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

[ddluvsdisney]

It's time for the founder of this thread to take a 2,000+ mile round trip drive to WDW. We'll be leaving within the hour for drive #33. All the best!

Have a great trip!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[BC1836]

We have arrived in Lake Buena Vista.

However, I-95 and I-4 keep getting worse. Construction south the Baltimore tunnel (three lanes to one) near midnight. Ugh! Huge construction slowdowns after midnight in northern VA (three lanes to one), an accident in GA (which stopped every car heading south, including us for about 20 minutes). Ugh!

We left last night at 8:45 p.m. and arrrived in lake Buena Vista at 6:10 P.M. (we had a few obligatory nap stops, although I reallly don't sleep through them). Ugh!

But we made it...!

Most gas around $3.29 but beware of the Exit 7 in GA BP station which doesn't post its regular price: $3.99!

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

We have arrived in Lake Buena Vista. However, I-95 and I-4 keep getting worse. Construction south the Baltimore tunnel (three lanes to one) near midnight. Ugh! Huge construction slowdowns after midnight in northern VA (three lanes to one), an accident in GA (which stopped every car heading south, including us for about 20 minutes). Ugh! We left last night at 8:45 p.m. and arrrived in lake Buena Vista at 6:10 P.M. (we had a few obligatory nap stops, although I reallly don't sleep through them). Ugh! But we made it...! Most gas around $3.29 but beware of the Exit 7 in GA BP station which doesn't post its regular price: $3.99! All the best.

Glad you made it safely bc!!! Do you recall where in northern va you had construction slow downs?

 

[dvczerfs]

Have a great trip!!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

hi dd!!!! I have a question for you, I see you post from your I pad a lot. I got an I pad a few weeks ago and in the evening hours have a hard time posting on the dis with the I pad. it just keeps trying to load and it "times out" most of the time. during the day or in the morning it works fine.
my lap top works fine in the evening. im guessing its the ap?
I was just wondering if you had any problems?

 

[ParrotBill]

Arrived today after our 2 day drive from Upstate NY.

Thursday: on road at 5:15, ran into a 1 1/2 hour delay as I-79 closed at bridge in Pittsburgh from tractor trailer overturn!

After that no big problems but sure put our schedule off for the day.

Overnighted at Microtel in Columbia SC,got on road today at 6:00. Glad we did. Managed to fly down I-95 in SC... no slowdowns or rubber banding but could see it was going to be getting bad soon but we made the 3 lanes in Georgia and kept going.. made WDW at 1:00! And room ready. Lubster roll lunch at Boardwalk, a couple hours in MK, Cape May dinner, and EMH late in EPCOT. Good day!

 

[Tweevil]

Here we go, SNJ to WDW with a stop in Santee.
I will beep when I go by ya!
I will try to report back any issues. Hoping to get through DC with no issue.

 

[dvczerfs]

Arrived today after our 2 day drive from Upstate NY. Thursday: on road at 5:15, ran into a 1 1/2 hour delay as I-79 closed at bridge in Pittsburgh from tractor trailer overturn! After that no big problems but sure put our schedule off for the day. Overnighted at Microtel in Columbia SC,got on road today at 6:00. Glad we did. Managed to fly down I-95 in SC... no slowdowns or rubber banding but could see it was going to be getting bad soon but we made the 3 lanes in Georgia and kept going.. made WDW at 1:00! And room ready. Lubster roll lunch at Boardwalk, a couple hours in MK, Cape May dinner, and EMH late in EPCOT. Good day!

Glad you made it safely. You just have to love when they tell you your room is ready. Gave a nice time.

 

[dvczerfs]

Here we go, SNJ to WDW with a stop in Santee. I will beep when I go by ya! I will try to report back any issues. Hoping to get through DC with no issue.

Have a nice trip!!

 

[dvczerfs]

Good Lord, LOL. Maybe it's a sign and I should actually consider running 95 all the way down.

Saturday morning i78 update.
15-hour closure of Interstate 78 set to start at 11 p.m.
http://wfmz.m0bl.net/r/1yvh5y

 

[rotlex]

Saturday morning i78 update.
15-hour closure of Interstate 78 set to start at 11 p.m.
http://wfmz.m0bl.net/r/1yvh5y

Saw this this morning too. Looks like it started last night at 11pm, and here's to hoping it's done by this afternoon, and I can wake up tomorrow and just drive, LOL.

On a better note, those "I'm leaving for Disney in less than 24 hours" bursts of excitement are starting to hit me now!

 

[BC1836]

Glad you made it safely bc!!! Do you recall where in northern va you had construction slow downs?

All around the 160s/150s mm south. Ugh!

As the Winnie the Pooh attraction warns: "Beware!"

All the best.

 

[dvczerfs]

All around the 160s/150s mm south. Ugh! As the Winnie the Pooh attraction warns: "Beware!" All the best.

Thanks bc. I'm going to hit it at mm133 so I should be ok. Enjoy!!

