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

[disneysteve]

We'll be hitting the road for home in the morning unfortunately. We've had a great 11 nights at Disney despite the weather. We attended the DIS Unplugged Mega Meet, got to see a bunch of old friends and make a bunch of new ones, and helped to raise over $70,000 for Give Kids the World! I'd like to pull out by 9am but I know that won't happen so hopefully no later than 10am.

 

[RK13]

We will be making our first drive to Disney in late October from Long Island. Looking for all the help I can get lol. Original plan was to leave at 7:30pm and drive thru the night, but my wife and I have decided that is probably not what we will do. So now thinking about leaving at 2pm driving till midnight-ish. Thinking that will put us somewhere around Florence. But don't really know the kind of traffic we will see leaving at that time. We are open to ideas, plus anyone stayed in that area or is there maybe a better route then 95. Thanks

From Nassau County, with no traffic, it should take approx 4-4.5 hours to reach the Capital Beltway (I495). Leaving at 2pm would put you in the middle of rush hour in DC. If you can, I would leave early morning around 3am. We have driven down from LI the last 4 years and we are on the road by 3:30am. Other then a overturned tractor trailer one year, which caused delays, leaving at this time has worked well.
In VA, take the I295 around Richmond and the I295 East around Jacksonville FL.
Exit 160A (rt 208) in Florence is a good exit for hotels and dining.

 

[Goofygirl17]

We'll be hitting the road for home in the morning unfortunately. We've had a great 11 nights at Disney despite the weather. We attended the DIS Unplugged Mega Meet, got to see a bunch of old friends and make a bunch of new ones, and helped to raise over $70,000 for Give Kids the World! I'd like to pull out by 9am but I know that won't happen so hopefully no later than 10am.

Glad you had a fun trip. We head home Friday. The weather has definitely been a challenge!

 

[disneysteve]

Glad you had a fun trip. We head home Friday. The weather has definitely been a challenge!

We've been here in the summer many times but this has just been suck-the-life-out-of-you weather without any relief. Mid-90s with heat index over 100 every single day. And I looked at the 10-day forecast today and it isn't going to change any time soon.

 

[BC1836]

Earth calling crusingkat: Did you ever complete your recent short-time-in-between-drives journey?

All the best.

 

[disneysteve]

Left for home yesterday. Got a late start, hitting the road around 9:45am. Weather was perfect (other than being super hot but didn't matter in the car) and we had no issues all day. Stopped for the night in Rocky Mount, NC at the Comfort Inn. It was pretty nice actually. Got it for $89 with one of those coupon books.

Back on the road at 9am today. Big jam up just north of Richmond. I got off 95 and cut over to 1 for a while to get around it which worked pretty well. Then back on 95. Hit normal volume through DC but nothing bad at all. Then the usual disaster that is Delaware and some construction/rush hour traffic in NJ. Got home just after 4pm. All in all, a pretty easy trip.

 

[tinkermom_of_two]

We are getting ready to start driving trip #3 from South Dakota in 2 weeks. Short notice change in plans, and plane tickets weren't in the budget with only 30 days out, but my daughter is looking forward to it as she prefers driving over flying any day! We learned from our previous trip that straight thru is not for us, so breaking it down into three days again, with a stop at the Omaha zoo on the way down. New this trip is I will be the sole packer- hubby will be just getting back from AT for guards the day before, so I'd better get it right, because I won't be able to share the blame when I miss something!

 

[karalecia26]

We are getting ready to start driving trip #3 from South Dakota in 2 weeks. Short notice change in plans, and plane tickets weren't in the budget with only 30 days out, but my daughter is looking forward to it as she prefers driving over flying any day! We learned from our previous trip that straight thru is not for us, so breaking it down into three days again, with a stop at the Omaha zoo on the way down. New this trip is I will be the sole packer- hubby will be just getting back from AT for guards the day before, so I'd better get it right, because I won't be able to share the blame when I miss something!

We just got back from a trip 3 weeks ago and flew for the first time and although the kids liked the plane they want to drive from now on, they couldn't bring as much as they wanted with them back home and when we drive they don't have to wire about that. We drive from NW Iowa so we know how long that drive can be! Have fun at your stop over at the zoo! We love the zoo and can't wait to see all the new things they are doing to it!

 

[java]

Can we post what one item was a life saver on the ride down?

For me, it had to be the apps waze and gas finder. Oh and we also used one that listed rest stops but I can't remember the name.

