired to do anyting and will need at least that to rest.

Either way happy planning!

 

[The_Admiral]

I've never flown before, but I have no qualms about that. Dh won't fly, wants to drive. So, instead of spending 3 hours on a plane we'll be spending God knows how many hours in a vehicle with a 5yo. Gargh! Anywho, dh thinks we should leave on Thursday to arrive on Sunday, so we'll have plenty of time and won't feel rushed. When we arrive sometime Saturday, I'll be the one standing in the parking lot with my arms crossed wearing the "I told you so" look....

Rebecca

My advice would be to say "Fine, you drive, we'll fly, I'll meet you there". Flying is cheaper too with any reasonable planning. Access to SWA doesnt hurt either..You cannot imagine how much easier it is to fly until you do it.

If fear of flying is his problem, I wouldnt fly for most of my teens and 20s, then I took the attitude, of "hey, Ive had a decent run, if this plane goes down so be it". Now I couldnt imagine driving and I dont live nearly as far away as Maine.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

After the first 3-4 hours in the car driving the rest of the way to WDW isn't that bad.
My wife hates to fly; so the first time we went to Walt Disney World with my 3 year old daughter we drove from my office in downtown Boston to WDW Old Key West.
Our Trip to WDW started Friday, 3/26/04 at 1 pm: Miles, Stopped, Time

Leaving, Boston to Walt Disney World: Friday, 3/26/04, 1:00pm
1, Boston to New Jersey 212 212 6:00pm
2, N J to Aberdeen MD 183 395 9:07 pm
3, MD to Rocky Mt NC 266 661 1:36 AM
4, NC to Florence SC 209 870 4:40 am
5, SC to S Newport GA 210 1,080 7:58 am
Arrived, GA to WDW 251 1,331 12:00 PM

Started, Friday, 3/26 0 1:00pm
Finished, Saturday, 3/27 1331 12:00pm
A 23 hr trip with 5 stops along the way down
76 gallons of gas, $131 for the gas, 17.78 mpg 58mph
Driving around WDW 21

The Trip Home started Friday, April 2nd 11 AM: Miles Stopped Time

Leaving Walt Disney World to Boston:Friday, April 2nd 11:00 am
1, WDW to St Augustine FL 116 116 12:44 PM
2, FL to Savanah GA 178 294 3:55 PM
3, GA to Florence SC 174 468 6:22 pm
4, SC to Battleboro NC 181 649 9:30 pm
5, NC to Aberdeen MD 295 944 2:17 am
6, MD to Bloomfield NJ 181 1,125 5:30 AM
Arrived, NJ to Boston, MA 237 1,362 9:30 am

Started, Friday, 4/02 11:00 am 0
Finished, Sat, 4/03 9:30 am 1362
A 22 1/2 hr trip with 6 stops on the way home
81 gallons of gas $126 for the gas 17.58 mpg 60.5mph
Driving around WDW 62

157 gallons, $257 for the gas, $44 tolls, 17.68 mpg, 59.2mph 2776

The traffic was a mess from Hartford through Delaware on the way down.
It rained from North Carolina to Boston, Mass. on the way home

Me and my wife alternated turns driving our Nissan Xterra when we stopped for gas. My 3 year old held out a lot better than I thought she would on the way down and on the way back to Boston.

It's not that Bad, Good Luck,
Joe

 

[jim and meesie]

After the first 3-4 hours in the car driving the rest of the way to WDW isn't that bad.
My wife hates to fly; so the first time we went to Walt Disney World with my 3 year old daughter we drove from my office in downtown Boston to WDW Old Key West.
Our Trip to WDW started Friday, 3/26/04 at 1 pm: Miles, Stopped, Time

Leaving, Boston to Walt Disney World: Friday, 3/26/04, 1:00pm
1, Boston to New Jersey 212 212 6:00pm
2, N J to Aberdeen MD 183 395 9:07 pm
3, MD to Rocky Mt NC 266 661 1:36 AM
4, NC to Florence SC 209 870 4:40 am
5, SC to S Newport GA 210 1,080 7:58 am
Arrived, GA to WDW 251 1,331 12:00 PM

Started, Friday, 3/26 0 1:00pm
Finished, Saturday, 3/27 1331 12:00pm
A 23 hr trip with 5 stops along the way down
76 gallons of gas, $131 for the gas, 17.78 mpg 58mph
Driving around WDW 21

