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

[cruisingkat]

We like 57 too, MapQuest says it adds 2 hrs but it doesn't feel like it. Where do you stop?

We actually timed each way and 57 did not take that much more time than 65. Even our Nuvi only shows about 10-20 minutes difference between the two routes.
We normally leave on a weekday between 9 and 9:30 in the morning to avoid the Chicago rush hour traffic and end up stopping just south of Atlanta in McDonough or Forsyth, GA which gets us past Atlanta morning rush traffic for the next day. Hubby is the only driver so we don't push much further. The next day, we have breakfast at the hotel and leave around 11 am. We make it to Disney about 3pm just in time for checkin.
When we were younger and under more of time constraint, he would drive straight thru to Venice, FL in one day.
I would caution you about the speed limit and speed traps in GA - especially in Turner Cty (between mile marker 75 and 84) near the FL border. We have on occasion seen as many as 4 sheriff's cars in each direction in that short stretch of road. And fines are very high in GA with an additional amount added if you are caught doing 15 or more above the speed limit.

 

[Lee23]

Lee23: EZpass in NJ has a website (not sure if we are allowed to post other sites, but a search for nj ezpass will locate it) with their terms and discounts. Maybe other states have one too. I believe most discounts went away and are now commuter discounts only, meaning you need so many trips a month for a discount to apply. Also note that NJ charges $1.00 a month fee for ezpass. I know people who got theirs in PA to avoid that fee. Not sure if PA is still free.

OK, thanks for the help. I did order an EZPass through the NJ website. I've already been charged the initial deposit fee ($25) even though it hasn't come in the mail yet (and let's hope it gets here before we leave in 11 days!)

I guess I won't be able to tell if we pay less for the bridges until I see the EZPass charge and compare it to the posted toll price...

 

[dvczerfs]

That sounds good too. How many times have you done this drive? What was your wildest trip? I think we could almost make it all the way through. Do you drive straight through on the way home? I know what you mean about not being able to sleep on the road.

we drive straight through on the way home. same way, we hit the road at 3:30am, no traffic in orlando or jacksonville. we get home around 7:30-8:00pm.
how many times, way to many.
wildest trip, got stuck in a snow storm in virginia on i81 one year. that was about 25 years ago, never again. we have left home and disney a few times early to beat weather anymore.
wildest trip at wdw, huricane wilma!!! we got there two days before she came ashore. i went to check in and ask if they are still letting people check in. the cm looked at me like i was nuts. why not she asked? i said theres a cat 3 huricane coming. she asked me where am i from. i told her and she said she was from mass. and a cat 3 is like getting 6 inches of snow at home, no big deal.
we were in the mk for the halloween party when it started to get windy. we went back to okw around 10:30. there was a message on our phone. would we please bring in the patio set from the balcony till the storm is over.
i have it on video, the palm trees were bending in a 90 degree angle. it was raing sideways. the tv said all parks closed till further notice. i have to say, we didnt hear a thing!! if you didnt look out the windows, you would think it was a clear night. by 9am it was over. parks opened at 11am. there were trees down on the way to the mk but in the mk, not a twig,a leaf,nothing on the ground. we had to laugh,
during the night, i rolled over around 4am and the little red light on the phone was blinking. i thought, he we go. we listened to the message. in true disney form. " due to hurican wilma, the parks are closed till further notice. olivias (the rest. in okw) and the gift shop will open at 6am for your dining and shopping needs. have a magical day."

 

[sharadoc]

Internet wasn't working (my VirginMobile WiFi) in our room, so sorry I wasn't back with updates.

they made it just fine. they got in around 1:30am. that was about 21 hour day straight through. they were dead tired but glad they made it.
the philly forecast was calling for rain and by 4 am they had snow on the ground. she did say they didnt hit any traffic.

My DH was a king that day. I swear we were only going 20 when we started swerving. Of course, your life does flash before your eyes. The kids were scared and DD almost wanted to go home. We were willing to do that, but then she thought about it and didn't want to miss her birthday at Disney!

In retrospect, we just should have waited until Sunday to leave. It just didn't seem that bad!

So glad they are there okay, if but wiped out. I just don't know how you all can do it in one clip. Mentally and physically too much for our family. By 8pm, 11 hrs I was crying like a baby for a shower and bed. But, I also do not get much rest the night before, if any.

But, if you can do it in a day, then that is more time at Disney!

Maybe this summer will be a drive and off site hotel to fit in an off school trip.

Exhausted doesn't begin to describe it. I couldn't see straight but DH was great. I kept him talking and occupied the whole way into Disney. I think I only drove 7-8 hours of that whole trip.

