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

[nono]

The longest we've ever driven is 7 hours with the kids so I have no idea how this would go.
<snip>
Are we going to regret making the drive? Will we want to kill ourselves afterwards?

So how did you all do on the 7 hour drive? Did you hate it? Was it fine?

 

[ShellyShellfish]

So how did you all do on the 7 hour drive? Did you hate it? Was it fine?

They did pretty well, DS is content playing on the iphone apps or watching a movie, however DD was only less than a year old and not the opinionated stubborn toddler she is now. LOL

 

[nono]

They did pretty well, DS is content playing on the iphone apps or watching a movie, however DD was only less than a year old and not the opinionated stubborn toddler she is now. LOL

Well, I have one who's a bit like that. I talked to him before our first drive and explained it would be the longest time ever in the car, but we'd get to Disney World at the end of it. I had him agree to the ride a few days before the trip.

He got cranky about 4 hours into the trip, as bedtime approached. He wanted to abandon the trip and head back home. I told him we could, but that we'd miss the last ferry home, and would have to sleep in the car in the parking lot 'till morning. Or he could sleep in the car while we drove, and be in FL in the morning. Same amount of sleeping in the car, regardless. "So, can we just keep with the plan to have the longest drive ever, like you agreed to earlier this week?" He agreed. Nowadays, both my kids beg to get in the car for long trips. They love it.

Best piece of advice I received was to be sure to put small luggage under the children's feet so that they have footrests. It keeps them more comfortable.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Question about overnight lane closures on the DC Beltway----

We will be leaving Delaware around 2/2:30am tomorrow (!!). I was just playing around with the online AAA TripTik and noticed construction on both directions of 495, west through VA and east through MD. From what I could find on both states' websites the construction involves overnight lane closures.

Anyone who has driven through here recently before 5am, which way should we go? 495W, 495E or stay on 95 through DC? Dh has only driven the beltway during business hours lately so he's no help lol.

 

[BC1836]

Question about overnight lane closures on the DC Beltway----

We will be leaving Delaware around 2/2:30am tomorrow (!!). I was just playing around with the online AAA TripTik and noticed construction on both directions of 495, west through VA and east through MD. From what I could find on both states' websites the construction involves overnight lane closures.

Anyone who has driven through here recently before 5am, which way should we go? 495W, 495E or stay on 95 through DC? Dh has only driven the beltway during business hours lately so he's no help lol.

We always drive prior to 5 a.m. and usually reach the DE toll on I-95 no later than 4:30 in the morning. So you should be in great shape departing at that early time and remaining on I-95.

If you make only bathroom and gas stops (and eat and drink on the drive; perhaps, one short food stop) you'll be in Lake Buena Vista by dusk.

All the best.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Okay, we leave tomorrow morning, hopefully around 3:30, and I haven't packed anything except the snack bag for the car I better get moving!

I did figure out our ticket situation. I was going to order from UT and pick the up down there, use them once, and then upgrade to PAP but... I didn't get home in time yesterday to order for Monday pickup!

So, I'm going to just go to AAA in Orlando and get the passes. That's easier than using, upgrading, and getting a refund of our 1st day parking fee.

 

[dvczerfs]

We always drive prior to 5 a.m. and usually reach the DE toll on I-95 no later than 4:30 in the morning. So you should be in great shape departing at that early time and remaining on I-95.

If you make only bathroom and gas stops (and eat and drink on the drive; perhaps, one short food stop) you'll be in Lake Buena Vista by dusk.

All the best.

hi bc! where have you been hiding??

 

[angelat]

Well, I'll be leaving work in about 1 hour...going home to finish packing and take a nap. Then I have to bring our birds to my sister's house and get some dinner and then we're off.
Unfortunately the night before last was a bad night as I ended up with a horrible sinus infection that is affecting every part of my face, head and mouth on the right side. I've had basically no sleep for 2 days now. Antibiotics are starting to work now and the pain is subsiding so I'm hoping my nap will be restful. Otherwise, DH and I will be switching on and off driving much more than I anticipated. And if we end up needing to stop, well...we'll just stop.

Have a great week everyone!

 

[dvczerfs]

Well, I'll be leaving work in about 1 hour...going home to finish packing and take a nap. Then I have to bring our birds to my sister's house and get some dinner and then we're off.
Unfortunately the night before last was a bad night as I ended up with a horrible sinus infection that is affecting every part of my face, head and mouth on the right side. I've had basically no sleep for 2 days now. Antibiotics are starting to work now and the pain is subsiding so I'm hoping my nap will be restful. Otherwise, DH and I will be switching on and off driving much more than I anticipated. And if we end up needing to stop, well...we'll just stop.

