Driving to Disney?

[bosstoboss]

Who here has driven to Disney from Pennsylvania. And if so how long did it take you? Did you make any stops along the way? How about a hotel stop for the night and then continuing? Oh, and how long did it take you? I wan't to hear everything!!!

 

[Christine]

I've never done it but I wanted to say that you may want to also post this on the Transportation board. The people are very helpful over there and you may get some good responses.

 

[Liberty Belle]

We've driven from Kentucky twice and I've ridden from Michigan, as a child.

From central Kentucky it takes about 13 to 17 hours depending on how fast you go and how many stops you make. We stop somewhere in Georgia. The last time we went we almost decided to just push on through, but I'm glad we didn't. It would have been possible, but we would have been in bad moods when we got to Disney World.

We make up car bags for the kids with new books, a few new car toys, some snacks, a new dvd for each, etc before we go. Last trip my mom wrapped up small presents for each of them to open every hour (word search books, a small stuffed animal, etc). That was a lot of fun and helped to pass the time. She got most of the stuff from the dollar tree and they played with it some in the hotel, too, when we were getting ready.

 

[bosstoboss]

We've driven from Kentucky twice and I've ridden from Michigan, as a child.

From central Kentucky it takes about 13 to 17 hours depending on how fast you go and how many stops you make. We stop somewhere in Georgia. The last time we went we almost decided to just push on through, but I'm glad we didn't. It would have been possible, but we would have been in bad moods when we got to Disney World.

We make up car bags for the kids with new books, a few new car toys, some snacks, a new dvd for each, etc before we go. Last trip my mom wrapped up small presents for each of them to open every hour (word search books, a small stuffed animal, etc). That was a lot of fun and helped to pass the time. She got most of the stuff from the dollar tree and they played with it some in the hotel, too, when we were getting ready.

I love your mothers idea!

 

[PirateKitty]

My parents drove down a few years ago from Ohio. I think they said it took them around 16 hours. They left at about 9 pm and drove through the night.

 

[kaw1218]

We have driven from PA every year since 2000. The first year we stopped overnight in NC. Since then we have found that we have no problem driving straight through. We get there on a Saturday and chill by the pool until we go to bed(yeah, we are usually tired, but hyper at the same time) This way when we get up Sunday morning we are fresh and ready to hit the parks.

Time? let me think. I think the LONGEST it ever took was 19 hours. and that was the year I drove the entire way myself. We stopped at the rest stops a little more often. The shortest I believe was about 15 hours.


If you have any specific questions, don't hesitate to PM me!

 

[kaw1218]

We've driven from Kentucky twice and I've ridden from Michigan, as a child.

From central Kentucky it takes about 13 to 17 hours depending on how fast you go and how many stops you make. We stop somewhere in Georgia. The last time we went we almost decided to just push on through, but I'm glad we didn't. It would have been possible, but we would have been in bad moods when we got to Disney World.

We make up car bags for the kids with new books, a few new car toys, some snacks, a new dvd for each, etc before we go. Last trip my mom wrapped up small presents for each of them to open every hour (word search books, a small stuffed animal, etc). That was a lot of fun and helped to pass the time. She got most of the stuff from the dollar tree and they played with it some in the hotel, too, when we were getting ready.

Our last trip, my kids were really big into the Garbage Pail cards. So I bought a bunch and randomly gave them a pack throughout the trip. And after every pack , I told them I didn't have anymore. So they wouldn't bug me for more.

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

Last year we drove down from Baltimore. On this site I found the website for I95 that lists every exit and what is there. It shows VA, NC, SC, GA, and FL. I believe it lists every hotel, eating place, gas stations, and even tells you where the cheapest prices for gas are. I printed this and some other helpful things that I found on these boards and made a book. Driving down we stopped at the welcome stations for every state and stopped in SC both going & coming. We'd look at the book and decided which exit we wanted. Also the website gives you estimates on the total travel time in each state.

As far as the kids went. We packed a cooler with soda, fruit punch, iced tea, and snacks. We brought our portable dvd player with 2 screens and movies--they might have watched 2 movies going down and none coming home. I also went to the dollar store and bought Disney related and travel related things for them --they played with them all the way down and back. Also had taken away their portable video game players and gave them back for the trip.

