For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (II)

[BC1836]

This thread broke the 100,000 view mark, and the number of replies is soon to break 2,000. Here we ago again!

All the best.

 

[Becky2005]

I just HAD to go complicate matters with a college visit didn't I? The things I do for my kids! There is a bit of twist because we need either a suite (my preference so we are all in one room) or 2 rooms wherever we stay since there are 6 of us.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out where we are going to stay for one night before our package starts and I nearly fell out of my chair!!! The family suite at All Stars was over $300 for the night -- forget that when my cabin is only $285 the next night!!! So then I go to check the cabin and realize what a difference 1 day makes! Apparently the Sunday we are checking in is when Value season rates start...the day before is still Regular Season.

I thought if we stayed a bit BEFORE we hit Disney it would be better (cost wise) but is it crazy to stop just an hour or two before getting there? We wouldn't have any tickets anyway and we will have been driving from Chattanooga so we will already have driven several hours. I was thinking Gainesville or Ocala (any preference?).

 

[angwill]

I've only had one GPS, but I'm extremely pleased with it.
Garmin Nuvi 265T

$87 on Amazon.com (I paid $105 from Amazon last year)

- Extremely easy to use
- Free, live traffic updates (for life)
- It will (most of the time) find another route for you to avoid heavy traffic
- Can use its Bluetooth feature so that you can use your cell phone hands-free
- Thousands and thousands of POIs (Points Of Interest)
- Verbal directions

We bought it last year for our drive to Florida from Connecticut. Twice it routed us around bad traffic. More importantly, the POIs helped us find gas, food and hotels. It even has phone numbers for the hotels so that you can call and ask for availability. We had some fun with it too... you can use your own voice to give the turning directions...we recorded my 10 yo DS voice for the trip.

The Garmin Nuvi 265WT is the same unit, only it is a wide screen. IMHO, the extra $28 for the WT is not worth it.

My only complaint is the suction-cup that is provided with the unit to mount the GPS to your dash/windshield. After a week or so it comes loose and the GPS will unexpectedly fall to the floor of your car. Search the internet for a vent-mounted mount...works on almost all air conditioning vents and your GPS will never come loose.

I totally agree with any Garmin Nuvi. I have owned two, the first was passed down to my son, and been very happy with it. When doing research the top unit is the Garmin Nuvi which is said to have the best US maps of all the GPS units available. I think Tom Tom took best European map system.

 

[sharadoc]

I just HAD to go complicate matters with a college visit didn't I? The things I do for my kids! There is a bit of twist because we need either a suite (my preference so we are all in one room) or 2 rooms wherever we stay since there are 6 of us.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out where we are going to stay for one night before our package starts and I nearly fell out of my chair!!! The family suite at All Stars was over $300 for the night -- forget that when my cabin is only $285 the next night!!! So then I go to check the cabin and realize what a difference 1 day makes! Apparently the Sunday we are checking in is when Value season rates start...the day before is still Regular Season.

I thought if we stayed a bit BEFORE we hit Disney it would be better (cost wise) but is it crazy to stop just an hour or two before getting there? We wouldn't have any tickets anyway and we will have been driving from Chattanooga so we will already have driven several hours. I was thinking Gainesville or Ocala (any preference?).

You could think about staying in a Downtown Disney area hotel for the night, then get up, check in to your hotel, get your tickets and leave your bags and you're off for the day with a good night's sleep. There's a suite hotel that is usually under $100 a night, I can't remember the name right now. Has free breakfast, too.

EDIT - found it, Buena Vista Suites. Heard it was a nice place to stay.

 

[irish dancer]

You could think about staying in a Downtown Disney area hotel for the night, then get up, check in to your hotel, get your tickets and leave your bags and you're off for the day with a good night's sleep. There's a suite hotel that is usually under $100 a night, I can't remember the name right now. Has free breakfast, too.

EDIT - found it, Buena Vista Suites. Heard it was a nice place to stay.

Have stayed at Buena Vista Suites for the night before our WDW stay and can definitely recommend them. They have 2 queen beds and a pull out sofa so it sleeps 6, there is also a microwave and mini fridge in the room. Suites have been renovated a year or two ago. Breakfast isn't gourmet but it fills you up. If you subscribe to Mousesavers she usually has deals or you can sign up on their site. We stayed for less than $100/nt in June.

 

[mousebymarriage]

Have stayed at Buena Vista Suites for the night before our WDW stay and can definitely recommend them. They have 2 queen beds and a pull out sofa so it sleeps 6, there is also a microwave and mini fridge in the room. Suites have been renovated a year or two ago. Breakfast isn't gourmet but it fills you up. If you subscribe to Mousesavers she usually has deals or you can sign up on their site. We stayed for less than $100/nt in June.

We have also stayed at Buena Vista Suites (twice) and also recommend them. Nice clean room, friendly staff and breakfast buffet is good.

 

[NJdadof2]

Disney is about 2,004 miles from my house in South Jersey, so I just made the board.
Left at 1:00 am last year. Main goal was to beat the DC traffic (gave myself plenty of cushion). We actually go all the way to Fort Myers first to visit family and stay at the beach for a week. We were suppose to stay at the beach for 2 weeks, but I couldn't think of driving all that way without doing Disney, so it became 1 week at the beach and 6 days at Disney.

Son was 5 and daughter was 1 last year, so straight through was not an option. Stayed over in Savannah. What a lovely city.

Same trip this year. Planning on trying to get to St. Augustine this summer. Want to stay at the Pirate Haus there. I've read good things about it, but I would like to here from anyone on here who has stayed there.