The Trip Home started Friday, April 2nd 11 AM: Miles Stopped Time

Walt Disney World to Boston:Friday, April 2nd 11:00 am
Leaving, WDW to St Augustine FL 116 116 12:44 PM
1, FL to Savanah GA 178 294 3:55 PM
2, GA to Florence SC 174 468 6:22 pm
3, SC to Battleboro NC 181 649 9:30 pm
4, NC to Aberdeen MD 295 944 2:17 am
5, MD to Bloomfield NJ 181 1,125 5:30 AM
Arrived, NJ to Boston, MA 237 1,362 9:30 am

Started, Friday, 4/02 11:00 am 0
Finished, Sat, 4/03 9:30 am 1362
A 22 1/2 hr trip with 6 stops on the way home
81 gallons of gas $126 for the gas 17.58 mpg 60.5mph
Driving around WDW 62

157 gallons, $257 for the gas, $44 tolls, 17.68 mpg, 59.2mph 2776

The traffic was a mess from Hartford through Delaware on the way down.
It rained from North Carolina to Boston, Mass. on the way home

Me and my wife alternated turns driving our Nissan Xterra when we stopped for gas. My 3 year old held out a lot better than I thought she would on the way down and on the way back to Boston.

It's not that Bad, Good Luck,
Joe

Wow! You are organized.

We left Boston at 9 pm on a Thursday night and ended up in Hilton Head (Disney Resort) by 3 pm Friday afternoon. We liked it so much we stayed 2 nites. Ultimately ended up at Disney by 3 pm on Sunday. I guess I'm with OP's husband.

On the way back we left Orlando at noon on Saturday, hit torrential rains and ungodly traffic and ended up back in Boston at midnite Sunday nite!!! Never again!!!!!

 

[RebeccaB]

thanks Joe, you made me feel a bit better. I've already told her that we'll be in the vehicle for a LONG time, getting her a watch with an alarm on it so she'll know when it beeps that's when we're stopping. I was tentatively planning driving 4 hours ,stopping for a bit, driving 4 hours, etc...we have friends in NJ and SC we plan on staying the night with, so I think we'll be alright. I think I will definitely make a note of the time she says "are we there yet" or something similar, and how many times she says it.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

It ook us exactly 24 hours coming from South of Boston. We checked with AAA before we left and found out which rest stops had bathrooms, which Mc Donald's had play areas so that our little ones could play a bit. It really isn't that bad. I prefer to fly, but sometimes because of our budget, it is cheaper to drive. Bring losts of change for the tolls!

 

[snowbunny]

My advice would be to say "Fine, you drive, we'll fly, I'll meet you there". Flying is cheaper too with any reasonable planning.

Not only cheaper but a whole lot safer. Just think, you will only have to deal with metro Boston, New York City, Newark, Philly, Baltimore, and Washington DC traffic and you'll be halfway there! Or halfway out of your mind, as I would be. Hello from southern Maine and good luck-

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

Joe Cathy Angelina:

When did you rest? When you arrived? I think that we could do the drive straight through, but when we get there the kids will be ready to go, we will be just exhausted. I won't drive for one reason and one reason only. That is such a long ride for only a week vacation, I would need to be there for at least two weeks if I drove.

 

[Hef4545]

My DH won't fly either. We have driven every year. Funny enough, it was a lot easier when my DS was younger. Now that he is 14, it is soooooo boring.
We drive from Long Island - 1125 miles each way. We drive 800 -900 miles (depending on weather and traffic) the first day leaving between 3:00am and 4:00am, making only quick stops for bathroom, fast food lunch and then stop by 7:30pm and get a hotel with indoor pool when possible. We have dinner, take a refreshing swim (I would drag my carcass to the swimming pool so DS could splash around and have fun.) and then go to bed. We check out around 10:00am and get breakfast. This gets us to Disney just about check in time at the hotel. My DH does the bulk of the driving and I drive when he needs a break.
We would pack the car and put DS in last so he usually was sleeping or would fall back to sleep. I would buy my son something new to play with in the car. (that was before DVD's) and some favorite snacks.
Going down, there is something to look forward too so it really isn't bad. Going home, the ride seems to go quicker...I can't figure that one out.
The good part about driving is you can pack whatever you want. Have a great trip.

 

[Blondiex46]

I have driven and flown and of course I prefer to fly BUT am probably driving in April so go figure. I think that many days is way too long. They say 500 miles a day and the poor child, lol what is he going to do? I ride on 95 numerous times a week near philly and it is only 2 lanes in some places. Good luck!

