Driving to WDW????

[thebigman65]

Just wondering with the flight prices so outrageous for Spring Break, have any of you made the trip by Car from Toronto to Orlando and what was it like? I assume its about 24 hours of driving, but is the trip really hard on you, etc.?

 

[hockey mom]

We have done it many times from Peterborough. It takes us anywhere from 25 to 27 hours. Driving there is a bit exhausting but once you get there you are so excited you tend to forget how tired you are.

For us we tend to stress a few days before we leave to come back home about having to drive it.

Keep checking Buffalo for a sale.

 

[Alderbrook]

I actually don't mind the drive, we've done it tons but flown the last few years. The really big thing about going in March is the weather. You're driving thru mountains sometimes in snow & really crappy weather. We always stop as 24 hrs of driving is really exhausting. We stop in South Carolina on the way down & then get up really early the next morning & we're usually in Disney for around 2ish depending on traffic, weather, etc.

 

[Polarone]

I've driven from Windsor several times - with just adults it isn't too bad, especially if you can rotate drivers. It is a long drive for kids though - make sure you have enough entertainment and snacks, and still count on stopping twice as often as you would with adults and you can do it.

Good luck!

 

[disneyfreak89]

I've driven from Windsor several times - with just adults it isn't too bad, especially if you can rotate drivers.

Same here.....We always drive, never fly.....its part of the vacation for us....We used to drive it in 2 days stopping over 1 night, but have stretched that out to 3 days and 2 nights....we found the drive more enjoyable and relaxing and we didn't need days to recover once we arrived....and the best part? You have your own car to take wherever you want while your there.

 

[quandrea]

The weather is what worries me. We are thinking of driving down in Jan. That or cancelling the trip (hubby can't fly right now). I dread the thought of hitting bad weather though. What are our chances of a great run there and back in January?

 

[Nahanni]

We're flying in Feb thanks to AC's seat sale (4 tix $1070, inclusive).

Drove to Georgia in November in 17 hours drive time. We stopped for a few hours at science centers (Columbus OH down, Charlotte NC and Pittsburg back) along the way (free admission with our Ontario Science Centre membership) with overnights in West Virginia. Nice drive but mountainous so you have to keep alert. Not a lot of driving near large cities - I find Toronto-London to be more tiring and intense than 6 hours of crusing.

 

[OntFamily]

We've driven many times, and it can be fun (at least the drive TO Florida, driving home isn't as fun). You'll get lots of opinions as to the best routing -- in my opinion the best route is the fastest (which for me, from the GTA is

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...97.15369&sspn=28.868934,78.837891&ie=UTF8&z=5 ).

 

[mbb]

Have you thought about Amtrak's AutoTrain?
www.amtrak.com
10 hours, give or take, to TO from Lorton, Va.

Drive down, train home

HTH!

 

[disneyfreak89]

The weather is what worries me. We are thinking of driving down in Jan. That or cancelling the trip (hubby can't fly right now). I dread the thought of hitting bad weather though. What are our chances of a great run there and back in January?

We always travel in January....another reason why we like to take 3 days to get down there....that way we can take our time and if we do hit any bad weather, we're still on schedule....

 

[greenclan67]

We have 2 weeks in March and would love to drive down and fly back, our problem is we can't find a good price on one way rentals from the airport we would fly back into! So right now have flights booked with airtran, but they have changed both flight times and I could cancel them for full refund! Can't do a $1000 for a one way rental though!

 

[rodeo65]

Have you thought about Amtrak's AutoTrain?
www.amtrak.com
10 hours, give or take, to TO from Lorton, Va.

Drive down, train home

HTH!

I think I've only flown to FL twice - once as a child and once as an adult. All other times we've driven. We always, both when I was a child with my family and now with my own family) take three or even four days and make it part of the trip. Even coming home for me is not a big deal because it lets me ease out of out trip. I hate to leave as it is, so having a few days that I'm on the way home but still technically "on vacation" helps.

We always take I75 which I think adds a couple of hours but to me is a much better highway, plus the Along I75 book is fantastic!

