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

[bz8bls]

Going on 150,000+ in our 2005 trailblazer...our guide.

I just use the following as a guide...

Ford, Chevy, Dodge - about 23,000-25,000 miles

Honda, Toyota, Nissan - about 200,000-220,000 miles

 

[BC1836]

My family drive to WDW from Central New Jersey at least twice a year. The excitement as you get closer and no hassles with delayed flights etc. The drive isn't bad at all especially if you've done it a couple of times. lol

Indeed, it's the "excitement" of the drive to WDW.
For example, each highway mile marker on I-95 descends during the drive south. Those mile markers create on-going countdowns to each state boundary.

All the best!

 

[MinMouse]

But at what point do total miles on the odometer suggest that it's time to use/buy another vehicle for subsequent WDW round-trip drives?

I think it's going to be 126,000 for our '99 Pontiac Montana. Boy have we loved this van. It just has too many quirky things happening now though. Currently we have to replace a switch on the automatic windows so they go up and down. No biggie but it was a hassle a few weekends ago when we were traveling and couldn't get the window up. We are planning to purchase a "new to us" van for our April trip. As much as we have liked this van I think we're going with the Odyssey or Sienna this time.

 

[sharadoc]

My kids & I were playing Disney "Scene It" last night and I realized it would be a great game for the drive. We have a DVD in the car, so the kids can play on the way to Disney. Even though they couldn't use the board part of the game, the DVD would provide some hours (hopefully) of entertainment.

Great idea. I bought that for my kids this Christmas, so I'll have to remember to bring it on our Feb. trip.!

We drive a Dodge Grand Caravan and have PLENTY of room for 4 of us. Stuff in the back, one seat down in the middle for the cooler, and a DVD player. We got stuck in SO much traffic in August, that DVD player came in really handy. We drove 15 hours and only got to Walterboro from PA. Kind of thinking we could do the trip all in one day after that experience, but prefer not to.

 

[DizzyStitch]

August 2010 will be my first Drive to WDW in many years. I have enjoyed flying but I just hate the hassles with luggage and what to pack where and I always forget to put something in the correct place. I love the idea of being able to start and stop on my schedule. Here's to Driving! Now to find a good stop on the way down at about 600-700 hundred miles.

 

[disneyfan55]

August 2010 will be my first Drive to WDW in many years. I have enjoyed flying but I just hate the hassles with luggage and what to pack where and I always forget to put something in the correct place. I love the idea of being able to start and stop on my schedule. Here's to Driving! Now to find a good stop on the way down at about 600-700 hundred miles.

Since our visits in 2007 we have been stopping midpoint or a litte further on our trips to WDW from NJ. We usually want to go at least to the SC border on the first day so the next isn't quite as long a drive and we can get settled and visit a park. The last trip in May we stopped near Savannah, GA. We left NJ at around 4 am and arrived in GA by about 7:30 pm. We were able to go into Savannah and have dinner and walk around a bit. The next day we arrived in WDW just about 1 or 2 pm.

 

[BC1836]

Happy Thanksgiving to all who make those 2,000+ mile round trip drives to WDW!
May we be truly thankful for our safe journeys.
All the best.

 

[Mary T in PA]

We made it! Left our house at 7am sharp yesterday and the traffic on I95 wasn't bad. After stopping in Walterboro, SC around 6pm for supper, we decided to just drive straight thru! We found a room in the Downtown Disney area around 1am. We are planning on walking around DtD today to just stretch our legs and relax until this afternoon when we can check into the Contemporary.

I wouldn't have considered this drive if hadn't been for all of you posting your driving experiences and advice, so Thank You everyone!!!

I hope you all have smooth driving like we did.

Mary

 

[dvczerfs]

MARY T, 18 hours from altoona, that was a nice ride!!! say hi to the 11th floor mk view side for us!!

 

[beachphotog]

We are soo close! We left at 7:30 last night and we are bunked down in Savannah for the night.
Can't wait to actually get to WDW tomoorw!

 

[BC1836]

We are soo close! We left at 7:30 last night and we are bunked down in Savannah for the night.
Can't wait to actually get to WDW tomoorw!