 

[jamzots]

Hi Long Island Miller Place here!! My ds will be 14 in March. We ALWAYS drive. As a matter of fact the last time we flew was when my DS was 4, that was 10 years ago!! Seems like yesterday, but anyway, we usually leave at midnight, drive until we reach Savannah, usually between 6:00 and 7:00, have dinner, check into a hotel. We like the Jameson Inn in Savannah, it is right off I-95 and it has a Cracker Barrell out front. Then we sleep the night and finish the drive the next day, getting to WDW around 1:00. We now have 3 kids and the baby is 9 months, but we did it in October when he was 5 months. It worked out great. We had a TON of brand new DVD's for the kids, plus the usual game boy games, and books. I prefer driving over flying because number 1, I think in my case I save money on air-fare, and number 2, I can bring whatever I feel like, which is a saving grace with all the baby paraphanalia. Plus I am just not comfortable flying. And remember that getting there is half the fun!! Well almost, nothing can even compare to actually being in WDW!! We make a ton of stops for bathroom, snacks, and sometimes we stop at South Of The Border, as tacky as it is, the kids like it. So, go drive, have fun, and if you really hate it you can fly next time!!

 

[polyhm83]

Hi, Believe it or not our family of five would rather drive from Ontario. We flew last year for the first time because my mother came along and it was too long for her to sit. When I calculated the amount of time in airports and the car rental place, and then driving to our destination (sanibel Island) last year, we could have been half way there in the car. We always leave in the evening and drive through the night, it is alot more peaceful when the kids are asleep, We nap the day we are leaving when the kids are in school.
Of course for three kids plus us the airfare is expensive plus the cost of renting a van is crazy. Last year everything went wrong. Our airline went bankrupt while we were there and my husband had such a hard time with airport security because he has a steel pin in his leg. We decided it just wasn't worth it. Sorry to be so long winded. Good luck with your trip.

 

[Hef4545]

Hi Miller Place. Farmingdale Here.
Jamzots is right. The driving tradition can be fun.

We have also stopped in Savannah. We have stayed at the Clarion Inn and Suites at that same exit. Very nice. Indoor Pool
I have never tried the Jameson Inn but it's good to know about.
Last year, we made it to Brunswick, Georgia. This is a great exit. Very nice area. We stayed at an Embassy Suite.
I can recommend a great website to check out exits and information related to each including hotels and restaurants with user feedback.
www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm

 

[RebeccaB]

thanks to everyone! That I95 site is great, I'm doing lots of research. We'll be fine, I'm sure. dd5 isn't really that bad of a traveller. I have a friend who drove from here, she said every so often (hours, miles, whatever) she'd pull out a small surprise, new coloring book, dvd, something, for the kids; half way there they had a "half way there" party". I'll think of things to make it fun. Somehow.

 

[maine_jennifer]

Hey fellow Mainer! Don't have any advice, I always fly. Closest I'd come to that is to take the train from Boston, but even that is a two day trek. Good Luck!

And for the Mainers in this thread - a few of us are thinking about meeting up some day this spring. We started a yahoo group to talk about it. If you want to join or yak with people from Maine, here's the link:
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/mouseymaineiacs

Cheers!

 

[Kristi1357]

I guess we are in the minority since we'd rather drive to WDW than fly.

We drove to WDW when DS was 6 mos., 18 mos., & 22 mos.
We just flew to WDW with him last Oct., Dec. & Jan.

What a pain in the butt flying is! After our January trip, we decided that flying with a small child is just not for us. Lugging the car seat, diaper bag / toy bag, etc. along with a 2 year old in a stroller through the airport is not my idea of fun. Nevermind our bag with the essentials and the all-important DVD player!

When we drive, we can bring whatever we might need or want since we have tons of room in the van. DS is a happy camper as long as he has movies to watch in the van. We enjoying stopping to eat along the way and seeing how different areas are like. We also save time in Orlando since we don't have to hit the grocery store for soda, water, diapers, etc. - it's all in the van.

It is almost always cheaper for us when you consider the cost of 3 plane tickets and a rental car. That also takes into account the cheap SW DING airfares I have been getting, as well as the great car rental codes. Besides, we just really like being in out own familiar car.

You'll do fine driving. I know it's not everyone's first choice, but it's not a terrible one. Just get lots of surprise games & toys for the 5 year old.

 

[Mac and Us]

Kristi, your not the minority. We live in NH and prefer to drive. We have a 4 year old DD. She rides well as long as we have something for her to do. She doesn't complain (she's in her car seat at all times), she sleeps well while traveling and we enjoy the trip much better than flying. We make it fun for her and us.

I agree that when you factor in the price to drive to the airport, pay for parking for a week or two, airfare, and rental car you are almost even with driving. I have never found airfare for the times/dates I want (or am willing to do) for the $59. rates you all speak of. And flying with a child means more baggage and more hassel (IMHO).

Besides, we have a motorhome and we might as well use it. With the motorhome we can stop anytime we want.