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

[Goofygirl17]

As far as solo drivers I drove down this past summer with my two daughters (8 and 11). We had a great time- took 3 days down and 3 days home from CT. We had a great time and might do it again next summer

 

[BC1836]

newbee!!! bc, if your going down between june 18th and the 26th, well have to get together!! it will probley be easier this time, ill be at the contemp. if not, we are going sept.26th till oct.10th also. this trip will just be dw and i so one less person to move in one direction. we have to have another 2000 plus mile dis meet. if your intrested, sometime this spring, the dis dads are getting together in philly. its looking like the philly zoo.(not that the dads should be in the zoo) if your intrested. there will, should be about 12-15 guys there from 5 dif. states. we are trying to beat our record of five dads in one spot. there were about 10 of us in wdw last month but some just missed each other and just trying to be at the same spot at wdw is a challange. let me know!

Howdy!
Keep me posted on the Philly gathering.
June? Seems so far away, especially with this brutally-cold winter we're having.
Good luck to all on the road.
All the best.

 

[Donald is #1]

As far as solo drivers I drove down this past summer with my two daughters (8 and 11). We had a great time- took 3 days down and 3 days home from CT. We had a great time and might do it again next summer

Did you end up stopping at any attractions on the drive or did you do 3 shorter days?

 

[dvczerfs]

Howdy!
Keep me posted on the Philly gathering.
June? Seems so far away, especially with this brutally-cold winter we're having.
Good luck to all on the road.
All the best.

its 11 degrees this morning. brrrrr. june is the only hing that keeps me going. will do.

 

[dvczerfs]

As far as solo drivers I drove down this past summer with my two daughters (8 and 11). We had a great time- took 3 days down and 3 days home from CT. We had a great time and might do it again next summer

,excellant!! i always wanted just to do a daddy, daughter trip but there was no way dw would stay home while we were in wdw. now, she can drive me if i brought a bucket with me. im just kidding, she a good driver.when our dd was about 7 or so, i got an atlas that was enlarged. i taught her how to read a map one trip to wdw. i showed here how to look for the mile markers, exit numbers, i would ask her which one is next etc... it realy gave her something to do and even to this day, when shes not sleeping, i see her looking at the atlas to fiqure out were we are. she also is looking to see when the next rest stop is coming up. its funny, im 45 and my parents passed away when i was 16 and 17. i cant remember what they gave me for christmas or birthdays but i can remember little details of my childhood being in the car and our wdw trips. congrats on your trip and your dds will remember that trip the rest of there lives.

 

[Luvamouse]

edited for space...
It really isn't a bad drive as long as you are prepared. If you are driving I-95 I recommend getting a book called Drive I-95 An Exit by Exit guide, a great book for getting an idea of where the rest areas are and what restaurants, stores, hotels etc. are at each exit. Good luck and be safe!

We are very similar to you all, but now do a stop in NC on our runs south... You have this thing nailed right down

looking for some thoughts and advice. We are booked at Pop for May 7. We will be driving down from Boston. It will be hubby, myself and our 2 kids. Aged 4 and 8. My initial plan was to leave at midnight 12:01am May 6. Drive as much as we can and stay overnight possibly in GA somewhere. Then drive the rest of the way the next day.

I just found out that my daughter will have a half day on May 5. I was thinking of possibly leaving early afternoon on May 5.

I am also wondering if its possible or if we should even consider driving straight through. If so would it be better to drive straight through and leave at midnight or drive straight through and leave early afternoon on May 5 (we could always add an extra night onto our ressie and check in on May 6).

If we leave at midnight and drive straight through is it ok to check into our resort in the middle of the night?

If you leave early, consider the traffic here in the NE in the afternoon. We will be leaving in 24 days when my girls get out of school early too. But we take 95S to EXIT 69 CT and jump up to 691 and then on to 84-- to 81 and go south. We avoid a ton of traffic and have never hit rush hour or stalled construction in numerous trips down 81. From Boston you could take 84-81 and avoid a lot of traffic I bet. You'd probably get through Hartford within a couple of hours and be much better off than NYC, DC, etc. If you want to stick to 95, I'd go with the midnight exit. And seriously? Skip the driving straight though. In my personal opinion, with years and years and hundreds of thousands of miles under my belt, or rather under my butt, it just isn't worth it on such a long trip. Get an inexpensive, good name hotel halfway down and get some rest. You won't regret it. You don't necessarily know when you are falling asleep driving.... Good luck either way!!

its 11 degrees this morning. brrrrr. june is the only hing that keeps me going. will do.