Next time, though I think I'm going to try the Auto train. This is probably the last time I'll get DH to go to WDW, so the kids and I will start doing the tip ourselves (unless there is a miracle and he is converted in January )

 

[ladyhawk14624]

We've driven down twice in the last couple of years. We're in Rochester, NY so it's about 3 hours from you. We head to Buffalo and then down. We make it to Georgia the first night and then only have a few hours of driving the second day. That was in the summer though. I think in the winter I'd add an extra day just because of the weather. Once you get past PA the weather shouldn't be too much of a factor for the most part. Check flights from Buffalo and Rochester though. We're flying down in January and I was actually able to get cheaper flights from Rochester this time. The ones from Buffalo were higher which surprised me.

 

[bdoyledimou]

we have driven down a lot... (see my sig!)

With the kids being between 4 and 13 years old over the years.
We have left at 9 am and 3 pm.

The weather is usually at its worst along the lake but as you head south in PA it clears up quickly.

Its a very pretty and fun drive any time of the year.

 

[Ken_Breadbox]

I think I've only flown to FL twice - once as a child and once as an adult. All other times we've driven. We always, both when I was a child with my family and now with my own family) take three or even four days and make it part of the trip. Even coming home for me is not a big deal because it lets me ease out of out trip. I hate to leave as it is, so having a few days that I'm on the way home but still technically "on vacation" helps.

We always take I75 which I think adds a couple of hours but to me is a much better highway, plus the Along I75 book is fantastic!

Next time, though I think I'm going to try the Auto train. This is probably the last time I'll get DH to go to WDW, so the kids and I will start doing the tip ourselves (unless there is a miracle and he is converted in January )

We're from Waterloo. We took I-77 and I-79 down, and I-75 back. The trip down was much prettier--but would get UGLY in winter. The trip back was, contrary to everything I've read here and elsewhere, faster by about an hour. I heartily second the recommendation of Dave Hunter's ALONG I-75. It makes the trip fly by, and gives you many tried-and-tested ideas for stopping and eating places.

 

[webworm]

We live in Oakville and have flown out of Pittsburgh twice during March break since prices at ridiculous out of Pearson for family of 5.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Every summer we drive from Toronto - Orlando along I-75 and next week we will be driving down for the 1st time during the month of December, because we like it better then flying. Plus when we looked at the cost between flying and driving it's less expensive for us to drive down.

 

[wrconrad]

The auto train might be good idea. It runs from VA to Orlando. If you book early the price isn't to bad.

 

[beavdisfan]

we have driven from Beaverton area several times.
if you can do it, stop two nights, you arrive much more rested and if you do it right you will get there just after noon. that gives you half a day to have fun.
history would tell me to NEVER drive I 75 again from toronto area. it's busy, full of trucks and boring as h----.
if the weather allows go I 77 and I79 etc. we can be from home to Dis. in 22 driving hours.
have a great trip.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

We've driven many times, and it can be fun (at least the drive TO Florida, driving home isn't as fun). You'll get lots of opinions as to the best routing -- in my opinion the best route is the fastest (which for me, from the GTA is

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&sour...97.15369&sspn=28.868934,78.837891&ie=UTF8&z=5 ).

I second this route. We have driven down 5 times 1 time the I75 route and the rest the way posted above.This way is shorter from Toronto area. We drive from oakville to orangeburg the first day 5am to 6 pm ish. The second day is about 7 hrs to Daytona and we stayed there for a night. Then bright and early we pull into Disney. We give the extra day in case of problems like traffic. The last 3 trips we had our kids with us. 2004 2007 and 2009. They are now age 12 and 9. Our kids dont mind the drive. They keep themselves busy. We stop for food. We get fuel the same time so we done have to stop again. We do stop at some comfort stations along the way if the kids need the bathroom. It gives me a chance to clean the windows and stretch too. We find by leaving at 5 am we get across the border before the morning rush hour in Buffalo and get to Pittsburg just after morning rush hour. Beckley by 1pm. US19 do under the posted speed limit. Not even 1 mph over. They look for us out of state people. Is the dive worth it. IMO yes. You also dont have to limit your self by luggage and what you bring home too. Last trip it cost us just under $500 return in fuel. Keep in mind thats driving a full size suv. A Suburban Doing anywhere from 55 to 70mph. Ok maybe a little over with the flow on all other roads but US19 lol. I hope this helps. If you have any spicific questions I can do my best to answer them for you.