First Trip Together NJ to WDW

[Oceans]

Hey everyone,

My DGF and I are booked for our first summer vacation to WDW together. We are booked at the Pop Century from June 23 to June 30. We're driving from Sayreville, NJ to the hotel.. Not sure if we should drive straight through or if we should stop at a hotel. If we stop, I'd like to stop somewhere only a few hours from WDW. My plan is to get to he hotel late and be able to sleep long enough so we're not wiped out too much to lose a whole day at the happiest place in the world. Also, does anyone have any ideas how I can make my DGFs first trip to WDW unforgettable? Any help would be amazing. Thanks!

 

[vorpalswrd]

My family and I drove down in 2003 from eastern PA. We drove straight through until Savannah Georgia and stayed in a Comfort Inn then got to WDW the next day by lunch. I personally would never drive down again. The ride down was long and boring and after a nice vacation the last thing we wanted to do was drive back.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

Are you really dead set on driving down? It's a long, long boring drive

I wouldn't drive to Florida again either (I'm about an hour north of you in Jersey) but the way airfare was going for awhile I began to think maybe driving wasn't so bad. For DH and I, I can't see driving since we use WDW transportation while we are here and plane tickets are probably less than gas for the trip, def. a lot less than gas and the cost of extra time off of work, etc.

If you are going to drive I would highly consider staying over somewhere. For those that I know that do drive straight through most are not happy the following day at all...

For what it's worth my best friend and her hubby drive and have stayed over or driven straight through. My SIL & BIL drive down and they usually stay over a day or two in Myrtle Beach (our in-laws own a condo there)

Have fun and good luck!

 

[Oceans]

We are definitely driving. We'll probably stay in Georgia somewhere, not sure where yet. We both always wanted to roadtrip. I would raher do it now because we're younger (she'll be 19 and I'll be 21). I just want this trip to be one she'll never forget ( in a good way lol )

 

[Uno Mas]

I used to live in NJ and live in SC now, and I highly recommend stopping in St. Augustine, Florida for the night. It's just about two hours from Disney, so you can get up early and be there by rope drop if you want. It's also a great little place to visit, with tons of shopping and restaurants all within walking distance. Plenty of quaint little Inns to stay in, and it's not expensive.

Savannah is fun too, but that's going to take you four hours the next day.

 

[Oceans]

St. Augustine sounds like a decent idea. Can anyone recommend any hotels along the way that won't put me too far off track? Also, I won't be missing work because I work in a school. The 23rd is our last day of school. I could always take a sick/personal day which would open me to leave so I can arrive at the hotel at a decent time. What would be a good time to leave? Thanks.

 

[minnie1012]

I grew up in Sayreville and drove with my parents many times when I was younger. I remember them never wanting to stop in Georgia. They never liked the hotels there so we used to stop in South Carolina. I have heard good things about St Augustine if you can make it that far.

 

[Oceans]

Sayreville is a nice place to live. My DGF lives in Hazlet. Were going to leave from Sayreville because we are nice and close to the Turnpike. We were looking tonight. We found a Days Inn in Daytona Beach, FL we may book. I may take the sick day and leave really early on the 22nd and get to Daytona Beach early in the evening. This way we can wind down, have a good night sleep and get up, go to the beach, relax and make it to Pop Century in time for check in. What does everyone think?

 

[Uno Mas]

Daytona is about an hour from Disney, so that would just mean a longer drive on the front end of your trip if you don't mind. It takes us about 11 hours to get from your area in NJ to Charleston - but Charleston is about 2 1/2 hours from the SC state line, so say it takes you 8 1/2 to get to the SC line. (Guess it depends on how fast you drive, too). I don't know how long it takes to get through the state of SC on 95, but do know that when you get to Savannah, it should be another three hours to Daytona from there.

 

[Oceans]

I definitely appreciate the help. We want to get a large percentage of our driving done on the 22nd, so that the 23rd is a nice easy drive and we can fully enjoy the parks.

