Driving to the terminal from Maryland

[Don & June]

We will be driving to the terminal from Maryland the Friday before the Saturday departure .. Has anyone done this before? Any pros/cons .. I would like to leave the Thursday before and stay at a hotel Friday night .. but wife isn't able to get off on the Friday before

Thanks
We sail on May 4th also ..

 

[kramer_clan]

My sisters drove from Carroll County on the night before our cruise last September. I was already there the week of September 11th before the cruise, but they decided not to take a chance on the flights since all the airports and airlines were not on a full schedule from the events of September 11th.

They drove as far as they could and decided to stop below Jacksonville and got a room and spent 4 or 5 hours sleeping. They then met me at the ship. They had no problems at all.

We drive to Orlando straight through all the time. It takes us around 14 hours to get to WDW from the Laurel area. I would definitely try to leave the area before 3:00pm. If you can't get out of the area at that time, I would wait until after rush hour 7:30 or 8:00pm.

Vicki

 

[4nana]

It's surely possible if you like to drive 14 hrs or so! Unfortunately we can't make those long hauls anymore w/o stopping over night. We did a nice leisurely trip a couple years ago for our anniversary cruise out of Miami and had a wonderful trip. Stayed the first night w/our son in Ft. Bragg, the next night in St. Augustine, arriving in Miami the third day. This year we will fly as we have a large group - not enough time or patience to drive.
Good Luck

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

I-95 all the way to Exit 77A in Florida. About 900 miles from Baltimore. I'd stop either in Savannah or at Disney's Hilton Head Resort.

 

[tkd lisa]

4nana: I just noticed you're up the road from me! We live in St. Mary's City and work at Pax River.

Don & June, we drove from Pax to my mom's in Naples FL a year and a half ago. We took it pretty easy and made it to Jacksonville in about 14 hours. I think it's probably 3 hours from Jax to the Port? So if you plan on leaving after work on Friday (which is what your post implies), you must be driving all night? Or are you planning on stopping part way?

Good luck!

 

[Don & June]

Will be driving all night .. I'm off that Friday .. but June isn't .. figured I could get some sleep during the day .. then drive that night .. get to the ship .. and relax somewhat that first night onboard ..

We did drive down to WDW last year .. but we did take our time .. this one will be an all nighter drive ..

Don

 

[4nana]

tdk lisa ~ Beautiful country! Small world, huh?
Our son gradutated fr. St Mary's College

 

[gscott8075]

Don & Jean - Welcome to DIS - I live in Woodbine - a short hop from you!

We've driven before. You might want to look at flights - SWA has buy one get one free so you can both go for 250-300. Airtran also has cheap fairs.

We've done the drive three times. I would go as far as you can, stop and finish Saturday. Hilton Head or Jacksonville are good stopping points.

We flew into Jacksonville on Saturday morning at 9 and made it to the ship in plenty of time.

Have a great trip!

 

[my3kids]

Frederick is on I81 isn't it? We drive south quite often....81 to 77 to something to 95. From the point where 64 intersects 81(breaks off to go toward Charleston, WV) it is exactly 12 hours to WDW. We are figuring from the point to where we'd break off 95 to WDW is about equal to 95 to the port.....about the same driving time as to WDW. We'll likely do the drive straight through on Friday as well.

 

[Don & June]

Well June managed to get Friday off .. so we are still driving but will be leaving sometime late thursday .. early friday morning .. can anyone suggest a nice / cheap ??? hotel around the cruise pier to stay at?

Thanks
Don

 

[4nana]

That is great! Now you can take your time and not feel so rushed.
You might want to check out 'Radisson at the Port' #1-800-333-3333. I believe they still have their 'FALL' promo on for $59 a night. Have a safe trip and wonderful cruise

 

[albiats]

my3kids -

You're correct in your estimate of the distance to the port.

I live in Jacksonville, Florida and it is 160 miles to WDW and 165 miles to the Port from where I live. It's also 160 miles to Disney's Hilton Head Resort from here, too, but that would be going North instead of South.

I can make it to the Port in 2.5 hours if I don't have to make a comfort stop staying near the 70 mph speed limit.

 

[joellen2]

Hi there. We are not quite as far as you; however, we drove straight through from Richmond, VA to Cocoa Beach in 14 hours. We could have been here faster (we are boarding ship in the morning), but we had to make many, many stops due to our 4 year old son. I say no problem if you give yourselves alot of time. We left Wed. afternoon, so we had extra time in case we needed to stop and spend the night somewhere. We kept going, and we ended up staying an extra night here at the Hampton Inn. We can't wait to get on the Magic in the morning. Good luck.

 

[my3kids]

Oh, I forgot....I wouldn't stop at Hilton Head, nice as it is. The resort is probably 30 minutes off I95. There is a back way to continue to Savannah from just off the island then get back on 95, but it isn't interstate. Otherwise you'd be backtracking to get back to I95. Save Disney's HH for a trip in itself. It is a fun place.

 

[jcollier]

Hello Don and June, fellow Marylanders!

My DW, two DD's and myself will be doing the same thing for the same cruise date. Driving from Bel Air, MD on Friday, early A.M. Staying in Cocoa Beach Friday night! We figure since Disney usually does not allow you to board the ship until 12:15, we can sleep in and take our time. We wish you a safe trip!

 

[wildernessfamily]

Hello fellow Marylanders, first I would like to ask 4nana how they made out with the terrible weather we have had here? tkdlisa we are also in St. Mary's. We drove from Maryland and stopped and visited friends in Hardeeville SC. We stayed at Radisson at the Port the night before the crusie so we could do Cocoa Beach, and The Wildlife refuge on the Cape(we saw Manatee's in the wild). When we cruised the ship was late getting in so we had time before we left, we actually pulled out from shore around 5:30 pm. The drive is not usually stressful, watch Jacksonville rush hour. Sorry to Don and June that they will have to drive all night. Just be safe and don't cut it too close. Enjoy.

 

[4nana]

wildernessfamily...
Thanks for asking. Thank God we made out fine w/just lots of wind, rain and hail, but many were not as fortunate and as daybreak arrived the shock set in. Several different directions within 4 -10 miles of us in Hughesville & LaPlata had F5 tornados w/LaPlata being the hardest hit. It is devastating and looks like a bomb went off with so many businesses, homes and a school completely gone. But thanks to the good Lord, so far only 3 or 4 deaths w/90+ hospitalized. It is a rude awakening to see the losses so many are going thru and makes ones realize just how much we take for granted and should spend more time counting our blessings. Glad you were safe in your neck of the woods and we will certainly keep everyone in our prayers ^i^

 

["Ginger"]

Hi All!!! We have driven to Orlando from Joppa, Md stayed a few day and then on to the terminal. We left our home around 1:30 am and drove straight through. DH is a tractor trailer driver so he is use to long drives. It took us 17 hours to Orlando, we did stop for breakfast at Cracker Barrel, they are everywhere on the way down, and a few potty breaks.

Radisson is having a "FALL" special. Port Canaveral Radisson offers free parking and free shuttle service to and from the terminal.

jcollier we are just minutes from you, we'll have to get together.

 

[tigger24]

Hi Everybody!!!
We live in New Market and drove down to the port for our honeymoon. It took us ~14 hours. It was fun since we were so excited. The drive home is the hard part. Plus our car broke down in Richmond. It was ok though. I definately think the drive is doable. This time we are flying because I snagged a SWA fare of $88.00 per person roundtrip! Couldn't pass it up!
Have a great trip!
Bernadette