Have a great week everyone!

have a great trip. you will be suprised how awake you will be heading south. on the way home is another story. keep in touch!!!

 

[winterhart534]

Hi Dis-ers!

I'm hoping a recent road-tripper can give me a critique of my planned route. Our reservations at Pop don't start until the 14th, so we're making the drive over 2 days in order to not arrive exhausted and hey, for once we've got the time!

We're leaving Chicago next Friday between 8 and 9 am. Personally, I'd like to leave as early as possible (4 or 5 am) but I'm trying to be kind to my hard-working fiance, who will just be back from a business trip to Boston the previous afternoon! We'd planned to head down on the 1-65 to 24 to 75 to Florida Turnpike route but I've heard that road construction and traffic between Louisville and Elizabethtown on 65 is just awful right now. I've done a Disney road trip before using I-57 to I-24 but I swear it was one of the most boring bits of driving I have ever done. Still, I'll take boring over bumper to bumper traffic any day! So, stick to 57 or is 65 ok?

Depending on how we feel, I'm guessing our first night will be between Murfreesboro and Chattanooga. We've got some stuff I'd like to do in Atlanta on Saturday but I'm wondering if it's feasible to consider driving the rest of the way to WDW that night, assuming we leave Atlanta by about 2pm? We're both good long distance drivers and it will just be the two of us, so no worries about kids getting bored/tired/restless. If not, I'm targeting Valdosta or Lake City. Any suggestions for hotels to look for or avoid along our route?
Thanks in advance! 1 more week - so excited!

 

[ShellyShellfish]

Well, I have one who's a bit like that. I talked to him before our first drive and explained it would be the longest time ever in the car, but we'd get to Disney World at the end of it. I had him agree to the ride a few days before the trip.

He got cranky about 4 hours into the trip, as bedtime approached. He wanted to abandon the trip and head back home. I told him we could, but that we'd miss the last ferry home, and would have to sleep in the car in the parking lot 'till morning. Or he could sleep in the car while we drove, and be in FL in the morning. Same amount of sleeping in the car, regardless. "So, can we just keep with the plan to have the longest drive ever, like you agreed to earlier this week?" He agreed. Nowadays, both my kids beg to get in the car for long trips. They love it.

Best piece of advice I received was to be sure to put small luggage under the children's feet so that they have footrests. It keeps them more comfortable.

That's a great idea about the luggage, DD is still rear facing, we're going to flip her in October when she turns 2, so I'm thinking that may help as well. I think at this point she's annoyed she's facing backwards when big brother gets to face forward.

If we do drive, we aren't scheduled to check in until Sunday....so we'd probably leave on Friday evening, drop our dog off at the in-laws and then head on out...do you know of some great spots to stop along the way to stretch the legs and also let the kids blow off some steam? I figure if we have 2 days to drive down and almost 4 days to drive back we can do some serious sight seeing along the way...make it a little adventure...and take the edge off a bit. (Though I'm still crossing my fingers there's some extraordinary airfare sale that happens between now and then)

 

[cruisingkat]

Hi Dis-ers!

I'm hoping a recent road-tripper can give me a critique of my planned route. Our reservations at Pop don't start until the 14th, so we're making the drive over 2 days in order to not arrive exhausted and hey, for once we've got the time!

We're leaving Chicago next Friday between 8 and 9 am. Personally, I'd like to leave as early as possible (4 or 5 am) but I'm trying to be kind to my hard-working fiance, who will just be back from a business trip to Boston the previous afternoon! We'd planned to head down on the 1-65 to 24 to 75 to Florida Turnpike route but I've heard that road construction and traffic between Louisville and Elizabethtown on 65 is just awful right now. I've done a Disney road trip before using I-57 to I-24 but I swear it was one of the most boring bits of driving I have ever done. Still, I'll take boring over bumper to bumper traffic any day! So, stick to 57 or is 65 ok?

Depending on how we feel, I'm guessing our first night will be between Murfreesboro and Chattanooga. We've got some stuff I'd like to do in Atlanta on Saturday but I'm wondering if it's feasible to consider driving the rest of the way to WDW that night, assuming we leave Atlanta by about 2pm? We're both good long distance drivers and it will just be the two of us, so no worries about kids getting bored/tired/restless. If not, I'm targeting Valdosta or Lake City. Any suggestions for hotels to look for or avoid along our route?
Thanks in advance! 1 more week - so excited!

