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

[happily single]

We are leaving on April 15th too. However, we are planning on heading out around 4 A.M. I have been going back and forth with using 81, but I think we are going to stick with our usual route. At the time I am leaving I can pretty much just stick with 95 and take the Jersey turnpike straight through. I have in the past gotten off the turnpike and used the Garden State to 287 and gone over the Tappan Zee. We have never left at the time you are planning so I don't know what kind of traffic you will hit. We have changed our drive from straight thru to stopping in Florence, S.C. It ranges from 12-14 hours depending on our stops and of course traffic. That leaves us with 6-8 hours to the hotel in Disney.

If you take 81 let me know how the ride is and how long it takes you.

Last year we did the Route 95 all the way down. We left RI about 3:00 a.m. on a Saturday. We hit traffic in NYC, MD and one other state, which I can't remember. Tolls were a killer. FOrget about the bridges I'm scared of heights AND BRIDGES.

On the way down we stayed in Fayetville, NC. Its only 1-2 exits from the South Carolina border. We arrived in Fayetville about 4:00 p.m., after numerous and frequent stops, including lunch at Five Guys Burger and fries. We then left NC about 7:00 am, stopped for breakfast at South of the BOrder. We were the only car there and now I know why We then arrived in Orlando about 2:00ish if I remember correctly. Again, we stopped numerous times.

I'll be sure to post back about our Route 81 trip. Hoping to save some $$ on tolls and bridges

 

[dvczerfs]

Planning our first family drive from NH to WDW in June. Woo-hoo! I am getting very excited about driving. I hate flying and it is a hassle with 3 kids. My family used to drive when I was younger, about 1-2x/year to visit grandparents in FL. This will be the first time driving and taking my own kids, 3,6,7. I'm not worried about the time in the car, they sleep well in the car and amuse themselves fairly well. Took a drive to Maryland last year without a problem.
Trying to decide whether or not to drive straight through. I think it would be easier on the kids (and us) if they were sleeping through half of the trip. Just not sure if DH and I can handle it. Actually, more me. DH is a night owl and could probably drive until 2-3am without a problem. He can also fall asleep anywhere instantly, so would probably be well rested when I drove. I'm concerned about me being able to split the night driving, I do not usually sleep well in the car. Since I've never done it before, it's hard to know how it will go...
Our choices are to leave Saturday around 5pm (not ideal, I know, but DD has a dance recital at noon) and drive straight through, or wait, leave Sunday morning, stay in a hotel Sun night, then drive all day Monday. It would probably be smarter to leave Sunday, but I would hate to eat up another vacation day driving. I don't want to take 2 nights in a hotel, stopping Sat and Sun night. Thoughts?

your asking the million dollar question. when our dd was little, we would leave at 5pm after work, drive straight through and arrive around 9-10 am the next day. i, like your hubby can stay awake and can sleep anywere,anytime. that being said, i95, in the middle of the night, theres not much to look at in the dark but the black road. very little traffic and being the only one awake in the car with no one to talk to, can get hairy.add in some rain, and its gets real fun trying to stay awake and keeping it between the lines. for a few years we took a friend with us and we all ways had 2 people awake at one time. just someonr to talk to and keep yourself awake. after that, we just did it in 2 days, it just is not worth the risk if your not use to driving in the middle of the night, alone and tired. now, we leave at 3am or so and arrive there the same day at 7:30pm. also have to remember, you will pull into yout hotel in wdw, your kids are going to be ready to go and you and hubby will be dead on your feet.

 

[letthewookiewin]

We are planning a trip for WDW next year, and I was able to convince my DH to drive from DFW. We are going to take our time getting there. We're thinking 3 maybe 4 days. It will really depend on the budget. My DH is a Civil War buff and we are planning on making stops in Vicksburg, MS, Chickamauga, GA, Atlanta, GA, Savannah, GA, and Kennedy Space Center.

One thing that I am worried about are the FL toll roads that seem to be all around the WDW area. I wonder if it would be easier just to get a FL Sunpass and not worry about making sure that I have enough quarters in the mini van.

