last month, i left the contemp. at 3am, we headed up i4 and i95 to i26. when we hit i26, the traffic was starting to get heavy already. i use i26 i77 i81. but, if your in philly, 81 is north of you. but, alot less traffic. a few post ago sharadoc post how she went 81 and shes from the philly area.
I'm getting more passengers every dayI put that route into AAA and it looks like it's much longer. I'm not sure what we're going to do yet. Still figuring
just remember, it maybe longer miles wise but time wise with out all that traffic, it probley is faster. what i do when i have to go some where for work or travel, (other than wdw) i ask a truck driver. we get alot of trucks in at work and every chance i get, i ask. they spend there life on the road and if theres a way around something, they know it. i still remember for our honeymoon going to wdw, we were 19. i didnt want to go around the dc balt. beltways and my dad had already passed away so i couldnt ask him. when i was a kid, i never paid attention to much which way he went. he also went a dif. way each time.
anyway, i asked a few truck drivers at work and they all told me the same thing. they can only drive so many miles in a 24 hour period so for them, time is eveything and sitting in traffic all counts for there time behind the wheel.
(though it's cost prohibitive to fly! ;-( )
We are planning on leaving the Ocean County NJ area around 3 pm and driving for about 6-7 hours...Now I am thinking this might be stupid and we are going to get caught in PM rush hour pretty much anyway we go on 95...we are planning on leaving the 17th and getting in at around dinner on the 18th. Does anyone have experience leaving in the afternoon?
Quite honestly, I have started reconsidering the cost of the airfare instead of driving!
As fellow Ocean County residents who have driven 23 times to WDW since 2002, we strongly recommend that you do not leave in the afternoon.
We did. Once. In 2002. Our first drive, when we didn't know better. We barely made across the NC border after experiencing lots of traffic along the entire route. I-95 around southern MD and northern VA was particularly memorable.
Since then, we leave early: very, very early. Think 3 a.m., not 3 p.m.
In any event, have a safe drive whenever you depart.
All the best.
Thank you! This definitely helped...I booked a room only on the 18th (package starts 19th) so I have to figure this out! Do you normally stop or go straight thru?
Honestly, with my DH I don't think going straight is an option...that's why we were thinking of driving a few hours the 17th...back to the drawing board. I m still trying to think if I would rather hop on a plane
here, ill give you her cell number! *&^&***&%$#
We are planning on leaving the Ocean County NJ area around 3 pm and driving for about 6-7 hours...Now I am thinking this might be stupid and we are going to get caught in PM rush hour pretty much anyway we go on 95...we are planning on leaving the 17th and getting in at around dinner on the 18th. Does anyone have experience leaving in the afternoon?
Quite honestly, I have started reconsidering the cost of the airfare instead of driving!
Thanks so much for the post--True, true...I wish hopping on a plane actually was just hopping on a plane! Thank you...you made me feel better about driving. Everyone is looking forward to it-I am just nervous (guess cause we haven't done it in a few years and never with kids)We have driven straight through eight times; in fact, our last six drives have been Ocean County-Lake Buena Vista treks. We stay in a Holiday Inn Express in Lake Buena Vista upon our evening arrival. The next morning we drive to our WDW hotel and let the magic begin.
Remember: one can't just "hop on a plane." The drive to the airport, check-in, TSA exams, the wait, the boarding, the flight, the exiting from the plane, the luggage wait, transportation to your WDW destination all add up.
Driving? You are in control. You can stop when you want. You can go to the bathroom when you want. You can eat and drink what you want and when you want. And you decide who sits next to you! Sure: there are occasional traffic jams but we'll take it over flying. However, an Ocean County-Disneyland trek is something else again.
All the best.
Do you mean August 17th (coincidentally my b'day)? You won't get caught in rush hour traffic as bad weekdays during August around DC. Lots of folks on vacation, not as many folks working then.
You could still leave during the day, how about 11 am? You could get into South Carolina, maybe Florence and stop for the night. Then you'll only have 8 hours to WDW.
If it's another month, then please disregard all of the above advice
)
I had no idea my presence was required!!
Don't forget, I have your number too
my birthday aug 23rd.!! but whos counting anymore!
(yeah I know). 
As fellow Ocean County residents who have driven 23 times to WDW since 2002, we strongly recommend that you do not leave in the afternoon.
We did. Once. In 2002. Our first drive, when we didn't know better. We barely made across the NC border after experiencing lots of traffic along the entire route. I-95 around southern MD and northern VA was particularly memorable.
Since then, we leave early: very, very early. Think 3 a.m., not 3 p.m.
In any event, have a safe drive whenever you depart.
All the best.
to "save" an hour, but BC1836 may have just convinced me to head out 78 to the 81 route--which I know is a more civil route, but still I wanted to "save" an hour... Hoping to drive around 8-10 hrs the first day., maybe stop around Charlotte around 2am, ambitious, I know...
anyone else drive from Bucks County area? Or Princeton area even?
This will be my third drive down, and I have always left at 2 or 3 pm, after getting the kiddies from school. I have yet to hit that horrid DC traffic, but that may be because we plan it out so that we get pretty far then stop for dinner.
I think that dinner time break helps make the traffic go bye bye lol!
I'm still open to any and all advice/tips! will have a 10 yo and 5 yo
