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

[nono]

Left RI at 2:17 am. 3 stops so far. At exit 71 north Carolina. Traffic has been light, no major issues. Should be in Disney by 9:30 barring any major problems. Kids doing well too....no yelling from the back. :0)

How's it going chepic?

 

[disneysteve]

Hitting the road tomorrow by noon. I am not liking the weather forecast for Sunday and Monday for the Inland route. But checked 95 and it has the same weather. I guess it will be a long slow drive.

Safe travels. I hope the weather doesn't slow you down too much. Been there, done that. It's not much fun.

 

[BC1836]

Safe travels. I hope the weather doesn't slow you down too much. Been there, done that. It's not much fun.

Upon your arrival, check in on the Disboards. Perhaps our paths will cross.

All the best!

 

[specialkk77]

only 17 more days until our first drive...i've been as far as the outer banks in NC, but that's it! I'm getting a little nervous!

 

[amcnj]

Departed the Jersey Shore at 6:20 a.m. [light showers for about an hour and a half]
DE: 8:00 a.m. [I-95 journey begins]
MD: 8:17 a.m. [20 minute stop and go in southern MD]
VA: 10:22 a.m.
NC: 1:23 p.m.
SC: 4:12 p.m.
GA: 7:19 p.m.
FL: 9:00 p.m. [check in at overnight hotel in Yulee at 9:10 p.m.]

Gas at Emporia, VA: $2.29
Gas at exit 77 in SC: $2.19

Wow, do you always take a light shower for 1.5 hours before hitting the road? You must be the cleanest driver on 95!

 

[sharadoc]

Well, the years of Disney Driving took their toll and the red Minnie Van has been retired, traded in with 165,000 miles on it, about 30,000 of it was to,from,around WDW over the past 5 years. I was sad to see it go, for a day or two it felt like I had to take a beloved pet and have it put down (not joking, I loved that van - it felt like part of me when I was driving).

Good news, the new Blue Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, name to be decided by our next drive. Has double DVD screens, premium sound system with hard drive, back-up cameras, tons of air bags, shiny navy blue paint and the smoothest ride ever! Still finding the seat position that works for me, but very happy with the purchase. Funny thing was all the test driving and shopping for options always came down to "how will this be on the drive to Disney World"? Priorities, right??

The Minnie Van had a Minnie Mouse antenna topper to go with the name. I am thinking of using the Sorcerer Mickey hat topper for this one (cause I like it to match) but can't come up with a good name for it. Any ideas??

 

[dvcville]

Working on the checklist! 83 days till we reach the House of Mouse.

 

[BC1836]

Wow, do you always take a light shower for 1.5 hours before hitting the road? You must be the cleanest driver on 95!

And we use unopened soap from the Grand Floridian!

All the best from the GFR, club level!

 

[sharadoc]

Okay, the family named the New Blue Van. It's now officially the People Mover!!

 

[BC1836]

Greetings from the Grand Floridian Resort!

Transportation today: bus to AK (this afternoon); launch to MK (this evening). Our vehicle rests in the parking area.

All the best.

 

[AaronInWI]

The Minnie Van had a Minnie Mouse antenna topper to go with the name. I am thinking of using the Sorcerer Mickey hat topper for this one (cause I like it to match) but can't come up with a good name for it. Any ideas??

Not nearly as clever or cute as The Minnie Van, but how about Vantasia?

 

[AaronInWI]

Okay, the family named the New Blue Van. It's now officially the People Mover!!

I should have read ahead... I like this much better! (Plus, it is my wife's favorite ride in all of WDW.)

 

[BC1836]

Hey, BC, the trip is ON. Hubby said Tuesday morning that we are going, no ifs, ands, or buts. So now I (the driver) need to decide whether I am doing 81-77-26-95 or 15-17-95 (the route we used to take to Williamsburg in the pre-empty-nester days when we didn't want to venture to far from home). We hit the road on the 19th.

Are you folks at WDW now?

All the best from the GFR!

 

[BC1836]

We had our shortest ride ever at WDW yesterday: a courtesy bell services cart ride from Sugar Loaf to the main building!

All the best.

 

[BC1836]

Tolls coming to I-4 in a few years (old news but more confirmations about timing)!

All the best from the Grand Floridian Resort!

 

[cranbiz]

Tolls on I4 will be for those who wish to use the toll lanes. They are being build by a private company and are optional to use. They will be like the lanes in VA and MD where they are "express" lanes.

 

[BC1836]

Tolls on I4 will be for those who wish to use the toll lanes. They are being build by a private company and are optional to use. They will be like the lanes in VA and MD where they are "express" lanes.

Thanks very much for the clarification! However, we don't know whether that's good or bad!

[Driving later from the GFR to the WL: Artist Point dining!]

All the best!

 

[BC1836]

Disney Hess up 14-cents during the week we've been here: up to $2.49 a gallon (regular). Beginning our drive home tomorrow morning.

[Note: Took a bus from the GFR to HS and we were the only ones on board!]

All the best!

 

[chepic]

OK. Left okw at 7:00am. Currently on Jersey turn Pike....1/2 way up. So far traffic in Virginia was a bit rough but only really lost 30 minutes. Rained from Georgia to Maryland. Fingers crossed New York and Connecticut will be OK. Eta in RI, 2:00am. Drive down was fantastic. Pulled into Orlando 9:30 ish. Ended up getting a room at a Marriott because Disney had NO availability. Checked in next day at OKW.

 

[Bkk40in2011]

Question for Houston residents. We are coming in on I-10 from Katy to Beaumont. We have the choice of coming into Katy headed East at 3:30-4 or 6:30-7 starting this portion of the trip. Which is the better traffic time? It is on a Wednesday. I know neither is preferable but its what we have to work with. Would you recommend coming in at the earlier time and trying to make it through to Beaumont to eat dinner or eat in Katy at the later time and then after 40 minutes (7:30 or so head on to Beaumont. This is giving us fits trying to figure out.