Driving from SW ON

[snickerboo]

How long did it take? Did you drive straight through? Any suggestions on best places to stop for a break? What route did you take?

We live near London. We'll be stopping in Buffalo first since we actually have tickets on Delta and have to make sure they're not flying. Our back-up plan is to drive but we haven't done much research into it from this point. Time to get planning, just in case.

 

[Daddio]

It's been a few years since we have driven since finding the low fares out of Detroit and Buffalo but if I recall correctly, you can expect to be in the vehicle for 21 hours. Add to that any stops, rests, stayovers etc.

This was London to Orlando through Detroit, straight down the I75 so don't know how many hours extra it is from Buffalo.

Either way, have FUN!

 

[snickerboo]

I think it's about the same from Buffalo (mapquest says 20hours, so I figure about 24 since there will have to be a half-hour rest stop here and there).

I see you are in London. We are in Tillsonburg. I would go the way you're describing if not for the whole Delta fiasco. I think we'll have to go to the airport first to know for sure we have no flight. We're going the same time as you as well (leave April 25th).

 

[sammi]

Hi "Neighbour"!

We moved from Hamilton last year to Simcoe!!!

Good luck with your flight (we love flying from Buffalo) and have a wonderful holiday! We head back down Oct 28th!!!

 

[Daddio]

Which ever route you end up taking, the end result will be the same...DISNEY

Hope you can fly though because that means an extra day or two in the parks instead of on the road.

We're arriving at approx. 10AM on the 27th. See ya there!

 

[Mortlives]

I would strongly suggest CAA, if you don't already have a membership. Not only can you get triptiks showing you your exact route, plus tolls, and construction, but you also get some pretty good discounts. My CAA membership has more than paid for itself several times over.

If you're spending the night in Buffalo, Charlotte NC is a reasonable place to stop. There are many hotels there. Last time we stayed at the Best Western near the theme park whose name escapes me. The only place I would suggest avoiding is the Days Inn in Charlotte. We found it in bad condition, and had trouble with the morning desk clerk. Figure 10-11 hours to Charlotte, then 8-9 hours the next day to WDW.

 

[CharlesTD]

We drive I75 crossing in Windsor we have done both straight through and stops along the way. Our straight through isn't so bad as we have 2 drivers I drive all night and DW will take a spell int eh day the next morning. When we stop we usually stop in teh lower portion of Georgia for teh night somewhere around Valdosta usually. We will drive at night the day we leave that way the kids sleep in the car all night and wae up when we hit Georgia so almost half teh drive is complete by then. We stop around 7 or 8 AM at teh Georgia welcome centre for breakfast we take an electric cooler for milk and juice boxes etc for teh drive so we aren't paying to eat on the road. We make them breakfast let them run for an hour or so then head back out. We will make our next stop usually around Macon as that puts us at about noon or there abouts. Then when we hit the Valdosta area it is about 3 or 4 in the afternoon and we will stop for the night so the kids can unwind and we can to they also get to sleep in a bed rather than the car. It also makes the drive the next day much shorter heading to Disney as you are only about 18 miles from the Florida border in Valdosta. and no drive would be complete without a stop at the Florida welcome centre for a glass of fresh Florida OJ and some pics at the Welcome to Florida sign we usually hit Disney around lunch time after leaving the hotel in Valdosta in the AM around 8 or 9.

 

[snickerboo]

Thanks for all the info, everyone. And hi to you Sammi in Simcoe!

Charles-my dh looooooooves your picture! He's also a true Habs fan.

 

[tinkerbeth]

We did it in March but we cross at Sarnia. It took us about 25 hours door to door with stops for meals and gas and we got lost in Port Huron...On the way back was about the same time - we had a big tie up in Atlanta but I put my foot down all night and so the end time was about the same.

Beth

 

[CharlesTD]

Thanks for all the info, everyone. And hi to you Sammi in Simcoe!

Charles-my dh looooooooves your picture! He's also a true Habs fan.

LOL thanks snickerboo ya all my friends at work at Leaf fans and they hate the picture so after every Leaf loss I e mail it to them. As for teh drive the kids love it it is all part of the excitement and adventure we call a Disney Holiday.

 

[SnowWhite]

We always drive straight thru and it takes us approx 23-24 hours from Peterborough. So about 21 hrs for you in London sounds right. We prefer the I-75 route as we tried the I-77/79/95 route last year and did not enjoy it. Plus it is not exactly traveller friendly like I-75 with all the restaurants and gas stops so well planned and frequent. Good luck with your travel plans........


Rob (Snowwhite's DH)

 

[dsneygirl]

Last trip we went I-75 and back the 1-77/79 way. I77/79 is much more scenic and has a lot less transport truck traffic although some of the rest areas and exits are farther apart.

We took lots of time with our drive (had to stop to shop) for us it was part of the vacation. Coming home however DH insisted on driving straight through and we were both miserable. He was falling asleep at the wheel and we had to stop at some rest area in W Virginia at 4am. I have never wanted a shower so badly in all my life

Our next drive will be with our son and there is no way I will do it straight through, knowing both DH and I, I don't trust us being able to stay awake however many here say it's the only way to go.

 

[CharlesTD]

We have made the straight through drive in under 20 hours. My dad and I made it in 18 hours of driving time with about an hour for gas and food stops in total so 19 hours on the road. Mind you we were not doing the posted limit we were going with the flow of traffic which seemed to be closer to 80MPH on many stretches of I 75.

 

[OnMedic]

Did I miss someting?

What is going on with Delta???

 

[snickerboo]

OnMedic-if you pop over to the Transportation area of the board you'll find many threads about Delta: the pilots have voted to strike if a bankruptcy court judge allows Delta to throw out their contracts. The present date for the judge to rule is this Saturday, April 15th with pilots walking off as early as April 17th. As Delta is already in Chapter 11, a strike would likley cause the creditors to call in their debts causing the airlint to fold. Several things could happen to avoid the strike: the last coupple of days they are negotiating and (media reports say) making progress, the judge could refuse to allow the contracts tossed, Delta could ask the judge for a restraining order against the strike, the government could step in citing irreparable damage to the economy if they strike......from what I've read, industry insdiers say 10% chance of actual strike. That's too much for me as my tix are Apr 25/May2! I had to make a contingency plan.

 

[digskat]

we are about an hour northwest of you, and cross at Port Huron. We have driven I75 twice in the last 16 months, and find it a 20-21 hour trip. As Charles said, when you follow the flow, you seldom fall below 75MPH. We leave at 4 AM, and stop in Dalton (or Marietta), Georgia at about supper time. The kids get a swim, and can unwind. We leave at 7 am, and are at Disney shortly after lunch. We stopped in Macon our first trip, and I will never stop there again.

 

[snickerboo]

Well, the pilots have a tentative agreement so I guess I don't have to worry. I think plenty of people drive, through, so the thread is probably still useful.

Thanks for all the advice, everyone!