Leaving Woodstown on July 28th early in the AM. Fort Myers Beach from 7/30 to 8/6. BWV from 8/7-8/12.

The trip home is a question mark. Can't really leave early in the morning and expect the stay awake too long. Hit DC traffic on a Saturday last year, and it was still brutal. Any tip for the drive home would be appreciated.

 

[dvczerfs]

This thread broke the 100,000 view mark, and the number of replies is soon to break 2,000. Here we ago again!

All the best.

im glad to see people from the mid west and other areas on here! were getting well rounded!

 

[dvczerfs]

You could think about staying in a Downtown Disney area hotel for the night, then get up, check in to your hotel, get your tickets and leave your bags and you're off for the day with a good night's sleep. There's a suite hotel that is usually under $100 a night, I can't remember the name right now. Has free breakfast, too.

EDIT - found it, Buena Vista Suites. Heard it was a nice place to stay.

were getting closer sharon!!

 

[jeepfreak]

Heading to Fort Wilderness on 4/27. 1458 miles one way or 2916 miles round trip. We've done it 7 times.

 

[dvczerfs]

Heading to Fort Wilderness on 4/27. 1458 miles one way or 2916 miles round trip. We've done it 7 times.

 

[tinkerbell60]

We have also stayed at Buena Vista Suites (twice) and also recommend them. Nice clean room, friendly staff and breakfast buffet is good.

Another vote for Buena Vista Suites - that is where we are planning to stay for our one night before check in....

 

[sharadoc]

were getting closer sharon!!

I KNOW!! Starting to panic a little - haven't started packing or anything.

Still waiting for those AP rates so I can save another 10% on my trip, which should be a good chunk of change. It's going to dictate whether or not we go back in November, and if we renew our APs.

The other day Mike said "I can't wait until we're there again - I can already feel it!" It's a sickness, I guess.

 

[sharadoc]

Heading to Fort Wilderness on 4/27. 1458 miles one way or 2916 miles round trip. We've done it 7 times.

Just curious - how much will your total gas bill be at $4.00 a gallon? We're up to $3.87 today around here.

Does there ever come a time when the RV becomes cost prohibitive solely on gas, or is the convenience and familiarity worth it? I've never been in or used an RV, so I'm fascinated by the lifestyle

DH and I always thought we'd get one after retirement, but we've since decided that we would still want a hotel. We're totally inept when it comes to anything mechanical so the RV would be falling apart in 5 years! We figure we'll go for a luxury van with captain's chairs and stay in hotels along the way, but we plan to hit the road for months at a time when we can.

 

[tinkerbell60]

I KNOW!! Starting to panic a little - haven't started packing or anything.

Still waiting for those AP rates so I can save another 10% on my trip, which should be a good chunk of change. It's going to dictate whether or not we go back in November, and if we renew our APs.

The other day Mike said "I can't wait until we're there again - I can already feel it!" It's a sickness, I guess.

I thought I had read that the AP rates were out for summer....

 

[dvczerfs]

I KNOW!! Starting to panic a little - haven't started packing or anything.

Still waiting for those AP rates so I can save another 10% on my trip, which should be a good chunk of change. It's going to dictate whether or not we go back in November, and if we renew our APs.

The other day Mike said "I can't wait until we're there again - I can already feel it!" It's a sickness, I guess.

i have a few things in the van all ready. we are starting to figure out what we are taking. we have been dvc members since 1999 and use to a full size washer and dryer in the room. now, staying at the contemp. i told tammy and briana, were not going into the jungle for 8 nights, they have washer and dryers.

 

[C&G'sMama]

Van had it's annual NYS inspection yesterday. I had new tires put on last month and had them check everything then, so no surprises yesterday.

We leave 5 weeks from tomorrow. Short trip, 150 miles one way, to my in-laws for the weekend. We've gone many a time within a day and people think we're nuts. 300 miles in one day, that's nothing.

I need to get my trip tik. I know I can do it online but it's so pretty when they do it and my printer isn't working at the moment.

 

[dvczerfs]

congrats sharon!!! i got your text!!!

 

[BC1836]

An Associated Press story today explains that "fewer tourists seen at vacation sites around the country" due to escalating gasoline prices. Understandable, to say the least.

Mount Rushmore and the Rhode Island coast, where Guilded Age mansions abound, had fewer visitors than last month. And Grand Canyon tourist numbers are down from a year ago. Other places are offering significant discounts to drivers in an effort to offset the gasoline costs.

And Disney? Already some of this thread have eliminated/reduced trips. [And airlines have been adding fuel surcharges].

Regular topped $3.67 in southern Ocean County, NJ yesterday. And we have relatively low gas prices!

All the best.

[BTW: The next reply will be #1,000]

 

[budafam]

An Associated Press story today explains that "fewer tourists seen at vacation sites around the country" due to escalating gasoline prices. Understandable, to say the least.

Mount Rushmore and the Rhode Island coast, where Guilded Age mansions abound, had fewer visitors than last month. And Grand Canyon tourist numbers are down from a year ago. Other places are offering significant discounts to drivers in an effort to offset the gasoline costs.

And Disney? Already some of this thread have eliminated/reduced trips. [And airlines have been adding fuel surcharges].

Regular topped $3.67 in southern Ocean County, NJ yesterday. And we have relatively low gas prices!

Interesting! Our gas prices here are at $3.89 (in NE Wisconsin). Maybe Disney will offer the free dining again to offset prices. Here's to hoping!!!