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

[BC1836]

thanks!

she sent me a text, thanks bc!! i had two of her numbers switched around.

You are most welcome. She and her family are very special to us.

Of course, I hope they will forgive me after I phoned them at home last year while on Spaceship Earth requesting the identifications of the historical figures that were duplicates of various presidents in the Hall of Presidents.

Enjoy.

All the best.

 

[nono]

Hey folks -- just got back yesterday from a 2 week trip to FL. We did indeed decide to leave on the Sat. of Labor Day weekend, as we realized we could go a couple days early.

We left on a lunchtime ferry, took some small back roads, and were across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel by 5 p.m. VA Beach/Hampton Rds. traffic at that point was irrelevant. We stopped in Suffolk, VA for the night -- dinner, wear the kids out. Up early and departed at exactly 5 a.m. We had breakfast and lunch packed so they were at the rest stops...somehow we warped time on Sunday because we were not pressing at all, and arrived around 5 p.m. There was construction on US 58 in VA -- down to one lane in each direction in spots, but since we hit there between 5 & 6 a.m., no worries.

Our return started on Thursday at 6:30 a.m. from the Wawa near Sea World. We got to our hotel in Chesapeake, VA around 7:15, had dinner and slept in. Left around 9 a.m. targeting a 1:45 p.m. ferry. We arrived at 12:45 which gave us time for lunch and stretching our legs. A bit of card playing on the ferry, and boom we were home about 15 min. after docking.

On our push north we hit a LOT of rainy weather just before the Jacksonville split...weather looked good to the West -- so we went the western beltway. Full sun, no traffic. It is longer, but when we reconnected to I 95, we met up with all the cars and trucks we had been previously travelling with...must have stayed pretty heavy the whole way through downtown Jacksonville.

Anyway, another great trip.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Wish we had a trip planned.

Everyone at Disney enjoy! And to those on the road drive safely.

Goofygirl

BTW- I LOVE OKW. We stayed there a couple years ago and I think it's our favorite DVC resort. Now we stay offsite due to changes in our timeshare exchange policy. We can get more trips in staying offsite.


Have fun!

 

[dvczerfs]

Wish we had a trip planned.

Everyone at Disney enjoy! And to those on the road drive safely.

Goofygirl

BTW- I LOVE OKW. We stayed there a couple years ago and I think it's our favorite DVC resort. Now we stay offsite due to changes in our timeshare exchange policy. We can get more trips in staying offsite.


Have fun!

we have been staying here at least once a year since 1999. 2 bedrooms and 1 bedrooms. we are in a 1 bedroom for 13 nights this trip. our home resort is bwv and never stayed at any other dvc resort other than okw. its like home to us.

 

[dvczerfs]

a bit off topic but this is what we drive 1100 miles for:

 

[BC1836]

a bit off topic but this is what we drive 1100 miles for:

Wonderful photos! How about a photo of WDW's most magical TV station: channel 19, "Walt Disney World Today?"

All the best.

 

[loveysbydesign]

HELP!!! Info needed!!!
We are looking for a great place to try for lunch on the way down, that isn't too expensive...preferably about 15 minutes north of Walterboro down to Walterboro SC to 15 minutes south. Not sure exactly where we will hit, depends on traffic and what time we leave the hotel in Richburg, Sc.

We ate at Duke's Bar-b-q last time and while we liked it the younger 2 kids hardly ate anything. Thinking of maybe trying a Zaxby's chicken??
Has any one eaten at one and if so which one is nicest? We'll be heading down 81-77-26 and then picking up 95 in SC!

 

[wuzzy6]

Hi y'all! I just found this thread and thought I'd introduce myself. We will be driving 1,419 miles one-way, or 2,838 miles round-trip, from our driveway to Coronado Springs Resort in January. This is the first time ever traveling more than an hour to WDW!

