Driving to Disney from Toronto in April

[jeannief]

I've read through the driving threads that came up on the search, but wanted to get some opinions on our travel plan. We're leaving from Toronto at the end of April for a week at Disney. We originally had planned to go southwest but the prices are higher than when we budgetted a while back. So our thought is to plan to drive and then fly if a DING comes up.
I want to leave at 3 pm (after school) and drive as far as we can that day, then stop if we need to. DH wants to leave at 4 am on Saturday, drive 15 hours and then stop, then drive the 6 or so more the next day.
For those of you who've done this trek, what works best for you? I know CharlesTD likes to drive all night, but I'd rather stop on the way down, maybe not on the way up. Just not sure where 8-9 hours of driving will put us.
thanks!
jean

 

[hockey mom]

I would start driving right after school also. I like to leave around noon and miss rush hour traffic around TO.

 

[dsneygirl]

I know many who drive straight throught but I hate it. We did it coming home last spring and DH almost fell asleep at the wheel. We had to stop in some rest area parking lot at 4am. I was so miserable, never wanted to brush my teeth so badly. I found our drive down much less stressful. I suggest buying I-75 to take with you. We stopped for some nice dinners and there is awesome shopping in a few places along the way. Man o War exit in Kentucky is one of the best.

I work shift work, including midnights and have almost fallen asleep on the 401 after a midnight shift, my family's safety is not worth saving a few hours or $50 for a room. IMHO.

 

[hockey mom]

I have faith that you will se a "ding" rate come out in a month or so.

 

[jeannief]

Thanks ladies. I'm hopeful for a DING but don't want to wait to book our rooms... I'm an obsesive planner.
We're going to look at Mapquest tonight and figure out what our best route is, although I think we'll be doing the 90/79/77 route, not 75 since it is shorter. We know we want to stop once on the way down, and probably on the way back too, it's just figuing out when we are going to leave that is the issue right now.
thanks!
Any more input/advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[The House of Mouse]

Last March we left at 5:00p.m. Friday and drove through to Pittsburg, PA. We couldn't check in until Sunday so we weren't in a hurry. (also 2 weeks) The next day we drove to Savannah, GA, made for a short drive on Sunday.

This year we plan on leaving Saturday 12 a.m. and driving through to South Carolina, stay over and drive the rest of the way. We will also have 3 drivers this time around.

Our days of driving straight through are over.

In April I wouldn't do I75, although I wouldn't any time of year, sounds crazy , but we really like the other route better! Very scenic, mountain tunnels and SHORTER!!!

We gave up on DINGs for our trip, (March Break) plus we are staying off site and rental prices are crazy down there.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

We like the leaving in the afternoon if we are driving straight through. Basically we drive as far as we can, stop for dinner, and then put the kids to 'bed' in the car. You will cross into Florida for breakfast.

But, having said that, I really don't like the night driving anymore. Hubby works straight nights and usually does the driving, but I still feel awful when we arrive. Last fall we left really early in the morning (5 or 6) and made it to Georgia for sleeping. The next day was only a morning drive to Orlando (like heading up north to the cottage from southern Ontario). Really liked this option. Everyone had a good nights sleep and was ready for a good day when we arrived.

Keep watching Southwest. We have flights booked now but are hoping to switch to a Ding flight as the time gets closer. Over the Christmas holidays there was one for February flights at only $35 !!! We almost felt like going for Valentines day on DVC points for only a couple of nights but felt that was really too decadent !!!

Nice to have a late April trip to look forward to isn't it. Starts spring off just right....

Good luck

 

[Disney Fanatic]

We drove last spring and left about 5pm from Hamilton area and drove all night until we were in Daytona at 12:00pm the next morning.

The good part was that my DS slept all through the night and couldn't believe when we woke him up in the morning for breakfast in Florida.

I didn't really mind the drive all night but I have to say that we probably should have stopped because of all the deer all over the side of the road.

We went through Buf and Erin and then south and there are several mountain ranges you pass through and I do think it can be dangerous at night.

We were trying to take our time but the traffic moves preety quick and you somehow seem to get caught up with the speed.

I think if we had the time, we probably would take 2 days down and 2 days back.

 

[CharlesTD]

I've read through the driving threads that came up on the search, but wanted to get some opinions on our travel plan. We're leaving from Toronto at the end of April for a week at Disney. We originally had planned to go southwest but the prices are higher than when we budgetted a while back. So our thought is to plan to drive and then fly if a DING comes up.
I want to leave at 3 pm (after school) and drive as far as we can that day, then stop if we need to. DH wants to leave at 4 am on Saturday, drive 15 hours and then stop, then drive the 6 or so more the next day.
For those of you who've done this trek, what works best for you? I know CharlesTD likes to drive all night, but I'd rather stop on the way down, maybe not on the way up. Just not sure where 8-9 hours of driving will put us.
thanks!
jean

Start after school and drive till 3 AM that gives you 12 hours of drive time just make sure the driver gets that day off owrk and can sleep some during the day to allow them enough awake hours to complete that drive. I stay home on the Friday and sleep I go to bed at 8 AM stay up all night the night before not hard I get home from work at 11 PM LOL. So then I sleep from 8 AM till about 1:30 or 2 then I load up the car and get the things together we need. When everyone gets home we have some dinner and watch a Disney movie you know mood setting stuff LOL. We then leave at 7 PM so with leaving at 3 PM you will get further along or be able to stop a little earlier but at about the same place in Georgia near the bottom.

