I live in Atlanta, Georgia and I will be driving down to WDW again in two weeks. I always drive down to WDW every December for the past ten years or more.
For myself, I drive before morning traffic starts straight through Atlanta, I-75/I-85. And when I pass the Atlanta Braves baseball stadium, I reset my odometer to zero miles, because I always thought this was the center of Atlanta.
It takes me 455 miles from Atlanta to Disney Pop Century Resort and at least eight hours with one gas/restroom break at Georgia Exit #5.
I know you didn't ask this, but since I have some free time, I thought I would just share and write this out for you.
Once I-85/I-75 in Atlanta area separates again and you take I-75 South to Macon, it takes about 65 miles to get to Exit #177 which is the Macon, Georgia I-475 South By-Pass which hooks back up to I-75 South to WDW. Don't go through Macon, Georgia city unless you just want to go through the city.
At Georgia I-75, Exit #5, there are several fast food drive throughs including Chick-fi-la, 24-hour McDonalds (coffee). Cracker Barrel sitdown meals. Valdosta, has more hotels, restaurants, gas stations as said above, but I just have always stopped here for no particular reason.
Once you get closer to WDW on I-75, don't forget to get in the far left lane to get on the Florida Turnpike South at Florida I-75, Exit #328 which is also called SR-41.
Before I started taking an earlier exit #267-A on the Florida Turnpike South to merge into SR-49. (takes me 14 miles to Exit #8-B, Western Way which is another 4 miles deadending into WDW West Buena Vista Way near between Coronado Springs Resort and All Stars Resorts.)
Sorry about that....I used to take the Florida Turnpike to Florida I-4 and then to WDW. The funny thing is when I got to I-4, I would sometimes take the wrong exit and head toward Orlando instead of toward Tampa.
I was tired and always thought of Orlando and WDW being the same area. It is, but when exiting Florida Turnpike, Orlando is the opposite direction from WDW.
I like taking the earlier Toll exit that I mentioned earlier. At least I don't mistakingly make the wrong turn to head toward Orlando.
I usually use my car's speed control set at 68 mph, just incase the speed limit changes for different city from 70 to 65 or 55 limits or whatever. Over the years, it just seemed to be the right speed for me and I save a little gas.
You do have to watch those city area speed limits when they drop down all of a sudden if you like to drive over 70 mph, because you will get a ticket sometimes. Sometimes there are no state or local city police out on the median and sometimes there is one or two or three police cars next to each other just waiting for super speeders.
I also stay in the "far right lane" or "slow lane". I never drive in a faster lane and drive slower than the rest of the traffic unless I am passing someone. It is amazing how fast those 18-wheel trucks fly by at 75 mph and I never seem to be in anyone's way in the "slow lane".
I guess that as I get older, I just don't have the need for speed or have to get there quicker. I certainly don't miss switching lanes back and forth when passing slower cars when I used to go the speed limit of 70 mph or faster.
Drive carefully and defensively with the unknown sleepy or tired car or truck driver on the road that might be just around the corner somewhere.
Safe travels everyone and please hope that I travel safely to the magical WDW in two weeks there and back home.