Our plan is to leave around 3am on Saturday 1/26 and drive to the approximate halfway point of 671 miles (12 hours) and stay in Chester, VA. I thought it would be good to stop here, because we will have gotten through all of the high traffic areas with some wiggle room before nightfall. (I say that with the utmost optimism!)

The plan for day two is to again leave at about 3am and go all the way to CSR! The mileage is mapped at 749 miles (12 hours 6 minutes). Hopefully this will get us there with some wiggle room and in time to get checked in and have a relaxing dinner. I think I'd like to spend the evening just relaxing - maybe some hot water therapy in the hot tub? We are not planning to hit the parks until Monday morning, so an early bedtime will be in order!

If anyone has any suggestions, tips or opinions, I am completely open to all of it! The only time we've made this drive was when we moved from Florida to Maine! Thanks!

 

[njmom47]

Hi y'all! I just found this thread and thought I'd introduce myself. We will be driving 1,419 miles one-way, or 2,838 miles round-trip, from our driveway to Coronado Springs Resort in January. This is the first time ever traveling more than an hour to WDW!

Our plan is to leave around 3am on Saturday 1/26 and drive to the approximate halfway point of 671 miles (12 hours) and stay in Chester, VA. I thought it would be good to stop here, because we will have gotten through all of the high traffic areas with some wiggle room before nightfall. (I say that with the utmost optimism!)

The plan for day two is to again leave at about 3am and go all the way to CSR! The mileage is mapped at 749 miles (12 hours 6 minutes). Hopefully this will get us there with some wiggle room and in time to get checked in and have a relaxing dinner. I think I'd like to spend the evening just relaxing - maybe some hot water therapy in the hot tub? We are not planning to hit the parks until Monday morning, so an early bedtime will be in order!

If anyone has any suggestions, tips or opinions, I am completely open to all of it! The only time we've made this drive was when we moved from Florida to Maine! Thanks!

Where are you staying in Chester? We stayed at the Hampton Inn. What a fabulous place! I believe with our AAA rate it was under $90. Plenty of room for all of us (we were 5; I see you are 6) with 2 queen beds and a double pullout couch in the living room. Small pool as well; we took a quick dip.

 

[wuzzy6]

We are staying at the Marriott Courtyard Richmond - Chester. It's $139/night for a King Suite (only 4 of us are traveling) - DH is a rewards member, so our stay on the way home is free! :

 

[edbo77]

We are staying at the Marriott Courtyard Richmond - Chester. It's $139/night for a King Suite (only 4 of us are traveling) - DH is a rewards member, so our stay on the way home is free! :

Wuzzy, we stayed at that hotel on our way home from WDW this past February vacation. My only issue was that we stayed on the first floor, felt more like a basement and our room was near the indoor pool. Try to get a room that's on a higher floor if you can. Easy access to 95/295, plenty of gas/food options around.

 

[wuzzy6]

Thanks so much, edbo - I will definitely keep that in mind when we check in!

 

[arizonacolbys]

Hi! We are driving down one week from today!! Can't come soon enough!

We've driven down a couple times now - most recent was last May 2011. We are east of Cleveland, so it's 1,072 miles one way - aaa triptik estimates 15 hours 59 minutes. We've found driving straight thru works best for us, so we'll be hitting the road around 3 am next Monday & should hopefully arrive in time to get the little ones to bed. We'll be travelling with our 4 year old & almost 2 1/2 year old and it'll be our first road trip where we may need to make additional potty stops (last year everyone was still in diapers.)

Just curious if anyone has links or knows where the gas is cheapest right now? We'll be driving down 77S-26E-95S. I seem to remember quite a difference in gas prices last May between a couple of the states along our journey. There was also a well noted speed trap on this thread last May & I can't recall where it was. Can anyone help? Thanks!!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Hi! We are driving down one week from today!! Can't come soon enough!

