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

[kathiep]

Howdy, "neighbor!"

As you can see by our "signature," our last drive was in December so we're looking for current construction reports. Our next trip is March. Hey, that's next month!

All the best.

Best wishes for your trip.

Although I'm drooling with envy - we still have over 200 days! My current countdown is for when I make the ADR's!

 

[TSMAMI]

It's great to hear from others who love the drive to WDW almost as much as getting there. I really think those will be the "memories" for the kids as they grow up of what "vacation" really is!

It is the anticipation of the day. Driving under those gates is truly magical!

AHHH THE ARRIVAL DAY...WISH I WAS THERE NOW

 

[emmsmama]

Just returned from driving from Windsor, Ontario (across the border from Detroit). Everyone thought I was crazy. I drove with 3 of our kids and my DH flew with our other 3 kids. Dh couldn't take extra time off work to drive so he flew, but I really wanted to drive and really wanted to have the car to use while we were down there. It was the best decision we could have made. I don't know how many times we were thankful we had the car with us. It made park hopping and getting to dinners at different resorts a breeze. I love driving so, for me, the trip down and back was part of the vacation. The kids did really well on the trip. I had my 9 yr old, 3 yr old and 3 month old with me. Except for the very 1st day of driving, the baby did great. The 3 yr old was glued to the dvd the entire trip down and back and the 9 yr old took in the sites, watched a little tv or played gameboy. When we returned I asked DS9 if he preferred flying (which we've done before) or flying and he said driving. I wouldn't hesitate to drive again. I just wish we could drive back soon!!!

When did you leave and where did you stop at? We are in Windsor as well and are leaning toward driving straight through with our 2 kids (will be 6 & 9 at the time of our trip). If we can get cheap flights we might fly, but for now we are planning on driving.

 

[MickeyLover20]

We have been to Disney once and flew but I am thinking that the next time we go down we may drive to save money...last time it cost us $1360 to fly and then another $180 to rent a car...driving would save us a lot.

PhotoBear Sam...I see that you are from New Brunswick...so am I.

 

[sandybobandy]

I can oh so clearly see myself walking into the welcome center and hearing those lovely words, "Welcome to Florida! Would you like some juice?"

 

[SplashMountainMama]

When did you leave and where did you stop at? We are in Windsor as well and are leaning toward driving straight through with our 2 kids (will be 6 & 9 at the time of our trip). If we can get cheap flights we might fly, but for now we are planning on driving.

I wasn't sure how the baby would do in the car and I had extra days to work with so I didn't rush down there. We did make it to Chattanooga (about 1/2 way) the first night which was what we had hoped for, but it took us a lot longer than I thought because the baby was pretty fussy the first day. We left Windsor at 8 am on a Sunday morning. It took us a bit longer to get there because we had to make so many stops the first day. We could've made it all the way the 2nd day, but since we had extra days before DH and the other kids got there we stopped an extra day at Tifton,GA at an amazing Comfort Inn ( highly recommend it to anyone looking for a stop near there). We had to stop in at the Florida Welcome Centre for our free orange juice and made it to Orlando early the next day. It was a pretty nice drive. On the way home we drove to Macon, GA the first day after a late start. From Macon to Cincinatti the 2nd day and then home early the 3rd day. We definitely could've done it in 2 days, but I'm on a mat. leave so we had lots of time to take it easy going down and back. It's a very nice drive. Much more picturesque than taking the 401 towards Toronto (flat,flat,flat,flat,yawn!)

As for travelling with the baby. When he wasn't fussing he was pretty happy to watch whoever was sitting next to him and he would also sleep a lot. We were really lucky in that except for the 1st day he was pretty happy in the car, but he's only 3 months and still sleeps a lot of the time anyways.

 

[BC1836]

Gasoline prices have certainly increased since our first 2,000+mile round trip in 2002. Our return trip that year cost us $40; our December 2007 return trip cost us $64.65.

Any recent comparisons?

 

[CSI007]

Planning for our May trip now. Looks like we are going to drive.

Leaving Maryland around 4am the week Friday before Memorial day (yikes!!) and taking I-95 all the way down to Daytona Beach area the first day. Then finish the drive the next morning to the Condo we are staying at.

On the way home we will be staying in Savannah, GA for part of a day and over night and finish our trip home the following day.

Gotta stop and get a Krystal burger on the way down. LOL.

