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

[dvczerfs]

Don't I know it! Just back from an absolutely WONDERFUL 10 night stay, 13 days with driving , and have the post Disney blues bad!

You know what the best cure is for me? To know I booked a bounce back for 10 nights next August before leaving! (That, and the fact we might actually buy DVC this year)!

welcome back steve!!! make sure you buy enough points! glad you had a good time.

 

[cruisingkat]

After our Oct and Nov/Dec trip, we are also planning a Feb trip - our daughter is running in the Princess half marathon and we should have a family group to support her (also to watch the grandkids while she runs). Since we are driving down and they are flying, we are in charge of bringing the signs that the grandkids make to cheer her on. She is really glad that we drive to Disney - I guess we will have to bring anything that makes her luggage overweight.

 

[dvczerfs]

After our Oct and Nov/Dec trip, we are also planning a Feb trip - our daughter is running in the Princess half marathon and we should have a family group to support her (also to watch the grandkids while she runs). Since we are driving down and they are flying, we are in charge of bringing the signs that the grandkids make to cheer her on. She is really glad that we drive to Disney - I guess we will have to bring anything that makes her luggage overweight.

i do the same thing!!! everyone dis's on the drivers. "yuk, why dont you fly, its so much faster and easier". but as soon as they hear your driving, they load you up!!! "take this bag and this, i cant take that on the plane,this is to heavy." i always tell them, im glad flying is so much easier for ya/ what we do for family.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I know a lot of others from PA drive down to WDW. I haven't driven down since I was a kid and I'm trying to talk my husband into it. How long does it honestly take if you want to go straight through from the Philly burbs? If check in was on Thursday when would you start driving? Any advice is much appreciated!

 

[PrincessMom4]

It all depends on the driver(s) ability whether or not they can drive straight through the night. You can split it into two days.

 

[dvczerfs]

I know a lot of others from PA drive down to WDW. I haven't driven down since I was a kid and I'm trying to talk my husband into it. How long does it honestly take if you want to go straight through from the Philly burbs? If check in was on Thursday when would you start driving? Any advice is much appreciated!

16 to 21 hours. it all depends on how long you can drive 1000 miles. weather, stops, traffic, speed all factor into it. i live in the lehigh valley and it takes me 161/2 hours. i tend to lean on the speed limit and not stop for meals and when i do stop, we dont stop for long.

 

[disneymarie]

ok, i got some pms and i replyed to them. ill post the pic of myself and sharon closer to the time we leave so you have an idea what i look like. remember, i have no clue what you look like. so your going to have to wave or something. tammy is asking who are all these women in your cell phone!! hopefully we can meet up!

Yup one of the women...
Will be nice will have to send a pic.

 

[sharadoc]

ok, i got some pms and i replyed to them. ill post the pic of myself and sharon closer to the time we leave so you have an idea what i look like. remember, i have no clue what you look like. so your going to have to wave or something. tammy is asking who are all these women in your cell phone!! hopefully we can meet up!

The woman's a saint! Tell Tammy I said and we need to get together! You're like the local politician who makes sure he shakes hands with everyone, except you're actually sincere LOL Everyone wants to meet you, I guess you win for Mr. Popular

 

[sharadoc]

I know a lot of others from PA drive down to WDW. I haven't driven down since I was a kid and I'm trying to talk my husband into it. How long does it honestly take if you want to go straight through from the Philly burbs? If check in was on Thursday when would you start driving? Any advice is much appreciated!

We take 16 1/2 to 17 hours. That's with stopping for gas and potty breaks only. Kids get drive-through and DH and I just snack in the car. We bring nuts, pretzels, hard boiled eggs, water, M&Ms, maybe some Tastykakes.

If we plan to sleep on the road, we drive to Walterboro SC in about 12 hours, then it's about 4-5 hours to WDW from there. Last trip we drove straight through for the first time, due to encouragement from folks on this board. We loved it! We left home around 4:30 am and got there at 10:30 pm, after losing 2 hours to unexpected traffic in DC at 6:30 am (construction). So we should have arrived at 8:30 pm - very doable!!

Not sure which burbs you're coming from, since I don't think Neverland is in Montgomery County but if you have a choice, Blue Route to 95 is better than 202 to 95, even though it seems like a backtrack if you're in some parts of Montco or Chester County.

 

[patkingpin]

Hey everyone - We are under a month away from driving from Buffalo to the World. We are looking to stop between Charlotte and Columbia, SC for the night when we drive. From there we are going to visit friends in Orange City FL. and stay the second night there. My question is if anyone knows some good hotels between Charlotte and Columbia, SC? We would need hotels on the Hilton Honors system since we will be staying with points. I just don't know which areas are best.

Oh and also, how bad is Friday evening rush hour through Charlotte?

Thanks!
Patrick.

 

[macraven]

i will be arriving at okw on sep. 27th around 8pm or so and will be leaving 3am on october 8th. if anyone wants to meet up for a hello and a hand shake, let me know, we can exchange numbers and see if we can meet.

put me on your list, i'll come shake your hand....and tammy's also!

i used to do the drive but now going solo so i fly.

