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

[hebbynan]

So close!!!
12 days for us!!!
12 days, 12 hours 12 minutes is what my countdown just said when in looked at it!!!

SO cool - we'll be down there at the same time!!

 

[BC1836]

Regular gas up another two cents to $3.49 a gallon around this neighborhood. A week ago, it was $3.45.

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

So close!!!
12 days for us!!!
12 days, 12 hours 12 minutes is what my countdown just said when in looked at it!!!

5 DAYS..... 3 HOURS and we are out of here!

 

[C&G'sMama]

Hey all,

It's been over 2 years since our last trip to Disney! We moved to South West Michigan from Western NY a little over a year ago, the main reason it's been so long for us. Anyhow, we are planning a trip for next May. We did the 2,400+ RT between Rochester and Disney Several times. But this will be our first time coming from MI. I did pull up google map suggested routes and see that we get ourselves down to route 65 and eventually to 75. Any tips, suggestions etc would be greatly appreciated as to what to look for, good places to stop, places to avoid etc. We will most likely leave on a Friday after work and school to be down there by sometime on Sunday and coming back we'll leave on a Monday arriving home on Wednesdays.

Thank you for any thoughts, suggestions etc.

 

[pwdebbie]

We leave 2 weeks from midnight tonight!! I can't believe it's almost here!

Coming from Hershey, we decided to do 95 the whole way, and not the inland way. When I google map it, we get on 15 to I-270 to I495 around DC then I95

what are some of the best rest stops we should aim for? We don't plan on any long stops, just gas, pee, stretch legs a bit...

I know we need to stop at the florida stop for orange juice...and when I was a kid I remember stopping at South of the Border (are there a million billboards for that still??)

Hoping the kids will sleep a good portion of the night hours and maybe even some daylight hours, lol Leave at midnight and hope to get in by 3 or 4 does that sound right?

Since you are leaving at midnight, that route should be ok. We are an hour south of you and took that route on a Sunday afternoon and said NEVER again! 495 was horrible. But at midnight, you'll probably hit it around 2:00 a.m. and I would think you would have smooth sailing as long as the construction is over (which I think I heard it has been completed, so to speak -- they will always find ways to do more construction there). Should we ever decide to do 95 again, we will do 15 to 17 to 95, the route we always took to Willliamsburg.

 

[texasroni75]

Leaving in 6 days to start our trek to WDW from Central Texas. Approximately 1135 miles each way, 17 hours of driving each way.

Day 1 we are doing a 4-hour drive, leaving when the kids get out of school. Staying over in East Texas after dinner along the way. Hoping to miss the rush hour traffic in downtown Houston by timing it just right! Day 2 is a marathon of driving till we reach FL (DH and I are taking turns driving). Again, trying to time it right to miss rush hour through Baton Rouge. Staying overnight somewhere between Tallahassee and Ocala depending on how smooth the ride is, no delays, etc. I don't like night driving, otherwise we could do without the 2nd hotel stay on the way there. Then Day 3 we get to our resort at WDW, hoping to have lunch in the parks!

We've done it once before, so we feel comfortable with the plan, but we know to be flexible if there are bumps along the way! DVD player, tablets for the older kids, and lots of snacks. New tires, new GPS, new wipers, routine maintenance on our truck, and renewed our roadside assistance membership just in case. Crossing our fingers that no storms brewing in the Gulf cause delays or detours for us since Route 10 is practically on the water through most of Louisiana!, but you never know. Wish us luck

 

[dvczerfs]

Hey all,

It's been over 2 years since our last trip to Disney! We moved to South West Michigan from Western NY a little over a year ago, the main reason it's been so long for us. Anyhow, we are planning a trip for next May. We did the 2,400+ RT between Rochester and Disney Several times. But this will be our first time coming from MI. I did pull up google map suggested routes and see that we get ourselves down to route 65 and eventually to 75. Any tips, suggestions etc would be greatly appreciated as to what to look for, good places to stop, places to avoid etc. We will most likely leave on a Friday after work and school to be down there by sometime on Sunday and coming back we'll leave on a Monday arriving home on Wednesdays.

Thank you for any thoughts, suggestions etc.

welcome back! I thought the picture look familiar.sorry, I cant help you but there are people on here who come from that direction that can.
welcome back!!!

 

[dvczerfs]

Leaving in 6 days to start our trek to WDW from Central Texas. Approximately 1135 miles each way, 17 hours of driving each way.