Another thing we did was to pack up the van the night before, and then (tried) to leave the house around 4 a.m.-- ended up being 5:30, but the kids slept for quite a while. I don't like driving at night, so my plan was to be able to travel as much as possible before traffic and the kids woke up. You figure if you leave at 4 a.m. and the kids go back to sleep until 7, 8 or even 9 thats 3-5 hours worth of traveling accomplished in peace & quiet!

Good luck. We enjoyed the time together and are planning on driving again this summer.

 

[WDWVillain]

I have driven from Mass. approx 8 times. I would join AAA if you do not already, and get them to lay out the route with the trip tixs. It helps with rodes that may be closed... what you may pay for tolls, it will even give you the miles..etc. From the NE of Mass, we had always pushed the pedal to the metal and stayed overnight in either NC or Georgia. I always takes us around 19-20 hours tops to get to Daytona Beach area.

I find you just have to really get to know your rodes and where it is you might want to stop. WE got robbed the first time we drove thru NC, they took our clothes and cameras...etc. We have hit a few things going on along the way...hence the trying to drive straight thru.

for us thou, I always hated the ride home, I guess because we had something to look forward to going down that the ride seemed so much shorter!!!

Just stay safe, be aware of your surroundings, and make sure you have a cell and maybe even a radar ......!!

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

Last year we drove down from Baltimore. On this site I found the website for I95 that lists every exit and what is there. It shows VA, NC, SC, GA, and FL. I believe it lists every hotel, eating place, gas stations, and even tells you where the cheapest prices for gas are. I printed this and some other helpful things that I found on these boards and made a book. Driving down we stopped at the welcome stations for every state and stopped in SC both going & coming. We'd look at the book and decided which exit we wanted. Also the website gives you estimates on the total travel time in each state.

As far as the kids went. We packed a cooler with soda, fruit punch, iced tea, and snacks. We brought our portable dvd player with 2 screens and movies--they might have watched 2 movies going down and none coming home. I also went to the dollar store and bought Disney related and travel related things for them --they played with them all the way down and back. Also had taken away their portable video game players and gave them back for the trip.

Another thing we did was to pack up the van the night before, and then (tried) to leave the house around 4 a.m.-- ended up being 5:30, but the kids slept for quite a while. I don't like driving at night, so my plan was to be able to travel as much as possible before traffic and the kids woke up. You figure if you leave at 4 a.m. and the kids go back to sleep until 7, 8 or even 9 thats 3-5 hours worth of traveling accomplished in peace & quiet!

Good luck. We enjoyed the time together and are planning on driving again this summer.

Was this on the DIS???

 

[kaw1218]

Last year we drove down from Baltimore. On this site I found the website for I95 that lists every exit and what is there. It shows VA, NC, SC, GA, and FL. I believe it lists every hotel, eating place, gas stations, and even tells you where the cheapest prices for gas are. I printed this and some other helpful things that I found on these boards and made a book. Driving down we stopped at the welcome stations for every state and stopped in SC both going & coming. We'd look at the book and decided which exit we wanted. Also the website gives you estimates on the total travel time in each state.

As far as the kids went. We packed a cooler with soda, fruit punch, iced tea, and snacks. We brought our portable dvd player with 2 screens and movies--they might have watched 2 movies going down and none coming home. I also went to the dollar store and bought Disney related and travel related things for them --they played with them all the way down and back. Also had taken away their portable video game players and gave them back for the trip.

Another thing we did was to pack up the van the night before, and then (tried) to leave the house around 4 a.m.-- ended up being 5:30, but the kids slept for quite a while. I don't like driving at night, so my plan was to be able to travel as much as possible before traffic and the kids woke up. You figure if you leave at 4 a.m. and the kids go back to sleep until 7, 8 or even 9 thats 3-5 hours worth of traveling accomplished in peace & quiet!

Good luck. We enjoyed the time together and are planning on driving again this summer.

we like to leave between 10pm and midnight. But I am a night owl, so driving that late doesn't bother me

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

Was this on the DIS???

