Driving to DL from Phoenix

[Spyral]

You might already read something about this, but with the "free" character breakfast vouchers (you get one for each member of your party) when book through Costco, their value is worth more than the cost of paying out of pocket for the character breakfast. With the vouchers, you don't get money back if your meal is less. Therefore if want to maximize their value, use them to help pay for other meals in conjunction with cash.

I think the value of the vouchers were $49 for adults and $29 for kids, whereas the cost of the character breakfasts were $36 and $21 respectively.

We're a party of 5 and still wanted to do the character breakfast, so we used 2 or 3 of the vouchers + cash for the breakfast, then used the other cards + cash at the Blue Bayou and Carnation Cafe.

Just FYI in case you didn't already know

 

[Abharmagic]

You might already read something about this, but with the "free" character breakfast vouchers (you get one for each member of your party) when book through Costco, their value is worth more than the cost of paying out of pocket for the character breakfast. With the vouchers, you don't get money back if your meal is less. Therefore if want to maximize their value, use them to help pay for other meals in conjunction with cash.

I think the value of the vouchers were $49 for adults and $29 for kids, whereas the cost of the character breakfasts were $36 and $21 respectively.

We're a party of 5 and still wanted to do the character breakfast, so we used 2 or 3 of the vouchers + cash for the breakfast, then used the other cards + cash at the Blue Bayou and Carnation Cafe.

Just FYI in case you didn't already know

Good to know! So I can use them for meals other than character breakfasts? We aren’t character breakfast fans!!!

 

[DizneyMommy]

Usually, yes. You can apply it to any meal. The voucher will say on it where it can be used. Be sure to make an ADR 60 days out though! With Ariel's closed there are less options so it may be harder to get a reservation.

 

[Abharmagic]

I have my ADR date marked on my calendar!!!

 

[azdisneylover]

Yes! We booked a package through Costco travel. We get a small gift card and a “free” character breakfast. We have 3 day hoppers and are staying at DLH.

Awesome! Have a great time! The EE/MM does make a difference for us when we go. That first hour in the park is amazing because there isn't as many people there.

We have used the character meal vouchers at Carnation Cafe. With 3 teenagers, it made a big difference. They do not like buffets and they love Carnation Cafe. We usually go a couple of times per visit.

 

[Winnowill]

Our drives to DL from South Phoenix over the last year have been maddeningly inconsistent. In March of last year, we left on a Thursday afternoon around 3:30. Drive took 7 hours (accident + construction on the 91). A month later, leaving the Monday after Easter, it took EIGHT hours (major accident on the 10 left, apparently, a 30-mile backup). But our drives in June and December were both no longer than five hours (my DH takes the GPS ETA as "time to beat" and the race is on). So hope for the best, but don't make any reservations or plans that would be affected if your drive takes longer than anticipated.

And I second the recommendation of the Ehrenberg gas station on Tom Wells Road. If you go over the California border, the price of gas jumps by a lot.

 

[PlutoRocks]

We make this drive often as well and it is a breeze until you get to the Riverside area then it feels like everything comes to a screeching halt However, it has always been a consistent 5 1/2 hour drive from the north Phoenix area (I17/101 area). We go the route that VandVsMama described usually. I will caution though that if you have anyone in your group that gets motion sick (I'm the one in our group ) then prepare for the 60 section accordingly. It is very winding and hilly so I have to make sure I'm either driving or sitting in the front seat or I am done for

Otherwise it is an easy straightforward drive. If you aren't from around here - be prepared that once you leave the Phoenix area there is virtually NOTHING until you get into the Indio area in California. There are a couple rest areas and Quartzsite but over a span of 100+ miles it is mostly just open desert.

Have fun on your trip!!

 

[Christina-B-Na]

I will caution though that if you have anyone in your group that gets motion sick (I'm the one in our group ) then prepare for the 60 section accordingly. It is very winding and hilly so I have to make sure I'm either driving or sitting in the front seat or I am done for

Lol! That section often gets me as well! Yuck! People also drive so fast through there and it makes me so nervous!

 

[PlutoRocks]

Lol! That section often gets me as well! Yuck! People also drive so fast through there and it makes me so nervous!

Yes!! It makes me nervous too but I can't close my eyes because I will get even sicker! It's a whole situation...which is why we sometimes go on 10 all the way to the 57 - it is longer but some days my sanity (and stomach) are worth it.

 

[mich311e]

Lol! That section often gets me as well! Yuck! People also drive so fast through there and it makes me so nervous!

That part does make me nervous too.

 

[Abharmagic]

We make this drive often as well and it is a breeze until you get to the Riverside area then it feels like everything comes to a screeching halt However, it has always been a consistent 5 1/2 hour drive from the north Phoenix area (I17/101 area). We go the route that VandVsMama described usually. I will caution though that if you have anyone in your group that gets motion sick (I'm the one in our group ) then prepare for the 60 section accordingly. It is very winding and hilly so I have to make sure I'm either driving or sitting in the front seat or I am done for

Otherwise it is an easy straightforward drive. If you aren't from around here - be prepared that once you leave the Phoenix area there is virtually NOTHING until you get into the Indio area in California. There are a couple rest areas and Quartzsite but over a span of 100+ miles it is mostly just open desert.

Have fun on your trip!!

Thanks! We are from Pittsburgh, Home of hills and winding roads. It took me a while to get used to driving around here when I first moved I was always motion sick. We are visiting family in Phoenix. Decided to drive in to DL for something fun to do and instead of our original plan of flying back out of Phoenix we lucked out and got cheap flights out of CA so we get to stay an extra night and not drive back to Phoenix- win-win. Since we now have more time I’m not as stressed about the drive to DL. We will leave Phoenix around 7 AM and use Waze and hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. It’s very helpful to know some good stopping and refueling points, where we need to be cautious about car sickness, and when we should expect some good old SoCal traffic from all you veteran Phoenix-DL drivers. Thanks all! I’m so glad I have so many experienced fellow Disboarders to encourage me! Looking forward to our trip!

 

[MonocularVision]

I will caution though that if you have anyone in your group that gets motion sick (I'm the one in our group ) then prepare for the 60 section accordingly. It is very winding and hilly so I have to make sure I'm either driving or sitting in the front seat or I am done for

Ha! Our daughter gets pretty sick right there. We usually make sure she gets in the middle seat of our minivan instead of the back row.

Otherwise it is an easy straightforward drive. If you aren't from around here - be prepared that once you leave the Phoenix area there is virtually NOTHING until you get into the Indio area in California. There are a couple rest areas and Quartzsite but over a span of 100+ miles it is mostly just open desert.

We like to stop at the Starbucks in Blythe. Stretch the legs, clean bathrooms and usually grab something from there.