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

[jtopp]

thrilled to achieve gold status this coming December!!

 

[TXStormtrooper]

So for those of you who stop and spend the night somewhere along the way, do you usually reserve a hotel in advance? I thought I would book something in the Savannah area (we're driving from PA), but DH doesn't think we should in case we hit traffic and don't get that far and it's too late to cancel. We'll be going the last week in April. Is that a very busy time?

I made reservations for our drives both there and back just yesterday. On our last road trip (not Disney - to S. Dakota from Texas), we had a terrible time finding a room when we were ready to stop. We went to 4 places before we found one, and were stuck paying the rack rate when we finally found one available. When I checked yesterday, the hotel we initially had planned to stay at on our way there went up $100 since the last time I checked. I easily found another place in a neighboring town, but I'm certainly glad I have rooms confirmed now. For us, stopping to sleep is a must. We aren't night drivers and enjoy geocaching and the "road trip" fun along the way, so our drive time becomes much longer.

 

[jtopp]

I made reservations for our drives both there and back just yesterday. On our last road trip (not Disney - to S. Dakota from Texas), we had a terrible time finding a room when we were ready to stop. We went to 4 places before we found one, and were stuck paying the rack rate when we finally found one available. When I checked yesterday, the hotel we initially had planned to stay at on our way there went up $100 since the last time I checked. I easily found another place in a neighboring town, but I'm certainly glad I have rooms confirmed now. For us, stopping to sleep is a must. We aren't night drivers and enjoy geocaching and the "road trip" fun along the way, so our drive time becomes much longer.

We only make reservations the first time, being unfamiliar with the drive. Since then, on trips where we stop, we have just driven until we wanted to stop. Fortunately, there has always been rooms available for us. With mobile apps being what they are, we can now have a reservation within minutes.

 

[dvczerfs]

I made reservations for our drives both there and back just yesterday. On our last road trip (not Disney - to S. Dakota from Texas), we had a terrible time finding a room when we were ready to stop. We went to 4 places before we found one, and were stuck paying the rack rate when we finally found one available. When I checked yesterday, the hotel we initially had planned to stay at on our way there went up $100 since the last time I checked. I easily found another place in a neighboring town, but I'm certainly glad I have rooms confirmed now. For us, stopping to sleep is a must. We aren't night drivers and enjoy geocaching and the "road trip" fun along the way, so our drive time becomes much longer.

Best part about driving, op

I made reservations for our drives both there and back just yesterday. On our last road trip (not Disney - to S. Dakota from Texas), we had a terrible time finding a room when we were ready to stop. We went to 4 places before we found one, and were stuck paying the rack rate when we finally found one available. When I checked yesterday, the hotel we initially had planned to stay at on our way there went up $100 since the last time I checked. I easily found another place in a neighboring town, but I'm certainly glad I have rooms confirmed now. For us, stopping to sleep is a must. We aren't night drivers and enjoy geocaching and the "road trip" fun along the way, so our drive time becomes much longer.

Best part about driving...... Doing it your way!

 

[dvczerfs]

Couple pictures of the truckster. Yes, traded in the Mercedes. The Mercedes was nice, drove like a dream but too small for us to travel in. This van has every option that was available and does everything but the dishes. I paid more for this then the Mercedes. Lol geez! Dw and I are getting to old for this.lol

 

[pwdebbie]

So for those of you who stop and spend the night somewhere along the way, do you usually reserve a hotel in advance? I thought I would book something in the Savannah area (we're driving from PA), but DH doesn't think we should in case we hit traffic and don't get that far and it's too late to cancel. We'll be going the last week in April. Is that a very busy time?

Are you taking the "inland" route? If so, we always aim for Orangeburg, SC. There are a lot of hotels at that exit, a few gas stations, and a few restaurants. That way, we are past Charlotte and Columbia and not too far from where we would get on I-95. It leaves us with about five hours to WDW the next day.

 

[pwdebbie]

View attachment 156042 View attachment 156043
Couple pictures of the truckster. Yes, traded in the Mercedes. The Mercedes was nice, drove like a dream but too small for us to travel in. This van has every option that was available and does everything but the dishes. I paid more for this then the Mercedes. Lol geez! Dw and I are getting to old for this.lol

Nice! Missed your old van? I love traveling in our van, very relaxing. What make?

