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

[BC1836]

We are in Central Jersey, close to 95, about 45 minutes from Phila. I was looking google maps trying to figure alternate routes and any other way would have added 2 1/2-4 hours onto the base time (without traffic). So, that's why I decided to stick with 95 - even though sat in about an hour of traffic, still was home sooner than would have been the other routes. It seems like on the way home, I just want to get home asap. It's not as fun as the drive down where at least you have something to look forward to!

The mile markers on I-95 descend as you travel south which helps create a countdown that can be easily converted into time estimations. It's enjoyable for us as we approach the next state border.
Of course, the mile marker experience heading back home always seems to take longer.

All the best!

 

[BC1836]

Question: The first September 2015 drive to WDW will be accomplished by: A) a veteran 2,000+ mile round trip veteran or B) a first-time long distance driver?

Please step forward.

All the best!

 

[sticker231]

Not stepping up for September, but will have one of the last trips for October. We are headed down 10/31-11/7.

Gas went down again to $2.07, hope it continues to drop!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Not stepping up for September, but will have one of the last trips for October. We are headed down 10/31-11/7.

Gas went down again to $2.07, hope it continues to drop!

It should. Here in the Cincinnati area, gas is still about $2.55. Hoping it drops. There was a refinery fire last month. Much of the Midwest's gas comes from that one refinery. Thus the higher prices.

 

[amcnj]

I passed two stations offering gas for $1.99 this morning. One was a cash price, but the other is a same price cash/credit. The past few weeks all station prices have been declining, but the ones in my area have stayed 15-30 cents more than others I pass, and today were at 2.16. Maybe after Labor Day they too will finally have prices that match those of the lower-priced stations.

 

[Iowamomof4]

Question: The first September 2015 drive to WDW will be accomplished by: A) a veteran 2,000+ mile round trip veteran or B) a first-time long distance driver?

Please step forward.

All the best!

We leave Sept 1!!! First time to Disney and definitely the longest road trip we've done.

 

[amcnj]

We leave Sept 1!!! First time to Disney and definitely the longest road trip we've done.

Have a safe trip! How many miles is your journey?

 

[Iowamomof4]

Have a safe trip! How many miles is your journey?

Thank you! We will have logged 2700+ miles by the time we get back home.

 

[cranbiz]

Just following up on our trip....returned home last Sunday. We took DD18 down to move into an apartment in Winter Park to go to school and while staying on property, made several trips back and forth (40 minute drive). I came to the conclusion that no matter what time of day, I-4 is ALWAYS busy! We used DDs iphone for directions, and it seemed to take us different routes based on which resort we were going to. The one time, it took us on 417 the whole way, and even though I think we paid like $5+ in tolls, there was NO traffic and it was rush hour! Anyway, we didn't have much traffic leaving around 5:30pm on Saturday, but Sunday afternoon, hit the expected traffic right after Richmond and for maybe an hour we crawled through Virginia. I had looked into alternate routes, but it seemed like the other routes would have added at least 2-3 hours onto our trip (assuming no traffic on those routes), so I figured even if we sat in 1-2 hours of traffic, it would still be faster to go 95. I wish we could just bypass Richmond-Maryland! I told the kids when we got home we are never driving again (of course, that's what I said in April when we drove down!)

I guess it depends on where you are coming from but missing Richmond is easy. It's called I295 and in all my years of going from MA to FL and now from NC to MA, I have never hit any traffic on I295. Maryland, on the other hand, it would take a massive detour out to the I81-I77 route.

Can't say as I blame you, If I never had to travel through Maryland anymore, I would be in heaven.

 

[deedisneydream97]

I just did my fuel tally for my northern NJ roundtrip (via the inner route)...approximately 2,350 miles. 94 gallons of gas. $224 spent on gas (avg. of $2.29...highest was $3.29 I think....lowest was $2.19). $85 for hotel in Brunswick, GA, $150 for hotel in Fayetteville, NC (more than I planned, but was not going to make it to my preplanned destination of Wilson, NC). Next time will start the trip at 4 a.m. and spend the last night at a value resort and then head home at 5 a.m......could make it in one day then.

 

[BC1836]

We leave Sept 1!!! First time to Disney and definitely the longest road trip we've done.

Now that we know a first time 2,000+ mile round trip driver will be the first on the road to WDW in September, which veteran long distance drivers will be making their next trip in September (we're over a month away from our return drive).? It could be dvczerfs, who has fewer than two weeks to go.

All the best!

 

[staceychev]

Now that we know a first time 2,000+ mile round trip driver will be the first on the road to WDW in September, which veteran long distance drivers will be making their next trip in September (we're over a month away from our return drive).? It could be dvczerfs, who has fewer than two weeks to go.

All the best!

I don't know that I'd consider myself a veteran necessarily, but we've done it before, back in 2010. More recently, we drove straight through from NJ, just outside of Philly, to Naples--23-1/4 hours on 2 hours of sleep. I don't know what the heck we were thinking!

