For 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers only!

[FinallyDisney]

Hi Calle&Jakesmom. We're from 20 minutes north of Boston and wondered what other info. you might have for us. We plan on driving to WDW in December. Do you go straight down 95 or do you use that other more scenic but extra 100 mile route? Any info. you could give a fellow New Englander would be greatly appreciated .....Thanks!

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

Hi Calle&Jakesmom. We're from 20 minutes north of Boston and wondered what other info. you might have for us. We plan on driving to WDW in December. Do you go straight down 95 or do you use that other more scenic but extra 100 mile route? Any info. you could give a fellow New Englander would be greatly appreciated .....Thanks!

We're in southern NH and have driven down twice going 95. Both times we broke the trip up into 2 days. We have left around 3:00am on Saturday and tried to get most of the drive out of the way by traveling about 16-17 hours that day. Last year we stopped in Brunswick, GA. This was about as far as we could get and left us with about 4 1/2 hours on Sunday to Disney (if I remember correctly). We never ran into any traffic issues on the way down. Getting through NYC and DC early in the day on Saturday was a good thing. On the way back home though (Sat afternoon and eveing) there was a ton of traffic around DC and in NYC the George Washington Bridge was a nightmare! I'd definately avoid that.

This time we're trying something different. We are planning to leave right after school on Friday and try to get to Delaware (about 7 hours). We'll stay overnight there and then get up early and drive all day Saturday straight through to Orlando. We'll see how that works!

Our kids have been really good with the drive so far. Hopefully that will continue for this trip. We do try to stop a couple of times and find schools or parks with playgrounds so the kids can get out of the car and run around. In VA we have stopped at some civil war battlefields. This is a great thing to do because it is starting to get warm (makes it exciting to get out of the car and not have to wear your coat!) and gives us someplace interesting to walk around for an hour or so.

 

[BC1836]

The horrible nor'easter is gone from the Jersey Shore. Lots of flooding, damage and beach erosion. A long drive to WDW is what we need.

 

[Kazzy1548]

For those of you who drive down. What kind of car do you drive???

 

[ge0rgette2]

We've never driven, but this year we are being adventurous!

We are driving from Long Island on December 18/19th..

We are using our 2006 Toyota Rav4.

 

[BC1836]

For those of you who drive down. What kind of car do you drive???

Honda Civic, 2004.

 

[mrodgers]

For those of you who drive down. What kind of car do you drive???

I will be heading down in a 2006 Mazda Tribute (basically a Ford Escape.)

Comfy, lots of room for 2 adults and 2 kids, should be plenty of space in the back for stuff to and fro. The only issue is I am now getting use to the 35 mpg of my old ancient "new-to-me" Civic with a billion miles. The 22 mpg I won't be liking, especially when my normal day to day would be considered "highway miles" so I'm not expecting any better mileage just because we will be running 70 mph continuous for hours on end.

Actually my 180k mile 94 Civic is far more comfortable than my piece of junk Ford is (kills me to have purchased a Ford, but couldn't afford a decent car...), but it will randomly not start every so often with the need of a new distributer cap and rotor. Aside from the random start failures and space, I would much rather take the 180k Honda for a 2000 mile road trip.

 

[awaldo]

For those of you who drive down. What kind of car do you drive???

2008 Chevy Tahoe. We faired around 18 MPG. Plenty of room for us all, plus we bought a hitch hauler for even more cargo space. This summer, we are driving our Ford Econoline 12 passenger van as we will have 7 of us going in one vehicle!

 

[PattnFmly]

We drove in August with 2 adults/2 children in a 2003 Ford Explorer. We left MA at 7:30 pm and drove to GA before stopping at a hotel. We didn't stress about the timing, and made stops when necessary. Our big thing was that we wanted to leave here with timing so as to miss traffic on the Mass Pike, and then miss Hartford, NY, Baltimore & DC traffic. We accomplished just that! We did the AAA route from Boston, not straight 95 from here. We stopped late afternoon next day and ate then swam in the hotel pool before bed. Next morning we only had about a 4 hour drive to WDW. It worked out well for us. I do wish I could keep the kids from so many potty stops but this was only our second road trip with them and we wanted it to be fun! Driving through that first night was easy, and it was kinda fun, especially on the kids part, eating "food" in the middle of the night! My DS #2 is reading over my shoulder and says "I loved that trip!!" He says his favorite part of the drive was playing in the grass and running around at some of the rest areas!