-2 here... snow/mess on the way again Wednesday... I am praying that it tempers a bit before we head south in just under 4 weeks! (As much for all the critters we leave here that need to be cared for.) I'd be thrilled with 60 degree days in WDW-- and I agree, that is what gets me up in the morning right now! That and the heated seats in my Suburban

,excellant!! i always wanted just to do a daddy, daughter trip but there was no way dw would stay home while we were in wdw. now, she can drive me if i brought a bucket with me. im just kidding, she a good driver.when our dd was about 7 or so, i got an atlas that was enlarged. i taught her how to read a map one trip to wdw. i showed here how to look for the mile markers, exit numbers, i would ask her which one is next etc... it realy gave her something to do and even to this day, when shes not sleeping, i see her looking at the atlas to fiqure out were we are. she also is looking to see when the next rest stop is coming up. its funny, im 45 and my parents passed away when i was 16 and 17. i cant remember what they gave me for christmas or birthdays but i can remember little details of my childhood being in the car and our wdw trips. congrats on your trip and your dds will remember that trip the rest of there lives.

My DD 16 flew for the first time last fall and hated it! I was shocked as DH was afraid she'd no longer tolerate the drive to WDW... yet it was just the opposite. She hated being in RI and then 3 hours later in Indy. She knows how long it should take to get there and was completely messed up, lol... My girls love the drive, the MM signs and we have numerous, very blurry, pics of every state sign from every state we've ever entered!! In the end, all we have are the memories, and I don't care to have one of them be us stranded on the tarmac due to ice...snow...air traffic...

 

[Goofygirl17]

Donald- We stopped at a friend's house in Maryland the first night so only drove 6 hours but the girls had a great time playing and we left early the next morning. The second day we drove about 11 hours and stopped in Savannah GA. The girls swam in the pool, went to bed and we got going again in the morning. 4 more hours and we were in Orlando! On the way home we stayed at a friend of a friend's condo in Myrtle Beach and went swimming for a few hours before getting back on the road the second day. If we go again next summer I think I'll plan activities or visits with friends on the way home.

dvczerfs- We had an awesome time! DH doesn't usually have any time off in the summer so it was just a girls' trip but we had a great time! DD11 doesn't like to ride in the car so it was important to plan fun things and to take 3 days instead of 2 LONG ones. We also stayed at Disney for 2 weeks which helped motivate her We usually fly but the prices were outrageous- plus renting a car It was also nice having our own car.

I can't wait until April! It is freezing here and there's a possibility of another snowstorm on Wed! I'm so ready for spring!!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

I am thinking we will drive this year. We always plan to drive and I HOPE there will be some kind of good deal on airfare but this year I have a feeling I won't find that good deal. I love how you guys can make the drive sound pleasant!

 

[KibbyCat]

Never done this with kids. We used to be able to drive straight through with no problem. Now, we're probably going to have to stay overnight and split it up.
If you drive from DFW to WDW, please give me your opinions:
Which route do you take - East into LA, and then South; or South into Houston, and then East?
Where's the best place to stop for the night?
Do you drive equal amounts on each day, or is one day of your trip longer?

 

[Donald is #1]

Donald- We stopped at a friend's house in Maryland the first night so only drove 6 hours but the girls had a great time playing and we left early the next morning. The second day we drove about 11 hours and stopped in Savannah GA. The girls swam in the pool, went to bed and we got going again in the morning. 4 more hours and we were in Orlando! On the way home we stayed at a friend of a friend's condo in Myrtle Beach and went swimming for a few hours before getting back on the road the second day. If we go again next summer I think I'll plan activities or visits with friends on the way home.

Thanks! I was curious because my niece is 12. On the way down, we will be stopping in DC for the weekend, but I am still thinking about the drive back. Though it may be DC again depending upon what we do on the way down. i.e. I'm taking with me to a convention since it is occurring right before our trip. So if we don't get to the zoo on the way down, then we will do it on the return trip since she really wants to see the pandas.

 

[blondietink]

I am also the principle driver an dhave done it without help from DH on our last 5 trips. Even if DH has the cruise control on, he really has an uneven foot on the gas pedal and it drives me nuts. I enjoy driving and find it relaxing.

