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

[Goofygirl17]

So looking at my triptik I'm thinking we're probably not going to make it back to 95 for our Saturday night stop. It looks like we'll still be on 77? Any suggestions for places to stop for the night? I have no experience with this route whatsoever so I have no idea of how far we'll get.

Thanks!!

If it helps... we're leaving the New Haven area of CT around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. on Saturday the 6th. Planning on driving as far as possible before stopping for the night- hopefully at least 11 or 12 hours.

 

[disneymam]

All this talk of construction and lane closures at night is making me nervous!

Where can I find information for construction on 8/25 for 95?
I thought it was a good idea to drive overnight to avoid delays, will construction slow us down?

We leave on 8/25 from PA! We are taking 81 though. I feel like packing this week!!!

 

[ThreeKMom]

We leave on 8/25 from PA! We are taking 81 though. I feel like packing this week!!!

What time do you plan to leave?
Maybe we will cross paths as we get closer to Disney!

 

[PrincessMom4]

A few weeks for us and we'll be travelling down that way!! Have packed the usual that the kids "won't miss" stuff like toiletries and sunscreen a few weeks ago. Now I've slowly removed the odd short or tow (or five...lol) and they have not said anything. Can't wait to drive under that famous sign!!!!!!

 

[dvczerfs]

Isn't there an interstate 78 from Allentown area that joins I 81 near Lebonon? The split by Fort Indiantown Gap?

We go down 81 to 83 and I guess then will drive the routes straight through to Florence SC, on the way home riding Auto train to Lorton. Last drive we hit the traffic in Richmond. Maybe 20ish minutes of slow travel around 5-6 pm.

yes, i78 comes across from nj into the easton, allentown,bethlehem area (lehigh valley) than joins up with i81 out by lebonon area. i78 more less runs into i81

 

[justakrazymom]

More change of plans for us.. we are now heading down at 2:30 AM on the 14th.. I get home from work at 2am and we are just going to load the kids up and go. This should put us at our friends in GA around 7pm that night..maybe sooner. We will do the 95 route all the way down. Then the 18th we will continue on to Disney~

 

[skywaywaver]

Our original plans were to leave on 8/17, drive down to Florence, SC and then on the 18th make our way down to my parents in The Villages.

Change of plans - DH is going to try to leave work about noon-1 on Tuesday the 16th and we'll go down to the Hampton Inn in Stony Creek, VA (after going around the city) and then do the big driving the next day. We might have to leave earlier than planned (still waiting on DD's kindergarten info - great school district we have here ) so we're front loading, just in case.

I am NOT looking forward to the drive this time, even though both kids are potty trained and more into movies now. Almost wish we were just flying, even though it costs so much.

 

[aomaiga3211]

Glad I could help. If he had trouble with Soarin', then I wouldn't recommend the train.

Have a safe trip.

 

[tazdev3225]

I leave in 2 weeks and 6 days. I am now getting nervous about the drive. The van is getting an oil change next week, it comes with a free car wash and vacuuming a definite plus. I am taking a one day trip to NYC next saturday so my DH will drop it off at the mechanic for an flush and refill of new antifreeze. I'm also getting the battery checked to be on the safe side as it is original to the van. I have a 2006 Freestar but she only has a little over 34,000 miles. Since we are using the ports to charge phones, i-pods and i-pads along with DGS's games I want to make sure the battery is in good shape. I also want the belts and hoses checked. I think that will be it for the car. She just passed inspection and the mechanic said the brakes are good but I will worry about that too.

I thought about trying the route going down 81 but it's not worth driving 2 hours west to save time. I have convinced DH to leave by 4. I will do the driving down to around N Carolina and then he can take over. this way he can sleep longer in the car when we leave. My DGS is still volunteering to help but no, not happening. The only part of the whole plan is where to spend the night. DH is still saying we are driving straight through to Orlando. We have to meet our DD and her family at ASMo around 10:30. Her flight lands at 9:30. I thought of stopping at the Kingsland area but don't know what time we would have to leave to get to the resort by 10:30.

Any suggestions on what I left out as far as the car goes or the straight through drive? I just don't want to sleep in the car.

 

[rotlex]

I leave in 2 weeks and 6 days. I am now getting nervous about the drive. The van is getting an oil change next week, it comes with a free car wash and vacuuming a definite plus. I am taking a one day trip to NYC next saturday so my DH will drop it off at the mechanic for an flush and refill of new antifreeze. I'm also getting the battery checked to be on the safe side as it is original to the van. I have a 2006 Freestar but she only has a little over 34,000 miles. Since we are using the ports to charge phones, i-pods and i-pads along with DGS's games I want to make sure the battery is in good shape. I also want the belts and hoses checked. I think that will be it for the car. She just passed inspection and the mechanic said the brakes are good but I will worry about that too.

I thought about trying the route going down 81 but it's not worth driving 2 hours west to save time. I have convinced DH to leave by 4. I will do the driving down to around N Carolina and then he can take over. this way he can sleep longer in the car when we leave. My DGS is still volunteering to help but no, not happening. The only part of the whole plan is where to spend the night. DH is still saying we are driving straight through to Orlando. We have to meet our DD and her family at ASMo around 10:30. Her flight lands at 9:30. I thought of stopping at the Kingsland area but don't know what time we would have to leave to get to the resort by 10:30.