 

[angwill]

For those of you who drive down. What kind of car do you drive???

2007 Toyota Corolla

 

[SurfinTX]

For those of you who drive down. What kind of car do you drive???

Our 2005 Town and Country. On our trip to Utah we were able to fold down the right side stow and go seats and put a mattress down to nap on. For our 24 hour trip it was just enough to keep us going. We probably averaged 22 MPG.

 

[Calle&Jakesmom]

We did the AAA route from Boston, not straight 95 from here. ..... My DS #2 is reading over my shoulder and says "I loved that trip!!" He says his favorite part of the drive was playing in the grass and running around at some of the rest areas!

Which way did AAA send you? We go down from north of Boston too. Usually pretty much straight 95 with the exception of some alt routes around Baltimore, DC & Richmond (295? 395? 495??... something like that).

My kids also love to run around at the rest stops. It's so exciting to them that every time we get out of the car it's warmer.

 

[Kazzy1548]

The only reason why am I asking what kind of car you are driving... Is because we plan on buying a new car and don't know what kind to buy. We are 2 adult and a 10 year old plus a 16 year old. we are planning on driving down in August. We were thinking of buying a Corolla, but I am kind of worried for the girls, if they will be to cramed in the back... Plus we don't want to spends extra on a car just for the trip down. Although we are tempted to buy a croosover.

Thank you for your feedback

 

[caitlinsdad]

2007 Toyota Corolla

2005 Nisson Altima

 

[rotlex]

For those of you who drive down. What kind of car do you drive???

2006 Honda CRV. That totes myself, DW, DD and DS along very nicely. It's a small SUV, but averages over 30 MPG highway, so we get a bit more room than I have in my Civic, and still pretty decent mileage!

 

[beachphotog]

A 1996 Buick Century Wagon. She may be a little older but she runs great and has plenty of storage space!

Does anyone who has made the drive have any tips for first time drivers to WDW? We are leaving at 7:30 PM from the Philly area, driving all night, and stopping in Savannah. Then making the trek early Sunday morning the last 4 !/2 hours. It's 3 adults in the car, so no worries about entertaining small children!

 

[mrodgers]

Does anyone who has made the drive have any tips for first time drivers to WDW? We are leaving at 7:30 PM from the Philly area, driving all night, and stopping in Savannah. Then making the trek early Sunday morning the last 4 !/2 hours. It's 3 adults in the car, so no worries about entertaining small children!

Curious about the "drive all night then stop in Savannah". Why drive all night then have an extended long period of motel stay?

I plan to do the same from about 1.5 hours north of Pittsburgh, but plan on leaving around 7:30'ish AM and stopping for the night in Savannah. Maps estimates 12 hours to Savannah, but I do have 2 young girls to contend with stops on the way.

Leaving at 7:30 PM would put you in Savannah in the early morning. Why spend all day in Savannah?

PS, I'm a first timer as well, maybe I am all out of wack as to how long it will take....

 

[beachphotog]

Curious about the "drive all night then stop in Savannah". Why drive all night then have an extended long period of motel stay?

I plan to do the same from about 1.5 hours north of Pittsburgh, but plan on leaving around 7:30'ish AM and stopping for the night in Savannah. Maps estimates 12 hours to Savannah, but I do have 2 young girls to contend with stops on the way.

Leaving at 7:30 PM would put you in Savannah in the early morning. Why spend all day in Savannah?

PS, I'm a first timer as well, maybe I am all out of wack as to how long it will take....

Simple. My mom and I are huge fans of Savannah and padded our trip with a little extra time to spend the day there. We figured it would be a great way to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Plus, I love to photograph things and I am dying to capture Savannah!

 

[Bearshouse]

Alright so my family and I are driving to WDW in December for our first ever family vacation. We plan to stop in Atlanta and go to the Aquarium. What is the absolute lastest we can head out of your city on a friday afternoon and not get caught up in happy go home traffic?

We have heard that traffic can be awful in the 4p-6p range.



Bearshouse

 

[mrodgers]

....Plus, I love to photograph things and I am dying to capture Savannah!

Ah! Just looked up Savannah. Looks like a photographer's paradise. Completely understand the photography thing, I am into it as well.

From a quick look, looks like I may have to get a little early and do some roaming around myself. Looks very historic.