 

[dvczerfs]

Nice! Missed your old van? I love traveling in our van, very relaxing. What make?

Chrysler town and country touring, anniversary edition.

 

[TXStormtrooper]

View attachment 156042 View attachment 156043
Couple pictures of the truckster. Yes, traded in the Mercedes. The Mercedes was nice, drove like a dream but too small for us to travel in. This van has every option that was available and does everything but the dishes. I paid more for this then the Mercedes. Lol geez! Dw and I are getting to old for this.lol

Very nice!! This will be our first extended road trip NOT in a minivan. We'll be in our Subaru Outback that I absolutely love, but it is not nearly as roomy as a minivan.

 

[dvczerfs]

Very nice!! This will be our first extended road trip NOT in a minivan. We'll be in our Subaru Outback that I absolutely love, but it is not nearly as roomy as a minivan.

We had a 2006 Chrysler town and country touring that we bought new in 2006. I loved that thing.lol
In 2012, with dd grown, we figured we get something a bit smaller. We bought a 2012 Mercedes glk350 4matic. Truly was a nice car. Still able to cram our lugage behind the rear seat. Had to really cut down on cooler size etc.
But we managed.
I'm in outside sales and spend a lot of time on the road. The company I work for has bought me a new company minivan every three years for that 20 plus years. I sit very comfortable in a minivan. The Benz was an suv type but you still sat like in a car, your driving leg stretched out a little. In a Benz, the gas peddle is fasten to the floor, it pivots off the floor so you have to push more of the top of the peddle. It's hard to explain, but it killed my back. Yes, I'm the only person in the world uncomfortable in a Benz.lol
We were very satisfied with the Benz product and looked at a bigger suv. Ok, I'm fifty years old, I want to retire around 55,58, I really didn't want to spend 100k on a car and still not have the room that I would have in a minivan.
So, I went back to a t&c touring L, anniversary edition. I love having room where if I want to crawl in the back and snooze I can. I don't have to worry if I want to buy something or take something down with us.
I was going to lease but man, they gave me a great deal on both the van and the car.
I'm looking forward to driving it down in September.

 

[dvczerfs]

Didn't take long to get the Dismey on it.lol

 

[cruisingkat]

Looks good dv. We are looking to move up to a Town & Country from our Sebring convertible. I guess it will be a big shock in size but we can definitely use the extra space when traveling even though it is just the 2 of us. We have been checking out minivans and love that on the T&C the second row seats fold into the floor unlike others where you have to remove them.
I want to take DH to Disneyland since my daughters treated me to a trip when one of them did the half marathon out there. He has never been there. We would like to drive out there - the furthest west we have driven is Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. That trip would probably take close to a month as we would definitely want to see more than Disneyland.
You should see how we manage to get everything packed in the convertible - the minuscule trunk is crammed and the back seat is full. We have it down to a science. Each item has a specific place in the car and trunk- one thing out of place and we won't get everything in.

 

[dvczerfs]

Looks good dv. We are looking to move up to a Town & Country from our Sebring convertible. I guess it will be a big shock in size but we can definitely use the extra space when traveling even though it is just the 2 of us. We have been checking out minivans and love that on the T&C the second row seats fold into the floor unlike others where you have to remove them.
I want to take DH to Disneyland since my daughters treated me to a trip when one of them did the half marathon out there. He has never been there. We would like to drive out there - the furthest west we have driven is Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. That trip would probably take close to a month as we would definitely want to see more than Disneyland.
You should see how we manage to get everything packed in the convertible - the minuscule trunk is crammed and the back seat is full. We have it down to a science. Each item has a specific place in the car and trunk- one thing out of place and we won't get everything in.