We are on the road home now and are talking about the best way to do this next time.

well, for us, its worth it. this is just how we feel and what works out for us. but, when we use to do two days of driving. the night before, i dont sleep. we would leave early (4am) to beat the local rush hour traffic and drive to s.carolina. we would get there around 4pm, check-in, unload a small overnight bag and get something to eat. we would try to fall asleep early and as normal, i didnt sleep. up early and hit the road at 4am. we would pull into wdw around 10:30am or so. (remember, you just spent $100 for a motel room and been driving for one and a half days) you go to check in at wdw and your room is not ready!!!!
now you have a van full of stuff, you want to get unpacked a relax and now you wait till 4pm till your room is ready and you can unload. so in our minds, we took two full days to drive 1086 miles and get checked in.
when we leave at 3-3:30am. im there by 7:30-8:00pm. its like a normal day at home but you are wdw. when you arrive at 7:30pm, your room at wdw is ready!!! in one hour, im unpacked and on vacation in one day!!! im i tired??? sure, but now im done for 12 nights. only took me one day. we just feel better when we are there, we know the room is ready and the work is done in 18 hours or so, not, almost two days.

You have a perfect system for you. We're not sure if we want to leave earlier and get in earlier, or leave later and get in really late. We've even talked about stopping overnight on the way down because of the traffic issues.

We'll be in touch about August, we think we're going to do the Dave way down!

 

[dvczerfs]

Internet wasn't working (my VirginMobile WiFi) in our room, so sorry I wasn't back with updates.



My DH was a king that day. I swear we were only going 20 when we started swerving. Of course, your life does flash before your eyes. The kids were scared and DD almost wanted to go home. We were willing to do that, but then she thought about it and didn't want to miss her birthday at Disney!

In retrospect, we just should have waited until Sunday to leave. It just didn't seem that bad!



Exhausted doesn't begin to describe it. I couldn't see straight but DH was great. I kept him talking and occupied the whole way into Disney. I think I only drove 7-8 hours of that whole trip.

We are on the road home now and are talking about the best way to do this next time.



You have a perfect system for you. We're not sure if we want to leave earlier and get in earlier, or leave later and get in really late. We've even talked about stopping overnight on the way down because of the traffic issues.

We'll be in touch about August, we think we're going to do the Dave way down!

hi sharon!!! hope your having a time.

 

[marius97]

My only thought is double check your times. We are just a hair over 1,000 miles (MI) and it takes us just under 20 hours. Depending on how many meals you stop for and how many bathroom breaks for the little kids (or big kids), that extra time can really add up quick.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I'm on my way from SE Michigan, about 1,170 miles one way. Overnighting in Macon, GA tonight. Should be about 385 left for the Sunday trip in. I got an excellent hotel deal tonight via Priceline, about $47 including all taxes and fees, room includes flat screen TV with high-def cable and pretty good wireless internet. (Usually the wireless internet is not free and/or barely works.)

Planning to check out the "new" Sweet Tomatoes in the maingate west area for dinner tomorrow.

 

[MeggM]

We are doing the drive in late April so I know there shouldn't be too much of a weather issue. We've done the drive many times, but not since 2005 with our first baby. Now we have four girls and we're going to load up the minivan and do the drive, straight through on the way down.

We have typically driven through West Virginia and the mountains but that will most certainly be my stretch of the drive (based on a 1pm departure and my husband driving from 1am - 5am, the only time I cannot drive) so we'd be in the mountains after dark and completely in my stretch.

I suffer from severe anxiety driving through that part of the country. And if we hit fog I'll be a mess! So, we were considering switching it up for the drive down to a slightly longer route but perhaps less mountainous and therefore might not take that much longer because I will be able to maintain better speed.

The route we were considering takes us from Buffalo through Altoona PA, into Richmond Virginia, and down I95. (not sure what that route is referred to as on here)

I'm looking to hear from people that travel that route and how it is. Mountains, I know there are some, but I'm guessing they are smaller. Traffic? I know it could be bad in parts but we'll be hitting Richmond in the middle of the night so I would imagine it wouldn't be too bad. Any suggestions? Advice? Opinions?

Looking forward to hearing from the well traveled 2000+ members!
Thanks all!

PS - this is my first trip to Disney in 25 years (other than one day at Typhoon Lagoon in 2006) and a first for all our girls so we'd like to start out right!!!

 

[sharadoc]

hi sharon!!! hope your having a time.

Home now and thinking about the next one. Probably Fort Wilderness cabin. Villas are getting pretty pricey and we hate to blow the whole budget on the room.

 

[BC1836]

Home now and thinking about the next one. Probably Fort Wilderness cabin. Villas are getting pretty pricey and we hate to blow the whole budget on the room.

Welcome back home!

Now it's time to start your next WDW countdown.

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

Home now and thinking about the next one. Probably Fort Wilderness cabin. Villas are getting pretty pricey and we hate to blow the whole budget on the room.

welcome home again!!
rooms in general are up. this should be the last your for paying for a room above dvc. (had to stop renting 2 bedroom villas for 12 nights )
glad you made it home safe and hopefully we can get together soon.

