Driving to the World, is this crazy?

[Tanooki]

Hi there!

Since we are getting hit with the Disney addiction big time , we are considering going there again during our March break (Feb 27-Mar 6) but we just can't fly the 6 of us at these prices. So we are seriously considering driving the 1500 miles from our house (near Montreal) to Orlando.

For those of you who have done this before, what are your best tips and mistakes to avoid?

We would probably leave on Friday morning, drive all day, spend the night somewhere in the middle (Virginia?) and drive all the way to WDW the next day. Is this a do-able plan?
We are traveling with 4 kids between 2 and 9 years-old

I also read a lot of people saying that it's not worth spending 4 days on the road (both ways) if you only stay there for one week, what's your take on this? We'd get there Saturday evening (hopefully!) and we would have to leave the following Saturday morning.

Then again, between this and not going...

We flew there last August, had a great time, and we since booked a cruise for December 2010 but it seems like such a loooong time and we are so hooked

So be honest, give me your opinion, I'm ready to take it

Thanks!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

We have never driven so my opinion isn't exactly valid...however, you know your children best. If they are good travellers and can handle being in the vehicle for lengthy periods of time, then GO FOR IT!!! My children are wonderful travelers and we do desire to drive to WDW with them one day! For us it would be closer to 6 days on the road! Good Luck in your decision!

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. Check out the thread in my signature. Take some time to read through it and you can get a TON of tips and information.

We drive every trip. We'll be doing our third trip in 13 months in February and our expenses for driving those 3 trips will equal flying for one, so we are definitely DOWN with driving.

Plus we enjoy the drive and family time together. 95 is a very easy drive and there are plenty of nice rest stops along the way.

Join us!

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

We are considering it for our next trip.

There is SOOO much to do and see between Maryland and Florida that we will be spending 4 days BEFORE we arrive in Florida - 4 days at WDW and 4 days on the way home.

The travel deals are so tempting outside WDW and sooooooo much we want to see, this was the only way we could squeeze in a WDW trip.

This way I can still get my Wildie fix - but can visit all the other temptations along the way......

Charleston
Savannah
Outer Banks
Charlottesville/Monticello

 

[bradisgoofy]

For 15 plus years we drove the 1300 miles from our home to WDW, most of the time with our two boys. It can be done and you'll do fine.

 

[richmo]

I'd go for it!

A couple of things I'd keep in mind is that, as you know, its still winter. That late February, early March timeframe can be dicey. Of course, you'll be on interstates, so unless there's a major storm, it shouldn't be too bad.

Other than that, going down I think you should try to get thru the Washington area before the afternoon rush hour. I'm not sure of the timing from Montreal, but if you had to leave a little earlier to get thru DC before then, I think it will be worth it (I'm thinking you should leave around 4 AM if you can). And if you do that, I'd probably shoot for a little further, maybe NC (Rocky Mount?). Then you'd have *only* a 10 hour or so drive the last day.

 

[hearts8701]

march is a perfect time to drive the weather will get warmer as you drive i drive from chicago several times a year i know its not nearly as far but i enjoy driving just make the drive part of the vacation
drive safe and enjoy the ride

 

[wide receiver]

We drive! From Michigan 1161 miles. We are going this year in the winter. Praying for no ice storms! Its at least $500 cheaper than flying our family of 4.

 

[mill4023]

How many days are you going to have at WDW?
I can see not wanting to drive 2 days, spend a couple days, then drive 2 more days. But if you will have a week at the parks, I think I'd do it. Of course, I actually look forward to long drives with the family because our schedules are normally so busy that it's one of the few times my wife and I get to just hang out and chat.

 

[cranbiz]

I regularly drove 1350 miles from MA to FL before moving here. Just before the move, it was twice a month, so no you are not crazy.

I may have been because I always drive straight through. Even now when going back to MA for events, I normally drive straight through.

However if SW has a great fare, I'm not above a quick flight from MCO to PVD.

 

[ccudmore]

We drive from Ottawa to Disney, so it's about the same length as you and we take kids of about the same age. We usually try to leave about 6am the first morning and make it as far as Roanoke Rapids, NC - just over half way. We usually pull in around 7pm. The next day we can do a "leisurely" 10 hour drive the rest of the way.

On the way back we stay around Richmond, VA. There's a ton of hotels in both Richmond and Roanoke Rapids.

Two years ago we went with another family which was a lot of fun. We each drove our own vehicles but every time we stopped for a break or gas the kids switched up which vehicle they were in. We took a set of FRS radios to keep in touch.

It's a long drive but it can be made to be a lot of fun.

