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

[dvczerfs]

Came thru Columbia on Tues. No closures. This was the first trip in a looong time with no traffic or construction delays. We travel Rt 429, I4 & 95 in FL, 95 thru GA and SC, Rt 26 to 77 in SC, then Rt77 to 19 to 79 in VA, WV, and PA. Total travel time Orlando to Pittsburgh was under 16 hours including gas and food stops.

Thanks kodakfigment!!! I have pretty good luck using 81/77/26/95 over the years. The one year I took a little detour. I missed the i95 south exit off of i26. Lol blew right by it lol I'm reminded all the time how I missed an exit. Lol

 

[BC1836]

Good morning to all marathon drivers from WDW!

It may be another scorcher here at WDW, but we'll take it.

We arrived at the GF last Sunday morning and haven't driven our own vehicle yet. A first for us.

"To infinity...and beyond!"

All the best.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Good morning to all marathon drivers from WDW! It may be another scorcher here at WDW, but we'll take it. We arrived at the GF last Sunday morning and haven't driven our own vehicle yet. A first for us. "To infinity...and beyond!" All the best.

Wishes from a GF balcony......what could be better than that??

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Mrsdonaldduck]

Wishes from a GF balcony......what could be better than that?? Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

hey greetings from our gf balcony!!! Enjoying champaign and thinking of my fellow road warrior friends!! We made the 1100 mile drive and we are ao glad to be here!!!

 

[darrengs]

Left Northern New Jersey yesterday at 3:45AM and arrived at Pop Century at 9:19PM 1195 miles door to door. We took the inland route (78 - 81 - 77 -26 -95), absolutely no traffic and no construction delays. Checked out of Pop and into the Yacht Club Visited a school for my son today, so now we can start our vacation.

 

[jpalasky]

I can't wait til the lights at the end of the parkway are gone. We spend the summers here and the traffic is horrible. It will take them another 25 years to get this project completed.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Left Northern New Jersey yesterday at 3:45AM and arrived at Pop Century at 9:19PM 1195 miles door to door. We took the inland route (78 - 81 - 77 -26 -95), absolutely no traffic and no construction delays. Checked out of Pop and into the Yacht Club Visited a school for my son today, so now we can start our vacation.

Did you visit a college? My DH and DS did that last month. Have a great trip!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[ddluvsdisney]

hey greetings from our gf balcony!!! Enjoying champaign and thinking of my fellow road warrior friends!! We made the 1100 mile drive and we are ao glad to be here!!!

So jealous!!!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[nono]

I can't wait til the lights at the end of the parkway are gone. We spend the summers here and the traffic is horrible. It will take them another 25 years to get this project completed.

I'll take the under on that bet!

 

[BC1836]

Prior to watching Off Kilter perform in Epcot, a couple from Long Island wiped off the wet bench (a brief thunderstorm passed through) for us. We discovered that they drove and we invited them to this thread. So look for some good folks who use the name bszoo.

And we finally drove in WDW: a round trip from the GF to the BC and back.

All the best.

 

[rotlex]

Good morning to all marathon drivers from WDW! It may be another scorcher here at WDW, but we'll take it. We arrived at the GF last Sunday morning and haven't driven our own vehicle yet. A first for us. "To infinity...and beyond!" All the best.

Good morning to all as well! Been here at the Wilderness Lodge all week and only drove once this week so far. Buses have been quick and we have been using the boats back and forth to MK.

Whew, it has been hot, but fantastic just the same. Hitting Epcot today and then comes week two!!!! Hoping for as good a weather next week as we had this one!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[BC1836]

WDW transportation used today: monorail, RR, People Mover, XP-37, launch.

Dinner at V&A's tonight!

All the best.

 

[pwdebbie]

Hi there! We are from Wright City, MO and when we travel to Atlanta it takes us around 9 or 10 hours, plus there is a 1 hour time change. (We have 3 kids and 2 in diapers). So, leaving at noon might be tough because you will hit Nashville construction rush hour traffic if on a weekday. We were stuck in that for about 30 minutes on a Thursday afternoon in July.

We are taking our 1st family trip to WDW in September and checking in on Sat the 20th. We actually worked backwards when planning our stops, plus we wanted to use our Hilton points for a Hampton Inn. We knew we wanted a short drive on our arrival day (since we are newbies and I really want some time to explore the resort, swim, and make a Walmart run) so we decided on Valdosta, GA Hampton Inn which is about 3 hours away.

