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

[ddluvsdisney]

We will be leaving Saturday too from the Chicagoland area! We are going down through IL so basically I-57. I hear there is a bunch of construction that way but not surprising considering there is *always* construction everywhere we go & the exit to I-24 is closed so we will work around that. It will be interesting to see who gets there first me or my sister.

She is coming from CT and we are both stopping overnight and will get there on Sunday, it appears we will both start out at the same time on Sunday. It's a race. LOL! I am betting that she will get there first, I have a person with mobility issues but she has a child with her so?

Sounds like a fun trip!!

 

[KCMA]

We will be leaving Saturday too from the Chicagoland area! We are going down through IL so basically I-57. I hear there is a bunch of construction that way but not surprising considering there is *always* construction everywhere we go & the exit to I-24 is closed so we will work around that. It will be interesting to see who gets there first me or my sister.

She is coming from CT and we are both stopping overnight and will get there on Sunday, it appears we will both start out at the same time on Sunday. It's a race. LOL! I am betting that she will get there first, I have a person with mobility issues but she has a child with her so?

Safe travels down!!

 

[dvczerfs]

Hello everyone!! I know, it has been awhile. We had a wonderful time at the Contemporary a few weeks ago celebrating my 60th birthday. We also did the Halloween party, we haven’t done that in a good 15 years. It was fun, did some trick or treating and we all decided we were good for another 15 years. Lol.
I have to admit, I retired five years ago and wanted to live out a life long dream, working for the mouse. I love every second of it!! My wife has been talking about retiring. On this stay, we had dinner and got into a conversation about, we are not getting any younger. She is talking about doing some traveling, get in the car and see the country. Not today or tomorrow but she don’t want to wait till we are not able to do it. I have to agree with her. We have been married over 40 years, we got to live out our dream.
So I was doing a lot of thinking, is it time? Is it time to hang it up again. Is it time for the next chapter. We are still both just enjoying life right now but really looking into our next chapter. Maybe snowbirding. We shall see.
I went back to work after that little vacation and some of my leaders and peers call me out of the store one afternoon. Hey David, come here, what is this?
I went out and they were all standing in a circle. I said what’s up?
They presented me with the Epcot merchandise quarterly award! Not only honored but extremely humbled. I’m not an emotional person but, I was fighting it. lol.
With this come a breakfast on Wednesday with the executives of Epcot.
The gentleman standing over my right shoulder is one of my leaders, he also did the college program with my daughter twelve years ago, it’s a small world.

 

[AnnaS]

Hello everyone!! I know, it has been awhile. We had a wonderful time at the Contemporary a few weeks ago celebrating my 60th birthday. We also did the Halloween party, we haven’t done that in a good 15 years. It was fun, did some trick or treating and we all decided we were good for another 15 years. Lol.
I have to admit, I retired five years ago and wanted to live out a life long dream, working for the mouse. I love every second of it!! My wife has been talking about retiring. On this stay, we had dinner and got into a conversation about, we are not getting any younger. She is talking about doing some traveling, get in the car and see the country. Not today or tomorrow but she don’t want to wait till we are not able to do it. I have to agree with her. We have been married over 40 years, we got to live out our dream.
So I was doing a lot of thinking, is it time? Is it time to hang it up again. Is it time for the next chapter. We are still both just enjoying life right now but really looking into our next chapter. Maybe snowbirding. We shall see.
I went back to work after that little vacation and some of my leaders and peers call me out of the store one afternoon. Hey David, come here, what is this?
I went out and they were all standing in a circle. I said what’s up?
They presented me with the Epcot merchandise quarterly award! Not only honored but extremely humbled. I’m not an emotional person but, I was fighting it. lol.
With this come a breakfast on Wednesday with the executives of Epcot.
The gentleman standing over my right shoulder is one of my leaders, he also did the college program with my daughter twelve years ago, it’s a small world.

That is awesome and sweet to get recognized. You love your job/position and I am sure you put a smile on many faces. Congratulations!!! Does that mean you will be staying put a little longer ?

