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

[disneyfan55]

Welcome to the "For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only!" thread, Part IV

[Walt Disney World drives!]

Part III of this thread opened on October 12, 2011 and closed on June 10, 2013 after 197 pages, 2,950 replies and 228,262 views.

Part II of this thread opened on July 12, 2010 and closed on October 12, 2011 after 256 pages, 3,843 replies and 207,597 views.

Part I of this thread debuted on December 6, 2007 and closed on July 14, 2010 after 251 pages, 3,755 replies and 210,793 views.



All-Time "For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only!" Records (updated 4/28/2014)

Most Total Drives: 59 (since 1973): dvczerfs

Most Drives in One Decade/10-Year Period: 27 (2003-2012): bc1836

Most Drives in One Calendar Year: 5 (2012): cruisingkat;
(four drives in one calendar year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011): bc1836

Most Drives in One 12-Month Period: 5 (12/08-12/09; 2012): cruisingkat; (12/09-12/10): bc1836

Most "Non-Stop" Drives: 15 (1992-2014): DSLRuser
13 (2008-2012): bc1836

Shortest Time Between Drives: 19 days (2009): cruisingkat

Most passengers in one vehicle: 12 (2000: Dodge 3500 Ram van): chepic
10 (2010: 2 adults, 8 kids; 1999 Chevy Express Van): birdslightyear (aka just*the*ten*of*us)

Longest Drive (one way): 2,070 miles (2013): Shir Khan (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)

Second Longest Drive (one way): 1,953 miles (2011): peigirl (Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada)


What is your status level as a 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Driver?

5 drives to WDW: "Bronze"
10 drives to WDW: "Silver"
15 drives to WDW: "Gold"
20 drives to WDW: "Platinum"
25 drives to WDW: "Diamond"

Drives above those levels are catagorized in multiples. For example, someone who makes 40 drives is "double Platinum;" 50 drives: "double-Diamond."

Remember: These status levels are just meaningless fun, but if you are seeking a long-range driver status, we've got one for ya!

All the best!

I never happened to see this record keeping section! We have 17 RT to WDW without stopping- all 2003 and prior but still have them! We also have driving trips to DL!! Do they count for anything just wondered thanks!

 

[ddluvsdisney]

DD!!! tomorrow..................... 90 DAYS!!

17 days for me!!!! . 10 more school days.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[dvczerfs]

17 days for me!!!! . 10 more school days.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

17days!!!! that's good for three dancing bananas!!!



when do you start school in the fall?

 

[dvczerfs]

I never happened to see this record keeping section! We have 17 RT to WDW without stopping- all 2003 and prior but still have them! We also have driving trips to DL!! Do they count for anything just wondered thanks!

nj to dl? that has to be a new cat. see what bc can do. I have a lot of rt with out stopping other then gas and bathroom stops but I have no way of counting them.
I also just did a straight through no stopping by myself to tampa area. but I have to recuse (yes, I googled it ) myself from that cat., I drive for a living.

I also did 4 trips in a calendar year (2013) and 5 in a 12 month period.(2013-2014)

 

[ddluvsdisney]

17days!!!! that's good for three dancing bananas!!! when do you start school in the fall?

After Labor Day. Usually the Tuesday or Wed.
I booked the hotel for the way down in N.C. so we're all set.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[dvczerfs]

After Labor Day. Usually the Tuesday or Wed.
I booked the hotel for the way down in N.C. so we're all set.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

that's not to bad. our kids go back a week before labor day. this is there last week.
don't forget...... we need picture!!!!

 

[disneyfan55]

No sorry. I was so excited about having a record! I meant 17 times RT straight drive! No DL took a few days out there from NJ. But a much longer drive from NJ than WDW. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[disneyfan55]

17 days for me!!!! . 10 more school days.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

17days!!!! that's good for three dancing bananas!!!



when do you start school in the fall?

nj to dl? that has to be a new cat. see what bc can do. I have a lot of rt with out stopping other then gas and bathroom stops but I have no way of counting them.
I also just did a straight through no stopping by myself to tampa area. but I have to recuse (yes, I googled it ) myself from that cat., I drive for a living.