 

[twinboysandalulu]

We are from south jersey and this is our 3rd trip driving to Disney straight through(less than a week to go!!!!). Our first trip we left at 5am and due to a few accidents on 95, construction in Virginia, and then a forest fire in Daytona we didn't arrive until 10 pm that night, the kids were great in the car but we still felt bad for making them sit for that long awake(they never fell asleep during the whole trip). Our second trip we left an hour earlier and hit a few more accidents but no actual construction closures and still arrived around 10ish(My husband couldn't go on that trip so it was just me and my mom with the kids and I was the sole driver). This time we plan on leaving at 6pm when DH gets home from work, I will drive until we hit the Carolina's and then switch. Hopefully he can sleep for a few hours until the switch and then I can nap and we can switch off again when we cross the Florida line at the welcome center. We are hoping the overnight drive will be easier for the kids. We plan on hanging out at the pool our first day to relax and crash early for our first day at the parks. I am a little nervous about the overnight drive although DH is confident that all will go well.
Any tips on the rest stops once we get in the Carolina's in case we have to pull over and rest for a bit? Are there any we should avoid due to safety concerns?

Thanks!

 

[dvczerfs]

We are from south jersey and this is our 3rd trip driving to Disney straight through(less than a week to go!!!!). Our first trip we left at 5am and due to a few accidents on 95, construction in Virginia, and then a forest fire in Daytona we didn't arrive until 10 pm that night, the kids were great in the car but we still felt bad for making them sit for that long awake(they never fell asleep during the whole trip). Our second trip we left an hour earlier and hit a few more accidents but no actual construction closures and still arrived around 10ish(My husband couldn't go on that trip so it was just me and my mom with the kids and I was the sole driver). This time we plan on leaving at 6pm when DH gets home from work, I will drive until we hit the Carolina's and then switch. Hopefully he can sleep for a few hours until the switch and then I can nap and we can switch off again when we cross the Florida line at the welcome center. We are hoping the overnight drive will be easier for the kids. We plan on hanging out at the pool our first day to relax and crash early for our first day at the parks. I am a little nervous about the overnight drive although DH is confident that all will go well.
Any tips on the rest stops once we get in the Carolina's in case we have to pull over and rest for a bit? Are there any we should avoid due to safety concerns?

Thanks!

you should be fine. just keep your doors locked, nobody will bother you. you wont be the only one, a lot of people nap in the rest areas.

 

[dvczerfs]

BC!!! I see your light on. how is going?

 

[BC1836]

We are from south jersey and this is our 3rd trip driving to Disney straight through(less than a week to go!!!!). Our first trip we left at 5am and due to a few accidents on 95, construction in Virginia, and then a forest fire in Daytona we didn't arrive until 10 pm that night, the kids were great in the car but we still felt bad for making them sit for that long awake(they never fell asleep during the whole trip). Our second trip we left an hour earlier and hit a few more accidents but no actual construction closures and still arrived around 10ish(My husband couldn't go on that trip so it was just me and my mom with the kids and I was the sole driver). This time we plan on leaving at 6pm when DH gets home from work, I will drive until we hit the Carolina's and then switch. Hopefully he can sleep for a few hours until the switch and then I can nap and we can switch off again when we cross the Florida line at the welcome center. We are hoping the overnight drive will be easier for the kids. We plan on hanging out at the pool our first day to relax and crash early for our first day at the parks. I am a little nervous about the overnight drive although DH is confident that all will go well.
Any tips on the rest stops once we get in the Carolina's in case we have to pull over and rest for a bit? Are there any we should avoid due to safety concerns?

Thanks!

Make sure you top off your tank at the Maryland Welcome Center. You want to reduce the possibility of leaving I-95 in the middle or the night/pre-dawn for gas. If you can get your next fill-up at dawn or at South of the Border (at any time during the night), do so.

All the best.

 

[BC1836]

BC!!! I see your light on. how is going?

You are too smart to ask such a question! We are in Lake Buena Vista!
And tomorrow we'll be driving to the Grand Floridian (after our early arrival bonus stay at the Holiday Inn DTD).

All the best!

 

[dvczerfs]

You are too smart to ask such a question! We are in Lake Buena Vista!
And tomorrow we'll be driving to the Grand Floridian (after our early arrival bonus stay at the Holiday Inn DTD).

All the best!

I was just making sure your not breaking from tradition.

 

[BC1836]

I was just making sure your not breaking from tradition.

Nope! And I'm wearing my Disney Davy Crockett pin; after all, Davy Crockett actor Fess Parker's birthday is today! And Davy Crockett's birthday is tomorrow!

Our drive on World Drive tomorrow will be embellished with our Spectromagic CD playing as we drive to the Grand Floridian.

Tomorrow morning: the welcome breakfast at the Grand Floridian Cafe...Mickey Waffles and Grand Mimosas!

Other traditions to follow....

Thanks for asking, dvczerfs!

All the best.

 

[Tweevil]

I am getting ready to take off from Santee and thought I would update...
Yesterday I95 from MD to the top of SC was horrible. Worst delay I have ever experienced. I even tried Rt 1 as an alternative and that was bad. I saw a little construction, 2 or 3 accidents in the middle median but nothing significant that would have (in my mind) caused this slow (20-25 mph) driving. It put us easily 3 hours behind schedule. AND there was a full wallet of knucklehead drivers who did the "let's get one car up and pry ourselves in" tactic.

I am going to have to go back to leaving at the crack of darkness the night before I guess....

Now, if I can get my party out of their beds (you would have thought they drove...) I can get onto my last 5 of driving for the day.

I love driving (really I do!) but if you had asked me that at 1p yesterday I would have told you I was going to fly next time. lol

Let's hope today is better and I know there is a cocktail awaiting me in Disney for sure!