 

[Liisa1965]

Has anyone driven from Little Rock, AR, or at least passed through that area on the way to WDW? I'm trying to get a realistic idea of how long it would take. We're from PA and usually drive to WDW, but this year we have to spend a couple of days in Little Rock first.

 

[justreading]

I agree. WAZE was a lifesaver. I ignored Waze once and boy was I sorry. Stuck on 95 - at a standstill for two hours due to a nasty accident. I have learned never to ignore Waze again!

 

[amcnj]

Can we post what one item was a life saver on the ride down?

For me, it had to be the apps waze and gas finder. Oh and we also used one that listed rest stops but I can't remember the name.

When my children were younger, the dvd player in the vehicle!

 

[AaronInWI]

Can we post what one item was a life saver on the ride down?

For me, it had to be the apps waze and gas finder. Oh and we also used one that listed rest stops but I can't remember the name.

I don't think this quite qualifies as a life-saver, but we rely heavily on a book called The Next Exit. It lists restaurants, gas stations, rest stops, etc. at every exit on most major state highways and interstates. I like to plan ahead, so when I feel like I'm an hour or so from needing a break, I'll ask my wife where the next rest area/gas station is ~60 miles from our current location. This helps eliminate my constant worry that the exit we just passed will be the last one with any sign of civilization for the next 200 miles, and it also helps me push on when I can count down the exits as we go.

 

[nono]

Can we post what one item was a life saver on the ride down?

Two things: Light blankets for everyone so that the driver can have a cooler temperature to stay awake. Funny audiobooks. Laughing really helps keep both of our drivers alert.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Can we post what one item was a life saver on the ride down?

For me, it had to be the apps waze and gas finder. Oh and we also used one that listed rest stops but I can't remember the name.

I have a few. One is an app, iExit. It's not free, but it's reasonable (couple of dollars I think). It shows where you are on the interstate, and proceeds to list the restaurants, gas stations, lodging and other attractions coming up. It also gives you digital coupons for some hotels and gas prices as well. It also shows where the nearest rest area is.

Another is a wireless hard drive, called Wi Drive. It allows you to stream digital movies from the Wi Drive to your device (smartphone, tablet, etc). Great for watching movies, and it doesn't use up your data plan. One disadvantage...a full charge only lasts about six hours. You'll have to charge it up overnight and turn it off when not in use.

Has anyone driven from Little Rock, AR, or at least passed through that area on the way to WDW? I'm trying to get a realistic idea of how long it would take. We're from PA and usually drive to WDW, but this year we have to spend a couple of days in Little Rock first.

Wow. Little Rock is severely out of your way. It's more west than south for you. It's a couple hours west of the Mississippi River. My daughter lives about 150 miles west of LR. And it's a long trip from there to WDW.

Mapquest shows the trip from LR to Orlando as over 900 miles and 14 hours. Unless you're used to driving long distances at one time, that's at least a two day drive.

 

[disneysteve]

One disadvantage...a full charge only lasts about six hours. You'll have to charge it up overnight and turn it off when not in use.

Or you can just charge it in the car while you're driving. I think all cars have either a cigarette lighter or a USB port these days. We often charge devices while we're in the car.

Also, you can pick up a power inverter that allows you to plug regular plugs into your car's cigarette lighter. They're about $20 on Amazon.

 

[Liisa1965]

Wow. Little Rock is severely out of your way. It's more west than south for you. It's a couple hours west of the Mississippi River. My daughter lives about 150 miles west of LR. And it's a long trip from there to WDW.

Mapquest shows the trip from LR to Orlando as over 900 miles and 14 hours. Unless you're used to driving long distances at one time, that's at least a two day drive.

My daughter will be going for medical treatment at Arkansas Children's Hospital. A few days later we'll be joining my family at WDW. We love to drive, but we know we have to be flexible in planning. We don't plan on driving straight through. I'm not sure what time to leave Little Rock to avoid the heavy traffic areas along the way.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Or you can just charge it in the car while you're driving. I think all cars have either a cigarette lighter or a USB port these days. We often charge devices while we're in the car.

Also, you can pick up a power inverter that allows you to plug regular plugs into your car's cigarette lighter. They're about $20 on Amazon.

I know. However, I've had trouble using the Wi Drive while I'm trying to charge it. It's like charge it or use it. Can't do both.

 

[disneysteve]

I know. However, I've had trouble using the Wi Drive while I'm trying to charge it. It's like charge it or use it. Can't do both.

True. It's best not to use most devices while charging them. That's true of cell phones, too.

 

[BC1836]

"Alternative" method of traveling to WDW coming up. Will report upon completion.

All the best!