Anyway, we're setting off at the end of September for Wilderness Lodge. The plan had initially been to leave very early (maybe 3 am?) on Saturday 9/26 and stay over in Savannah, mostly because I love it there. Then, we'd get up and have breakfast in Savannah and head to Orlando, check in to WL, chill a bit, and head over to the MK for MNSSHP.

I'm starting to reconsider, though. I work in Philly, and my office is closed on Friday 9/25 and Monday 9/28 because of the Pope's visit. Since I'm not working anyway, I'm considering trying to convince hubby to leave after the kids get out of school on Friday. I have an extra park hopper day on our tickets, and we could pick up a hotel room somewhere in Orlando Saturday night, and then enjoy one of the parks on Sunday before the Halloween party.

Anyone have theories about Pope traffic?

 

[DisneySOS]

I'm new to this thread & I live in South NJ, pretty much the shore area. We aren't leaving until May & plan on taking 95 pretty much the whole way. I was wondering if anyone had any previous experience driving on Mother's Day? Does traffic get that bad anywhere? I know I have PLENTY of time to figure stuff out, it's just really slow at work and I have Disney on the brain

 

[staceychev]

I'm new to this thread & I live in South NJ, pretty much the shore area. We aren't leaving until May & plan on taking 95 pretty much the whole way. I was wondering if anyone had any previous experience driving on Mother's Day? Does traffic get that bad anywhere? I know I have PLENTY of time to figure stuff out, it's just really slow at work and I have Disney on the brain

Welcome! I'm in SJ, too, but very close to Philly. Anyway, I don't have any experience driving on Mother's Day, but we did drive to Naples, FL this year on Good Friday. We left around 2:00 am, and flew through most of the eastern seaboard with no problem. The worst part by far was South Carolina. 95 is only 2 lanes there, the roads aren't in great condition compared to the other states, and the entire state was a parking lot! The traffic was awful--compounded with the fact that we were driving my husband's Jeep with manual transmission.

 

[DisneySOS]

Welcome! I'm in SJ, too, but very close to Philly.

I guess a good landmark for me is the PNC Arts Center, so not that far South, but technically not central. DD goes to college in PA & we are picking her up the day before, so already a few hours of driving before our trip. Not sure how much rest we will get before we hit the road. We don't check in to Disney until Monday & don't have a park day planned till Tuesday so I'm thinking we might just get up real early on Mother's Day and hit it hard and then get up and drive a minimal amount the next day. Wasn't sure if it was considered holiday traffic at all. I know getting to NY from NJ there was always extra traffic.

 

[BC1836]

I guess a good landmark for me is the PNC Arts Center, so not that far South, but technically not central. DD goes to college in PA & we are picking her up the day before, so already a few hours of driving before our trip. Not sure how much rest we will get before we hit the road. We don't check in to Disney until Monday & don't have a park day planned till Tuesday so I'm thinking we might just get up real early on Mother's Day and hit it hard and then get up and drive a minimal amount the next day. Wasn't sure if it was considered holiday traffic at all. I know getting to NY from NJ there was always extra traffic.

When doing a two-day drive to WDW (or anywhere, for that matter), it's better to complete the larger portion of your drive on the first day.

For us at the Jersey Shore, getting to Yulee, FL (right over the border) works best for us. The next morning: a three-hour drive to Lake Buena Vista and WDW.

All the best!

 

[DisneySOS]

When doing a two-day drive to WDW (or anywhere, for that matter), it's better to complete the larger portion of your drive on the first day.

For us at the Jersey Shore, getting to Yulee, FL (right over the border) works best for us. The next morning: a three-hour drive to Lake Buena Vista and WDW.

All the best!

Yes, hoping to get the most of it out of the way that first day but wasn't sure how traffic would be affected. We have 3 drivers out of the 5 of us. Can you tell me how many hours it took you to get to Yulee?

 

[BC1836]

Yes, hoping to get the most of it out of the way that first day but wasn't sure how traffic would be affected. We have 3 drivers out of the 5 of us. Can you tell me how many hours it took you to get to Yulee?

Last month, we departed the Jersey Shore at 5:45 a.m. on August 6 and arrived at Yulee at 8:53 p.m. (we crossed the FL border nine minutes earlier). We only stopped for bathroom breaks and gas station stops (we ate our sandwiches, fruit and snacks during the drive).

All the best!

 

[DisneySOS]

Last month, we departed the Jersey Shore at 5:45 a.m. on August 6 and arrived at Yulee at 8:53 p.m. (we crossed the FL border nine minutes earlier). We only stopped for bathroom breaks and gas station stops (we ate our sandwiches, fruit and snacks during the drive).

All the best!

Thanks, I have my elderly mom traveling with us so we will need more breaks but this helps. The only friend I have that drives from where we live is a maniac and gets there in 15 hours. Not the best resource, lol. At least I know Yulee is a good place to rest if we can make it that far!

 

[BC1836]

Thanks, I have my elderly mom traveling with us so we will need more breaks but this helps. The only friend I have that drives from where we live is a maniac and gets there in 15 hours. Not the best resource, lol. At least I know Yulee is a good place to rest if we can make it that far!

If Yulee is a bit of a first-day drive's stretch, consider Pooler, GA.

All the best!