Day 1 we are doing a 4-hour drive, leaving when the kids get out of school. Staying over in East Texas after dinner along the way. Hoping to miss the rush hour traffic in downtown Houston by timing it just right! Day 2 is a marathon of driving till we reach FL (DH and I are taking turns driving). Again, trying to time it right to miss rush hour through Baton Rouge. Staying overnight somewhere between Tallahassee and Ocala depending on how smooth the ride is, no delays, etc. I don't like night driving, otherwise we could do without the 2nd hotel stay on the way there. Then Day 3 we get to our resort at WDW, hoping to have lunch in the parks!

We've done it once before, so we feel comfortable with the plan, but we know to be flexible if there are bumps along the way! DVD player, tablets for the older kids, and lots of snacks. New tires, new GPS, new wipers, routine maintenance on our truck, and renewed our roadside assistance membership just in case. Crossing our fingers that no storms brewing in the Gulf cause delays or detours for us since Route 10 is practically on the water through most of Louisiana!, but you never know. Wish us luck

see you there!

 

[dvczerfs]

4 DAYS 5 HOURS TO GO!!!

starting trip 56!!! I will be doing 57 in December. I just turned 48 a few weeks ago and im trying to hit 60 by my 50th birthday!!

 

[dvczerfs]

4 DAYS 5 HOURS TO GO!!!

starting trip 56!!! I will be doing 57 in December. I just turned 48 a few weeks ago and im trying to hit 60 by my 50th birthday!!

which, makes 5 trips from December 2012 to December 2013. 3 trips in four months. 4 trips in 7 months. no im not nuts......... have to go see the kid....... her words....." BRING MONEY"!!

just a side note: after she pays her rent and I pay my bills, she has more spending money then I do. she's living the dream!!!!

 

[BC1836]

which, makes 5 trips from December 2012 to December 2013. 3 trips in four months. 4 trips in 7 months. no im not nuts......... have to go see the kid....... her words....." BRING MONEY"!!

just a side note: after she pays her rent and I pay my bills, she has more spending money then I do. she's living the dream!!!!

The All-Time records (which are found on page 1 of this thread) may have to be updated and rewritten!

[We'll never catch up!]

All the best.

 

[goofyfigment]

Ill be making my 4th trip since December in October, but for Aug and Oct I flew/flying since they are short trips lol

 

[BC1836]

Despite 58 trips to WDW, we've never been there in January or February. We're going to have to get there one of these winters.

Of course, the winter driving could be a challenge.

All the best.

 

[LadyBeBop]

I did pull up google map suggested routes and see that we get ourselves down to route 65 and eventually to 75. Any tips, suggestions etc would be greatly appreciated as to what to look for, good places to stop, places to avoid etc. We will most likely leave on a Friday after work and school to be down there by sometime on Sunday and coming back we'll leave on a Monday arriving home on Wednesdays.

Taking your time. Which is good. A few question:

1) How long to you expect to be on the road each day?
2) Do you anticipate doing any sightseeing along the way? (There are a number of attactions along the route....Mammoth Caves, Corvette Museum, Grand Ol' Opry, Lookout Mountain)

Only piece of advice I can give you right off the bat...coming home, don't go through Atlanta or Nashville during rush hour. And stay in the far left (carpool) lane through Atlanta.

Despite 58 trips to WDW, we've never been there in January or February. We're going to have to get there one of these winters.

Funny thing...that was the last time we were at WDW. Last few days of January, and first few days of February.

Of course, the winter driving could be a challenge.

I know. We actually had to leave about 12 hours earlier than planned to get through the mountains before a pending snowstorm. Actually, the snowstorm was larger than expected, and we hit snow/ice in Chattanooga. Stopped for the night just south of Atlanta...and the snow.

 

[C&G'sMama]

Taking your time. Which is good. A few question:

1) How long to you expect to be on the road each day?
2) Do you anticipate doing any sightseeing along the way? (There are a number of attactions along the route....Mammoth Caves, Corvette Museum, Grand Ol' Opry, Lookout Mountain)

Only piece of advice I can give you right off the bat...coming home, don't go through Atlanta or Nashville during rush hour. And stay in the far left (carpool) lane through Atlanta.

