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

[nono]

We are driving from Fairfield Connecticut area in November. Trying to decide if we should leave on a Friday mid afternoon or night or leave 3 am sat morning. Trying to get to Orlando by noon time on Sunday.

Fridays just make me twitchy, so my vote is for Sat. early. Get some sleep on Friday!

 

[DisMom1981]

We are driving from Fairfield Connecticut area in November. Trying to decide if we should leave on a Friday mid afternoon or night or leave 3 am sat morning. Trying to get to Orlando by noon time on Sunday.

We are from the same area and trying to decide the same for April. I WANT to leave Friday, but the thought of NY and DC rush hours/travel traffic is not pretty. But I'd like the kids to sleep through a big chunk of the ride so thinking of leaving around 7 or 8 pm maybe???

 

[dvczerfs]

Shoot, I'll be checking out the inside of my eyelids then. But IF I could come, it would be somewhere between Shippensburg and Greencastle. Just start waving east as you go by.

ill blow the horn from harrisburg till i hit the maryland state line.

 

[dvczerfs]

We will have to wait to wave until we see you at WDW. We are checking in to BWV on the 9th

 

[dvczerfs]

We are from the same area and trying to decide the same for April. I WANT to leave Friday, but the thought of NY and DC rush hours/travel traffic is not pretty. But I'd like the kids to sleep through a big chunk of the ride so thinking of leaving around 7 or 8 pm maybe???

just remember the kids sleep through a big chunk of it and mom and dad dont. kids are rested and ready to go and mom and dad are ready to sleep. some mom and dads can get a bit cranky without the proper sleep.

 

[BC1836]

September has arrived! For us, it's next month for our next drive. We can't wait!

As for now, dvczerfs has eight days to go.

All the best.

 

[miprender]

Ok all you Driving Vets...help a newbie out. I am considering driving for our trip next April from just outside of Worcester, Ma. I expect to do a one night stay somewhere, but want to be able to get to Disney by mid day on our arrival day. Most likely leaving on a Friday. I know BAD IDEA LOL...but what would be the best time of day to leave and what should we expect for a stopping time and place to be able to make it to Disney mid day on Saturday

Hi! I need some encouragement! I was planning on our first WDW family vacation in April to be a driving situation. We are coming from CT with DH, DS ( will be 4) and DD (will be almost 2). Am I crazy??? I don't want to spend $1000 to fly and I loathe flying anyway. Has anyone done this successfully with small children? We are planning to buy a nice mini van in the next couple months.
Also planning to stay with relatives in MD one night and in NC another night..... Though I was more recently considering bypassing the MD stop. Thoughts?

Well since we have MA & CT going in April.... I figure we should have someone from RI too

We are seriously thinking of driving to WDW for the 1st time. The cost of airfare for April vacation is just too much and the amount that we can save driving is too hard to resist. The longest car ride my family has done was 6hrs in traffic going to Maine. But I think we can do it. So I will be lurking on this page for any tips and information you can give.

 

[DisMom1981]

Well since we have MA & CT going in April.... I figure we should have someone from RI too

We are seriously thinking of driving to WDW for the 1st time. The cost of airfare for April vacation is just too much and the amount that we can save driving is too hard to resist. The longest car ride my family has done was 6hrs in traffic going to Maine. But I think we can do it. So I will be lurking on this page for any tips and information you can give.

My husband keeps saying we are saving a few hundred by spending thirty grand in a car haha. I finally booked the trip....wish we has a few extra days but I'm a teacher so we have to get back by Saturday or Sunday the latest. I think it will be tough with the kids but we won't know until we try! How old are yours ?

 

[dvczerfs]

Well since we have MA & CT going in April.... I figure we should have someone from RI too

We are seriously thinking of driving to WDW for the 1st time. The cost of airfare for April vacation is just too much and the amount that we can save driving is too hard to resist. The longest car ride my family has done was 6hrs in traffic going to Maine. But I think we can do it. So I will be lurking on this page for any tips and information you can give.

why lurk? ask away. theres alot people on here from your area that can answer your questions. which way to go, when to leave, what to watch for.

 

[dvczerfs]

September has arrived! For us, it's next month for our next drive. We can't wait!

As for now, dvczerfs has eight days to go.

All the best.

cars loaded bc!!!

 

[miprender]

My husband keeps saying we are saving a few hundred by spending thirty grand in a car haha. I finally booked the trip....wish we has a few extra days but I'm a teacher so we have to get back by Saturday or Sunday the latest. I think it will be tough with the kids but we won't know until we try! How old are yours ?

We already have the minivan so at least we are saving there But I did promise the kids some portable DVD players that attach to the back of the seats.

