Driving to WDW: Am I Crazy to Consider this?

[emtmom0104]

We are leaving next week, the 28th, and are driving to Disney. We have never been there before and are leaving from 10 mins south of the Philly airport. Our kids are 9,5 and 3. We have bought stuff to keep them occupied, DVD player, new DS game (they aren't getting till we get in the car, they don't even know I have them). We are leaving at 5 pm so that the kids will be awake for a little while and then sleep for at least 8 hours of the trip. We have talked about stopping on the way down, just to grab some food and potty breaks. DH actually wanted to leave at 5am but why do that to yourself (My kids LOVE to fight when they are bored), the kids will be awake all day and then you have to listen to the complaining or the I need something to eat, drink, gotta potty...something. Hope this helps!

 

[LuvGoofy!]

We drove down last July, 19 hrs. My kids did really great, that is the longest road trip we have ever been on! I packed "surprises" for them. Mostly Disney related items that I picked up at dollar stores. Every few hours I would give them a new surprise. (Puzzles, Color Wonder book/markers, crayons, coloring books, Mickey/Minnie figurines, Cars/Princess snacks, Disney fruit snacks, etc...). We were talking about our trip the other day, as we often do, and she said one of her favorite things was getting all those "surprises" in the car.

So, go for it and save some $$$$

 

[LuvGoofy!]

I meant to say that we did break it up and stay at a motel one night on the way there and back. 19 hrs straight.... that would be hard.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

My family is from Lehigh Valley- so just up the NE extension. I live in Fla now but parents are still there and driving down in March. We were my parents and 3 girls, each a year apart. We used to drive straight through, about 18 hours. It is a straight shot down 95, use the loops around DC, Jacksonville. Just time it to not hit the DC traffic during rush hrs-it can be brutal. Gas stop at Fredricksburg,Va, Fayetvill, NC, Hardevill, GA, Daytona and across onI-4. I can do it with no map, I've done it so many times. We stop at other places for breaks, bathrooms, gas, South of the border for fireworks. Ii usually drive up and back in the summers with my 2 boys (since they were 1 and 3). It's an easy drive and if you decide to stop somewhere (2/3 of the way so you arrive in daytime) there are plenty of days inn, hampton inns...along the way, and they are inexpensive.