 

[dsneygirl]

We went through Buf and Erin and then south and there are several mountain ranges you pass through and I do think it can be dangerous at night.

It can also be very foggy in the W.Virginia mountains which could be tricky if you are drowsy. I find I-75 much more built up. A decent restaurant or hotel at almost every exit. Some parts of WV there are many miles between exits.

 

[OntFamily]

Thanks ladies. I'm hopeful for a DING but don't want to wait to book our rooms... I'm an obsesive planner.
We're going to look at Mapquest tonight and figure out what our best route is, although I think we'll be doing the 90/79/77 route, not 75 since it is shorter. We know we want to stop once on the way down, and probably on the way back too, it's just figuing out when we are going to leave that is the issue right now.
thanks!
Any more input/advice would be greatly appreciated.

On the I-79/77 routing, 8 - 9 hours of driving will put you well into West Virginia (close to Summersville, WV). Summersville has plenty of hotels.

Don't worry about the comments some people give that I-79/77 is pretty desolate, and not many stops with hotels/restaurants. I have driven this route many times (including in April), and have never had a problem. There are plenty of hotels/restaurants and the exits are frequent. Also, the rest areas have very clean washrooms.

 

[cslittle999]

I agree with OntFamily, take the I79/77 route. The mountains will be great that time of year.

I personally prefer to leave early in the morning. Neither DW or I is good driving very late at night.

For us, 15 hours would get us close to Columbia, SC. The drive from there to Orlando would be a little more than 6 hours depending on stops.

 

[SharBear4]

By shorter, I gather you mean taking I-79 through Pittsburgh into West Virginia. Then taking US Rte 19 from somehwere in God's country into Beckley, WV then onto I-77 down to Columbia, SC. Just watch out on that stretch of US 19 where the speed limit drops to 50 MPH-----as the AAA map says, "CAUTION: STRICTLY enforced". I believe those tickets take the place of property taxes in that county.

We were very fortunate. We drove to WDW ftom Erie, PA using the I-79 route going down on Dec 8, 05, and the I-75/I-71/I-271 to I-90 coming back on Dec 16. Only snow we had was on the first 72 mioes on I-79 and the last 80 miles on I-90. Dry pavement the rest of the way down, and pretty much all dry on the way back. Very scenic, especially a little town in Tennessee called Pioneer---the home of Rocky Top of fable and song!

 

[SharBear4]

Oops, took me a moment to realize that was a Maple Leafs hockey jersey. With those colors I thought it was a Baltimore/Indy Colts jersey and was going to remind you that we won Super Bowl V-----who cares that they call it the Blooper Bowl--a Super Bowl Is a Super Bowl etc.

By the way, check out Strat-O-Matic Game company. They publish a hockey game, both as a board game and a computer game---and 66-67 is one of the seasons available.

THis is Dave, husband of SharBear

 

[jeannief]

thanks everyone. We're really looking forward to this trip. Last year was our first time to Disney and we're hooked.
cheers
Fingers crossed for a DING!

 

[pkitty]

We like try and get some sleep at about 6m having the car already packed up and ready to go. at about midnight we start out and drive until we get to Macon Georgia via the I-75 anywhere from 6 or 8 PM the next day. We find getting south of Atlanta for the night alows us to avoid day time traffic and alot of head aches.

 

[Mortlives]

Leaving from Toronto after school, we normally cross the border and spend the night in Erie, PA. By the time we've had dinner, and fought rush hour traffic, it's normally between 9 and 10pm. There are some very nice hotels in Erie, as well, and a Quaker Steak and Lube, the name of which always cracks me up.

Next day we normally stop in South Carolina, around St. George. After that, it's a relatively short hop to the Mouse, or wherever.

We do take US19, and have never had a problem. Sure, you drive slower, but there's some gorgeous scenery, and it cuts distance off your drive, so it evens out. Just make sure the heavy footed driver (umm, that would tend to be me ) isn't driving.

 

[OntFamily]

We do take US19, and have never had a problem. Sure, you drive slower, but there's some gorgeous scenery, and it cuts distance off your drive, so it evens out. Just make sure the heavy footed driver (umm, that would tend to be me ) isn't driving.

Great point. If you can, do the US19 drive in daylight, as the scenery is great (plus some fabulous look-out spots , looking down in some gorges.

 

[jinglesmountjoy]

Keep in mind the price of gas. Assume you're going to pay the equivalent to $1/L. Orlando is just a hair longer than 2000km. We drive a Venture and so I acutally went to the GM website and found the mileage specs and calculated our gas cost (not including stops, traffic) at about $150 each way.

Then I used AAA online trip tik to figure out about where we will end up by nightfall and it actually shows the hotels in that area with direct links and rates. Room for 1 night...$120 Canadian (there were some for around $79 US but I thought a suite would be nice).

Then you have to account for the cost of meals during your drive...$50.

We got flights for $150 ea (return) out of Buffalo and van rental for 2wks...$365. Parking at Buffalo airport...included in the $79 room we stayed in the night before our trip.

In the end, we are paying a little more...but the trade off is that we leave here and are there 3hrs later, ready to enjoy (plus we have a 16mth old and a 4yr old)

BUT....Driving is fun!!! I've done it before,many years ago for spring break.

 

[The House of Mouse]

Where did you rent a van in Orlando for $365. That's a great deal!