 

[Maverick Mike]

Krystals are so good. I remember eating at Krystals all the time in Huntsville, Alabama while working at Space Camp! Oh, the memories!

 

[CSI007]

Krystals are so good. I remember eating at Krystals all the time in Huntsville, Alabama while working at Space Camp! Oh, the memories!

I lived in Montgomery, AL when I was around 8 years old and got hooked on those things. I used to win their contests all the time. BIG PRIZES back them too. I think I actually only paid for my first bag of burgers there and the rest were bought and paid for by the krystal's prizes from their contests. LOL.

I can remember that first bite too. We were unpacking our stuff the first day there in our new home and there were tornado sirens going off all around us. Welcome to the south!!!

 

[loribell]

Our drive is about 2700 miles round trip. Last summer we left home at 9:00am and drove under those wonderful gates at about 5:30 the next morning.

 

[BC1836]

Our drive is about 2700 miles round trip. Last summer we left home at 9:00am and drove under those wonderful gates at about 5:30 the next morning.

That's a demanding one-way journey! Single driver or multiple drivers?

 

[loribell]

I drove most of it. We stopped twice, well I did stop once while everyone was asleep to get a little gas, ate sandwiches & chips in the car while driving. DH drove the middle leg. He was supposed to take over about 2am but I never got tired. Just let him keep sleeping. We were checked in and in our room by 6:45, showered, changed and hopped a bus to the MK for breakfast at the Crystal Palace. We stayed at the park till about 12:30, went back to the room and got in the pool.

It was kinda like those commercials where the little boy & then the dad say "I'm too excited to sleep!"

 

[BC1836]

I drove most of it. We stopped twice, well I did stop once while everyone was asleep to get a little gas, ate sandwiches & chips in the car while driving. DH drove the middle leg. He was supposed to take over about 2am but I never got tired. Just let him keep sleeping. We were checked in and in our room by 6:45, showered, changed and hopped a bus to the MK for breakfast at the Crystal Palace. We stayed at the park till about 12:30, went back to the room and got in the pool.

It was kinda like those commercials where the little boy & then the dad say "I'm too excited to sleep!"

About 1,350 miles one way and you "stopped twice" (+ one additional stop)?
You are mighty tough folks!

 

[loribell]

About 1,350 miles one way and you "stopped twice" (+ one additional stop)?
You are mighty tough folks!

We were on a mission! Nothing like having to leave a day late to get your juices flowing. And I had an 8 yo with me!

 

[BC1836]

We were on a mission! Nothing like having to leave a day late to get your juices flowing. And I had an 8 yo with me!

We are planning our tenth consecutive drive (since 2002) next month. And, God willing, we are attempting our first straight drive thorough. With appropriate stops!

 

[CSI007]

Look for a nice, clean and cheap hotel between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach or perhaps right in Daytona Beach area.

Planning where we will be staying near the end of our journey to the magic kingdom. - Just need to stay there for one night.

 

[BC1836]

Look for a nice, clean and cheap hotel between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach or perhaps right in Daytona Beach area.

Planning where we will be staying near the end of our journey to the magic kingdom. - Just need to stay there for one night.

There are many hotels and motels off the I-95 corridor between Jacksonville and Daytona, from Best Western and Days Inn to La Quinta and Holiday Inn. And many more. Cheap? Just do an internet search of "Daytona Beach hotels," for example, and you'll find a wide range of places to stay.

 

[2TxAgs]

We're going to try it one way first. My DH and I are taking advantage of the rental car relocation deal. Rent a car in one of several Florida cities, keep it up to 14 days, return it to one of 60 locations in the US (we're driving back to Dallas) for about $25/week for an economy car.

So, in April, we'll fly (cheap SW Ding fare) to Orlando, pick up our car, spend a couple of days at WDW, and then drive back to Dallas.

If this works out well, I'm considering it for next year with the kids. Fly to Orlando, spend a week, then make the final week a drive along the Gulf Coast back to Texas....

What do you think?

TxAg

 

[loribell]

We are planning our tenth consecutive drive (since 2002) next month. And, God willing, we are attempting our first straight drive thorough. With appropriate stops!

I was actuallly amazed at how awake I was. I started getting sleepy about 3 or so then stopped to get a little gas, would have filled up but I didn't stop but the exit I picked had very expensive gas. That stop woke me up.

Good luck with your attempt.