 

[dvczerfs]

The woman's a saint! Tell Tammy I said and we need to get together! You're like the local politician who makes sure he shakes hands with everyone, except you're actually sincere LOL Everyone wants to meet you, I guess you win for Mr. Popular

you never know. yes we do have to get together. tammy worked today from home and ill i herd was her grumbling and groaning. we only have 2 more weeks till we have to go back to jefferson for an mri and see whats going on with the spot on her brain. she still has no symptons so we are hoping and praying for the best. after we get back in october, we will have to get together. we have been talking this weekend and we are going next year on may 12th to the 20th. vacations are in. briana will be able to go with us. her last class is may 7th. than, tammy and i will either go september or november for 11 nights. we want to see how it goes this september. i hate having to watch for all the storms and may and november would be good. keep in touch.

 

[sharadoc]

you never know. yes we do have to get together. tammy worked today from home and ill i herd was her grumbling and groaning. we only have 2 more weeks till we have to go back to jefferson for an mri and see whats going on with the spot on her brain. she still has no symptons so we are hoping and praying for the best. after we get back in october, we will have to get together. we have been talking this weekend and we are going next year on may 12th to the 20th. vacations are in. briana will be able to go with us. her last class is may 7th. than, tammy and i will either go september or november for 11 nights. we want to see how it goes this september. i hate having to watch for all the storms and may and november would be good. keep in touch.

Sounds great! I'm feeling confident about the Jeff visit, for sure

We're definitely going end of June and Thanksgiving week next year. Maybe your November trip can overlap. We'll be staying in a cabin at Fort Wilderness that trip - Christmas decorations are too cool to miss.

 

[disneymam]

We are getting close to home. We left Shades of Green at 6:15AM and passed through Harrisburg @ 9:15 taking 95/495/270/15. Didn't have to go below 65 mph, so no traffic!

 

[dvczerfs]

Hey everyone - We are under a month away from driving from Buffalo to the World. We are looking to stop between Charlotte and Columbia, SC for the night when we drive. From there we are going to visit friends in Orange City FL. and stay the second night there. My question is if anyone knows some good hotels between Charlotte and Columbia, SC? We would need hotels on the Hilton Honors system since we will be staying with points. I just don't know which areas are best.

Oh and also, how bad is Friday evening rush hour through Charlotte?

Thanks!
Patrick.

sorry, weve drive straight through. the onlt hampton inn i stayed at was in harrisburg virginia and i can say it was very nice. ive stayed at about 8 dif. hampton inns over the past few years up and down i95 and i dont think i hit a bad one yet. good luck, im sure someone will be around to help you out.

 

[nono]

We are getting close to home. We left Shades of Green at 6:15AM and passed through Harrisburg @ 9:15 taking 95/495/270/15. Didn't have to go below 65 mph, so no traffic!

Hope the rest of your trip was smooth sailing!


____

Packing will start later today after we get off the beach. Hoping for another good boogie board day!

 

[pwdebbie]

Hey everyone - We are under a month away from driving from Buffalo to the World. We are looking to stop between Charlotte and Columbia, SC for the night when we drive. From there we are going to visit friends in Orange City FL. and stay the second night there. My question is if anyone knows some good hotels between Charlotte and Columbia, SC? We would need hotels on the Hilton Honors system since we will be staying with points. I just don't know which areas are best.

Oh and also, how bad is Friday evening rush hour through Charlotte?

Thanks!
Patrick.

Can you push yourself to get past Columbia? We stayed in Orangeburg. There are plenty of hotels at the St. Matthews Rd. exit off I-26. I see that one is a Hampton Inn, which I believe is part of the Hilton chain. It was easy off and easy back on. We came through Charlotte twice on Sunday evenings and it was terrible, not DC terrible, but bad enough. I can't imagine Friday rush hour.

 

[disneymam]

Can you push yourself to get past Columbia? We stayed in Orangeburg. There are plenty of hotels at the St. Matthews Rd. exit off I-26. I see that one is a Hampton Inn, which I believe is part of the Hilton chain. It was easy off and easy back on. We came through Charlotte twice on Sunday evenings and it was terrible, not DC terrible, but bad enough. I can't imagine Friday rush hour.

We came through Charlotte on a Thursday at 6:00 PM and had to slow up for quite a bit for quite a few miles.

 

[patkingpin]

Can you push yourself to get past Columbia? We stayed in Orangeburg. There are plenty of hotels at the St. Matthews Rd. exit off I-26. I see that one is a Hampton Inn, which I believe is part of the Hilton chain. It was easy off and easy back on. We came through Charlotte twice on Sunday evenings and it was terrible, not DC terrible, but bad enough. I can't imagine Friday rush hour.

We are traveling with a 2 year old, my wife, and my mother in law. Do I really want to push it?
We are already trying to push the first day past Charlotte to make the second day a bit easier. I want to make a reservation this week so I don't know how much I want to push it if we have reservations in advance.
I was afraid of Charlotte's rush hour slowing us down Friday night, so I don't know how much further we would be able to get.

 

[nancyjvanwyk]

I know a lot of others from PA drive down to WDW. I haven't driven down since I was a kid and I'm trying to talk my husband into it. How long does it honestly take if you want to go straight through from the Philly burbs? If check in was on Thursday when would you start driving? Any advice is much appreciated!

we drive from York, PA and it takes us 16 hours I hope this helps. We go the inland route to avoid washington/baltimore. we enjoy the trip and stop if we are feeling tired. Generally we drive straight through. I am checking in on Saturday and will start out on Friday morning and get there in plenty of time for Saturday check in, even if we are taking our time and stopping a lot. Hope this helps and I hope you have a great time.