 

[BC1836]

Our drive today: Grand Floridian to Animal Kingdom; Animal Kingdom to Beach Club; Beach Club to Grand Floridian.

Ah!

[Disney Hess regular still at $3.75]


All the best.

 

[MinnieTink]

Hey everyone! Well we left on our 5th drive this am. (Still a rookie compared to some of you all!). We left Northern NJ (West Essex area) at 3:30 am and its been great. We gotto the border of FL at 4:40 pm. The gas prices are around $3.60 ish when we stopped in Va and SC. We could have spent at least $1500 to fly but so far we have spent $163 on gas and still have a half tank which will get us *probably* to our resort!!

 

[macraven]

We are planning a trip for WDW next year, and I was able to convince my DH to drive from DFW. We are going to take our time getting there. We're thinking 3 maybe 4 days. It will really depend on the budget. My DH is a Civil War buff and we are planning on making stops in Vicksburg, MS, Chickamauga, GA, Atlanta, GA, Savannah, GA, and Kennedy Space Center.

One thing that I am worried about are the FL toll roads that seem to be all around the WDW area. I wonder if it would be easier just to get a FL Sunpass and not worry about making sure that I have enough quarters in the mini van.

that made me smile.
we drove and stopped at vicksburg and then chicamauga.
it took us 6.5 days at those two places and we still didn't see enough of civil war stuff.
we are members of the Civil War Round Table of Chicago.

 

[BC1836]

Hey everyone! Well we left on our 5th drive this am. (Still a rookie compared to some of you all!). We left Northern NJ (West Essex area) at 3:30 am and its been great. We gotto the border of FL at 4:40 pm. The gas prices are around $3.60 ish when we stopped in Va and SC. We could have spent at least $1500 to fly but so far we have spent $163 on gas and still have a half tank which will get us *probably* to our resort!!

You made great time for a weekday drive!

Now then...Walt Disney World awaits. We're here!

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

Hey everyone! Well we left on our 5th drive this am. (Still a rookie compared to some of you all!). We left Northern NJ (West Essex area) at 3:30 am and its been great. We gotto the border of FL at 4:40 pm. The gas prices are around $3.60 ish when we stopped in Va and SC. We could have spent at least $1500 to fly but so far we have spent $163 on gas and still have a half tank which will get us *probably* to our resort!!

have a good trip!!! watch your speed on property.

 

[Jaime4004]

your asking the million dollar question. when our dd was little, we would leave at 5pm after work, drive straight through and arrive around 9-10 am the next day. i, like your hubby can stay awake and can sleep anywere,anytime. that being said, i95, in the middle of the night, theres not much to look at in the dark but the black road. very little traffic and being the only one awake in the car with no one to talk to, can get hairy.add in some rain, and its gets real fun trying to stay awake and keeping it between the lines. for a few years we took a friend with us and we all ways had 2 people awake at one time. just someonr to talk to and keep yourself awake. after that, we just did it in 2 days, it just is not worth the risk if your not use to driving in the middle of the night, alone and tired. now, we leave at 3am or so and arrive there the same day at 7:30pm. also have to remember, you will pull into yout hotel in wdw, your kids are going to be ready to go and you and hubby will be dead on your feet.

You're right about getting there in the am and having the kids wired, that would be rough. If we drive through, don't plan on getting there until about 5pm or so. Long drive from NH... We're also staying offsite and my parents are coming with us and will already be down there. So i'm hoping we'll just have an early night (kids go to bed early anyway) but if we're super exhausted and they're not, there's always grandma! Then we would have all day Monday, and hopefully be well rested. Or maybe we'll be driving all day Monday, still undecided.
The way home is going to be different, we're stopping in SC and MD to visit family. Looking forward to that, too!