Go right to the top of the screen and click on the word transportation and it will take you there.

 

[ndelaware]

I have driven to Florida from Delaware/ New Jersey probably 50 times over the years. My wife and I prefer the overnight type of trip. We leave about 8pm and I drive through DC and northern VA and she rests. She will take over and drive through to Georgia while I sleep a couple of hours. Then I will finish the drive to WDW. It takes about 14 hours of driving and we will usually stop somewhere for breakfast. We will eat lunch at one of the Disney hotel while we wait for our room to be readied. Give me 3 hours sleep and I am good for the day so we will normally spend the evening cruising the monorail resorts or if we have APs we will go into MK. You have to start every trip at MK!! I specifically bought our minivan for these trips. Our girls watch movies all night long or play video games. The fact that they sleep throught a great deal of the trip makes it much easier on them and less bathroom stops for us.

Now if we take my mother with us we stop overnight. I always drive at least to Florence, SC. That way there is less driving on the second day than the first. And Florence has alot of great hotel and resturaunts. We will normally try to leave early enough to beat the DC traffic or leave later so morning rush hour in Baltimore and DC will already be over.

One word of advice, always take the "loop" that takes you around the big cities. Take I-495 around DC, I-295 around Richmond, and I-295 around Jacsonville. They are nice new roads with lots of places to stop and are usually the quicker route.

It is great to have your own car while down there. Have fun!!

 

[MushyMushy]

We drove from the opposite end of the state -- just south of Pittsburgh. It took us probably 15-18 hours total, but we did stop somewhere in North Carolina on the way. My kids are older, so it wasn't that tough with them. We just made sure to make frequent stops to stretch our legs and get a bite to eat.

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

We used to drive from the Pittsburgh area to HHI and Atl when I was little and we would stop in the NC area, just south of Charlotte but my roommate ad her family always drive to WDW and they usually stop in Columbia SC b/c they have friends there that they stay with. They can usually make it to WDW in 15-16 hrs which I've heard is insane but they stop only when needed and usually do the fast food restaurants or pack coolers to save some time and $

 

[Poohnatic]

I drove down from Maryland twice a year. From Frederick, 1 hour north of DC, it'd take 14-15 hours of straight driving.

We typically drove until we got to about Lumberton NC and would see how far we could get past there. Perfect for us was to get to Savannah, GA-lots of hotel rooms cheap! Then it was only a 5 hour drive to WDW from there. However, from the NC/SC border to WDW is about 8.5 hours.

The I95 rest stop website is awesome. I made a spreadsheet of the chains we'd eat at, the hotels we'd stay at and then printed it out and it was kept in the car. Very helpful when the kids would say "I want xyz".

Suzanne

 

[natenapril]

NOt sure when you are going but we will be making the trip from Mifflinburg PA tp WDW in December. Our children will be 10,5, and 2 We must be out of our minds
We would rather drive than fly though.
Good luck!!

 

[smt218]

I drove down from Maryland twice a year. From Frederick, 1 hour north of DC, it'd take 14-15 hours of straight driving.

We typically drove until we got to about Lumberton NC and would see how far we could get past there. Perfect for us was to get to Savannah, GA-lots of hotel rooms cheap! Then it was only a 5 hour drive to WDW from there. However, from the NC/SC border to WDW is about 8.5 hours.

The I95 rest stop website is awesome. I made a spreadsheet of the chains we'd eat at, the hotels we'd stay at and then printed it out and it was kept in the car. Very helpful when the kids would say "I want xyz".

Suzanne

Do you have the link to that? Sounds like something we could use.

 

[NC Belle]

Here is the I-95 exit link: http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm

 

[java]

We're driving again in less than 2 weeks from NJ- takes us about 16 hours. I think we will leave at around 4(like last year when we said 3 and ended up leaving at 4) but those first 4 hours peace and quiet- just heaven. And with 4 kids(12,9,4,2) any quiet is welcome. They wake up and usually are good for about an hour- then we stop for some breakfast. Go 4 more stop for lunch then drive to our GA hotel stop for the night(usually around 5 or 6 pm). then a quick 3-4 the next morning and we are in disney. Not tired either because we get a good nights sleep.