I also did 4 trips in a calendar year (2013) and 5 in a 12 month period.(2013-2014)

No, my error. I meant 17 RT drive thru to FL!

 

[Momma2PrinceNPrinces]

Hey everyone! Sorry but I cannot read through 130+ pages! We are driving from STL for the 3rd time. First time we left early in the am, stopped somewhere in GA (I think it was only 3/4 hrs from Orlando). This past trip (last summer) we again left early in the am, drove straight through getting into Orlando around midnight. Do most of you leave mid afternoon and drive through the night? I honestly think it would be better so our kids could sleep and not be woken up at midnight to go into a hotel (trying to get them back to sleep was a NIGHTMARE)!!!! If you do drive through the night, do you sleep the next day? I think this would be our biggest issue because the kids may not let us sleep!

 

[disneyfan55]

Good for a laugh on the thread! Has anyone else ever made the DL trip by car from the eastcoast? Just curious. We've driven cross country 7 times all together, just 2 with DL stops.

 

[disneyfan55]

Hey everyone! Sorry but I cannot read through 130+ pages! We are driving from STL for the 3rd time. First time we left early in the am, stopped somewhere in GA (I think it was only 3/4 hrs from Orlando). This past trip (last summer) we again left early in the am, drove straight through getting into Orlando around midnight. Do most of you leave mid afternoon and drive through the night? I honestly think it would be better so our kids could sleep and not be woken up at midnight to go into a hotel (trying to get them back to sleep was a NIGHTMARE)!!!! If you do drive through the night, do you sleep the next day? I think this would be our biggest issue because the kids may not let us sleep!

We have left all different times, but when the kids were young mostly around 6 or 7 am. No, we did not sleep the next day. In fact on one trip we arrived at CB at around 3 am, we had AP so we waited until around 730am and off to the Magic Kingdom. The kids were teens then and had slept the night through. I was a solo driver (as I was for many of the straight through drives). Can't do it anymore though. It was fun while it lasted!

 

[asmit4]

Anyone ever take the 79 from Pittsburgh to 77 to 81 (through WV to Charlotte)??

I'm wondering what kind of terrain I can expect. I haven't done this drive in almost 10 years and my husband did most of the driving. I'm trying to figure out just how far south of Pitt I can manage doing at night in the dark alone.

The route looks very mountainy....anyone have any insight?

 

[dvczerfs]

Hey everyone! Sorry but I cannot read through 130+ pages! We are driving from STL for the 3rd time. First time we left early in the am, stopped somewhere in GA (I think it was only 3/4 hrs from Orlando). This past trip (last summer) we again left early in the am, drove straight through getting into Orlando around midnight. Do most of you leave mid afternoon and drive through the night? I honestly think it would be better so our kids could sleep and not be woken up at midnight to go into a hotel (trying to get them back to sleep was a NIGHTMARE)!!!! If you do drive through the night, do you sleep the next day? I think this would be our biggest issue because the kids may not let us sleep!

we did the kid will sleep for most of it whend was a baby. the only problem we had, like you mentioned, dd slept all night and mom and dad didn't. wasn't fun.

Good for a laugh on the thread! Has anyone else ever made the DL trip by car from the eastcoast? Just curious. We've driven cross country 7 times all together, just 2 with DL stops.

nope, maybe in a few years.

Anyone ever take the 79 from Pittsburgh to 77 to 81 (through WV to Charlotte)??

I'm wondering what kind of terrain I can expect. I haven't done this drive in almost 10 years and my husband did most of the driving. I'm trying to figure out just how far south of Pitt I can manage doing at night in the dark alone.

The route looks very mountainy....anyone have any insight?

well, 81/77 is just about all mountains. its not as populated as i95. it has gotten better but be careful alone at night. flat tire, break downs. I hit that area around 4-5am so its not to bad. if your not use to driving at night for long periods of time by yourself on dark empty roads, you may want to re think your times of driving. look on line for hotels, there are a lot of areas that are not to hotel populated. also, if your going in the winter, I would look for another way. I use 78/81/66/17/95/4 in the winter months.
I tried 81/77 in the winter one time. bought the tee shirt!!! there are people on here from the pits. area who can give you some insight of the way they go.

