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

[ShhhQ]

We too are joining the driving pack this year.

It is taking some arm twisting to get hubby on board but at the price of airfare this year......................

So we will be leaving 8/21 for the CBR.

Anyone planning on adorning their car with a Lime green Mickey so we can see each other?

A few years ago, went to a DIS meet at MK and one of the persons gave everyone a lime green mickey antenna ball.... It has seen better days but it still adorns our van!

 

[pwdebbie]

Does anyone else let your drives to WDW influence you car buying.

Just last night I commented to dh that if we plan to drive again in 2012 (next planned trip) we ought to consider a different vehicle. Our son sells used cars and can watch for anything we tell him we are interested in. Thing is, I told dh that a van would be nice for a trip to WDW (currently drive down in a Subaru Legacy -- feels really small next to those big trucks) and dh said that he thinks a pick up truck would be a better idea. A pick up truck???? Seriously? Men and their trucks.

 

[patclairesmom]

Definitly getting another car for next year's trip. This year we drove down in an Altima. While the ride was comfortable, the trunk space was tight, so we had to stuff things in the back under my kids feet. I'm thinking of a Chevy Equinox, but waiting till I can get a '10 used.

 

[dvczerfs]

Yes, we did. We used to have a conversion van that was wonderful for comfort, but really bad on gas mileage so we got rid of it. We have a regular Caravan that is in good shape and we used that for our trip in Jan 09. It was fine, but not luxurious and didn't have enough cargo space. When we decided to replace my 1999 Station wagon, we decided to go with something that would be better for our trip, so we went for the biggest Grand Caravan SXT with the special edition package. 6 disk DVD changer, heated seats, the whole nine yards!

We've put a lot of miles on it already but we love it! Definitely smart planning AND Disney obsession. But that's okay

friends of ours have a full size conversion van, i all ways wanted to drive down in one but dw wont drive a full size and i could only wonder what it would cost in gas. i would guess maybe about 10 miles to the gallon, 2200 miles round trip, that 220 gallons of gas which would be around $600 for gas. still cheaper than flying. i think bc loaded up and headed south again!

 

[dvczerfs]

I drove last year just me and my 2 kids from RI to Florida, but we stopped twice for over night rest. This year there will be another adult sharing the driving so we want to drive straight through. For those of you who have done this, any tips??? It is a 20 hour drive so we were thinking switch every 5 hrs or 322 miles. I am a very nervous person when it comes to other people driving and do not think I will be able to sleep while he is driving. Do people break night when they drive straight through? Do you take turns sleeping?

when we drive straight through on the way home,we leave okw at 3:30am, we have one rule, one person sleeps at one at. its myslef, dw and dd17.(even when she was younger) the person sleeping goes in the back of the van and the other two are in the front. i would leave at 3-3:30am. that way you will get there at 11pm and it wont seem like you drove all night long. we did it a few times and it may not seem bad but for us, the time from 1am to 6am was the longest 5 hours of my life. than you get there and your dead tired and the kids are wide awake because they slept all night.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I AM SO EXCITED!!! I just got a $199 condo rental for 7 nights at Windsor Hills for our week--June 12-19th, this morning---through the $199 Alert email!

I have been researching to find a place to stay to accommodate the 5 of us that was under $400 for 6-7 nights and was not a dump for the past 2 weeks!!!(that is when we decided to surprise our kids with a last minute, 1st time driving trip)
I have been spending 2-3 hours each day looking for places and comparing prices and reviews on multiple websites. Driving myself insane!!!

I was making soap this morning and something drew me to the computer in the midst of stirring up a batch of Citrus Chamomile soap...and THERE IT WAS...the $199 email!!
I typed as fast as my shaky hands would allow and secured the ressie!!!!!
My patience paid off!

Now however we are gonna have to hit the road on Friday night around 4:00 instead of early Sat. morning as our ressie begins on Sat. instead of Sun. How far can I expect to get from the Allentown, PA area in 6 hours...assuming we drive from 4-10p.m.?
Also now I'm not sure where to stay overnight. Originally we were gonna stay in Rock Hill or Richburg S.C. Now I gotta find someplace more northern than that that will accommodate the 5 of us. Many place will only sleep 4 even though our little guy is only 2 y.o.!

 

[BC1836]

Does this mean you're hitting the road????

Hit the road at 12:30 a.m. on Friday; arrived at WDW at 7:25 in the evening. The longer-than-usual drive (19 hours instead of 17 1/2 hours) resulted because of three half-hour naps along the way.

Most recent transportation form: monorail from TTC!

All the best!

 

[bookwormde]

Have a great time, I wish I was there.

bookwormde

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Now however we are gonna have to hit the road on Friday night around 4:00 instead of early Sat. morning as our ressie begins on Sat. instead of Sun. How far can I expect to get from the Allentown, PA area in 6 hours...assuming we drive from 4-10p.m.?
Also now I'm not sure where to stay overnight. Originally we were gonna stay in Rock Hill or Richburg S.C. Now I gotta find someplace more northern than that that will accommodate the 5 of us. Many place will only sleep 4 even though our little guy is only 2 y.o.!

6 hours of driving should put you somewhere south of Richmond, VA but north of teh North carolina state line. Look as far north as Petersburg, VA or as far south as Emporia, VA.

 

[loveysbydesign]

6 hours of driving should put you somewhere south of Richmond, VA but north of teh North carolina state line. Look as far north as Petersburg, VA or as far south as Emporia, VA.

Thank you..I will check place near there!

 

[sharadoc]

6 hours of driving should put you somewhere south of Richmond, VA but north of teh North carolina state line. Look as far north as Petersburg, VA or as far south as Emporia, VA.

