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)

 

[AtlAmanda]

The last hour or so will be on the Florida turnpike, where there are no hotels. So, be sure to stop before that. If memory serves me correctly, there are a lot of hotels right off I75 in Ocala, which would probably serve you well.

 

[hobogary]

We have stayed at a Quality Inn at (I think) the first Ocala exit, right off I 75, and it was a nice place.