Your tomorrow is today! You are in WDW, the goal of all 2,000+mile round trip drivers. Nicely done.

[One negative transportation thought: the classic, fun-filled TTA sound track has been replaced by the dullest, unmagical narration ever.]

Enjoy your stay!

 

[BC1836]

Gasoline prices in southern Ocean County, NJ in the low $2.40s right now.
A year ago, prices were in the $1.70s off I-95 on the way to WDW.
At WDW last year at this time (actually second week of Dec.) $160s.

 

[BC1836]

A tough drive today for those heading to WDW from the NE, especially those taking the I-81 part of the journey with the snowy mix.

 

[pwdebbie]

A tough drive today for those heading to WDW from the NE, especially those taking the I-81 part of the journey with the snowy mix.

You're right. We live between Shippensburg, PA and Hagerstown, MD, just east of I-81 and it started snowing here around 7:30. It's the kind of snow that is just enough to make things slick, not enough for your tires to grab into. However, the road in front of my house is mostly black, so I would guess that the Interstate is just wet. But even wet is no fun, especially with all the construction on I-81 right now.

 

[BC1836]

HAPPY SECOND ANNIVERSARY to the "For 2,000+ Mile Round Trip Drivers Only!" thread!

We started this two years ago today to see if folks like us took the long-distance drive to WDW...and then did the drive again. And again.

On this thread, participants:
don't have to arrive at the airport two hours early
don't have to take their shoes off...unless they stop at a highway picnic area
don't have to carefully pack
don't get charged for that extra bag
don't sit on the runway
don't get stuck in an undersized seat
don't have to wait an hour or more for that microscopic package of pretzels
don't have to worry about lost luggage
don't have to pay those airline ticket costs
can leave home when they want
can stop for food when they want
can sit next to who they want
[and many more]

To be sure, we confront traffic jams and pay highway tolls. And we pay at the pump. And it takes longer to get to our destination. But the journey can be much more rewarding on the ground than at 30,000 feet.

In any event, this thread has generated over 2,200 posts and more than 121,000 views. Lots of miles, to be sure.

All the best to all on the road, no matter what the length of your drive. And may your next drive take you to Exit #67 on I-4!

 

[beachphotog]

A tough drive today for those heading to WDW from the NE, especially those taking the I-81 part of the journey with the snowy mix.

Tell me about it! We just drove home through that and hit the bulk of the snow around Richmond, VA. Not fun, not fun at all! But we made it home okay!

 

[Amirah95]

Oh my! This thread is 2 YEARS OLD??? No frickin' way!!! Sweeeeet! This thread is pure love. Happy happy to all!!!

I bought my 2010 Unofficial Guide today so I guess it's official...we're off to WDW next year with a 2 year old! Ha! It's like starting WDW trips all over again from scratch. The oldest is 14 and doesn't share in the magic with DH and I anymore so we're trying to get the LO before her likes, dislikes and opinions are set in stone.

Have a good ride to those who are on their way down this season. Enjoy!

 

[ge0rgette2]

Good Morning everyone!!

We are driving from LI to WDW in almost 2 weeks

I know that someone was nice enough to post some hotels along the way that they've enjoyed - and I believe they were in Savannah GA or right outside Savannah - I cannot find the posts and I've searched the threads last night - can you help me? For those of you who've driven and traveled 95

Thanks!!!
Enjoy your day !

 

[cruisingkat]

We got home Saturday night from our second driving trip to Disney and Florida in two months.
For our first we left Oct. 4 and got back home Oct. 22. Then we left again Nov. 11 and got back home Dec. 5 - just 19 days at home between trips.
When we were there in Oct., Orlando was experiencing record heat. When we arrived at Disney Nov. 12, it was freezing and the temp was colder than Chicago.
On the way home we woke to snow outside Chattanooga, TN.
We are going back down to Florida this weekend - but this time we are flying as we are only going down for 6 days to see our granddaughters - maybe we can sneak in a day at Disney.

 

[disneyfan55]

We have driven on all of our Disney trips except 2 (including DL!!) from central NJ. We really haven't done so during the winter months. Anyone experienced and what type of luck with weather on I95? Thanks. We are going the beginning of Feb and crossing our fingers and saying a prayer for no ice/snow!