Driving to WDW

[blusk]

We are thinking about driving down in the first 2 weeks of December. Anyone ever done this drive? My only real concern is the weather. We will be going from Barrie, ON area, I think probably down the I-75 way.

Thanks

 

[Momto3chicks]

Hi there...I am Kelley and we did the drive last November from Tottenham...just south of you...We drove down I77/79 on the way down which is absolutely BEAUTIFUL ...the rest stops were very clean and they were all open...on the way home dh drove I75 which personally is quite boring...LOL...and a lot of the rest stops are closed along that stretch on the off season...We are leaving again in 76 days and taking I77/79 again..there and back I think...

Kelley

 

[madonna31]

Hi, I'm in Bolton, only about 1/2 hour south of you (if that) and we drive to WDW just about every year.

We are suppose to have a fall just as last year, therefore the weather will still be mild in early December, so you won't have a problem, other then missing the warm Florida sunshine when you get back to Canada.

BTW - I75 is the WAY TO GO!!!

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

blusk - I've done both drives many times and even though my preference is I-77/79 only during times where there is no chance of winter weather.

We got caught in a "freezing rain" storm followed by a snow storm once in December on I-79 near Beckley and let me tell you it wasn't something that we were comfortable driving in!!!. (and DH used to live in Fort McMurray)

One of the problems is that there are fewer stops and hotels on the way so if you run into bad weather chances are all the hotels will be full.

This happened to us just past July at Beckley. We intended to stop there and thinking that we shouldn't have any problem getting a hotel room. However, about an hour before we got there we ran into a huge thunderstorm. By the time we got to Beckley - which has at least 6 large chain hotels, they were all full.

My recommendation is to go I-75 in the winter. Boring as it is, it is much better for winter driving.

And also, get Dave Hunter's "Along I-75" Book. It's great.

 

[madonna31]

My recommendation is to go I-75 in the winter. Boring as it is, it is much better for winter driving.

SO true!

 

[F4disneyfan]

We are thinking about driving down in the first 2 weeks of December. Anyone ever done this drive? My only real concern is the weather. We will be going from Barrie, ON area, I think probably down the I-75 way.

Thanks

We make this drive almost every Dec for the first 2 weeks and we have only ever 1 time found anything in the weather department that slowed us down. We hit Ohio andter it had rained and all the bridges froze over but beyond that the roads were great. No snow no ice as I say other than on teh bridges and once we hit Cinci the ice was gone and we didn't see another thig we did see some snow in Tennessee in the mountains which was pretty cool but nothing more than that it wasn't on the highway just on the hills.

 

[marvel]

Are there any places worth stopping on the way down to WDW? We were thinking of driving from Niagara / Toronto to WDW in April next year. Planning to spend maybe five or six days stopping along the way.

 

[blusk]

Does anyone know what the latest version of the Along the I-75 book is ? I've seen one from 2004, would that be the latest do you think?

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

Are there any places worth stopping on the way down to WDW? We were thinking of driving from Niagara / Toronto to WDW in April next year. Planning to spend maybe five or six days stopping along the way.

Marvel - if you are driving I-75 be sure to get the Dave Hunter book. He lists all kinds of interesting things to see along the way.

We enjoyed The Newport Aquarium, across the bridge from Cincinatti, OH, the first Kentucky Fried Chicken, in Corbin KY, Mayfield Dairy in TN, Tennesse Aquarium.

In Atlanta there are a few touristy things to see: World of Coke, Georiga Aquarium (excellent - highly recommend), Zoo Atlanta, Jimmy Carter Presidential Museum and Library.

If you google the above you can get further information.

 

[Bonnie40]

Leaving tomorrow and driving I77/79/95! WooHoo!

We love this route, but not if we're driving through the night. Worry too much about animals on the road. We have always driven, and given a choice of driving or flying, my kids would still choose to drive! We make it part of the vacation!

 

[F4disneyfan]

Does anyone know what the latest version of the Along the I-75 book is ? I've seen one from 2004, would that be the latest do you think?

The new version will be available in Sept if you visit the website and e mail them they will send you a coupon for 15% off the book. The site is www.i75online.com

 

[blusk]

The new version will be available in Sept if you visit the website and e mail them they will send you a coupon for 15% off the book. The site is www.i75online.com

Thanks for the website...if we drive I will absolutely be picking up that book. It sounds like a long trip bible, wish they had one like that for the drive from here to Halifax.

So here is my next question, of those that have driven, do you always drive straight through (switching drivers of course), or would you reccomend stopping at someplace along the way? Going the I-75 way, roughly how long would that be from say, Toronto?

 

[F4disneyfan]

Thanks for the website...if we drive I will absolutely be picking up that book. It sounds like a long trip bible, wish they had one like that for the drive from here to Halifax.

So here is my next question, of those that have driven, do you always drive straight through (switching drivers of course), or would you reccomend stopping at someplace along the way? Going the I-75 way, roughly how long would that be from say, Toronto?

We have done both but we do prefer to stop near the bottom of Georgia for the night usually around Valdosta it makes for a little more enjoyable day when you arrive at WDW nice and rested and relaxed.

 

[maryliz]

You're probably looking at around 23 driving hours from where you are. We have driven from London many times, and usually try to get to northern Georgia the first night. This allows us to be at Disney by the next afternoon. Coming home we always stop at the same hotel - Comfort Inn Exit 141 in Carysville TN. It's only about 20 minutes south of the Kentucky border.

We've never gone the other way, but my DSis who lives in the Niagara area has. They prefer I-75 in winter. A couple of years ago in May, she hit a deer going the I77/79 way.

Another fan of Dave Hunter's book ... we had the BEST ice-cream in Tennessee last October.

Happy Planning!

MaryLiz

 

[cottontail]

Hi:

We always take 77/79 in the spring or fall but the winter (dec) is a different story.

Last year we went the first two weeks of dec, and took I75. We left Hamilton during a snowstorm and it snowed all the way to detroit so it was slow going. They had one lane on I75 closed going partway thru Michigan. After that everything was smooth sailing.

Coming home we did not run into any snow and we came back along I75. I think it took us 21 to 22 hours. We stopped just as we got into Georgia for the night. For meals we seemed to hit Wendys as it was fast , also they are good for washroom breaks. That way we did not waste time during the drive.

Have a nice trip, it is a nice time to go.

Yours,

Deb.