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

[Reese]

We're going to be leaving Friday morning around 6am which will put us in Chicago around 9:00. How is traffic around this time? I'm assuming bad but we really don't have another choice. The only other city I worry about is Atlanta and I've timed that so we'll be going through on Saturday around 8:30am which shouldn't be too bad

We'll be in Atlanta about the same time. I find the best way to deal with Atlanta traffic is to get in the carpool lane. I love them, they have their own exits and seem to move fairly well even in heavy traffic. With it being a weekend traffic should not be bad though.

 

[Cin]

Subscribing... 1187 miles one way from our house in Texas. I can't wait until we finally hit the road on our way to Mickey's house. Food and Wine Fest 2011 here we come!

 

[budafam]

We'll be in Atlanta about the same time. I find the best way to deal with Atlanta traffic is to get in the carpool lane. I love them, they have their own exits and seem to move fairly well even in heavy traffic. With it being a weekend traffic should not be bad though.

Thanks! Which lane is the carpool lane? This will be our first "cross country" trip ever since being married and of course our kids first trip out of the state for more than 3 days. We will be leaving in 8 days 7 hours 44 minutes. Not that I'm excited or anything

 

[Cin]

No matter what long-distance route you take to WDW, there are plenty of familiar chain hotels along major highways. Find out their cancellation-time policy and make two bookings. As you gauge your progress, pick one that you can get to and cancel the other.

All the best.

What great advice! I never would have thought of that.

 

[wdwfamilyinIL]

I can't believe how fast May 27th is coming, we will be leaving in the early morning hours. I was so depressed last monday when I got laid off from my job, and while I am still not thrilled especially with no bites on my resume, this trip is really helping give me something to look forward too. I am so glad that we paid everything off way in advance and put money in savings to cover everything, this is what we really need right now.

We live around the Covington Indiana area, I was going to go to Indy to catch 70, but being the blond I am I forgot about the Indy 500 being on Memorial Day so Indy might be crazy. Anyone else from around this area, or even kinda close...how did you go down? Also are there any updates on the construction in TN and GA?

 

[C&G'sMama]

We will be leaving on the 27th also, but closer to 8-10 pm. But we will probably be passing you during the night, since we drive straight through to Georgia before pulling over in a rest stop for a few hours sleep. We will be heading to Melbourne, FL where we have ressies at a Double Tree on the beach the night before out DCL Cruise. Probably won't be going to WDW this trip, but you never know. We both have DROIDs so I will be able to keep up with the boards, too.

I can't believe how fast May 27th is coming, we will be leaving in the early morning hours. I was so depressed last monday when I got laid off from my job, and while I am still not thrilled especially with no bites on my resume, this trip is really helping give me something to look forward too. I am so glad that we paid everything off way in advance and put money in savings to cover everything, this is what we really need right now.

We live around the Covington Indiana area, I was going to go to Indy to catch 70, but being the blond I am I forgot about the Indy 500 being on Memorial Day so Indy might be crazy. Anyone else from around this area, or even kinda close...how did you go down? Also are there any updates on the construction in TN and GA?

Looks like a few of us leaving on the 27th then. Disneyholic, please wave as you go by. We can't do the drive straight through thing. We could to it with just one overnight to save some $$$ but we just build the hotel nights into our budget. We like getting to Disney relatively early on Sunday morning.
@wdwfamilyinIL sorry about your job Glad you're still going. I may or may not be facing a layoff towards the end of the year, but the trip is paid for and I'll deal with the realities when we get back from vacation.

 

[dvczerfs]

Yeah, but between bags, kids and stuff you'll have to go up on the roof rack

We may consider going west to 81 since we're going on a Saturday so we REALLY may see you on the road. FYI - I have a new cell/smartphone so I'll have to give you that number. We decided to keep my old cell as our house phone and disconnect from Verizon. I'll probably have both with me, but the new phone is SO much easier to text on so I'd rather do that than the triple clicks on the number pad on the old phone.

Oh, and if anyone wants to, they're welcome to drive a little FASTER than we are, so they can be the ones pulled over while we smile and wave as we drive by doing 80! Did I say that out loud???

sounds good. just text me and tell me its you on your new number and ill put it in my phone. we are leaving friday, i would say around 2pm. i have a resi at the hampton inn on i81 at exit 247 so we are only going about 90 miles into virginia. we probley could go further but im going to hit traffic around harrisburg and i figured we are going to get there around 7-8pm. than sat. morning we are going to hit the road around 2:30-3am. i want to get past charl. nc before people get up and moving about.

 

[dvczerfs]

He's dodging us!

do you blame him?

 

[C&G'sMama]

As big of planners as we are we very rarely make hotel reservations ahead of time on the road. Only once did we go into a hotel and they didn't have a room but the next place did. We usually have our AAA guidebook and/or the list of Hampton Inns and call when we've decided where we'd like to settle for the night.


We have the AAA premier membership (we definitely get our money's worth especially this year with blown tires, getting locked out of 2 cars etc.) and with that membership they'll find something for you if needed. We've done that once or twice.