For our first trip, we drove to the Contemporary and gave ourselves a monorail tour. We did both loops and were back at our car within the three hours we were allowed. It was a great way to begin our first visit. Also, there is a WM about one hour before WDW that is easy to get to from the highway. We hit that one because we have learned that once we are back on property, we are in no mood to leave.

 

[BC1836]

Good morning from the fifth floor of the GFR's main building!

Alas, tis time to part.

Safe drive wishes to all!

All the best!

 

[AaronInWI]

Checking in with a first day drive report. Simply put, if this was my first road trip (and thankfully it's not), there's a good chance there wouldn't be a second.

It started Friday night, when nerves/excitement/a brain that wouldn't shut down kept me up all night. In total, I got less than two hours sleep, probably closer to one hour. We planned on leaving at 3:30 am, but due to my failed effort to sleep and dense fog in the area, we didn't hit the road until almost 5:30 am. It was foggy the first two hours of the drive, which slowed us down a bit. In Indiana, we ran into construction, which caused us an almost 45 minute delay. We pulled off for lunch shortly after, and the ramp to get back on the highway was closed, with no detour suggested. Figuring out a proper detour killed another 15 minutes. So we were already 3 hours behind schedule.

The next few hours were uneventful, outside of barely being able to keep my eyes open due to a complete lack of sleep.

We decided to change things up this time and drive through South Carolina for a change of scenery. The Great Smokey Mountains were beautiful. Definitely the highlight of the drive. We don't have scenery like that in Wisconsin.

Our exit to get onto 640 in North Carolina (I think--it's all a blur) was closed due to an accident. So, yet another detour! Because we started late, and because of the traffic delays and detours, the last hour plus of our drive through what I can only assume was a winding mountain road, was completed in the dark. Not fun when you are struggling to stay awake and your co-pilot has poor night vision. This was a miserable, dreadful portion of the drive. The lack of sleep made me feel almost drunk, and I had no idea where I was except for my GPS. I saw a few deer standing on the side of the road, which made me paranoid and fearful. Thankfully, after 855 miles and almost 14 hours on the road, we pulled into our hotel in Greenville, SC safe and sound, three hours behind schedule, around 10pm. I think I was out before my head hit the pillow.

I got a good seven hours of sleep last night, and I'm raring and ready to hit the road again. Seven hours until we are in Orlando. I pray the traffic gods are smiling on me today.

(Oh and after all of this, would I choose driving over flying again? In a heartbeat!)

 

[dvczerfs]

Good morning to all as well! Been here at the Wilderness Lodge all week and only drove once this week so far. Buses have been quick and we have been using the boats back and forth to MK. Whew, it has been hot, but fantastic just the same. Hitting Epcot today and then comes week two!!!! Hoping for as good a weather next week as we had this one! Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Glad your having a good time!

 

[dvczerfs]

Good morning from the fifth floor of the GFR's main building!

Alas, tis time to part.

Safe drive wishes to all!

All the best!

have a safe trip home bc!! best part about leaving is knowing you will be back!

Checking in with a first day drive report. Simply put, if this was my first road trip (and thankfully it's not), there's a good chance there wouldn't be a second.

It started Friday night, when nerves/excitement/a brain that wouldn't shut down kept me up all night. In total, I got less than two hours sleep, probably closer to one hour. We planned on leaving at 3:30 am, but due to my failed effort to sleep and dense fog in the area, we didn't hit the road until almost 5:30 am. It was foggy the first two hours of the drive, which slowed us down a bit. In Indiana, we ran into construction, which caused us an almost 45 minute delay. We pulled off for lunch shortly after, and the ramp to get back on the highway was closed, with no detour suggested. Figuring out a proper detour killed another 15 minutes. So we were already 3 hours behind schedule.

The next few hours were uneventful, outside of barely being able to keep my eyes open due to a complete lack of sleep.

We decided to change things up this time and drive through South Carolina for a change of scenery. The Great Smokey Mountains were beautiful. Definitely the highlight of the drive. We don't have scenery like that in Wisconsin.

