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

[john1928]

To all 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Question: Who is next on the road to WDW?

All the best!

We hit the road ~9PM on November 28th for 1550ish miles of almost non-stop driving from the Twin Cities down to Orlando with a 4 year old and a 0 year old (3 driver rotation, stops for gas, restrooms, and maybe one meal).

I suppose we could loop through Grand Forks first to beat the Winipeg drivers on distance, but I suspect there may be a mutiny if I were to suggest that to the family...

For our route AAA wants us to head through Wisconsin and Illinois on I-39/I-74/I-57, but google, bing and mapquest recommend the Iowa/Missouri route. I lean that way for 70MPH speed limits, lower gas prices, shorter mileage, and a lack of toll roads, though it looks like some sections are not divided highway so perhaps the speed advantage won't be that great...

 

[WellingtonR]

To all 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Question: Who is next on the road to WDW?

All the best!

Leaving this Friday morning from Connecticut. Taking the western route into pa and then south to Charlotte and then down to savannah to Orlando. Me, DW, DS (7), DD (3)

 

[Allieran3]

To all 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Question: Who is next on the road to WDW?

All the best!

We leave Monday 26th, stoping over night in South Carolina, will leave Tuesday to arrive at WDW

 

[Shir Kahn]

We hit the road ~9PM on November 28th for 1550ish miles of almost non-stop driving from the Twin Cities down to Orlando with a 4 year old and a 0 year old (3 driver rotation, stops for gas, restrooms, and maybe one meal).

I suppose we could loop through Grand Forks first to beat the Winipeg drivers on distance, but I suspect there may be a mutiny if I were to suggest that to the family...

For our route AAA wants us to head through Wisconsin and Illinois on I-39/I-74/I-57, but google, bing and mapquest recommend the Iowa/Missouri route. I lean that way for 70MPH speed limits, lower gas prices, shorter mileage, and a lack of toll roads, though it looks like some sections are not divided highway so perhaps the speed advantage won't be that great...

If you do loop through Grand Forks, be sure to pick up the two very large suitcases you see on the way out of town. Pay no attention if they grunt as you throw them in the back!

 

[WellingtonR]

Leaving this Friday morning from Connecticut. Taking the western route into pa and then south to Charlotte and then down to savannah to Orlando. Me, DW, DS (7), DD (3)

Btw.....does anyone know where we can stop in each one of those states asking that route to pick up state refrigerator magnets? We need Delaware, Virginia, north and south Carolina, and Georgia.

 

[thumbalyna]

Sometimes gas stations have magnets

 

[TinkPirateMom]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I haven't posted in a while, but we did our first drive from NJ to WDW earlier this month. Everything went so well, better than expected! Thanks to all the posters in this thread for their help!

We made it from our driveway in S. Jersey to the Florida Welcome Center in 11.5 hours. We left our house at 6:52pm on a Friday and we were checking in at Wilderness Lodge just before 11am on Saturday after having an hour long breakfast at Cracker Barrel in St. Augustine area.

On our return we did not drive straight through. We stayed overnight at a Hampton Inn in Florence, SC. It was very clean and the included breakfast was very good.

 

[patclairesmom]

We'll be leaving a week from today and I was wondering if outside of NJ gas stations charge different prices for cash and credit cards?

 

[cruisingkat]

We will be arriving home from our 4th Disney driving trip this year next week - we left Disney about 11 days ago to spend Thanksgiving with the grandkids in Texas before heading back north to home. Should be home for only about 10 days at the most - unless I convince hubby to leave earlier before we head back to Florida and Disney again. Need just enough time to wash clothes and repack - however, we didn't get to wear too many of our shorts as the weather was unbelievable cool in Texas - so at least I don't have to wash too many of those. But I did get to wear all 5 of the pairs of jeans I brought (and wore for more than 1 day) - so I do have to wash those.
Need to get the tires rotated and an oil change before we hit the road again.
Was so happy that the Christmas tree skirt that I wanted to get at Disney went on sale at Disneyonline this week with an extra 20% off - ended up being 40% off regular price. Thank goodness for internet when travelling. Having it sent to my daughter's house as I am not sure we will be home when it is delivered.

 

[pwdebbie]

OT but some of you might just understand.

My dad, 82, was complaining about how his GPS keeps taking his "via" all the time instead of where he wants to go. I asked him if he ever "stopped" his trips and started new ones. Nope, not since he got it in 2006. So I showed him on mine how to go in and clear the trip information and start new trips. He still didn't get it, so he gave his GPS to me for me to clear. Ok, I go into the trip data and I exclaim quite loudly in shock, "113 miles per hour? When did you drive 113 miles per hour?" Boy, that go my mother going, "I'll tell you when he drove 113 miles an hour . . . " Then dad jumping in with, "I never drove that fast, that thing is wrong . . . " Well, it was all downhill from there. Talk about opening a can of worms! (Mom's going to call me when dad isn't home and tell me the story.)

So, what's the highest speed you've recorded on your GPS? Dh got up to 88 mph on either 77 or 26 once. I doubt I've ever reached 80.

 

[patclairesmom]

OT but some of you might just understand.

