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

[dvczerfs]

So the plan was to leave this coming Tuesday. But now we're thinking about leaving Monday around noon and driving as far as we feel like it.Maybe drive six hours then start looking for a place to stop. We are doing the 81/77/26/95 route. Would it be crazy for us to spend three nights on the road? We don't check into resort until Thursday.We thought it might be a nice change to not feel rushed. Any thoughts?

we tried staying 2 nights on the road on the way down, its hard not to "rush" when going down. we left because of an ice storm coming. we ended up staying at the days inn at the crossroads for a night. we couldnt help ourselfs!

 

[pilferk]

we tried staying 2 nights on the road on the way down, its hard not to "rush" when going down. we left because of an ice storm coming. we ended up staying at the days inn at the crossroads for a night. we couldnt help ourselfs!

My VERY first drive down, as an adult, was 2001 (just after Sept 11th). We planned the same thing: Drive down over 3 days. Left in the afternoon, when I got out of work. Made pretty good time and stopped in Richmond.

The next day, we were going to drive to either Southern Ga or Jacksonville, and stop for the night..then finish up the drive the next day. However, we got into Jacksonville SO early, we decided to push on into Orlando, and made it to Downtown Disney right around dinner time. We walked into the Wyndham palace to see if they had anything available....and they did (again, the place was pretty much a ghost town at that time). We got a GREAT room overlooking DTD, WAY up in the hotel, for less than $100 for the night.

We stayed the night, and checked into AKL the next morning.

So...basically...I agree with you. We couldn't manage to contain our excitement and stretch the trip.

 

[debf]

I'm thinkig it is just a wasted night in a hotel.But of course I already said something to DH and my kids and now they are all excited to leave Monday.

 

[pilferk]

I'm thinkig it is just a wasted night in a hotel.But of course I already said something to DH and my kids and now they are all excited to leave Monday.

How old are your kids?

If they're young enough (and "into it" enough)...maybe try a night at the Nick Hotel down in Orlando? You could make a ressie...and I think you have until 6 PM on the day of arrival to cancel (check though). AAA rate is around $110 to $120 a night (depending on the type of 2 BR you want)...though there might be a resort fee, too. I can't remember. If you make it to Orlando a day early...you're good to go with a (neat, if I do say so myself...with a GREAT pool area) place to stay. If not, you call and cancel and find a place to stay on the road.

I suspect that you're going to be hopped up to get there, and stretching it over 3 days is going to be tough. On the way HOME??? I could do 3 days, just to slow the pace down (because who wants to go home??). On the way back? As I said, and as we found out....just couldn't do it.

 

[debf]

My kids are 13 and 6. This is our 5th time driving down.DS gets car sick if we leave too early in the morning.Don't know why,but he's much better if we don't get him up so early to get on the road. So that is a plus to driving down in three days. I never thought of the Nick hotel.I'll have to look into that. Ds would love it,but not so sure about DD.Wonder if they have AAA discounts? Thanks for the idea.

 

[ge0rgette2]

Leaving in 12 1/2 hours(2 a.m.) from Long Island. Planning to drive down to Brunswick, GA...might even drive straight thru. OMG

Hey there!!! How did you make out on your trip from LI .. we are looking to do the trip over Christmas this year... Do I have rocks in my head?

 

[ge0rgette2]

I'm sooooo GLAD that I found this forum ...

It's helped me decide if I'm driving from LI to Orlando...

Can't touch the price of airfares over Christmas, so driving is the way to go. We've driven as far south as Hilton Head in less than 1 day, so I'm sure we can do the extra bit to see Mickey!

Hope e1 is having fun...

 

[mrstomrice]

So the plan was to leave this coming Tuesday. But now we're thinking about leaving Monday around noon and driving as far as we feel like it.Maybe drive six hours then start looking for a place to stop. We are doing the 81/77/26/95 route. Would it be crazy for us to spend three nights on the road? We don't check into resort until Thursday.We thought it might be a nice change to not feel rushed. Any thoughts?

We left a day earlier than planned and added a room only night to our Disney reservation. There are great discounts there now (although we missed them by 1 day) and it was nice to unpack our things and wake up to swim in the pool the next day, then head to the MK for a few rides. WE were much more relaxed than we would have been. Consider a Microtel hotel for your stay...clean and reasonable! If you have AAA they will help you book a hotel room from the road. Watch our for 18 wheelers and police on 81...it was rough! Have a great trip!