 

[asmit4]

well, 81/77 is just about all mountains. its not as populated as i95. it has gotten better but be careful alone at night. flat tire, break downs. I hit that area around 4-5am so its not to bad. if your not use to driving at night for long periods of time by yourself on dark empty roads, you may want to re think your times of driving. look on line for hotels, there are a lot of areas that are not to hotel populated. also, if your going in the winter, I would look for another way. I use 78/81/66/17/95/4 in the winter months.
I tried 81/77 in the winter one time. bought the tee shirt!!! there are people on here from the pits. area who can give you some insight of the way they go.

Thanks for the insight. I think my plan is to drive to just south of pittsburgh the first night, stop and get back on the road in the AM. I was going to try and make it to Summersville, WV from Buffalo, NY on my first night AFTER working a full day....thinking I'll stop around Morgantown- just over the WV border.

 

[nono]

it is really strange how just an hour south of me, make a difference in which way to head to florida

And I live what? 2.5 hrs. southeast, and that's another whole route...

 

[disneyfan55]

nope, maybe in a few years.



I tried 81/77 in the winter one time. bought the tee shirt!!! there are people on here from the pits. area who can give you some insight of the way they go.

You really have to do the cross country trip! You sound like you enjoy driving! All the sites, National Parks and places to visit! We have our favorites that are included on most trips!.

As far as the 81 route. It really is a lot less traffic and a nicer ride. But, more lonely as you state. We have done that drive a few times when visiting relatives in western GA on the way to FL plus for a few cross country trips. We found a few roads to avoid 495 around Washington DC as well. Traffic lights but just a better way I felt. Can't recall all the exact route now but we did do it both ways last trip.

 

[Liisa1965]

We took the auto train to Florida last month, and due to the train running many hours behind, decided to drive back. Now I can't wait to drive round trip next year! I loved being in control of our travel, being able to stop when we wanted, stay overnight in a hotel instead of trying to sleep in a train car filled with snoring strangers. We were really winging it since we decided last minute to drive home. Next year we'll be more prepared. We will probably rent a car for the trip to save wear and tear on our own vehicle. With the cost of a rental and a hotel for one night each way, I don't expect to save much money, but I love to drive, don't like flying, and I've come to despise the auto train, so I think this will be our best option.

 

[BC1836]

We took the auto train to Florida last month, and due to the train running many hours behind, decided to drive back. Now I can't wait to drive round trip next year! I loved being in control of our travel, being able to stop when we wanted, stay overnight in a hotel instead of trying to sleep in a train car filled with snoring strangers. We were really winging it since we decided last minute to drive home. Next year we'll be more prepared. We will probably rent a car for the trip to save wear and tear on our own vehicle. With the cost of a rental and a hotel for one night each way, I don't expect to save much money, but I love to drive, don't like flying, and I've come to despise the auto train, so I think this will be our best option.

"Being in control" is one of the most important reasons for the round trip WDW drive. And, yes, "to be able to stop when [you] wanted" is another important reason. To be sure, it's difficult to do on the auto train, even more difficult flying at 30,000 feet.

All the best.

 

[amcnj]

$3.45 regular in this neighborhood.

All the best.

Three or four of the cash/credit same price stations dropped a whole penny per gallon overnight to $3.40. Don't spend it all in one place!

 

[Serin76]

Hey everyone! New to the thread and I'm planning my first ever trip to Disney World next February. Going to be driving all the way down from Wisconsin for it. Very much looking forward, both to Disney World, and the trip itself. I absolutely love taking road trips.

Though I do have a question that's come up, and I apologize if this has been asked before. Naturally, I'm having the car fully inspected before we leave, but if, despite my best efforts, I have a break down or something that either delays or cancels my trip, does anyone know if there's any travel insurance that covers situations like that? The car itself already has full coverage, but I'd be more worried about losing the money I paid for the vacation itself. Most plans I've looked at seem to be centered around flying, not driving.

Thanks in advance!