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

[dvczerfs]

We drove down last year from MD - overnight. Got there @ 6 am, exhausted, and couldn't get into our room till 4. So this year, we can leave @ 2 pm, so we thought we'd stop for a little overnight in Savannah, GA, then finish early the next morning.

Problem is that I just found out that the night we'd stay in Savannah is the night preceding the inaugural Rock and Roll Marathon there. Do you think we should stay somewhere else, or do you think the hotels by 95 will still be ok? Thought about Florence, but that would be too soon of a stop for our liking. We have a 7 yo and a 4 yo. This is in Nov.

which ever you deside, make sure you make a resi, even in november. we tried to "wing it" a few times and each time ended up driving around looking for a place to stay. now we just leave at 3am and arrive 7:30-8pm at okw. its just easier for us and it saves me $100.00. you have little ones, straight through maybe alot for them. just check out there can. policy in case you have to stay some where else. we used hampton inn, they allow you to can. up to 4pm the same day. i even called them at 6pm one time to see if we could change hotel, got further than we thought, and they changed our hotel with no problem.

 

[sharadoc]

Thank you Sharadoc... we were thinking of naming the new van `minnie`but I don`t want to copy (unless you don`t mind)

I don't mind - ours is "The Minnie-Van", so you can call yours "Minnie" of course!

 

[justakrazymom]

Ok need some input! We have decided to stop on our way down now.. but we'd like to stay some place with a nice pool and a relaxing vibe.. we are thining anywhere in SC ( lower half of the state..) ideas?

 

[disneydreamkate]

Hi all! I am looking for some advice on our upcoming trip from WNY to Orlando! This is our second time driving...the first drive we did in Jan/Feb 2010 and that was a pretty harried experience. We had our fair share of missteps along the way, including a snowstorm on our way down, an impromptu driving tour through DC, and an alternate route back through TN and KY to avoid the bad weather on the east coast. Whew!

So, this trip we are going in Oct and I sure do hope we can avoid (at least) all the weather related issues we encountered last time. Also, looking forward to seeing some changing leaves, etc.

I am batting around a couple different scenarios, so any and all opinions would be greatly appreciated!

Scenario 1
Day 1: Leave when DH gets out of work (5ish) and drive at least through PA and into WVa.
Day 2: WVa to St. Augustine. My DH loves St. Augustine and really wants to stay a night there so we can enjoy a couple hours on the beach!
Day 3: A couple hours at the beach and drive to WDW

Scenario 2
Day 1: Leave at 3am and drive for as long as we can. Hopefully get to Ga
Day 2: Wake up super early and drive to WDW, with a short stop at the beach along the way. What would be an easy beach to get to that we could stop at and enjoy a quick picnic lunch? Arrive at WDW early evening

What route do you suggest from here? I did begin reading this (very very) long thread and noticed that there are at least a couple people from my area that make the trek down regularly!

What do you think? Our travel party is DH, me, and DD 14, and DS 5. Both children were real troopers our last trip and didn't need many stops/breaks along the way. I would love to drive straight through, but I worry about all of us being too exhausted when we arrive. I would rather arrive to WDW fresh and ready to go!

 

[Goofygirl17]

we're done driving for today. Left southern Ct at 3:50 am, stopped in Lexington va at 12 for lunch. Got on the road again at 12:45 and stopped in mooresville NC at 4:00. Staying at the marriott springhill suites off 77.

We didn't hit ANY traffic! Saw about a 10mile backup on 77 north though. Looked like a big mess!

Any idea how long it will take to get to Disney from here tomorrow?

 

[dvczerfs]

we're done driving for today. Left southern Ct at 3:50 am, stopped in Lexington va at 12 for lunch. Got on the road again at 12:45 and stopped in mooresville NC at 4:00. Staying at the marriott springhill suites off 77.

We didn't hit ANY traffic! Saw about a 10mile backup on 77 north though. Looked like a big mess!

Any idea how long it will take to get to Disney from here tomorrow?

im glad you didnt hit any traffic!!!! im not sure exactly where you are but im guessing you have about another 6-8 hours. i would get up early and go tomorrow morning. good luck tomorrow!!! keep us posted!!!

 

[skoba-nelson]

we're done driving for today. Left southern Ct at 3:50 am, stopped in Lexington va at 12 for lunch. Got on the road again at 12:45 and stopped in mooresville NC at 4:00. Staying at the marriott springhill suites off 77.

We didn't hit ANY traffic! Saw about a 10mile backup on 77 north though. Looked like a big mess!

Any idea how long it will take to get to Disney from here tomorrow?

If it's Mooresville you've stopped at you are a little more than 600 miles away from WDW.

 

[krisnchris]

Thanks for the advice. I wasn't sure whether to wing it or not. I think if we want to stop, we should book a place! Any other place around there that's easy on/off? I know of Savannah, and Florence SC is a little too far north. ..

which ever you deside, make sure you make a resi, even in november. we tried to "wing it" a few times and each time ended up driving around looking for a place to stay. now we just leave at 3am and arrive 7:30-8pm at okw. its just easier for us and it saves me $100.00. you have little ones, straight through maybe alot for them. just check out there can. policy in case you have to stay some where else. we used hampton inn, they allow you to can. up to 4pm the same day. i even called them at 6pm one time to see if we could change hotel, got further than we thought, and they changed our hotel with no problem.