 

[pudge the fish]

it takes about an hour , hour and a half to hit Disney from Daytona Beach- depending on traffic (I live very close to Daytona) you have to take I -4 from Daytona
I would NOT go over to beachside or "into Daytona"-I'd stay on 95
Maybe stay North of Daytona like in Ormond/ Palm Coast (not beachside again- extra$$ for a room and extra driving time
Cause once you hit Daytona there is an Exit to 1-4 right off 95

June 23 is a Tuesday If you are going to head to orlando EARLY in the morning you will run into lovely I-4 traffic and that will eat up plenty of time-

 

[Oceans]

We were looking at a Days Inn Hotel at Ormond Beach. Is this a good idea? It was only like $50 for the night. Since your from the area, what would be a good route/plan to use? I would appreciate anyones help. Thanks!!!

 

[pudge the fish]

The days inn is in a good area- not too far off 95 My oldest daughter lives in Ormond ( but ON the beach ) it's an ok area- not crime ridden or anything

you get back on 95 and can do 1 of 2 things

1. you can go south on 1-95 and take exit 260B to go to 1-4 (read signs they will say to ORLANDO) then you will head WEST on I-4 and go thru downtown orlando and follow all the signs to WDW
you can't miss it- there is some construction on I-4 and early a.m. will take you longer than an hour- hour and a half unless you leave Ormond around
7:30 -8 ish- you should bypass traffic tie ups by then

# 2. You can keep going south on 95 and after about 50-55 miles you will see a sign for 528 which is the beachline (at this time you will be south near Titusville) This IS a toll road . ( like 2.00) You follow this road (you will now be heading WEST) until you see the signs for 417 and signs for Disney- the signs will point you to Disney . this is also a toll road too and will take longer But you totally by pass all traffic.

Being New to Fla I would take #1 and not leave till 7:30 or 8 to get to orlando by 9:30 and WDW around 10


BTW my sis live in Manville and I was born in Sommerville NJ But I left when I was 2 and have only been back 1 time- ( I didn't know I was born in NJ till 5 years ago- Long story

 

[Oceans]

What if I leave the hotel around check out til, 11-12? I actually visit Manville, I am a professional wrestler and the Manville VFW is a major stop for us.

Anyway, thank you so much for your help. If you or anyone else can help me out with driving tips or even ideas on how to make this trip the best vacation for myself and my DGF please let me know. Thanks

 

[Henna's_Mom]

DH and I drive to Florida every year from NJ. We leave about 3:30/4:00 in the morning and drive straight through and stop in Daytona for the night. We usually get to Daytona about 11:00pm and it is only a couple of hours away from Disney so the next morning we are refreshed and have a full day in the parks.

The drive back is rough but hopefully you have a great trip and talk about it the whole way home.

 

[lessing]

Hi, I live in New Brunswick and have been going down to wdw for years and have driven many times. First off, do not forget to put the radar detector in your trunk when in virginia, they are banned there. With my grandparents, they took three days to get there, two hotels and arrive day three. I drove it in one day many times. Either way we stayed the night in daytona, its a great stop before disney. When there were four people we made Daytona in about 18 hours, when it was two it took 20-22 hours. With four we kept rotating drivers and ate in the car, with two, we ate at the rest areas and took more bathroom breaks.

 

[dispatch21]

I am also going to disney in June with my girlfriend (We are 21 and 22). The things I am making sure I am doing are going to the california grill for the wishes fireworks and seeing fantasmic. Also, I am considering seeing LaNuba. Not all romantic things, but things I know my girlfriend will love. Let me know if you get any good ideas!

 

[Oceans]

Thank you all very much. This comforts me a lot about the loooong drive lol. I think we'll have an exciting time.

As for the DGF, I have no idea what to do besides the firework displays. She wants to buy an autograph book. Other then those two, I'm not sure what to do to make things special.

Any ideas?

 

[Uno Mas]

If she wants an autograph book, she may also want her own unique set of mouse ears. Stop at the hat store on Main Street in MK and she can customize her own set of ears with unique add ons, colors, etc. It's fun for any age. They also have really cute mickey jewlery in the shops on Main Street - buy her something when she's not looking and surprise her with it when you get home - or better yet, back at your hotel later that night!

 

[Oceans]

Im really loving the jewelry idea. I just may have to do that.