We've driven down a couple times now - most recent was last May 2011. We are east of Cleveland, so it's 1,072 miles one way - aaa triptik estimates 15 hours 59 minutes. We've found driving straight thru works best for us, so we'll be hitting the road around 3 am next Monday & should hopefully arrive in time to get the little ones to bed. We'll be travelling with our 4 year old & almost 2 1/2 year old and it'll be our first road trip where we may need to make additional potty stops (last year everyone was still in diapers.)

Just curious if anyone has links or knows where the gas is cheapest right now? We'll be driving down 77S-26E-95S. I seem to remember quite a difference in gas prices last May between a couple of the states along our journey. There was also a well noted speed trap on this thread last May & I can't recall where it was. Can anyone help? Thanks!!

Gas prices are crazy, aren;t they? We hit the road next month.
I like to check gasbuddy.com for gas prices

 

[BC1836]

Hi! We are driving down one week from today!! Can't come soon enough!

We've driven down a couple times now - most recent was last May 2011. We are east of Cleveland, so it's 1,072 miles one way - aaa triptik estimates 15 hours 59 minutes. We've found driving straight thru works best for us, so we'll be hitting the road around 3 am next Monday Thanks!!

Interesting coincidence. Your one-way mileage is the same as ours, give or take a handful of miles depending on rest stop, gas stop exits' mileage.

Straight-through drives work best for us, too. We make sure we arrive at Lake Buena Vista the night before our first WDW reservation day. We stay in a local hotel (cheaper than a WDW resort night) and then drive the next morning to our WDW resort.

Let your countdown continue.

Gas price increases have seemed to have halted nationwide; some stations are s-l-o-w-l-y lowering their prices.


All the best.

 

[marius97]

Gas prices are crazy, aren;t they? We hit the road next month.
I like to check gasbuddy.com for gas prices

I'm an uber planner and was disappointed with gasbuddy.com this last trip. They got all the prices right, but were off by a good 100 miles in how far I should be able to get on a tank of gas. I'll have to pay better attention to what MPG it says I should be getting.

 

[disneymarie]

we have been staying here at least once a year since 1999. 2 bedrooms and 1 bedrooms. we are in a 1 bedroom for 13 nights this trip. our home resort is bwv and never stayed at any other dvc resort other than okw. its like home to us.

Missing you by a few days,, how fast our trips came. sept 2 to 9th we cruised out of NY into hurricaine Leslie. Sadly only day and half on Bermuda, all the south side beaches were closed. Then left a day early. Wished they reversed itinary for one day down , two back instead.....we were on the boat far tooo long.

But, next Wed, we fly Allegiant since they are local, tickets were $55 each the day I got them. One flying down was $97. So this trip less exp to fly then drive. Flying into Scranton will be a 22 minute ride home.

The oldest ds birthday, and MNSSHP are the agenda with free dining. The AP exp on Oct 10th......so time now going into home updating, and rest from traveling.
Di

 

[ohiopugmom]

hi all - planning on making the drive from the cleveland ohio area a year from now. Hoping to do it straight (overnight) but may have to break it up on the way back. Will be reading through this thread for recs on where to stay if we do break it...

 

[lucyem]

Heading down 95 from New England next week. Any major traffic issues or construction I need to know about?

Our normal route is 84, Newburgh bridge, NY Thruway, Garden State, Jersey Turnpike and then stick with 95 the rest of the way. Considering 84 all the way to Harrisburg and then heading south to DC and pick up 95 there.

Thanks!

 

[BC1836]

Heading down 95 from New England next week. Any major traffic issues or construction I need to know about?

Our normal route is 84, Newburgh bridge, NY Thruway, Garden State, Jersey Turnpike and then stick with 95 the rest of the way. Considering 84 all the way to Harrisburg and then heading south to DC and pick up 95 there.

Thanks!

Avoid the rush hour traffic, especially on the GSP and the NJTP. And, of course, avoid greater DC (including southern MD and northern VA) at rush hour at all costs.

All the best.