 

[BC1836]

We left a day earlier than planned and added a room only night to our Disney reservation. There are great discounts there now (although we missed them by 1 day) and it was nice to unpack our things and wake up to swim in the pool the next day, then head to the MK for a few rides. WE were much more relaxed than we would have been. Consider a Microtel hotel for your stay...clean and reasonable! If you have AAA they will help you book a hotel room from the road. Watch our for 18 wheelers and police on 81...it was rough! Have a great trip!

Your comments underscore one of the advantages of driving (over flying): the flexibility of changing plans. Add a day, shorten a trip? Change it yet again? Easily accomplished, and without too much financial pain. Of course, air travelers can also change a reservation. But it usually comes at a high cost. We know.

All the best.

 

[Maize&Blue]

Hello fellow disers. We are currently on the road and staying the night in Chattanooga, Tn. We left the house at 4am from Northern Michigan and arrived at 5pm (13hours), with a few stops at each states welcome center. We were able to drive the posted speed +. There were also a few cone zones. Mostly in and around the metro areas. Keep in mind this was on a Saturday and there where no construction workers present for the most part.

So to put it in a nutshell. Everything has been smooth driving thus far.

I'll keep you posted on the rest of the drive.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

A few weeks ago when my family and I were going South on I-75 we had no problems going through Atlanta. Then yesterday going North on I-75 through Atlanta once again we had no problems.

The only major construction we had was today just after passing by Cincinnati, although it wasn't so bad where traffic stopped moving.

 

[BC1836]

Any traditions followed upon entering WDW property after completing half the 2,000+ mile round trip drive?

For us, it's playing the Spectromagic CD as soon as we take Exit #67 on I-4!

 

[mrstomrice]

Any traditions followed upon entering WDW property after completing half the 2,000+ mile round trip drive?

For us, it's playing the Spectromagic CD as soon as we take Exit #67 on I-4!

Our tradition comes when we hit the FL border and get the free cup of oj! We don't have a tradition yet for the DW exit...maybe if we drive again, we'll start one. This is likely as we loved the flexibility of having the car and did not miss riding the buses...although we thought we would!

 

[debf]

We always take a picture of the big Disney World sign that goes across the road. We are leaving in a few hours. The kids go to the dentist for a check up,then we hit the road.

 

[coneeny4]

We left WDW at 9:15 am yesterday and we ended up stopping in Emporia VA about 9 pm. The rain in SC was so bad we were doing 45 mph on 95.
Leaving soon for home hopefully be there by 8 pm.

 

[dsnymomof4]

We just got back from our trip to Vero/Pop. On the way down, we left on Tues around 7:00 pm (had planned on 6:00 but ran late), didn't hit any traffic at all until an accident in Florida brought us to a standstill for about 20 minutes. I don't know why, but it took us so much longer to get down there this time. Usually, we can make it in 16-17 hours. Granted this time we drove straight to Vero Beach which is 2 hrs past Disney, but we didn't get there until around 4:00pm Wed, which is like 21 hours! I think because we made more stops than usual because of our 19-month old, but it just seemed to take FOREVER to get there! On the way back, we hit major traffic in Virginia/Baltimore area on Saturday. I know a lot of people on here love driving to Disney, but after this past trip, I look forward to flying again!

 

[BC1836]

We left WDW at 9:15 am yesterday and we ended up stopping in Emporia VA about 9 pm. The rain in SC was so bad we were doing 45 mph on 95.
Leaving soon for home hopefully be there by 8 pm.

We usually depart at that time, too. And, coincidentally, we usually end up in Emporia for the overnight stay on the way home.

All the best.

 

[coneeny4]

We are home!!
We got here at 9:15 pm we hit road repair in RI.
Does anyone know what it means when a broken down car has a white T-Shirt hanging out their drivers side window? And do drivers actually carry around extra shirts for this purpose?

 

[MAGGIED]

lets just hope we are not one of those drivers NEEDING to hang a white shirt out of our car on our trip!!!!

 

[pilferk]

We are home!!
We got here at 9:15 pm we hit road repair in RI.
Does anyone know what it means when a broken down car has a white T-Shirt hanging out their drivers side window? And do drivers actually carry around extra shirts for this purpose?

White shirt in shirt: My car is broken down, Mr. Police man...please don't tow it?