 

[ddluvsdisney]

Hello everyone!! I know, it has been awhile. We had a wonderful time at the Contemporary a few weeks ago celebrating my 60th birthday. We also did the Halloween party, we haven’t done that in a good 15 years. It was fun, did some trick or treating and we all decided we were good for another 15 years. Lol.
I have to admit, I retired five years ago and wanted to live out a life long dream, working for the mouse. I love every second of it!! My wife has been talking about retiring. On this stay, we had dinner and got into a conversation about, we are not getting any younger. She is talking about doing some traveling, get in the car and see the country. Not today or tomorrow but she don’t want to wait till we are not able to do it. I have to agree with her. We have been married over 40 years, we got to live out our dream.
So I was doing a lot of thinking, is it time? Is it time to hang it up again. Is it time for the next chapter. We are still both just enjoying life right now but really looking into our next chapter. Maybe snowbirding. We shall see.
I went back to work after that little vacation and some of my leaders and peers call me out of the store one afternoon. Hey David, come here, what is this?
I went out and they were all standing in a circle. I said what’s up?
They presented me with the Epcot merchandise quarterly award! Not only honored but extremely humbled. I’m not an emotional person but, I was fighting it. lol.
With this come a breakfast on Wednesday with the executives of Epcot.
The gentleman standing over my right shoulder is one of my leaders, he also did the college program with my daughter twelve years ago, it’s a small world.

Aw that is so awesome Dave! Congrats!
I want to be you in a few years.
I drove cross country with my best friend last year, and eventually want to do it with DH before we get too old as well.
Can’t wait to hear about your adventure!

 

[dvczerfs]

That is awesome and sweet to get recognized. You love your job/position and I am sure you put a smile on many faces. Congratulations!!! Does that mean you will be staying put a little longer ?

Yes. I will be there atleast another year and a half. I want to achieve one more goal. I want to get my five year with the company. None of this was really my goal when I started. I started part time at the Skyliner. I worked there for a year and transferred to Creations. I was part time and after a few weeks, I was approached to be a relief coordinator. At first I wasn’t interested. I’m retired, I just want to smile and push some buttons. Well, that led to a full time, status coordinator. The leader who encouraged me and helped the old man compete with the younger candidates is actually standing behind me over my left shoulder. We worked at Creations together and as luck would have it, he has joined our team. The day they gave me the award was his second day with us, he didn’t have a vote. lol. He kept saying, man, what did you do to get this? After our first shift together, this first fifteen minutes he said, now I know why you got that award. Gave me a fist bump and said man, I’m proud of you.

 

[dvczerfs]

I kind of skipped a step, most people who start with the company are front line CMs. From there you go to be a trainer and on to relief coordinator and then status full time. Once you are status, that’s you position, that’s what you do. I didn’t really want to be a trainer, just something I did not see myself doing. Well, in our area, a lot of the status coords have left to go into management which left a hole in Coord Trainers. Basically a new Coord just shadows you, there is no assessment or anything by this stage you already know what you are doing.
But a Coord has to sign a new Coord off in the system. So, off to class I went and I got my pin. They have been pushing for me to get into the management program. I respectfully decline every time. If I was thirty years younger, I’d do it. There are a bunch of young people, fine CMs that are working for a goal and a dream. I feel, let the younger people go for it, they are our future, let them carry on the legacy for the next 30/40 years.
Anyway, I got my Disney trainer pin. I won’t be officially training new cms but with my current position, it is part of my job to always keep training the newer cms.

 

[AnnaS]

I kind of skipped a step, most people who start with the company are front line CMs. From there you go to be a trainer and on to relief coordinator and then status full time. Once you are status, that’s you position, that’s what you do. I didn’t really want to be a trainer, just something I did not see myself doing. Well, in our area, a lot of the status coords have left to go into management which left a hole in Coord Trainers. Basically a new Coord just shadows you, there is no assessment or anything by this stage you already know what you are doing.
But a Coord has to sign a new Coord off in the system. So, off to class I went and I got my pin. They have been pushing for me to get into the management program. I respectfully decline every time. If I was thirty years younger, I’d do it. There are a bunch of young people, fine CMs that are working for a goal and a dream. I feel, let the younger people go for it, they are our future, let them carry on the legacy for the next 30/40 years.
Anyway, I got my Disney trainer pin. I won’t be officially training new cms but with my current position, it is part of my job to always keep training the newer cms.