 

[dvczerfs]

You're right about getting there in the am and having the kids wired, that would be rough. If we drive through, don't plan on getting there until about 5pm or so. Long drive from NH... We're also staying offsite and my parents are coming with us and will already be down there. So i'm hoping we'll just have an early night (kids go to bed early anyway) but if we're super exhausted and they're not, there's always grandma! Then we would have all day Monday, and hopefully be well rested. Or maybe we'll be driving all day Monday, still undecided.
The way home is going to be different, we're stopping in SC and MD to visit family. Looking forward to that, too!

thats good you have the grandparents just in case. drive safe and have a great trip! do you know which way your going down? theres alot of people on this thread from up your way, maybe they can help you out with road construction and interstates.

 

[letthewookiewin]

that made me smile.
we drove and stopped at vicksburg and then chicamauga.
it took us 6.5 days at those two places and we still didn't see enough of civil war stuff.
we are members of the Civil War Round Table of Chicago.

My DH just promised a drive through of Vicksburg, since we've already been there once with the boys. When my dad found out about the trip, he called and is trying to convince us to go to Anderson, SC. Someone we're related to was in the Palmetto Sharpshooters. Also, my DH promised that if we go to Savannah, we can see some of those beautiful homes that I have always wanted to see.
My DH would love to do reenactments, but he just doesn't have the time (or money) to put into it right now. After looking at the webiste, the Civil War Round Table looks like something my DH would love. The drive would just be a little far from North Texas. At least he could get a decent slice of Chicago stuffed pizza. I could go on and on about the place in town claiming to be authentic Chicago pizza.

 

[macraven]

My DH just promised a drive through of Vicksburg, since we've already been there once with the boys. When my dad found out about the trip, he called and is trying to convince us to go to Anderson, SC. Someone we're related to was in the Palmetto Sharpshooters. Also, my DH promised that if we go to Savannah, we can see some of those beautiful homes that I have always wanted to see.
My DH would love to do reenactments, but he just doesn't have the time (or money) to put into it right now. After looking at the webiste, the Civil War Round Table looks like something my DH would love. The drive would just be a little far from North Texas. At least he could get a decent slice of Chicago stuffed pizza. I could go on and on about the place in town claiming to be authentic Chicago pizza.

there are local groups of Civil War Round Table all over the US in major cities.
(and smaller cities also)


i love that organization.
have taken some of the group tours and they can't be beat.

 

[letthewookiewin]

there are local groups of Civil War Round Table all over the US in major cities.
(and smaller cities also)


i love that organization.
have taken some of the group tours and they can't be beat.

Thanks!! I didn't know there was one here. I was going to have my DH go and talk to my Dad's cousin to see what kind of Civil War groups were in the area. He runs a Civil War museum not far from where we live. I know the Sons of the Confederacy have several groups that meet in the area.

 

[BC1836]

Nothing better than to have your vehicle parked at WDW after the first half of a 2,000+ mile round-trip drive (our 22nd round-trip drive since 2002).

Sunny...upper 80s expected today. Monorail ride after breakfast.

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

Nothing better than to have your vehicle parked at WDW after the first half of a 2,000+ mile round-trip drive (our 22nd round-trip drive since 2002).

Sunny...upper 80s expected today. Monorail ride after breakfast.

All the best.

for some reason the van all ways looks better sitting in a wdw resort parking lot.

 

[pamkev]

Nothing better than to have your vehicle parked at WDW after the first half of a 2,000+ mile round-trip drive (our 22nd round-trip drive since 2002).

Sunny...upper 80s expected today. Monorail ride after breakfast.

All the best.

Sounds like your having a great time!

 

[pamkev]

for some reason the van all ways looks better sitting in a wdw resort parking lot.

In 26 days I'll get to know that feeling

Feeling like a virgin

 

[Jaime4004]

thats good you have the grandparents just in case. drive safe and have a great trip! do you know which way your going down? theres alot of people on this thread from up your way, maybe they can help you out with road construction and interstates.

Yes! We are leaving either June 25th (saturday) around 5pm, or the following morning.

 

[BC1836]

Sounds like your having a great time!

Thanks pamkev!

And we just took advantage of the 40% offer in the rooms for an October stay.

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

Thanks pamkev!

And we just took advantage of the 40% offer in the rooms for an October stay.

All the best.

ill be there starting tuesday september 27th to saturday october 8th. at okw!