I just talked to DP and while I thought we were leaving at noon on the 27th as the kids have a 1/2 day of school she said she's going to let them sleep in and bag the 1/2 day, so we may hit the road earlier than planned and end up south of Fredericksburg. Who knows? So I think we'll stick to just waiting and see where we land.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I am so very jealous of all of you who are going this month! So wish we had the funds to do a short trip before October! I am dying! My dh says to stop whining after all we do get to cruise on the Dream in October!

 

[Cin]

I hear you loveys, I am jealous too. I want to be going to WDW now too! These boards are great though for satiating (or feeding) the Disney addiction. For now I can "travel" via others trip reports. At least in planning I feel like I am actively doing something not just wishing... come on fall 2011. LOL, I've got future Disney trips planned out for the next few years already. I'm working on trip plan D (number 4, lol) right now. A is if DD goes, B is if DH goes, C is for my son's graduation 2012 trip, D is my camping trip for Dad at FWL and FWCabins, and E will be my ultimate Disney dream trip. Now mind you, I can only go to WDW once a year, so we aren't talking immediate fulfillment here. (I could afford to go again, but convincing DH that is a good use of our savings, well.... he isn't a Disneyholic, so he doesn't get it.)
Those of you on the road, safe and happy travels!!! Those who just lost a job, sorry to hear it, but may God bless you and hoping you'll have a great time on your vacation regardless. Everyone else, TTFN!

 

[BC1836]

do you blame him?

An hilarious reply, dvczerfs!

Please inform the distinguished sharadoc that despite our seemingly secretive plans (we've actually not decided on our departure day yet) we will cross paths in WDW.

All the best.

 

[C&G'sMama]

To Cin, why do you think I'm posting so much right now. Our last trip was December 2009. We were supposed to go last October but had to cancel. This 17 months between trips is killin' me.

So I post a lot and am reading others' road reports to get us through. Pretty soon (22 days, but who's counting) I'll be able to put my money where my mouth is and actually start posting our road report. I did find some notes from our December 2009 trip as to where we got when and gas prices and the like. That trip we went down through Charlotte (90 to 79 to 19 to 77 to something to 95) and visited family and onto Disney and then back up 95 to 17 to 66 to 81 to 15 to home.

This trip will be the 15 and down that way route. We are going to Charlotte in October and since we'll be so close to Disney (relatively speaking) we may take a detour on the way home, we'll see).

 

[sharadoc]

do you blame him?

I'd be afraid of us too! Really, we're all good people, just a little "goofy" that's all!

 

[sharadoc]

As big of planners as we are we very rarely make hotel reservations ahead of time on the road. Only once did we go into a hotel and they didn't have a room but the next place did. We usually have our AAA guidebook and/or the list of Hampton Inns and call when we've decided where we'd like to settle for the night.


We have the AAA premier membership (we definitely get our money's worth especially this year with blown tires, getting locked out of 2 cars etc.) and with that membership they'll find something for you if needed. We've done that once or twice.

I just talked to DP and while I thought we were leaving at noon on the 27th as the kids have a 1/2 day of school she said she's going to let them sleep in and bag the 1/2 day, so we may hit the road earlier than planned and end up south of Fredericksburg. Who knows? So I think we'll stick to just waiting and see where we land.

Good idea! I hate those 1/2 days anyway - they only sit around and do busy work just to get it on the calendar as an "attended" day. We're lucky that our school district doesn't do half days. When both parents work, it's tough to figure out that schedule.

I think getting south of Fredericksburg early is necessary on your first day. Otherwise, you'll be right in the middle of the shore and holiday traffic.

 

[sharadoc]

An hilarious reply, dvczerfs!

Please inform the distinguished sharadoc that despite our seemingly secretive plans (we've actually not decided on our departure day yet) we will cross paths in WDW.

All the best.

And so I shall hold you to that! Are you saying my gray hair makes me look "distinguished"????

 

[Guzzi]

Has anyone done 81 south from NY or PA to WDW recently, was wondering how the traffic has been with the construction that has been reported on the board

 

[BC1836]

And so I shall hold you to that! Are you saying my gray hair makes me look "distinguished"????

"Distinguished" refers to:

1) your membership on this thread

2) your multiple 2,000+ mile round-trip drives

3) your expert guidance and advice that you have provided to others

4) your spirited, upbeat attitude

All the best.

 

[GoofyTraci]

Are you staying Jambo or Kidani? We are staying CL in Jambo but we'll probably hit both pools. My kids had fun at the spray area at Kidani in 09 but then again they were 7, 8 and 12 then now they are 9, 10 and 14 so might not be as big a hit.

Sorry I just saw this post today...we r staying at kidani then moving over to the villas at the wilderness lodge in a one bdrm. Hope you guys have fun. We have stayed at Kidani and Jambo and we love both but Love Kidani more bc it is quiet.

 

[Sawhiskey]

I leave Wednesday morning for my 3rd road trip down to Disney world.. Cannot wait!!!!!