My husband's also a teacher so I think we would leave Florida on Friday to make it home on Saturday or Sunday. My kids are DD9, DS7 & DS4 plus I think we would have my mother with us too. We haven't told her we are thinking of driving though

why lurk? ask away. theres alot people on here from your area that can answer your questions. which way to go, when to leave, what to watch for.

Thanks I definitely will.

 

[magsmum]

Well since we have MA & CT going in April.... I figure we should have someone from RI too

We are seriously thinking of driving to WDW for the 1st time. The cost of airfare for April vacation is just too much and the amount that we can save driving is too hard to resist. The longest car ride my family has done was 6hrs in traffic going to Maine. But I think we can do it. So I will be lurking on this page for any tips and information you can give.

I'll join in. Seriously considering driving from MA in Feb. I'd be driving alone with 3 kids and DH would fly down and meet up (his ticket will be paid for by business). "Am I crazy?" is the question running through my mind. I'd leave on a Thursday afternoon and hope to be at the Dolphin by mid-day Saturday. Is this a reasonable plan? I'm most concerned about DC traffic as I think there is no way around it timewise and I am going to get stuck in it!

 

[miprender]

I'll join in. Seriously considering driving from MA in Feb. I'd be driving alone with 3 kids and DH would fly down and meet up (his ticket will be paid for by business). "Am I crazy?" is the question running through my mind. I'd leave on a Thursday afternoon and hope to be at the Dolphin by mid-day Saturday. Is this a reasonable plan? I'm most concerned about DC traffic as I think there is no way around it timewise and I am going to get stuck in it!

It sounds doable though I have never driven down myself yet. That would give you two days with stops. How old are your children?

 

[magsmum]

It sounds doable though I have never driven down myself yet. That would give you two days with stops. How old are your children?

14, 12, and 6. The 14 year old will be my co-pilot. Generally, they love to travel and I've flown with them alone many times. We've taken them as far as Peru and I took the older two from Cusco to Machu Picchu alone when they were 9 and 11. The six year old is the wild card. She can be very difficult (or very good- it just depends on where she's at) and has a hard time with self-regulation/sleep. My ability to get a decent night sleep is going to be key- she can nap in the car, I can't! I'd love to fly her home with DH, but he's going to be working at a show when I'd need to leave on Friday and he can't deal with the wild card factor while breaking down a show!

 

[happily single]

Well since we have MA & CT going in April.... I figure we should have someone from RI too

We are seriously thinking of driving to WDW for the 1st time. The cost of airfare for April vacation is just too much and the amount that we can save driving is too hard to resist. The longest car ride my family has done was 6hrs in traffic going to Maine. But I think we can do it. So I will be lurking on this page for any tips and information you can give.

Welcome fellow RI'er! I've made the trip twice alone with the three kids in April. The first time was an absolute breeze so we decided to do it again the following year. To be honest the cost factor about equalled out.

Rented a car-$141 for 10 days (an absolute freaking awesome deal);

hotel in NC for the night ($100 each way);

GAS (huge expense)

small snacks when we stopped (I did bring lots of drinks and snacks but somewone always wanted something different

Misc. things to keep them occupied on the way down (window markers, coloring books, some arts and crafts (silly me)


I would suggest giving the DVD players to the kids as an X-mas gift! Rent movies are redbox, there are plenty along the trip

We left RI about 3:00 a.m. and drove through to Lumberton,NC which is right on the SC border. Woke up about 6:00 am. and got back on the road-beleive we arrived in Orlando about 2:30p.m. And that was only because I got off EVERY SINGLE EXIT looking for a Dunkin Donuts FYI. You won't find one until FL!

If you have any questions feel free to ask
PS: I highly recomend purchasing the book "DRIVE 95" its full of useful tips and breaks each exit down by what services (Burger King, McDonald's, Dunkin) are at each exit. I bought mine at Borders

 

[dvczerfs]

September has arrived! For us, it's next month for our next drive. We can't wait!

As for now, dvczerfs has eight days to go.

All the best.

IT ALL FIT BC!!!!! THE REAR BUMPER ISNT EVEN ON THE GROUND!!!
going from a minivan to a cross over, i may need two ownerlockers.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I'll join in. Seriously considering driving from MA in Feb. I'd be driving alone with 3 kids and DH would fly down and meet up (his ticket will be paid for by business). "Am I crazy?" is the question running through my mind. I'd leave on a Thursday afternoon and hope to be at the Dolphin by mid-day Saturday. Is this a reasonable plan? I'm most concerned about DC traffic as I think there is no way around it timewise and I am going to get stuck in it!