I looked at the Honda also, I got a lot more bang for the buck with the Chrysler. Kinda had to shake my head, I had to wait for the van to come in from Canada. Meanwhile, I pass on i95 a huge Honda assembly plant in the carolinas.
Some of the features inside are a heated steering wheel, heated 2nd row seats, three zone heat and a/c, rear camera, Sirius radio and also a travel thing that gives you weather, traffic ,gas stations etc... On the fly. ( got a five year free subscription)
My Dw is blind in her left eye, this van has little arrows in the side mirrors. When there is a Car next tO you, the little arrow on the mirrors lights up to warn you. Has auto breaking if traffic stops I front of you and your not breaking, it will break for you. Push button start, no key entry ( which is cool ) DVD player with two wireless head phones. Usb ports all over, 120 volt plug for a laptop etc. if your kids are into gaming, it has the conmections for that.
There's is just so much on these things. Got almost 9k off the sticker. They are changing the body style next year so I'm guessing they are trying to get rid of the old body style. The new body just didn't do anything for me.
Oh, sun roof, has side shades that retract into the door panel. The rear side windows also roll down.
They have a lot on YouTube to check them out. I got the t&c touring L, anniversary edition. I believe there is one above that yet called the platinum edition, I got enough bells and whistles I don't need.lol
Not to mention, this thing was stickered a little over 40k. When we got married, we bought our first new car, I paid 9k for it and didn't sleep for a week worrying about making the payments. Lol

 

[sharadoc]

Nice! Missed your old van? I love traveling in our van, very relaxing. What make?

Chrysler town and country touring, anniversary edition.

We are on our 5th Chrysler/Dodge /Plymouth minivan. They last forever, we love them. First one back in early 2000, then Mike got one in 04 (185K MI) , me in'09 (the best one, the red Minnie Van) that made 8 or 9 WDW trips (168K MI), then this year we both got one, Mike bought a classic 1999 Caravan with 40k miles for work everyday and it looks brand new, mine is a tricked out Grand Caravan with 2 video screens, w rows of heated seats, every option.

The room, the passenger space, plus storage, stow and go seats, great trip gas mileage. We don't care if people think they are boring, or "suburb-y". For us, it's the greatest vehicle on the road.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

View attachment 156069
Didn't take long to get the Dismey on it.lol

Nice Dave!!
I love the stickers. I have an AP magnet. Was the sticker new this year? I'm renewing in a few weeks.

 

[dvczerfs]

Nice Dave!!
I love the stickers. I have an AP magnet. Was the sticker new this year? I'm renewing in a few weeks.

No, I got them on eBay. I think I paid $3 each for them. There is no little trade mark sign on them so I'm sure it's someone printing them out. Lol. They look good.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

No, I got them on eBay. I think I paid $3 each for them. There is no little trade mark sign on them so I'm sure it's someone printing them out. Lol. They look good.

They do look good!! I'll look them them.

 

[Bvcfourus]

I have a question for all of you. We usually drive from Massachusets straight down 95. Last year we took 81, 26, 77 or whatever that route was. We had a great trip down but ran into a lot of traffic on the way home. This time we are looking at route 301 in Virginia and Maryland. Have any of you done this.? What was your experience?

 

[ReluctantDisaholic]

So for those of you who stop and spend the night somewhere along the way, do you usually reserve a hotel in advance? I thought I would book something in the Savannah area (we're driving from PA), but DH doesn't think we should in case we hit traffic and don't get that far and it's too late to cancel. We'll be going the last week in April. Is that a very busy time?

Our last trip, we had our stops planned and hotels booked (I like to research hotels and read lots of reviews, etc.). This upcoming trip, dh wants to not book anything, just drive and stop when we're ready. I'm not really on board with the idea since I like planning, but there are so many hotels along the way I'm not worried about not finding one. I just want to be able to look up hotel info before we actually go in and get a room

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Hi all
We will be driving down leaving early Friday morning from just outside of Philadelphia, I have reservation for Friday night at Country Inn & Suites in Brunswick, GA. Can anyone give input on what time we should leave? If we leave by 4:00 am, we would avoid Philly and Baltimore rush, but will that put us in the middle of DC/Virginia rush at at 7:00 am? This is the first year we decided to to WDW for spring break, usually we go to Hilton Head and we drive straight through overnight leaving home around 7pm Friday night and do hit a lot of traffic at DC/Virginia.

We leave to come home on Friday, March 25th and we have a reservation for Fairfield Inn in Emporia, Virginia.

Thanks so much for any help.