 

[job09]

We actually timed each way and 57 did not take that much more time than 65. Even our Nuvi only shows about 10-20 minutes difference between the two routes.

I would caution you about the speed limit and speed traps in GA - especially in Turner Cty (between mile marker 75 and 84) near the FL border. We have on occasion seen as many as 4 sheriff's cars in each direction in that short stretch of road. And fines are very high in GA with an additional amount added if you are caught doing 15 or more above the speed limit.

I think 57 is it! Thanks for your advice. I agree about GA cops up the wahzoo! Driving home we come through Indiana, I hate that LONG stretch with only a 2-lane highway, makes drivers crazy. I also hate driving through the smokey mountains, nothing like someone tailgating you through a rainstorm driving out of a mountain range .

 

[job09]

we drive straight through on the way home. same way, we hit the road at 3:30am, no traffic in orlando or jacksonville. we get home around 7:30-8:00pm.
how many times, way to many.
wildest trip, got stuck in a snow storm in virginia on i81 one year. that was about 25 years ago, never again. we have left home and disney a few times early to beat weather anymore.
wildest trip at wdw, huricane wilma!!! we got there two days before she came ashore. i went to check in and ask if they are still letting people check in. the cm looked at me like i was nuts. why not she asked? i said theres a cat 3 huricane coming. she asked me where am i from. i told her and she said she was from mass. and a cat 3 is like getting 6 inches of snow at home, no big deal.
we were in the mk for the halloween party when it started to get windy. we went back to okw around 10:30. there was a message on our phone. would we please bring in the patio set from the balcony till the storm is over.
i have it on video, the palm trees were bending in a 90 degree angle. it was raing sideways. the tv said all parks closed till further notice. i have to say, we didnt hear a thing!! if you didnt look out the windows, you would think it was a clear night. by 9am it was over. parks opened at 11am. there were trees down on the way to the mk but in the mk, not a twig,a leaf,nothing on the ground. we had to laugh,
during the night, i rolled over around 4am and the little red light on the phone was blinking. i thought, he we go. we listened to the message. in true disney form. " due to hurican wilma, the parks are closed till further notice. olivias (the rest. in okw) and the gift shop will open at 6am for your dining and shopping needs. have a magical day."

Crazy! Last time we drove to FL it rained from Nashville to Atlanta, that was a drag, but a snow storm! yuck! I can't imagine a hurricane in WDW--though we did drive through a tornado in GA and then we woke up to tornado sirens in Macon GA the next morning, luckily we were able to keep going and the weather in WDW was beautiful. Who knows what the weather is going to do anymore? In chicago it was almost 50 degrees at the beginning of Jan.

 

[cruisingkat]

Hope all Dis board members driving on 75 in FL last night and this morning are safe!

 

[Camno's Mama]

Hey everyone!

We drove down from the Chicago area last year, and are going to do the same thing again at the end of March. We enjoyed it (for the most part...we left WDW too late on the final morning, and didn't even make it through Georgia because the traffic was so bad), and are really looking forward to the road trip again.

I heard from someone that the bridge in Louisville is out...does anyone have any info on that? Is it the main bridge that we would be using to get through town? What is the detour like? Any suggestions?

Thanks, everyone!

 

[dvczerfs]

Crazy! Last time we drove to FL it rained from Nashville to Atlanta, that was a drag, but a snow storm! yuck! I can't imagine a hurricane in WDW--though we did drive through a tornado in GA and then we woke up to tornado sirens in Macon GA the next morning, luckily we were able to keep going and the weather in WDW was beautiful. Who knows what the weather is going to do anymore? In chicago it was almost 50 degrees at the beginning of Jan.

samw thing around here. ill take it!!!!! i hate the cold and snow.

 

[sharadoc]

Welcome back home!

Now it's time to start your next WDW countdown.

All the best.

Thanks! As you can see in my sig, no ticker right now. Trying to decide.

Really had a nice and relaxing trip. Beautiful weather, good crowds, did some things we never did before.

 

[job09]

Hey everyone!

We drove down from the Chicago area last year, and are going to do the same thing again at the end of March. We enjoyed it (for the most part...we left WDW too late on the final morning, and didn't even make it through Georgia because the traffic was so bad), and are really looking forward to the road trip again.

I heard from someone that the bridge in Louisville is out...does anyone have any info on that? Is it the main bridge that we would be using to get through town? What is the detour like? Any suggestions?

Thanks, everyone!

What time did you leave WDW? I know its so hard to leave early! I don't know about any problems in Louisville, hopefully will be resolved before spring.

 

[BC1836]

Welcome back, sharadoc!

All the best.

 

[BC1836]

Now that February has arrived, it looks like it's time for us to start a March countdown.

An upcoming spring drive would mark the tenth anniversary of our first drive, which was unplanned.

All the best.