My dad, 82, was complaining about how his GPS keeps taking his "via" all the time instead of where he wants to go. I asked him if he ever "stopped" his trips and started new ones. Nope, not since he got it in 2006. So I showed him on mine how to go in and clear the trip information and start new trips. He still didn't get it, so he gave his GPS to me for me to clear. Ok, I go into the trip data and I exclaim quite loudly in shock, "113 miles per hour? When did you drive 113 miles per hour?" Boy, that go my mother going, "I'll tell you when he drove 113 miles an hour . . . " Then dad jumping in with, "I never drove that fast, that thing is wrong . . . " Well, it was all downhill from there. Talk about opening a can of worms! (Mom's going to call me when dad isn't home and tell me the story.)

So, what's the highest speed you've recorded on your GPS? Dh got up to 88 mph on either 77 or 26 once. I doubt I've ever reached 80.

Your father sounds like my 86 year old father. Loves to drive and drive fast. He can't stand to be behind anyone, so he's constantly switching lanes so he doesn't have to fool with his cruise control. It must be the generation when there weren't too many cars on the road so you could go as fast as you want.

 

[chipper10]

Hi, everyone!
We are planning on driving to Disney in May. We will have our 6 year old and just turned 2 year old sons with us. Does anyone have any tips for driving with little ones? DS2 will just barely be 2, so I don't even know what to pack so that he will be entertained on the drive.
We will be driving from St. Louis to WDW. I would like to get to Gainesville before we stop for the night. (Well, ideally I would like to make it to Disney World in a day, but I just don't see that happening with the kiddos.) We will leave the house around 3am and DH and I will take turn driving.
Thanks for any advice!

 

[NJRRK]

Btw.....does anyone know where we can stop in each one of those states asking that route to pick up state refrigerator magnets? We need Delaware, Virginia, north and south Carolina, and Georgia.

The welcome centers usually have state magnets. The route you're taking won't take you through Delaware though.

 

[APB513]

We are driving from Michigan to WDW next month

I checked Mapquest and it gives two routes:

1). I 75 S to Florida's Turnpike S (18 hrs 21 mins / 1159.85 miles)
2). I 75 S to US 27 S 18 hrs 42 mins / 1160.35 miles

What are the pros and cons of taking each route?

Thanks!

 

[Allieran3]

Got a late start, left Pa at 11, in Virginia with about 340 miles till we stop for the night.

 

[loveysbydesign]

Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody!!!!

2013 DH & I will be spending Thanksgiving on the Disney Fantasy for my 60th Birthday which actually falls right on Thanksgiving. Yay!!!!!

Be sure to let us know how it was! We are planning to be on the Fantasy in 2014 for Thanksgiving, once they finally release the dates! And Happy Birthday!

 

[Disneyholic]

Be sure to let us know how it was! We are planning to be on the Fantasy in 2014 for Thanksgiving, once they finally release the dates! And Happy Birthday!

Thanks for the Birthday wishes.

I sure will get back on how it went. I'm sure this thread will still be going since it has come this far along already.

We will be driving down in April 2013 for DHs Birthday, staying at AKLV 1 bedroom Concierge at Jambo for 3 nights and then going on a 3 night DCL cruise on the Dream followed by 1 night at BLT studio with a MK view. We will be driving for both this trip & the November trip. The April trip we were originally going to leave on Saturday night after I finish work and get to WDW by Sunday. I couldn't get Sunday at AKLV so now I am thinking of either leaving Sunday morning or still getting on the road Saturday & stopping at hotels on the way down. DH & I aren't getting any younger and it is getting harder to drive straight through. The stops at rest stops are getting longer and it would be easier to sleep on a bed in a hotel than in the car with the seats laid back. Since we will have a washer & dryer at the Villa we can wash stuff the last night before the cruise while we are relaxing. That way we wouldn't need to pack so much. What we wear at the parks will be the same stuff we will wear on the cruise. We won't need dressy clothes, so that will make it easier to pack, too.

 

[Allieran3]

5 hours to go.

 

[StuffedwFluff]

I am planning on driving 2350 miles in May, from Utah to WdW. It will be me, dh, ds 5, dd 4, ds 2, and the two in-laws. I've done this drive as a child several times and I loved it, but now that I'm the parent I'm kind of stressing out. My husband and I have driven to california and new mexico several times, but never across the country.
I'm nervous about being stranded in the middle of nowhere with no cell service. (My dear sweet husband and his father know nothing about fixing cars.) I'm at the point of packing a tent and sleeping bags just in case. I'm driving myself crazy! Please calm my fears about our first three day drive across the country!
Also, any route ideas would be great! I can't decide between the north or south route.

 

[cruisingkat]

Back home from our 4th drive to Disney with a side to spend Thanksgiving with the grandkids in TX. Car unpacked and now to put away the Disney ornaments, the wine from F&W, and all the other goodies we got.
Will be home for one week and then drive back down to Disney for the MVMCP and Candlelight Processional - our 5th drive down this year.
Oh by the way - looked at our top speed on the GPS - 103 - not the record though - our old one had 111.