Driving to Disney World

[ePerna]

Looking for advice - we are three adults who are driving from Philadelphia to Disney on Christmas holiday break. Where is a good place to get a hotel halfway down to Disney? Is there any other advice you can give us?
- Emily

 

[mousebymarriage]

Looking for advice - we are three adults who are driving from Philadelphia to Disney on Christmas holiday break. Where is a good place to get a hotel halfway down to Disney? Is there any other advice you can give us?
- Emily

We have driven down from northern NJ and have stayed at The Country Inn & Suites in Santee, South Carolina. The room was clean,the beds comfy and the staff was great, the cost was approx $100 for the night and included free continental breakfast. This hotel was a little more than halfway for us.

*we have also had friends stay here a couple of times and they have never had a problem.

-With 3 adults if you are all drivers it should be no problem if you wanted to drive straight through. We have also done that and we only had 2 adults (plus the 2 kids) and I much prefer driving straight through.

-if you don't have a GPS I suggest you borrow or buy one, they are great for a trip like this. No worry that you'll get lost.

-make sure that you bring CD's or ipod because radio stations on the way down are not so good, especially if you don't like country music.

 

[mandy2012]

This December will be my first time going to Disney World. I live in California and me and my boyfriend will be driivng there and back. Our family thinks we are crazy but this is part of the adventure! We have some friends that live in Arizona, so we can stay with them when we get there, then drive the rest of the way. It will be tiring, but once we get to Disney, it will be worth it!

 

[WyldLynx]

We are planning on driving down next year when we go in September. We are going to pack up the mini-van and drive straight thru. It is about a 10 hr drive with stopping only for gas. But I figure we will be more like 12 hrs with pit stops. We are planning on leaving out about 7-8pm this way the kids will sleep most of the way. We will have 3 experienced drivers and one fairly new driver. I will be doing the bulk of the driving which I like to do. DH and my mom will releave me for a couple hrs each and my nephew (18) can take on some of the open road driving. But I don't want to saddle him with any major cities.

I figure we should get down to Orlando about 8-9am and just get some breakfast and a couple good espressos and then we can hit a water park where I can relax and the kids can run off energy before checking into our hotel. We are staying off site.

It will be an adventure. And I can't wait. I want to go today.

me, DH, DSs, DM, DN - First Trip!!!

 

[rluey29]

We always drive and with kids we stop frequently at play areas so the kids can stretch their legs and don't get so crazy from being in a car for so long.

 

[Dina]

Looking for advice - we are three adults who are driving from Philadelphia to Disney on Christmas holiday break. Where is a good place to get a hotel halfway down to Disney? Is there any other advice you can give us?
- Emily

We drive from Philadelphia. We stop halfway in Florence, SC. I like the Holiday Inn Express on W.Radio Drive (there are two of them, and that's the one we stay at). Very nice, and free breakfast in the morning. Nearby there's a movie theater, Barnes and Noble, a mall and some restaurants (we like the Outback Steakhouse). So, if we get there before dinner, there's plenty to do.

 

[USAND3KIDS]

We are driving from NH with 3 kids 7,10 and 11. Hubby is the only one who drives. This will be our first year driving. We are leaving on a Saturday morning about 4am or so. Making one overnight stop in Richmond VA and another in Savannah GA. Any advice on this being a good plan or not?

 

[ladyjane63]

Hey! We love to drive, but we are a lot closer than you. We are in Alabama and it's a 10 hr drive from our house to the mouse. Hubby prefers to do most of the driving. I think it's a great idea to break up the trip and you've picked 2 great cities to do that in. Richmond & Savannah. The best plan for Disney is always pace yourself. You'll have a lot more fun when you do that. It's great to have a plan, but leave yourself open to be flexible. But Nothing compares to the feeling when we see that sign...

 

[Conan the Librarian]

Yes yes! Come to Savannah....spend Money!

There are a pile of hotels on I-95 at the Pooler Parkway/Airport exit. There are also movie theaters (IMAX even) and some great food out that way. THere is also a large number of restaurants and hotels at I-95 and Ga 204 about 10 mile south from there.

After Savannah, its about a 5 hour drive to WDW. I just drove down for a solo trip last month and it was great. I left the house at 4:00 am, got through Jacksonville about 7 and it was smooooth sailing beyond that.

The trip back took longer. I left I-95 at Daytona and drove up A1A to St. Augustine. Added about 1 1/2 hours of time, but, was a beautiful drive.

 

[Cinderaven]

Hello, We drive from home all the time. When we brought our son we would bring little gifts to open up at certain times along the way. We also gave him a map to follow with cities highlited as to when he would get a gift. This helped alot.

We leave home around 1-2 am and stop in Perry GA. for the nite. We then have a 6-8 hr. drive to Orlando for a 2 day rest before we head into WDW (all rested up) for long days and nites of pure Magic.

This is our 25th anniv. We had our Honeymoon at WDW and been back ever since.

 

[csm101]

We drive most on the time from Toronto and Savannah is a must. The historic district is amazing. Nice ghost tours for the older kids etc. Enjoy it.

 

[Cinderaven]

We have 46 days until we return home. 26 hr. drive, long, but worth every bit of it.

Can't wait.

 

[USAND3KIDS]

Thanks to everyone for the great ide4as and well wishes. So excited for our little mini road trip. 46 more days and we are off like dirty underwear

 

[tiredsportsmom]

We will be driving from Tennessee, with a 6yr son, he is a LOUSY traveler!! Planning to leave early am Friday, July 5. Will have his tablet that has favorite games downloaded, portable DVD player, his Leapster explorer & games, tag reader & books, drawing pad /colored pencils, any thing else I can think of!!

It is over 11 hr drive to condo, hoping to make it in under 13! with stops for breakfast, gas, bathrooms, etc. Thinking about packing a picnic lunch and taking a break at one of the rest stops, where we can eat & walk some!

Come on JULY!!