Thank you. This is how we usually do it.
We could leave Saturday morning, but everyone will be too excited so we'll leave Friday night and drive for a couple of hours. From Rochester we had a good idea of where we'd land. So let's say we'll leave at 5 on Friday and dirve 'til 8 or 9. Saturday will be our long day. We 'll leave by 7 or 8 and drive 'til we can't drive anymore. It could be 14 hours and we've been able to average 60 miles per hour or there could be a tractor trailer flipped some where and our average speed is 40 miles per hour. Parking lot on 81 one year. And then we'll finish on Sunday with in a couple of hours, it was Jacksonville before but I realize if we come straight from Michigan we'll be coming in from the other way.

And we may end up going through Charlotte NC instead as that's where my inlaws are moving to and where my brother-in-law and sister-in-law live.

I know it's quite a ways out 'til we go but a. I'm excited and b. we want to gather as much information as we can ahead of time so we don't waste a lotof time. As for landmarks. We don't usually sightsee but man it sounds like we'll going through some cool stuff so maybe we do a plan on a stop on the way down and put off getting to Florida 'til late Sunday or early monday.

Thank you so much!

 

[C&G'sMama]

welcome back! I thought the picture look familiar.sorry, I cant help you but there are people on here who come from that direction that can.
welcome back!!!

thanks for remembering me. It's good to be back. We never thought we'd go this long without a WDW trip. But we also never dreamed we'd be living in Michigan, which oh BTW we LOVE! And with being 540 miles from family, and the orthodontist , meaning a trip back every 6 weeks and a trip to Wildwood NJ last April we have still spent plenty of time in the car and plenty of time saying. "You know with the trip we just made we could be in WDW by now"

 

[Goofygirl17]

We are seriously considering driving down for Christmas at Disney!

I know it's wicked crowded but we'd love to see the Christmas decorations and I can only go during the summer or school vacations because I'm a teacher.

I can't decide! Any advice? The girls and I have PAPs so we'd only need to buy tickets for DH.

 

[sharadoc]

Despite 58 trips to WDW, we've never been there in January or February. We're going to have to get there one of these winters.

Of course, the winter driving could be a challenge.

All the best.

We won't do January and February again. February 2010 was freezing at WDW and was the blizzard that hit the South. Real problems driving through Carolina and Virginia, states that had no idea how to clear snow. Huge 1 foot ruts, lanes that ended suddenly with no warning because they just stopped clearing the snow, just horrible.

January 2012, snowstorm at home on departure day, spun out on the highway and almost rolled down an embankment. Slammed into a sign on the passenger sign and got stuck halfway down a hill. Got towed out by PennDot, damage didn't look bad, van drivable so we continued on. But my daughter still hasn't fully recovered from that helpless feeling of spinning out of control.

So, we decided we will never chance the bad weather again. Which is a shame because we were dedicated January/February people. Also a lot of tour groups and cheerleaders at that time which can be frustrating, so we're okay with it. We'll miss the cheap prices, empty parks and break in the middle of the winter.

 

[dvczerfs]

We are seriously considering driving down for Christmas at Disney!

I know it's wicked crowded but we'd love to see the Christmas decorations and I can only go during the summer or school vacations because I'm a teacher.

I can't decide! Any advice? The girls and I have PAPs so we'd only need to buy tickets for DH.

ill be there from the 19th to he 29th. hit the rope drops, get in what you want to do the first few hours of the day and just sit and watch.


we are doing candle light proc. on Christmas eve again. we are having Christmas diner at teppen edo.

 

[BC1836]

We won't do January and February again. February 2010 was freezing at WDW and was the blizzard that hit the South. Real problems driving through Carolina and Virginia, states that had no idea how to clear snow. Huge 1 foot ruts, lanes that ended suddenly with no warning because they just stopped clearing the snow, just horrible.

January 2012, snowstorm at home on departure day, spun out on the highway and almost rolled down an embankment. Slammed into a sign on the passenger sign and got stuck halfway down a hill. Got towed out by PennDot, damage didn't look bad, van drivable so we continued on. But my daughter still hasn't fully recovered from that helpless feeling of spinning out of control.

So, we decided we will never chance the bad weather again. Which is a shame because we were dedicated January/February people. Also a lot of tour groups and cheerleaders at that time which can be frustrating, so we're okay with it. We'll miss the cheap prices, empty parks and break in the middle of the winter.

Now that's some information to consider! Those were some difficult and scary drives.

All the best.