Love that you want to give the younger generation the opportunity to move up.

My daughter was in the College Program many years ago. She loved, loved it. Would have loved to be there full-time. She did get seasonal - it was not ideal coming from home but we were going to try. Somehow after we had our reservations/plans, there was a screw up on Disney's end and I had already cancelled all our plans. Needless to say, she never followed up and did not push it. She met her future husband there while they were both in the program. Engaged and married/wedding in Disney -

Keep smiling and putting smiles on everyone!

 

[happily single]

I currently have a direct flight scheduled for November 14th, leaving PVD at 11:00am-ish. I need to be in Orlando for a class bright and early on the 15th. I’m getting a bit nervous. I’m considering driving. I’ve done the drive from PVD t9 Orlando a few times, but it’s been at least ten years.

If I needed to be in Orlando by dinner time on the 14th, I’m thinking I’d need to leave by noon on the 12th? I’m solo, so definitely need to stop overnight. I recall my sopping point being around Lumberton, NC. Anyone have any tips or advice?

 

[Mikey15]

I currently have a direct flight scheduled for November 14th, leaving PVD at 11:00am-ish. I need to be in Orlando for a class bright and early on the 15th. I’m getting a bit nervous. I’m considering driving. I’ve done the drive from PVD t9 Orlando a few times, but it’s been at least ten years.

If I needed to be in Orlando by dinner time on the 14th, I’m thinking I’d need to leave by noon on the 12th? I’m solo, so definitely need to stop overnight. I recall my sopping point being around Lumberton, NC. Anyone have any tips or advice?

I definitely had to look up which airport was PVD! (Providence, RI)

I feel for you on the flight issues and potential issues this month. I haven’t flown anywhere since 2019, and of course this is going on now that I have a flight booked on Nov 29th. I’m hoping things still have time to resolve for me. Time’s a little shorter for you!

When I look up your route, map app is telling me you can make it from Providence to Lumberton in only 11h15m. But these apps will always route based on what traffic is right now (e.g. a Sunday night) and not necessarily what it’ll be like on a Wednesday afternoon. For example, that “11h15m” route is sending you over the George Washington Bridge, and taking you close to DC rather than detouring. That sounds like an evening commute nightmare in the metros you hit along the way.

Diverting north to I-84 in Connecticut appears to add about 90 minutes to the trip, but by avoiding NYC maybe that’s 90 minutes you’d be spending anyway. That route down through Allentown, PA connects you with I-95 on the Delaware side of Philly, so hopefully dodging the worst there too. Then there’s the US-301 option from Baltimore to Richmond, VA which will nominally add 1/2 hour versus going through DC, but again should dodge evening congestion. Total 2h more to Lumberton than the “11h15m,” but hopefully less stressful.

If it were me and leaving RI on the Wednesday afternoon, I’d book a room in Wilmington, DE, which is 6h15m away even with the northern route bypassing NYC. You could even push into MD if you want to cut down more time on the Thursday. Either way seems like plenty of time for a Friday evening arrival in Orlando!

 

[team bradfield]

Northern Illinois to WDW in our motorhome is 5 days, cause we're retired and in no hurry, love it

 

[ddluvsdisney]

We haven’t done the overnight drive since the boys were little (now drive straight thru), but when we did we’d make it to Fayetteville NC most times sometimes a little further from S.E. MA about half hour from PVD. It all really depends on traffic. It’s never the same drive twice.
We are in Florida now. Our flight Friday night from PVD was delayed about 2 hours. We are flying home Tuesday night and am really worried about that flight.
As I get older the more I’d rather drive. My DH won’t have it though. Once a year is enough for him.

