Driving to Disney

[loonytoony]

I will be driving to Disney from just north of Atlanta so I have about an 8hr drive or so. In order to get a full day (or close to it on my first day) I want to leave the day before early in the afternoon. I can't leave early do to a graduation. My dilema is I don't know where to stop.

I am curious if anyone has stayed somewhere offsite (coming down I-75), within maybe an 1 hour or 2 of WDW and then gotten up early to finish the drive and spend time at the parks.

I'd love to hear peoples past experiences with a strategy similar to this as well as any hotel recommendations (2 adults, and dd19,dd17,ds5)

 

[clkelley]

Coming down we usually stop in Macon, but then we are further away than you are and leave about 5pm Central.

Coming back we always stop in Ocala (leave late at night and do the bulk of the driving the next day)

That's probably what I would recommend going down. It's about 90 miles from WDW, so you can get to WDW before park opening no problem.