How often do you like to stop? We (hubby and I) drive down many times during the year but only stop for gas (which includes bathroom breaks). We stop at Subway first thing on our way out and get a breakfast sandwich as well as one for lunch (love the fact that they make regular sandwiches that early in the morning) which we put in our cooler. We stop for the night just south of Atlanta in McDonough, GA, about a 12 hour drive from our house in the western Chicago burbs. So you should be able to get closer to Atlanta if not in Atlanta that first night. We do take 57 to 24, but we have done it so much it doesn't seem like that it is that long of a drive. We find 57 better and quicker even if both 57 and 65 are without construction because of extreme amount of truck traffic on 65 (those trucks seem to take a long time to pass each other). 65 can be pretty boring as well as 57 - any expressway through a flat state can be boring.
To help gauge your drive after Atlanta: The next day, we usually sleep in a little bit, have breakfast and are on the road again around 11am. We usually arrive at Disney around 3 or 4 pm - 5 if there is a tie up on the road.

 

[PrincessMom4]

****Really sad and happy at the same time. We are getting a newer van so I want to salute my old van.

Thank Daisy (van's "name"), we want to thank you for bringing us on so many memories. You safely brought home my last son and have given us our first means of transportation to go on our very first trip to Disney. ***sobbing ( yes over a van)*** We will always remember you and thank you for your years of service.

****EVERYONE honk your horns for an awesome van--DAISY!

 

[dvczerfs]

****Really sad and happy at the same time. We are getting a newer van so I want to salute my old van.

Thank Daisy (van's "name"), we want to thank you for bringing us on so many memories. You safely brought home my last son and have given us our first means of transportation to go on our very first trip to Disney. ***sobbing ( yes over a van)*** We will always remember you and thank you for your years of service.

****EVERYONE honk your horns for an awesome van--DAISY!

 

[winterhart534]

How often do you like to stop? We (hubby and I) drive down many times during the year but only stop for gas (which includes bathroom breaks). We stop at Subway first thing on our way out and get a breakfast sandwich as well as one for lunch (love the fact that they make regular sandwiches that early in the morning) which we put in our cooler. We stop for the night just south of Atlanta in McDonough, GA, about a 12 hour drive from our house in the western Chicago burbs. So you should be able to get closer to Atlanta if not in Atlanta that first night. We do take 57 to 24, but we have done it so much it doesn't seem like that it is that long of a drive. We find 57 better and quicker even if both 57 and 65 are without construction because of extreme amount of truck traffic on 65 (those trucks seem to take a long time to pass each other). 65 can be pretty boring as well as 57 - any expressway through a flat state can be boring.
To help gauge your drive after Atlanta: The next day, we usually sleep in a little bit, have breakfast and are on the road again around 11am. We usually arrive at Disney around 3 or 4 pm - 5 if there is a tie up on the road.

Thanks for the advice! We're pretty much "gas and go" drivers so it's great to know we can expect to make Atlanta on our first day. I think we'll stick with 57 as well. I've got several new audiobooks loaded on my iPod, so hopefully the time will go quickly. Still, any day you're heading to Disney is a darn good day!

 

[sharadoc]

****Really sad and happy at the same time. We are getting a newer van so I want to salute my old van.

Thank Daisy (van's "name"), we want to thank you for bringing us on so many memories. You safely brought home my last son and have given us our first means of transportation to go on our very first trip to Disney. ***sobbing ( yes over a van)*** We will always remember you and thank you for your years of service.

****EVERYONE honk your horns for an awesome van--DAISY!

Aww - we, our cat Daisy and our "Minnie-Van" say thanks for the memories to your DAISY. Looking forward to hearing about the new transportation

 

[Goofygirl17]

We leave in 8 hours I need to finish packing and get everything in the car! DH just changed the oil and filled the gas tank for me

 

[PrincessMom4]

Aww - we, our cat Daisy and our "Minnie-Van" say thanks for the memories to your DAISY. Looking forward to hearing about the new transportation

Thank you Sharadoc... we were thinking of naming the new van `minnie`but I don`t want to copy (unless you don`t mind)

 

[Goofygirl17]

6 hours!!

 

[krisnchris]

We drove down last year from MD - overnight. Got there @ 6 am, exhausted, and couldn't get into our room till 4. So this year, we can leave @ 2 pm, so we thought we'd stop for a little overnight in Savannah, GA, then finish early the next morning.

Problem is that I just found out that the night we'd stay in Savannah is the night preceding the inaugural Rock and Roll Marathon there. Do you think we should stay somewhere else, or do you think the hotels by 95 will still be ok? Thought about Florence, but that would be too soon of a stop for our liking. We have a 7 yo and a 4 yo. This is in Nov.