If you are crazy, then so am I. I drove by myself from SW Florida to MA with DS13 and DD9. DS13 was my co-pilot and DD9 was in charge of the toll money. They did better than I ever would have imagined. One thing that really helped was the portable DVD player (I got one pretty cheap at BJ's that has 2 separate screens). We also played a lot of "Disney" 10 No's where we would think of something at Disney and you would ask yes or no questions to figure out what it was.

We brought food in the cooler and kept some snacks on hand.

The trip took us 30 hours and we broke it up over 3 days. We could have done it in 2, but we didn't hit the road each day until about 9 am and we did stop at Downtown Disney for about 4 hours as well. We also had nothing but rain from VA to MA which slowed us down. The only traffic we hit was in CT and NY. But, we went by the DC area on Sat. eve.

Even though I'm used to driving in Boston, I did find it very stressful driving in the DC/ Alexandria area and the Baltimore area. I don't think the roads are crazier than Boston, just unknown to me. Plus the weather was atrocious which added to my stress level. From Richmond south was very easy (albeit boring) driving.

We drove the route recommended by AAA which was primarily 95 with a few exceptions. In NY we went over the Tappen Zee instead of going through the city, in NJ we did a combo of the Parkway and the Turnpike and we also took 195 for a while in VA.

After I drove it, I said never again, but I really want to head back to FL in the spring/ summer and the airfare is SO bad. So, I imagine I'll be eating my words.

 

[pwdebbie]

IT ALL FIT BC!!!!! THE REAR BUMPER ISNT EVEN ON THE GROUND!!!
going from a minivan to a cross over, i may need two ownerlockers.

My goodness, what all do you take? Did I miss the kitchen sink?

 

[miprender]

14, 12, and 6. The 14 year old will be my co-pilot. Generally, they love to travel and I've flown with them alone many times. We've taken them as far as Peru and I took the older two from Cusco to Machu Picchu alone when they were 9 and 11. The six year old is the wild card. She can be very difficult (or very good- it just depends on where she's at) and has a hard time with self-regulation/sleep. My ability to get a decent night sleep is going to be key- she can nap in the car, I can't! I'd love to fly her home with DH, but he's going to be working at a show when I'd need to leave on Friday and he can't deal with the wild card factor while breaking down a show!

That's my problem, I can't drive when I am tired so DH will probably do most of the driving but I can't really sleep in the car either. I always afraid to close my eyes incase something happens.

Welcome fellow RI'er! I've made the trip twice alone with the three kids in April. The first time was an absolute breeze so we decided to do it again the following year. To be honest the cost factor about equalled out.

Rented a car-$141 for 10 days (an absolute freaking awesome deal);

hotel in NC for the night ($100 each way);

GAS (huge expense)

small snacks when we stopped (I did bring lots of drinks and snacks but somewone always wanted something different

Misc. things to keep them occupied on the way down (window markers, coloring books, some arts and crafts (silly me)


I would suggest giving the DVD players to the kids as an X-mas gift! Rent movies are redbox, there are plenty along the trip

We left RI about 3:00 a.m. and drove through to Lumberton,NC which is right on the SC border. Woke up about 6:00 am. and got back on the road-beleive we arrived in Orlando about 2:30p.m. And that was only because I got off EVERY SINGLE EXIT looking for a Dunkin Donuts FYI. You won't find one until FL!

If you have any questions feel free to ask
PS: I highly recomend purchasing the book "DRIVE 95" its full of useful tips and breaks each exit down by what services (Burger King, McDonald's, Dunkin) are at each exit. I bought mine at Borders

Thanks for the tip on "Drive 95" and how scary no DDs I can't live without my DD coffee so we always bring some to brew in our room when down at Disney.

We live in Warwick so we are not too far from you. Our plan is to hit the road at 2-3am on Friday April 12th. I just can't believe how expensive the airfare will be for April. We have gone in 2009 & 2010 and never paid that much.

What time did you arrive in Lumberton,NC?

 

[BC1836]

IT ALL FIT BC!!!!! THE REAR BUMPER ISNT EVEN ON THE GROUND!!!
going from a minivan to a cross over, i may need two ownerlockers.

Very cool photos, dvczerfs!

I thoroughly enjoy packing up our CRV. It signifies that a departure to WDW is only minutes away.

Packing for the two of us: Two large suitcases, three smaller bags and a computer case. Last item in: the cooler with the beverages, and the tote bag with the sandwiches and snacks.

We're thinking of a staying a couple of days in Savannah on the way home. I'll be making a separate post in the future seeking recommendations about what to do, what to see and where to dine in Savannah's historic district.

I haven't been there since working on Glory in 1988.

Until then....

All the best.