Any suggestions on what I left out as far as the car goes or the straight through drive? I just don't want to sleep in the car.

NO more thoughts on the car getting ready. We pretty much do the same thing. I have an oil change and a cooling system flush scheduled for the 15th of this month, and I always have the guys look for anything else that might give us a problem on a 2500 mile trip.

Other than that, I just make sure the AAA card is in my wallet, and hope for the best!

 

[dvczerfs]

well, after today we may not have any retirement fund left with the stock market crashing but at least we wont pay as much for gas! gas is down 14 cents to 2.78 today!

 

[rotlex]

well, after today we may not have any retirement fund left with the stock market crashing but at least we wont pay as much for gas! gas is down 14 cents to 2.78 today!

Don't even go there! I thought we were safe for a bit after the big "debt" issue. I'm afraid to look at our 401K and IRA's, LOL.

But really....it doesn't matter.... I'm going back to Disney World in 17 days!

 

[dvczerfs]

Don't even go there! I thought we were safe for a bit after the big "debt" issue. I'm afraid to look at our 401K and IRA's, LOL.

But really....it doesn't matter.... I'm going back to Disney World in 17 days!

thats the way i look at life, who cares, my 400 dvc points are paid for.

 

[tazdev3225]

NO more thoughts on the car getting ready. We pretty much do the same thing. I have an oil change and a cooling system flush scheduled for the 15th of this month, and I always have the guys look for anything else that might give us a problem on a 2500 mile trip.

Other than that, I just make sure the AAA card is in my wallet, and hope for the best!

I already have the card in the wallet and made sure DH has his. I tend to over worry about all of the little things, DH worries about nothing. We even each other out but this is a long road trip and we will have our DGS with us. He is turning 13 the day we leave so I am trying to come up with something for him to celebrate other than the fact that he is going to WDW.

 

[sharadoc]

Don't even go there! I thought we were safe for a bit after the big "debt" issue. I'm afraid to look at our 401K and IRA's, LOL.

But really....it doesn't matter.... I'm going back to Disney World in 17 days!

Long Term Investing! Don't look at it, don't take any money out of it. If you're putting money in each paycheck, you're buying cheap!

If all else fails, you can sell your house here and buy a really cheap foreclosure in Florida

 

[rotlex]

Long Term Investing! Don't look at it, don't take any money out of it. If you're putting money in each paycheck, you're buying cheap!

If all else fails, you can sell your house here and buy a really cheap foreclosure in Florida

True, all that, LOL. I really do tell myself "don't look at it...it's long term", problem is, I peek, get freaked out, and tell my wife I want to go to Disney to feel better, causing me to spend even MORE money!!!!!

AAAACCCCKKKK!!!! It's an endless circle of doom I tell ya'!

(Although I do like the idea of the cheap foreclosure in Florida)

 

[loveysbydesign]

Long Term Investing! Don't look at it, don't take any money out of it. If you're putting money in each paycheck, you're buying cheap!

If all else fails, you can sell your house here and buy a really cheap foreclosure in Florida

I just told me dh the other day we better put a higher % into the guaranteed interest of his 401k. Plus I keep trying to talk him into moving to FL in 2 years if he can get a job there!

 

[ShellyShellfish]

Hi everyone...first time posting in the 2000+ mile thread. We just booked our trip for this November! With now having to buy a seat for DD on any flights we take, it has gotten quite expensive so we are considering making the drive. We'd be coming from Western NY...how is it? We'd have a 2 year old and 4 year old in tow in a minivan that thankfully comes with anything you could possibly need to entertain a child (DVD players, etc). The longest we've ever driven is 7 hours with the kids so I have no idea how this would go.

An idea we've been tossing around is since we are checking out of WDW on Thanksgiving and don't have any commitments until school/work on Monday taking our time driving home and seeing some sights, etc. Thoughts?

Are we going to regret making the drive? Will we want to kill ourselves afterwards? Unfortunately for us, Rochester doesn't have many direct flights to MCO anymore, so we'd have to trek to Buffalo if we were to fly...so that's one more reason to think maybe we just suck it up and drive instead.

 

[SamSam]

Long Term Investing! Don't look at it, don't take any money out of it. If you're putting money in each paycheck, you're buying cheap!

If all else fails, you can sell your house here and buy a really cheap foreclosure in Florida

Exactly! Just keep repeating...long term works, long term works, long term works....
I think I shouldn't watch the news anymore!!!!

 

[SamSam]

To get back on the thread...we are from Kansas and thinking about driving for the first time. It's just 2 of us, but with flight costs being up, AND rental car prices being out of sight, we're thinking it could be fun to do a 'foodie' trip down.

Anybody have any interesting, fun dining experiences between Kansas and Florida? Dh and I are big Guy Fieri fans, so would love stopping at any of his recommendations on the way down.

Our biggest problem is the trip home, we both dread that thought....23 hours in the car at the end of our vacation!!!! Please help us deal with that!