Our exit to get onto 640 in North Carolina (I think--it's all a blur) was closed due to an accident. So, yet another detour! Because we started late, and because of the traffic delays and detours, the last hour plus of our drive through what I can only assume was a winding mountain road, was completed in the dark. Not fun when you are struggling to stay awake and your co-pilot has poor night vision. This was a miserable, dreadful portion of the drive. The lack of sleep made me feel almost drunk, and I had no idea where I was except for my GPS. I saw a few deer standing on the side of the road, which made me paranoid and fearful. Thankfully, after 855 miles and almost 14 hours on the road, we pulled into our hotel in Greenville, SC safe and sound, three hours behind schedule, around 10pm. I think I was out before my head hit the pillow.

I got a good seven hours of sleep last night, and I'm raring and ready to hit the road again. Seven hours until we are in Orlando. I pray the traffic gods are smiling on me today.

(Oh and after all of this, would I choose driving over flying again? In a heartbeat!)

after all that I think I would have started flying. (just kidding)

I hope the last leg of your trip goes better. it has happened to me plenty of times. you think your going to sleep the night before and there is just no way. that is one reason we just drive straight through anymore. we would stop at a hotel, eat,shower and dw would fall asleep and I would lay there....toss and turn, flip and flop for hours. I would nod off for a few minutes and wake back up. like you, just everything..... excitement, worrying, the house, the mail,did you do everything you needed to do, work, traffic etc..... and after all my trips, it still happens.
you will be glad to know the trip back home you will not have the same feeling.

 

[Tuffy4God]

Checking in with a first day drive report. Simply put, if this was my first road trip (and thankfully it's not), there's a good chance there wouldn't be a second.

It started Friday night, when nerves/excitement/a brain that wouldn't shut down kept me up all night. In total, I got less than two hours sleep, probably closer to one hour. We planned on leaving at 3:30 am, but due to my failed effort to sleep and dense fog in the area, we didn't hit the road until almost 5:30 am. It was foggy the first two hours of the drive, which slowed us down a bit. In Indiana, we ran into construction, which caused us an almost 45 minute delay. We pulled off for lunch shortly after, and the ramp to get back on the highway was closed, with no detour suggested. Figuring out a proper detour killed another 15 minutes. So we were already 3 hours behind schedule.

The next few hours were uneventful, outside of barely being able to keep my eyes open due to a complete lack of sleep.

We decided to change things up this time and drive through South Carolina for a change of scenery. The Great Smokey Mountains were beautiful. Definitely the highlight of the drive. We don't have scenery like that in Wisconsin.

Our exit to get onto 640 in North Carolina (I think--it's all a blur) was closed due to an accident. So, yet another detour! Because we started late, and because of the traffic delays and detours, the last hour plus of our drive through what I can only assume was a winding mountain road, was completed in the dark. Not fun when you are struggling to stay awake and your co-pilot has poor night vision. This was a miserable, dreadful portion of the drive. The lack of sleep made me feel almost drunk, and I had no idea where I was except for my GPS. I saw a few deer standing on the side of the road, which made me paranoid and fearful. Thankfully, after 855 miles and almost 14 hours on the road, we pulled into our hotel in Greenville, SC safe and sound, three hours behind schedule, around 10pm. I think I was out before my head hit the pillow.

I got a good seven hours of sleep last night, and I'm raring and ready to hit the road again. Seven hours until we are in Orlando. I pray the traffic gods are smiling on me today.

(Oh and after all of this, would I choose driving over flying again? In a heartbeat!)

So sorry you had such an awful start to your vacation! We are actually heading out from MN in 4 days for the long drive too. Where was the construction in Indiana? Do you think we'll have issues with it too?

Thanks!

 

[nono]

Good news for folks who have to travel past Wilmington, DE:

http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20140823/all-lanes-of-interstate-495-bridge-re-open

 

[twoolle]

For our first trip, we drove to the Contemporary and gave ourselves a monorail tour. We did both loops and were back at our car within the three hours we were allowed. It was a great way to begin our first visit. Also, there is a WM about one hour before WDW that is easy to get to from the highway. We hit that one because we have learned that once we are back on property, we are in no mood to leave.

Great tip on the monorail! I am thinking it would be good to stop at WM on our way in...I am a little concerned about storage space in the SUV but I am sure we can cram things in if needed. Is that the closest one that is 1 hour away? I know there are grocery stores but I am such a frugal shopper I faint if I have to buy things at regular grocery store prices. Seriously it gives me anxiety!