 

[GranddadTom]

The best part about your trip is that it is not happening near Easter. You’re a month before the big Spring Break crunch. As I recall it took us around 8 ½ hours to get to Montreal from just north of Washington, DC. And from our house to WDW it is 12 ½ to 13 hours. I get nervous about the time you plan on leaving. On Friday afternoon you definitely want to be getting onto the Washington Beltway no later than 2:30 pm. The Beltway isn’t going to be the problem – it’ll be Rt. 95 in Northern Virginia. The first 30 miles of that road on Friday rush hour leaving the city can be very, very tough. If you are through there by 3:00 pm you should have no problems (barring accidents, of course). Richmond - two hours later - will not be a problem either – even at 5:00 pm. You’ll be skirting around NYC so that shouldn’t be a big factor either. So, by my calculations, leaving an hour for stops, you need to be on the road by no later than 5:00 am in order to get through Washington “gracefully”. 4:00 am would be even better.

At that time of year, south of Washington should be pretty easy My suggestion would be to make the first day’s drive a long one; maybe even trying to make it to Santee, SC. That would give you less than 6 hours on the second day. Then I’d just plan on relaxing by the hotel pool for the rest of that day. I know the proposed starting time on Friday is drastic but I think it will help avoid traffic delays that can wear on you. Just remember – Getting there can be half the fun. Hey, things could be worst than spending time with your kids.

 

[Tanooki]

Thanks for the good advice everyone!
Actually, the more I think about it and the more it looks like a fun family trip
I do share the concerns about going through NYC and Washington before rush hour but I'm also considering the alternate route (something like 84-81-77-26-95 but I know I have to research this some more) which would be a bit longer in length but would probably save us a lot of traffic (thus time I imagine). Any opinions?

Either way, we have to plan for a very early start if we're going to make the most of the first day, I know this!

Thanks again

 

[WildGrits]

Coming from Albany, NY

If you are unnerved by the traffic of NJ and DC, you can by pass them by taking I-81 south. My parents come to visit me in NC they usually take I-81 and then cut over to I-95 around Charottesville, VA.

To me that is a boring drive. I am not a big city gal and I don't find DC or NJ that tough to get around.

These is only one thing I hated about driving from WDW back to NY. About three days left of my vacation, that was all I could think about.

Did you check out the Auto Train out of Lorton, VA?

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

We drive! From Michigan 1161 miles. We are going this year in the winter. Praying for no ice storms! Its at least $500 cheaper than flying our family of 4.

I just happened across this post, we too are 1161 miles from the world . Though we are driving from NYS. Small world......

 

[GranddadTom]

I have an opinion about I-81 and I-77 and it is that I very much DISLIKE this way. I have a daughter in North Carolina and a son in South Carolina so I find myself on these roads often. First on all, I-81 is the most dangerous highway in Virgina. One-quarter of the traffic on it consists of trucks (plus an unknown but large percentage of campers). These roads are over some pretty good sized hills so the trucks slow down going up the hills and spped up going down the hills. Also, in February snow can't be ruled out. My advise, at that time of the year, is to stick to the coast and take I-95. In February the traffic on I-95 won't be bad.

 

[Tanooki]

Thanks for your advice GranddadTom. As we've never done this before, I really appreciate the opinions of seasoned travelers like you

We will probably go the safest way and take I-95 all the way. We just have to make sure we leave really early to beat NYC and DC traffic. I was actually considering leaving around midnight and take advantage of the kids sleeping in the car (hopefully!) to make this one long day and stop around 3-4pm (Florence, SC maybe? or somewhere further, depends) in order to get a relaxing evening and good night sleep before the last stretch.
We'll see. We have time to figure things out

Thanks again. Don't hesitate to give more advice, I thrive on this!

 

[distherapy]

With so many of you, you'll be able to take advantage of the HOV lanes around DC - that will help some!

 

[JasonDVC]

Has anyone ver tried priceline's "name your own price"? You may have to connect and have the worst times but it may be cheaper as well. Has anyone ever tried this?

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

I just happened across this post, we too are 1161 miles from the world . Though we are driving from NYS. Small world......

We are almost the same....1,188 miles.

We were very close to driving earlier this year, but chickened out and flew. We are again thinking about it, but I don't know if it is for us. The amount of $$ it will save us, is undeniable....but it leaves a lot of room for unforseen circumstances. Flying seems so much simpler with three kids. But, if we want to go, in the near future, ... we will probably need to drive.

On the plus side of driving, it seems like many on the dis feel like it is a fun experience for their families. A chance to spend some fun time together.