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

[BC1836]

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

We drove to San Antonio, Texas in 2006 and 2007, and it's a ride from the Jersey shore.

Your FL to TX journey (primarily on I-10) will be about 17 hours (Do a Google Map or Mapquest search and see what you come up with.)

Who knows what the price of gas will be a year from now. It topped $100 a barrel on the futures market today, and OPEC is planning to reduce production.

 

[kjm4]

My dad loved road trips. We once drove from WI to Washington D.C. to WDW and back home. It was July and my dad liked to have the windows open, no A/C in the car. It was hot. The plan was to camp the entire way so we had all our gear packed in the car. A Z28 Camaro. (Can you say mid-life crisis?) Thankfully, when we finally made it to WDW my dad had enough of camping and declared we'd stay in a hotel. A/C was never so sweat. I thought he was crazy but it was a great trip. Packing all that stuff in the car, never on top, was an engineering marvel. I almost wrecked everything when "I had to have" the 4 foot musket from Frontier Land. Amazingly, my dad let my get it and it disappeared in the trunk. Twenty-five years later and I still have it.

 

[Maverick Mike]

Getting to see the country from the car with nothing but time is so great! I love the anticipation of the trip! Loading the car the night before and making sandwiches, etc. is part of the fun!

We did the "car relocation" thing in 2006. We had a bumpy flight down to Miami for a cruise (which I hate to fly anyway) so we rented a car in Miami and drove it home to St. Louis! It cost us about $450 to do this, but it was worth it. I was not getting back on a plane!

What an experience!

 

[loribell]

Who knows what the price of gas will be a year from now. It topped $100 a barrel on the futures market today, and OPEC is planning to reduce production.

And there was a big refinery explosion/fire in Texas. It is going to get worse.

 

[BC1836]

And there was a big refinery explosion/fire in Texas. It is going to get worse.

At least there was a small retreat in crude per barrel prices today. Under $100!

There was a time when I used to fill up my VW gas tank for $3.00. Not a price per gallon! The entire tank!

 

[BC1836]

Daylight Savings Time returns on March 9, and Spring arrives on May 20! So, what 2,000+ mile round trippers are headed to WDW?

 

[loribell]

We are but not until July.

 

[wrongagain]

2600 + miles round trip.
did it in december and are going again this fall.

 

[BC1836]

2600 + miles round trip.
did it in december and are going again this fall.

We made the drive in December, too, and expect to do it again very soon!

 

[kileybeth]

Made our first 2000 mile round trip to Disney in a 1976 Dodge Colt (no a/c!) with our 4 year old son (only child) in 1986! Georgia was one hot fill up. I remember putting our windows down for a breeze while we filled up and had to "roll" them back up it was so humid! Later that week our crayons melted in the car!

This month we are headed down once more (still same 2000 mile round trip) only this time with an overnight stop (we have never until this year done that!) in SC and a fairly new van with a/c of course and the 4 children we have left at home (there have been 6 total!).

Oh the memories. At least a dozen or more trips in between and most have been driven but a few we flew in for (only b/c gas prices vs. airline tickets evened out the price for us)

Once we get our sip of OJ at the wlecome center we know we are on the last leg!

Our trips somehow always manage to turn into 24 hour treks even tough I know it should only take 18 hours! to many cracker barrel stops maybe?

opps! forgot about DH visit as a teenager with youth group (on a school bus to camp! eww!) and then our Honeymoon (in a rented car) (sorry, I was not a Disney fan back then and could not fathom what all the hoopla was about. I always talk about my Mrytle Beach honeymoon and DH talks about Disney! )

 

[ireland_nicole]

We drive 2100 miles round trip from TX. We have two kids w/ special needs, and they relax a lot better in their own car seats, etc. We leave at 6pm, take turns driving (Approx 3 hrs. each, we switch every time we stop for gas and more caffeine filled cold drinks...) and get to WDW at lunchtime. Our kids each get a box in the car w/ all their stuff: leapster, new coloring books, tangoes, magnetic games, etc. We also get new DVD's for the DVD player. And we play games like I spy, Disney 20 questions, license plate Bingo, etc. I love that my husband and I get some quality time to talk to each other after the kids sleep, and we like the freedom of having our car for the trip. We also use disney transportation, but especially when you have an early breakfast adr or are park hopping-or just need to run to walmart! I would encourage it! Has to be better than getting stuck in the airport or having a flight cancelled-and when we worked out the time to a.get to the airport 2 hrs. early, b.fly c. change flights d.fly e.wait for magical express... We'd be saving only about 2-3 hrs and really increasing our aggravation! This way we get to share the anticipation in a way that be more flexible. (And by the way, one of my kids multiple needs is severe ADHD-so if we can drive, anyone can!)

 

[BC1836]

Great replies, kileybeth and ireland nicole!
Thanks.
All the best!

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

We'll be doing a 2300 mile (RT) trek this August. It has been a few years since we've driven to the sunshine state. I just hope the little ones can handle the trip. I'm planning on going straight through (just cant wait to get there). I am very impatient .

 

[loribell]

We also use disney transportation, but especially when you have an early breakfast adr or are park hopping-or just need to run to walmart! I would encourage it!

It really is great to have the flexibility that a car allows. Of course for most trips that we flew we also rented a car. So there is another added expense.

Has to be better than getting stuck in the airport or having a flight cancelled-and when we worked out the time to a.get to the airport 2 hrs. early, b.fly c. change flights d.fly e.wait for magical express... We'd be saving only about 2-3 hrs and really increasing our aggravation!

You better believe that is better. I flew to Orlando twice in December of 06, once for a convention & once for our trip. The first trip we arrived a day late because of flight delays and never got our luggage. The vacation trip was fine flying out but on the trip home our flight was cancelled, there were slim picking for a hotel (it was NYE weekend), and they lost our luggage. It was a complete nightmare both times. We decided then that we will drive from now on.

 

[mousetravel]

I'm not in the 2000+ club but I thought 9 hours (529 miles) was bad. I'm encouraged and proud of anyone that can drive 2000 miles and above!

 

[BC1836]

We'll be doing a 2300 mile (RT) trek this August. It has been a few years since we've driven to the sunshine state. I just hope the little ones can handle the trip. I'm planning on going straight through (just cant wait to get there). I am very impatient .

As we mentioned in a previous post on this thread, we're attempting our first direct drive through on our next scheduled trip. And it will be a long day, but driving from western NY state? Now that's a drive for a "straight through" attempt. No doubt, an early morning departure will work best for you?

 

[CSI007]

We are getting closer to our departure date in May!!!

Can't wait to see the south east again. Actually I can't wait to get the drive over with.

 

[BC1836]

We are getting closer to our departure date in May!!!

Can't wait to see the south east again. Actually I can't wait to get the drive over with.

Indeed, May is getting closer now that March has arrived!
And there's nothing better than getting the drive "over with" after you take exit #67 on I-4 and continue to THE entrance!

All the best!

 

[fmelchor88]

We(6 total) leave Houston @ Midnight on 03/14/08. We are looking forward to the road trip! Worried about the gas...

 

[loribell]

Indeed, May is getting closer now that March has arrived!
And there's nothing better than getting the drive "over with" after you take exit #67 on I-4 and continue to THE entrance!

All the best!

You mean this sign?