 

[edbo77]

Santee SC might not be a bad option at Mile 98 - it's the first "major" exit in a while so lots of chains have places there that are right off the highway.

 

[dvczerfs]

that

Santee SC might not be a bad option at Mile 98 - it's the first "major" exit in a while so lots of chains have places there that are right off the highway.

Thanks for the advice. I wasn't sure whether to wing it or not. I think if we want to stop, we should book a place! Any other place around there that's easy on/off? I know of Savannah, and Florence SC is a little too far north. ..

if you have a fav. hotel chain you like, i would look on line and go that route. we stay at hampton inns, not the cheapest but always very clean and there all the same. ive stay in sante like edbo. as far as easy on and offs, i realy cant think of any exit along i95 that realy isnt an easy on and off. other people on this thread can help you out with other hotel chains and where. ive never seen anyone get led in the wrong direction.

 

[Goofygirl17]

We're here left mooresville NC at 8:00 stopped for gas and fast-food. Checked in at vacation villages at 4:00! Not bad!

Thanks everyone for the great directions and advice.

 

[sharadoc]

Thanks for the advice. I wasn't sure whether to wing it or not. I think if we want to stop, we should book a place! Any other place around there that's easy on/off? I know of Savannah, and Florence SC is a little too far north. ..

A few of us have used Walterboro SC. It's not the most "glamorous" but it has all the basics. The Microtel is pretty good and fairly cheap, with a basic breakfast. IT's about 6-7 hours to Disney from there. We like to leave around 9-9:30 am so we're well rested, then get to Disney in time for check-in.

As a girl scout leader, I know that Savannah is popular AND expensive. I would only go there if I wanted to do some sightseeing, or eat at Paula Dean's restaurant

 

[dvczerfs]

We're here left mooresville NC at 8:00 stopped for gas and fast-food. Checked in at vacation villages at 4:00! Not bad!

Thanks everyone for the great directions and advice.

glad you made it!!

 

[dvczerfs]

A few of us have used Walterboro SC. It's not the most "glamorous" but it has all the basics. The Microtel is pretty good and fairly cheap, with a basic breakfast. IT's about 6-7 hours to Disney from there. We like to leave around 9-9:30 am so we're well rested, then get to Disney in time for check-in.

As a girl scout leader, I know that Savannah is popular AND expensive. I would only go there if I wanted to do some sightseeing, or eat at Paula Dean's restaurant

when did those up coming trips in your sig. show up???

 

[sharadoc]

when did those up coming trips in your sig. show up???

I put them in after we decided to can November. We actually figured out what we wanted to do from a financial and timing standpoint, which is a first for us. We're usually more flexible. Since I'm getting new knees, we had to figure out how to schedule everything so it all fits.

I won't do a ticker until the trip is booked, so I figured I'd just list them! Boring, I know.

 

[dvczerfs]

I put them in after we decided to can November. We actually figured out what we wanted to do from a financial and timing standpoint, which is a first for us. We're usually more flexible. Since I'm getting new knees, we had to figure out how to schedule everything so it all fits.

I won't do a ticker until the trip is booked, so I figured I'd just list them! Boring, I know.

when are you getting your new knees?

 

[dvczerfs]

We're here left mooresville NC at 8:00 stopped for gas and fast-food. Checked in at vacation villages at 4:00! Not bad!

Thanks everyone for the great directions and advice.

it looks like you did your trip in 19 hours and 25 min. now what you want to do is on the way home, go up i95 the way mapquest was sending you and try to stop about the same amount of time etc... and see how long and what kind of a drive you had on the way home.

 

[sharadoc]

when are you getting your new knees?

The plan is November, so I'll be totally ready for the next Disney trip in June! I can't wait to walk everywhere!

 

[Mamasmurf227]

Hi, all! Starting to think about our drive and what time we should leave.

We would like to leave southern NH on Friday (in February-let's assume we're traveling 95 in case of snow) with the goal of getting to WDW mid-day Sunday. We plan to stop 2 nights along the way to break up the trip. Ideally, we'd like to drive around 12 hours the first day, a slightly shorter day the second day and only a few hours the third day.

But, I'm concerned that we're going to either run into AM NYC traffic or DC/Richmond evening rush hour on Friday.

Anyone who's driven from this area...what time do you leave? What time/where do you stop?

 

[dvczerfs]

The plan is November, so I'll be totally ready for the next Disney trip in June! I can't wait to walk everywhere!

who knows, maybe if i can get a deal, a real deal, not free dinning and a mug maybe we will be down in june. i have enough points for a week in june in a studio and still do our 11 nights at okw in a 1 bedroom in sept/ october. you will be the first to know. tammys still working the same way she has been. hopefully here in the next ew weekends we can get together. brianas down at the shore this week.