WOW - I was just getting ready to post this exact question - how far to drive on Friday night. We decided to leave on Friday afternoon for our December trip so we can check in on Saturday. Based on Google maps, I was thinking Emporia - looks pretty good based on the type of hotels available there (not all dumpy ones).

Adding on to the question if I can - this will be December 3, so just regular rush hour traffic to contend with. What time should we hit Wash DC to be at the tail end of it.

To lovesbydesign - you will have VA shore traffic to contend with on Friday June 12. You may want to look at an alternate from DC to Richmond - I have heard Route 1 or 301 are good ones. Good luck - we're a week behind you. And Congratulations on the condo rate!

 

[sharadoc]

Hit the road at 12:30 a.m. on Friday; arrived at WDW at 7:25 in the evening. The longer-than-usual drive (19 hours instead of 17 1/2 hours) resulted because of three half-hour naps along the way.

Most recent transportation form: monorail from TTC!

All the best!

Awesome. How was the traffic since it was a holiday weekend? What route to avoid DC-Richmond?

Have a great time!

 

[dvczerfs]

Thank you..I will check place near there!

emporia is a nice area, you may hit some traffic on 78 between allentown and harrisburg but as long as theres no accidents youll be ok. once you get on the other side of harrisburg it should be smooth sailing.

 

[loveysbydesign]

WOW - I was just getting ready to post this exact question - how far to drive on Friday night. We decided to leave on Friday afternoon for our December trip so we can check in on Saturday. Based on Google maps, I was thinking Emporia - looks pretty good based on the type of hotels available there (not all dumpy ones).

Adding on to the question if I can - this will be December 3, so just regular rush hour traffic to contend with. What time should we hit Wash DC to be at the tail end of it.

To lovesbydesign - you will have VA shore traffic to contend with on Friday June 12. You may want to look at an alternate from DC to Richmond - I have heard Route 1 or 301 are good ones. Good luck - we're a week behind you. And Congratulations on the condo rate!

Will we still hit this if we go 78 to 81 to 77?

 

[PrincessMom4]

Emporia is a decent place to stay. We have been there and for us its a 12hour drive plus stops.

 

[loveysbydesign]

emporia is a nice area, you may hit some traffic on 78 between allentown and harrisburg but as long as theres no accidents youll be ok. once you get on the other side of harrisburg it should be smooth sailing.

I just checked this on googlemaps and Emporia is if you go down 95, correct?
Looks like Roanoke, VA is just about 6 hours on googlemaps when I punch in my town, Alburtis, PA to Roanoke, VA. Anyone stayed near there?
Then it's about 12 hours from Roanoke to Kissimmee. Maybe we should shoot for a little more south than Roanoke. Not sure yet exactly what time we're leaving on Friday. I won't be able to pinpoint it until my friend gives me her work schedule as I'm caring for her kids that day!

 

[BC1836]

Awesome. How was the traffic since it was a holiday weekend? What route to avoid DC-Richmond?

Have a great time!

Since we left Friday morning at 12:30 a.m., there was no traffic of note on I-95. We crossed into VA at 3:58 a.m., long before the DC rush hour, and were in FL by 4:16 that same afternoon. Our only concern was Jacksonville rush hour traffic. But other than one brief slowdown merge before the bridge there, traffic moved well...on Friday evening...rush hour...Jacksonsville...Memorial Day weekend Friday. Go figure. A pleasant surprise.

Loveysbydesign could face some traffic of note depending on this Friday's departure time.

Now then...it's Memorial Day! A time to reflect on those who gave their all so that we can enjoy the blessings of liberty.

 

[CharliNye]

We're driving for the first time in September. Leaving at 4 am on a friday-we can't check into our place til 4pm on saturday.

So we're planning on staying over somewhere around the Atlanta area or south of. Oh, we're coming in from Chicago.

I keep checking to find out what the best area or places to stop overnight are that keep us out of the major traffic or out of bad areas.

Anyone have any recommendations? I've heard north of atlanta, or in Macon. We want to book a place this week since it's Labor day weekend then and will be busy.

Can someone lead us in the right direction?

 

[chipper10]

We're driving for the first time in September. Leaving at 4 am on a friday-we can't check into our place til 4pm on saturday.

So we're planning on staying over somewhere around the Atlanta area or south of. Oh, we're coming in from Chicago.

I keep checking to find out what the best area or places to stop overnight are that keep us out of the major traffic or out of bad areas.

Anyone have any recommendations? I've heard north of atlanta, or in Macon. We want to book a place this week since it's Labor day weekend then and will be busy.

Can someone lead us in the right direction?

I'm looking for the same thing. We will be driving from St. Louis. I'm thinking about stopping somewhere between Macon and Valdosta, but I don't know what would be best. I would like to go ahead and book the hotel since it wil be a Friday night in August. Hopefully, someone will have some good places.

 

[ShhhQ]

We're driving for the first time in September. Leaving at 4 am on a friday-we can't check into our place til 4pm on saturday.

So we're planning on staying over somewhere around the Atlanta area or south of. Oh, we're coming in from Chicago.

I keep checking to find out what the best area or places to stop overnight are that keep us out of the major traffic or out of bad areas.

Anyone have any recommendations? I've heard north of atlanta, or in Macon. We want to book a place this week since it's Labor day weekend then and will be busy.

Can someone lead us in the right direction?

We choose to stay in Macon... always want to get thru Atlanta before we stop.

BTW We are heading down at the same time... although we are leaving at Midnight, driving all day Sat. and arriving at ASSp on Sun afternoon.... and we aren't that far from Chicago either.