driving?

[pplasky]

For those of you in NJ and PA, just wondering how many drive to WDW? DH and I usually drive and just interested if we're crazy or if others still drive as well.

 

[JimFitz]

I am interested in Driving but my children are under 2 and it would be a nightmare. I will definately start driving once they get older.

How long does it take you?

 

[pplasky]

We drive over two days. We leave around 5:30 am Sat and stop about three times before spending the night in Ga. That usually ends up being around 8pm. Then we head to WDW at about 7am and arrive at about noon on Sunday.

 

[melanie18]

Before our DD4 was born, we used to drive straight through.

We've driven twice with her and both times we drove 12-13 hours the first day (normally putting us in Savannah).

It's rough at times with 1 child (although we installed a DVD player solely for the WDW drives - it's the best money we ever spent ). I give credit to all of you who make the drive with more than one!

 

[Barb A.]

We drive from philly suburbs a lot and we usually leave about 5 a.m. on Saturday and stop in Savannah, GA. We arrive in WDW Sunday somewhere around noon-1 p.m. We always try to drive 12 hours the first day while we're rested and fresh then we only have 6-7 hours the second day.

 

[daddiojiggy]

we live about an hour north of buffalo and i always tell my wife that we're driving down.then,invariably, i check the net and find cheap flights.i mean cheap.i got flights for the five of us for ~$670 and so it was hard to say no to that!i have friends that have driven it recently and made it in 18 HOURS!they went through detroit and apparently it's just straight through and they're doing 70-75 mph!not speeding just steady.i'll do the drive ,someday, but for the immediate future it looks like it's via southwest!!

 

[AnnetteF]

I don't think you are crazy at all. We are in Connecticut and have been driving every year since 1991. We started because I am a nervous flyer but now find that we both really enjoy it. It is also so nice not to be on any schedule. It's so nice just to get in the car and go. We flew a couple of times for short trips where we had to but it seemed so much more stressful than driving to us what with worrying about transportation to and from the airports, connecting flights, having to worry about packing light, rushing to get to the airport, etc., not to mention my nerves about the flight.

This October will be a new experience for us however, since we will have our 7 month old baby daughter with us for the first time. I am concerned for her and how she will handle the long drive and therefore we will be making the trip over 3 days this year, stopping in Virginia the first night and Hilton Head the second.


Melanie18, how old was your daughter for your two trips and how did she do? Also, I was wondering what kind of car you have and where the DVD player is installed? I was actually thinking of buying a portable one since the only time DD is content to sit still is when she is watching Baby Einstein videos.

 

[rbuzzotta]

We drive from Boston at least once a year!! It usually takes us 24 hrs. of driving and we stop for the night to get about 6 hrs. sleep. I enjoy not being on a schedule and having my car with me. I can also pack more!!! LOL!!

We have been driving since my youngest was 5 months old.........she is now 6!!! We have driven with a mini van and now a SUV............it is very comfortable for the 5 of us and I have each girls bring her own pillow, small blanket and they can pack a backpack to have with them in their seat for the ride.

It is actually nice to be able to talk to our kids without competitng with the television..................we don't bring a portable DVD player. It works for us..........my girls are really good in the car and always have been..............i am lucky for that...

have a great trip......

 

[pplasky]

For those of you with kids, we have five. The older two don't usually come any longer, but for the little ones (7,8,8), we bought a small tv/vcr combo from sears for about $180. It doesn't play dvd's, but not a problem because we have oodles of videos we never watch anymore. It hooks right into your cigarette lighter and might be good alternative. It also helps with the how much longer question. We say things like two more movies or at the end of this program. It seems to work better than trying to explain time in a car.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Was never much on air travel before 9/11 and now the airport hassles, etc have convinced us to always drive.
We do it in two days--first day down to Brunswick GA and then on to WDW

 

[melanie18]

AnnetteF,

Our DD4 was 16 months when we drove home from WDW (we flew down and ended up driving our rental home due to 9/11). No DVD player then, and she was wonderful. The simplest things keep them occupied. Different colored pipe cleaners entertained her for hours, just twisting and shaping things. Also, we stopped at Cracker Barrel several times and picked up cheap little toys.

Also, we have a Dodge Durango with the DVD player.

 

[hobogary]

We always drive from upstate new york, takes about 24 hours of on the road time.we usually stop 2 nights but sometimes more at interesting places and less if we hurry (usually only one night on the trip back, at South of The Boarder).We met up with friends that flew down one year, and they actually had more time door to door due to weathers delays , etc. By the way, we always say the vacation starts when we leave the driveway.

 

[MamaLema]

Driving from Canada with 3 DS ages 12 months, 5, and 7

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I live in Northern NJ, and I always drive to WDW. I usually go solo, so it's very simple for me just to take my car. I actually enjoy the drive - love listening to all my Disney tapes and CD's! I also usually take the AutoTrain one direction, so it's nice knowing I only have one long drive, not two! It takes me about 20 hours of driving. I drive 14 hours the first day, and stop around Hilton Head. Next day I arrive in Disney in the early afternoon.

I love the freedom the car gives me.

 

[drewc]

We drove straight through last year with our 3 young kids. We plan to do the same in December. Got a new minivan this year with dvd video.

I drive through the night, my dw takes care of the day time. It took us about 22 - 23 hours each way (hit a lot of traffic on the way back last time - right through to S.C.)

We flew the first time when the youngest was still an infant, but the cost of 5 round trip tickets is hard to swallow, and Albany does not get many deals - even SWA is about $200 each.

 

[pplasky]

Originally posted by drewc

"but the cost of 5 round trip tickets is hard to swallow"

I agree! I am glad to hear so many people still drive. I no longer feel "crazy"

 

[tae1218]

We have driven to WDW on our last 2 trips. Last time we left at 8:00 p.m. DH and I took turms driving through the night. We stopped at Jacksonville. I think we got there at 1:00 or so. I can't remember. We ate, went swimming and got to bed early since we were driving all night. The next morning we only had a short drive left. I don't mind the drive from PA but dh does since he does the majority of the driving so on our next trip we are flying instead.

 

[Jalva22]

Mine will be 5 & 9 in June 05 when we make our first major driving vacation to WDW (I'm estimating 23 road hrs spread over 3 days). Always done 5 hr roadtrips in past years, so this will be a big change for us. We bought a Honda Odyssey with the dvd a month ago. We want to use it to get through some of the time they are restless, but with my kids' personalities it won't occupy them the entire time (and I wouldn't want it to).

My family always did long driving vacations when I was a kid. I remember being SO excited about waking up really early and hitting the interstate. We looked forward to the trips so much, and the early starts were so different than "everyday" that it was almost as good as Christmas morning!

 

[7thdwarf/dopey]

Our family of six loves road trips! Thats why we drive. We have so much fun doing it. We leave about 7'ish and drive for 9 hours. We stop every couple of hours to stretch and stop to eat once.
Our first 9 hours puts us in Fayetteville, exit 49.
We repeat the same thing the next day and stop in St.Augustine for the night, exit 318.
The next morning were up and on the road by 6 or 7am. This gives us only a 2 hour drive to WDW and we arrive fresh as a daisy and ready to go. We always do the Magic Kingdom first.

Hope this helps ya

 

[StarPM]

We're doing it for the 1st time in November. We're leaving around midnight and driving as far as DH and I can stand it. We're also taking along the AAA books for each state, so as we get tired, we can call ahead for a room. DD will be 11, and with her gameboy and DVD player, she should be fine. Wish us luck!!