 

[happily single]

We haven’t done the overnight drive since the boys were little (now drive straight thru), but when we did we’d make it to Fayetteville NC most times sometimes a little further from S.E. MA about half hour from PVD. It all really depends on traffic. It’s never the same drive twice.
We are in Florida now. Our flight Friday night from PVD was delayed about 2 hours. We are flying home Tuesday night and am really worried about that flight.
As I get older the more I’d rather drive. My DH won’t have it though. Once a year is enough for him.

Glad your flight wasn’t cancelled! I’m supposed to leave PVD Friday and return on Tuesday

 

[jaredjohn4]

We're getting ready to head south again with our fifth wheel. We have our Fort Wilderness reservations for late February. Now we are starting to work on reservations to get there. Since we are leaving in mid February, the weather is a crap shoot. We have to get far enough south be warm enough for over night. Looking at Chicago to Grayville, IL, Burmingham, AL, Tallahassee, FL, then Orlando for 2 1/2 weeks. DD works at UCF as an athletic trainer so we are trying to work around her schedule. DS and his wife are flying in to stay with us at the Fort for 5-7 days. We haven't quite figured out the route back yet.

 

[pwdebbie]

This thread is way too quiet. I'll be stopping at St. Augustine next month. Does anyone have suggestions for a place to stay on the ocean? Seems that "oceanfront" in Florida doesn't mean the same thing as it does in the DelMarVa. I want to be able to sit on a balcony and watch the sun rise over the ocean. I spent three hours today looking for a place to stay and none of them actually offer that. An oceanfront balcony looks over a pool, a road, or a large dune, or a combination of these, and then the ocean if off in the distance. Any help?

 

[justreading]

This thread is way too quiet. I'll be stopping at St. Augustine next month. Does anyone have suggestions for a place to stay on the ocean? Seems that "oceanfront" in Florida doesn't mean the same thing as it does in the DelMarVa. I want to be able to sit on a balcony and watch the sun rise over the ocean. I spent three hours today looking for a place to stay and none of them actually offer that. An oceanfront balcony looks over a pool, a road, or a large dune, or a combination of these, and then the ocean if off in the distance. Any help?

I wish I could help you but I always stay right off 95. Enjoy that view!!!

 

[happily single]

I’ll be driving Route 95 from RI to VA next week. Ideally I’d like to stop in Philly or MD. Does anyone have any clean, safe hotels for one night along art 95?

 

[MikeF;NJ]

I’ll be driving Route 95 from RI to VA next week. Ideally I’d like to stop in Philly or MD. Does anyone have any clean, safe hotels for one night along art 95?

Sorry, I can't make hotel recommendations in the areas you're looking at. The closest I've done one is a Best Western a bit south of Lorton, VA when I took the AutoTrain south.

I will point out that you don't have to go through Philly on your trip. I plugged a sample route (Providence, RI to Doswell, VA) in to Google Maps, and it made the same recommendation that my father's 40+ year old AAA TripTik made which is to stay on the NJ Turnpike all the way through NJ to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, rather than follow 95 off the turnpike at exit (I believe) 6. I don't know what the traffic on 95 in PA is like, but my (admittedly out of date now) experiences through southern NJ on the Turnpike were not bad at all.

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I’ll be driving Route 95 from RI to VA next week. Ideally I’d like to stop in Philly or MD. Does anyone have any clean, safe hotels for one night along art 95?

When we drive down to Florida from SE MA we never go through Philly. Sorry I can’t help with hotel bc we never stopped overnight that far up.

 

[happily single]

Sorry, I can't make hotel recommendations in the areas you're looking at. The closest I've done one is a Best Western a bit south of Lorton, VA when I took the AutoTrain south.

I will point out that you don't have to go through Philly on your trip. I plugged a sample route (Providence, RI to Doswell, VA) in to Google Maps, and it made the same recommendation that my father's 40+ year old AAA TripTik made which is to stay on the NJ Turnpike all the way through NJ to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, rather than follow 95 off the turnpike at exit (I believe) 6. I don't know what the traffic on 95 in PA is like, but my (admittedly out of date now) experiences through southern NJ on the Turnpike were not bad at all.

I’m impressed you still have a TripTix from 40 years ago! I did one for this trip and it took me through Philly. I’ll have to double check that