Driving to WDW, Help we need to make a decision?

[Cindy72]

I'm from MA and in light of the national tradgedy that took place last week my husband and I are considering driving to WDW. If anyone could offer any helpful info or have experience with this I would appreciate anything you could share. Our children are 3 and 6 yrs. old.


GOD BLESS AMERICA

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I've driven to WDW once, when DS was 4. We left at approximately 5:00 AM and made it to Altamonte Springs, FL by 8:00 PM. We didn't intend to drive as far, but we were making good time, and DS was being cooperative.

He had coloring books and game boy. At that time he couldn't read, or he would have had regular books as well. We stopped every 2 hours or so to stretch. We live in Maryland (DC Area). It was a pleasant trip.

The reason I've flown since, though, is that taking 3 days of your vacation to drive is exhausting. I was tired for the first day or two we were there, and I was tired for several days after getting home.

 

[redbirdgrad]

Last month I drove down with my 7 and 4 year olds. Took the middle bench out of the minivan and had the TV/VCR combo in the middle between the two front seats and ran two headphones to the back, plus they had their cd players. I enjoyed the ride and so did they - I had the vacation time so it added to the vacation and they got to see the country between Chicago and Orlando. It worked out great and I plan on doing more of it.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Like anything, I think it is just a personal choice. It depends on if you like riding/driving.
To me I would be tired even before I got to WDW, by driving. DH said he wouldn't mind it.
With our location, driving is too far. Although people from here do drive rather than fly. But it wouldn't be my choice.

 

[aprincessmom]

Have driven to WDW from MA 4 times though it was before we had kids. We'd leave around midnight to get through NYC and DC before daybreak.

One year we drove straight through...took us about a day to recover. Driving, though a sedentary activity, is exhausting mentally and we really couldn't enjoy much because we were zombies from all the rolling highway even with naps!

The 3 times we did it after that we made sure to plan extra days to visit places along the way like Richmond VA, Charleston SC, and St. Augustine FL. It really made a difference. We got to rest and relax as well as see part of the country we would have missed taking an airplane.

But it is a long, long ride driving straight through took us about 18-20 hours with only 3 stops. I think I've blocked it out of my memory

If your kids aren't that great at riding long distances already it could be a problem. Factor in a lot of stops to let them move around. Even as grown ups we did that -- taking a frisbee or mitts and balls to play at the bigger rest stops to keep from stiffening up. We'd give ourselves about 1/2 hour to move around, go to the bathroom and break out the cooler for something to eat or drink. Just remember, the more stops, the longer it takes.

 

[ztbz]

Have you considered going by Amtrack Train, maybe even the Auto-Train where you can take you Car with you. Once you get to Central FL, you just drive from where the Auto-Train lets you off at and drive to Disney from the train station.