It is going down to -10 degrees tonight. BRRRRR!! Can't wait until April 10th when we pull into BCV for 11 days! Actually, I can't wait until Feburary 21st when we cruise out of New Orleans to Mexico! And yes, I will be doing the drive ..... only 40 miles further than from my house to WDW.

 

[LovinPooh]

Driving from NH to FL in Feb... my DH drives.. we usualy take 95 all the way down. But he wants to avoid the NYC, NJTP, Baltimore, DC crap this time around. Which will save on tolls as well. So we'll see!
Heres to 22 hours in the car

 

[jakenjess]

Driving from NH to FL in Feb... my DH drives.. we usualy take 95 all the way down. But he wants to avoid the NYC, NJTP, Baltimore, DC crap this time around. Which will save on tolls as well. So we'll see!
Heres to 22 hours in the car

Looks like we'll be driving down from Maine the same week as you.Not looking forward to the school vacation week crowds, but with our oldest in high school we don't have much choice anymore. There's a 59 degree temperature difference right now between here and Orlando -- I'm ready to escape the cold! Let's cross our fingers for no snowstorms during our drive. Safe travels!

 

[LovinPooh]

Looks like we'll be driving down from Maine the same week as you.Not looking forward to the school vacation week crowds, but with our oldest in high school we don't have much choice anymore. There's a 59 degree temperature difference right now between here and Orlando -- I'm ready to escape the cold! Let's cross our fingers for no snowstorms during our drive. Safe travels!

And safe travels to you as well! We are hoping for no storms as well. Those certainly are no good to travel in. Hit one back in 2005, did 25mph all the way up the NJTP... that was awful lol!

-18 this morning in NH... any crowds are tolerable at this point lol.
Have a safe trip and a great vacation! Enjoy the warmth!

 

[BC1836]

And safe travels to you as well! We are hoping for no storms as well. Those certainly are no good to travel in. Hit one back in 2005, did 25mph all the way up the NJTP... that was awful lol!

-18 this morning in NH... any crowds are tolerable at this point lol.
Have a safe trip and a great vacation! Enjoy the warmth!

The NJTP is usually brutal; sometimes 25 mph can be a pleasant speed after you sit in a stop-and-go stretch up north or south of Exit 8A.

BTW: We're driving a neighbor to the airport tomorrow so he can take a flight to Florida!

All the best.

 

[Donald is #1]

-18 this morning in NH... any crowds are tolerable at this point lol.
Have a safe trip and a great vacation! Enjoy the warmth!

Wow, you're making my place in NH seem warm. It was at a balmy -10 at my house this morning.

 

[sharadoc]

Here's something OT, yet I know you guys will relate. I have a conference in Washington DC. My boss asked if I was taking the train and I answered - No, I'll drive! To me, DC is so close that I couldn't imaging taking a train into Philadelphia, the train to DC, then a cab to the conference. I can drive quicker than that!

These drives to Florida have made me immune to driving fatigue, so a 2-1/2 hour trip to DC is as short as a trip to the grocery store!

 

[nytimez]

Here's something OT, yet I know you guys will relate. I have a conference in Washington DC. My boss asked if I was taking the train and I answered - No, I'll drive! To me, DC is so close that I couldn't imaging taking a train into Philadelphia, the train to DC, then a cab to the conference. I can drive quicker than that!

These drives to Florida have made me immune to driving fatigue, so a 2-1/2 hour trip to DC is as short as a trip to the grocery store!

I'd take the train because driving inside DC -- and parking -- is a total hassle and I want nothing to do with it. But I get what you mean.

 

[PapaPiper]

Took the whole family on our first trip this past June. All 12 of us in 2 cars . I was concerned that it would turn into a nightmare with the kids, but they ended up loving the ride down and back.

Now we are planning to go back in 2012 for a Christmas season visit and I'd love to drive again. But school schedules may make it a problem. But school aside, driving is definitely the way to go for us from now on!

 

[sharadoc]

I'd take the train because driving inside DC -- and parking -- is a total hassle and I want nothing to do with it. But I get what you mean.

Understood, although it would take me about an hour and a half to get to Philadelphia, park and get on a train. And we've take the "wrong way" through DC so I think I can handle it!