Driving to Disney World

[nickyb720]

My wife and I are debating where to go on vacation. We are taking time off the last week of August. We are waiting until the last minute because we are trying to start a family and we don't want to make a reservation now, only to cancel it if she is pregnant.


So we are looking at our options, one of them is MAYBE Disney. It could possibly include us driving from RI to Orlando. Has anyone done this? Would anyone recommend or not recommend it? Etc. Etc. Etc.


Simply looking for advice. Thanks.

 

[Tinbadge69]

Havent made that drive, but have done Maine to Tenn in about 24 hours. Its not fun. I would imagine that a car ride like the one you want to take would be crazy unless you have more that a week to take. You will at least have to stop half way, costing you a day. I would look at my flight options first before considering the drive.

 

[darrengs]

I would book soon if you are going, you can get free dining for that week.

 

[sarahk0204]

Being pregnant does not preclude one from taking road trips, especially early on.

I have driven from northern IL to FL many times, although never straight through. It's about 1300 miles one way for us, and we like to take 2-3 days to do it. We can make the trip in 2, but it is pushing it for our family. Although I have not made that trip while pregnant, DH and I did drive from IL to Lexington, KY fo a wedding when I was in my first trimester. It went fine, but we did have to visit more rest stops than normal

Cetainly flights may work out better for you, but if you do decide to drive and/or you are blessed with a pregnancy, there are plenty of resources for driving to WDW (get thee to the Transportation board) and touring WDW while pregnant. I'd say go ahead and book that free dining

 

[MamaJessie]

We drive from CT. I actually like the drive down.

Here's the 2,000 + miles round trip drivers thread
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2507731

 

[mommyceratops]

We drove from Indiana last week. It was not to bad. However it being our 3rd trip down since December it was a long and I am tired of driving it We 2DS who do really good in the car but it is long but doable.

I went to Disney 10 weeks pregnant and it was fine. Most of the rides you can do pregnant. Disney has a lot of non roller coasters. Plus eating is yummy there.

I loved our last trip to Disney before having kids because it will be the only time you go there kid free (for years) and they love hearing they were there when they were in your tummy. Gives them one more trip than siblings.

 

[LMO429]

My husband is off for 17 days this upcoming october. we decided to drive to walt disney world for the first time ourselves. we figured since we have the time we will try to make the drive and see how it goes. we plan on staying at disney 10 nights so it's not like we have to make such a long drive and be there for a short amount of time.

I am not a big fan of flying I do it, but I seriously hate it. So anytime this drive becomes to much for me I am going to remind myself I much rather be in the car than an airplane.


I do not think I would take the drive if we were only going for a week. we do also plan on staying a night in south carolina going and coming as well

 

[dpuck1998]

The price of gas being so high, it might be cheaper to fly for only two people. We have driven down countless times, but there are 5 of us. The cost of a big enough rental car and 5 tickets makes driving cheaper.

 

[TravelGrl]

We drove down from NY to WDW in February and loved it. We were lucky to avoid traffic so it went very smoothly. My husband and I really don't mind being in long car rides, but if you hate being in a car, I can imagine not enjoying the trip.
We filled the car with water bottles, a cooler with sandwiches and we made few stops. We did stop overnight and broke the trip into 2 days.

 

[ninecrayons]

I've done the trip down from NY to WDW many times. It's a great trip and very easy drive.

I've done it in a straight shot and that was really difficult - especially through NC and SC because they go on FOREVER. I would definitely recommend stopping.

For me, on this last trip, I found it was cheaper to fly and rent a car than drive myself.

 

[linnell]

I grew up in RI and remember driving down with my family twice when I was a kid. It is a punishment I would not inflict on myself or my kids. Maybe for just the two of you, but it is two days of driving (24 hours) and I agree, with the price of gas, it may be cheaper to fly down and be there in three!

If she is pregnant (good luck, btw) the biggest hindrance will be that she'll have to pee a lot (even in those early months) and she won't be able to go on the big rides.

 

[patches07]

We drive from Joliet IL . I actually like the drive down.

 

[FireDancer]

When we went as kids we drove because gas was cheaper, flying was cost prohibitive (5 people), and we had a television and VCR in the van to keep us entertained. We went straight through from Cleveland to Disney one time (when I was old enough to drive and we had 3 drivers) and stopped the other time.

With gas prices I echo Don and think it would be cheaper to fly. If you do drive I'd pick a city on or nearly on the way to stop in and make it a day trip. I'd pick Savannah personally.

 

[darrengs]

According to TravleMath.com it would cost $389.72 for gas. Also you should visit the travel board for a wealth of information on driving down

 

[kaligal]

Price flights. With the cost of gas and overnights in hotels, it is often as cheap to fly.

I've driven long distance to WDW. I like to stop in Kingsland, GA on the last night at dinnertime, eat and sleep. Then we get up early and finih the trip. It leaves a nice day in a park and we can get to bed early. If we rise early enough,
we can make a 9:00 rope drop.

We see our first palm trees in South Carolina.

We do the wave every time we cross a state line and say "woo".
But were dorks, so there is that.

Georgia is my favorite state to drive through.

I once drove the 18 hours straight through. I was dangerously tired and shouldn't have done it. My back hurt like hell most of the trip
because of it and I couldn't stand to be in the car so we had to take the bus for two or three days. Don't let this happen to you. .

Have a good trip.