February Driving to WDW

[Candlelady]

Hi,
We'll be enjoying the 'Magic' for the first time Feb 9 - 16 @WL!!!!!!!!

DH will NOT fly so we will be driving from northern ct. I'm planning on a 2 day drive but am a little apprehensive about the weather and how far down we might expect snow and/or ice. Also want to miss driving thru NY, DC traffic. Would luv to hear comments from any who have taken this drive during Feb.

Thanks
Candlelady ;o)

 

[Pluto4President]

I can't really help you. Just wanted to Welcome you to The DIS and wish you a great fiirst trip!

 

[Candlelady]

Thanks so much for the welcome! I am usually in lurk mode but will come out of hiding at times. ;o)

We are ecstatic about this trip!!!!! I can't wait to buy mouse ears and I will be wearing them for the entire drive down to WDW! lol. This will be the honeymoom DH and I never had 30 yrs ago.

Candlelady

 

[Patio]

Hi Candlelady,
We drove from Pa in Feb 96. We left around 11pm and hit a storm through Md, Va, N.C., S.C. and didn't get to Brunswick, Ga until 5pm next afternoon.( 18 hrs). When we finally got to WDW, it was so cold, the coldest weather they had in about 10 yrs. But it did warm up enough that my kids were able to go swimming.
In March 99 we drove and left at 8am and got to Orlando at 1am.(17 hrs).The weather was perfect.
It depends on the weather and hopefully you'll have great weather for your trip. I really would enjoy the trip no matter what though. Feb is a great time to do Disney.

 

[Mark P.]

Hi Candlelady

If you like, you can log onto www.mapquest.com and get a detailed map of your trip.

We did the drive from NJ in March a few years ago(and are doing so again this March), and ran into a pretty rough rain from northern Virginia right on through to just about Georgia, whereas we decided to call it a day. I wasn't tired so much from the driving aspect alone, but just "fighting" the weather & traffic through 3 states combined with driving took its toll. Better safe than sorry, ya' know...

Welcome to the DIS

 

[Carole]

Hi! Several years ago we hit an ice storm in North Carolina and Virginia on our way home from Disney. Advice - Don't get low on gas in bad weather! Many of the gas stations were closed because of power outages.

Carole

 

[Candlelady]

Thank you all for the replies.

Good idea bout not letting the gas get too low in case of snow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there is no snow or ice storms on the way down. On the way back, I don't care as long as I have a place to sleep. ;o)

Thanks again

Candlelady

 

[Ted and Holly]

We're also thinking of making the drive in Feb. The weather is a big factor, but we'll just hope for good weather!

Holly

 

[denisenh]

We have driven to WDW twice in the month of February and have been in NC 12 hours into our trip. We leave around 5-6pm and drive through the night. We had no weather related problems and the roads, all highways, were clear and dry. Once we hit NC the weather was 50 to 60 degrees, as I recall and it was just great. Missed all the rush hour NY and DC traffic. A real nice trip from New England. Make sure you have a good map and/or directions. The roads are a little confusing from NY towards NJ turnpike.....we accidently headed to PA on our last trip, but it was still fun and exciting.

 

[EllenJ]

We have driven to FL from Southern CT every February for at least the past 8 years (if not longer). We usually leave around 2:30pm. We get through NY before rush hour and get to DC after rush hour. We try to drive straight thru but the past few years, we have stopped in SC for a quick nap in the rest stop (we drive a minivan).
The weather can be tough at that time of year. We have hit every possible combination of bad weather. But I would rather drive in bad weather than fly. A few years ago, we had friends that were meeting us is FL who were flying and the airports ended up closing due to a bad storm and they ended up renting a car and driving.
We get a triptik from AAA (by now you would think we know the route by heart).
Whether you take 1 day or 2. Enjoy the trip...

 

[Candlelady]

EllenJ,
Since you're going in Feb also, we'll be at your house an hour before you leave so we can transfer our bags to your van. You don't mind if we tag along, right? (just kiddin) lol.

I plan getting a trip-tik but usually never use them. They seem too complicated. Too much info on each page. I'll just map it out and hope for the best.

Maybe we'll see all you Feb DISer's there. Can't wait!!

Candlelady

 

[EllenJ]

Candlelady,
I lol when I read your post. If you ever saw how much stuff we bring with us when we drive, you would know that there is very little room for anyone or anything in our van.
It seems because we are driving and don't have the suitcase restrictions, we seem to pack WAAYY to much.
I get a triptik every time we drive (feel like I'm getting my moneys worth of AAA) but we rarely look at it. One thing that I did buy a few years ago, I think at KMart, is a trip calculator. You enter what highway that you are on and what mile marker and it gives you all kind of infomation, gas, hotels, food etc. It may be out of date now. But it came in handy a few time.

Well, we will probably see you on the road.
Good Luck,
Ellen

 

[OKW91]

We drive down every January from South Jersey, and we usually watch the weather forcasts for a couple of good days to leave on, but we are retired so we can leave when every we want to, most people can't! If you want to avoid the DC area, you can take Rt 301 which you can pick up as you enter Delaware, it's a slower ride but avoids all the DC traffic. This will take you down into VA comes back on to 95 at Carmel Church, right above Richmond.

 

[Bugaboo]

We drove down in February a few years ago from NH! We left around 5pm drove straight through and arrived in Orlando at 4:30pm the next afternoon. We didn't have any weather issues and had three drivers so we were able to sleep and have someone keep the driver company which is important if don't want to stop. I'd recommend you have a day on either end built in to your schedule just in case you get delayed because of the weather.