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

[rachel3]

How old were your kids when you started driving? DH think it will be no problem driving with a toddler, but I don't agree at all.

hi there. we have driven every time we've gone to wdw. that is every year since 2001. we've driven with our kids as young as 5 months. i work night shift, so i usally drive all night while they're sleeping. it's a 16 hour drive for us , so some of it is during the day. we've never had a probelm. we have a dvd player in the car so that helps!!! before we had the dvd player, we bought a portable one, which was great.
even with the gas prices high, we're still driving. it's still cheaper for us with 5. also, we can stop whenever we need to. i can't imagine going through airport security with 3 kids. plus , flights are delayed so often, that would be a nightmare. just my opinion though!! to each his own.

 

[BC1836]

We have decided on a last minute change in our travel. We are going to take I81 through VA to avoid the DC traffic as well as Richmond traffic. We will then pick up 77 and then 26 in SC. We leave in less than 16 hours and I am getting a cold.

Pop those extra vitamin C tablets and drink plenty of water. Relax. Try an get a good night's sleep. Drink plenty of OJ tomorrow and get some orange slices at any of the various stops along I-95 in FL at exits #373, #329 (the best one), #311, #298, and #273.

And get the parks warmed up for us! We'll be along next week!

 

[pepperderr]

We are driving down from PA. The first time I went to disney we flew. That was a long time ago. I know flying is faster and I didn't mind flying but with both our boys and the car seats, we just chose to drive. We can pack what we want and not have to worry about checked bags. We will have a vehicle to use while down in FL. and if we want to sight see. We have a DVD player and lots of car games. My kids have always been great on car trips and I think with Disney being the end result I won't have any problems! I couldn't find airline tickets any better than what I expect to pay in gas either.

 

[Jennyvelaz]

probably driving in August....

 

[BC1836]

We're back!
We had a week-long reservation at the Grand Floridian but our early departure (4:45 a.m. May 29) and relatively decent traffic for a work week (a half hour slow down in southern Maryland) allowed us to enter Florida at 7:12 p.m.---and with the sun still up in the sky! We phoned WDW reservations and booked a night in All Star Movies. We took Exit #67 off I-4 at 10:27 p.m.
Two gas stops going down (we left with a full tank in our Honda Civic): one for $31.00 @ $3.94 per gal., and a second in SC for $29.50 @ $3.39 per gal.
Added a quick $10 outside of Orlando + $25 at WDW Hess. Returning on June 6: two $30 gas stops. Gas reached $3.99 in SC but I am sure that all of those gas stations are now over $4.00 per gallon.
Gas prices notwithstanding, we had the greatest trip of all time with superb CM service at every juncture! And that MK view from Sago Cay certainly helped!

 

[TSMAMI]

We're back!
We had a week-long reservation at the Grand Floridian but our early departure (4:45 a.m. May 29) and relatively decent traffic for a work week (a half hour slow down in southern Maryland) allowed us to enter Florida at 7:12 p.m.---and with the sun still up in the sky! We phoned WDW reservations and booked a night in All Star Movies. We took Exit #67 off I-4 at 10:27 p.m.
Two gas stops going down (we left with a full tank in our Honda Civic): one for $31.00 @ $3.94 per gal., and a second in SC for $29.50 @ $3.39 per gal.
Added a quick $10 outside of Orlando + $25 at WDW Hess. Returning on June 6: two $30 gas stops. Gas reached $3.99 in SC but I am sure that all of those gas stations are now over $4.00 per gallon.
Gas prices notwithstanding, we had the greatest trip of all time with superb CM service at every juncture! And that MK view from Sago Cay certainly helped!

Did you take i95?

 

[Amirah95]

Did you take i95?

Good question.

Welcome back BC1836. Glad you had a slammin' time on vacation!

 

[Carolinagirl77]

Did you take i95?

They would have had to take i95. I77 runs to Columbia and you can take I26 from Columbia to I95.

 

[TSMAMI]

oh ok....I though they might be able to take i-81 or 301

 

[BC1836]

Howdy!
As I have posted on previous replies (Hey, we're the ones who started this thread! ), I-95 is our primary route. In Ocean County we take routes 72 and 70 to link up with I-295, which, inturn, gets us to the Del. Memorial Bridge and the I-95 leg of the trip. After that, it's exit 260 and I-4 to Exit 67!

All the best.

 

[afcgirl]

We are driving down to Disney from the Chicago area in 3 weeks! We are so excited! We are at WDW for 2 days and then go on a cruise from Miami. We usually leave in the morning and stop near Atlanta overnight.

While some parts of the drive are tough, overall it is pretty fun. My kids are great, they watch the DVD and play Nintendo DS. It is great to see different parts of America, and I love the South!

Anyone else only eat at McDonald's? It is always clean and we know we like the food so we usually eat there for every meal. Not very healthy I know, but what the heck it is vacation!

 

[Amirah95]

Howdy!
As I have posted on previous replies (Hey, we're the ones who started this thread! ), I-95 is our primary route. In Ocean County we take routes 72 and 70 to link up with I-295, which, inturn, gets us to the Del. Memorial Bridge and the I-95 leg of the trip. After that, it's exit 260 and I-4 to Exit 67!

All the best.

I haven't seen post #1 in a long time as this thread is growing out of control.

But now I do remember!

Very off topic but I wanted to say that we went to VA this weekend and took Rt. 13...big mistake. DH decided to go with mapquest at the last minute to end up in Virginia Beach.

 

[ellenmiele]

Well, one week from today we will be heading down from the Jersey Shore - pretty much I-95 all the way. We'll be heading to Port Canaveral where we'll spend one night to rest up before our 3 day Wonder cruise. Then it's off to WDW for 3 more days and the I-95 drive home. We are overnight drivers and hope to leave next Tues night at 6 pm and be in Canaveral before noon. If anyone has any current traffic flow/highway construction tips we'd be happy to hear them!

 

[Ichabadi]

We used to drive down from DC every year (about 1700 miles rt) but when we started going more frequently we started to fly. I'm so spoiled now that I can't imagine that we'll drive down again, unless airfares get much, much higher than they are and it is far cheaper to drive.

I like road trips when the trip itself is the focus, but when the destination is the focus I want to get there fast.

 

[BC1836]

Well, one week from today we will be heading down from the Jersey Shore - pretty much I-95 all the way. If anyone has any current traffic flow/highway construction tips we'd be happy to hear them!

Heading south, there is paving/construction work going on on I-295 in NJ heading toward the Del. Mem. Bridge; on I-95: major construction in southern Maryland and D.C. in and around the Wilson Bridge (over the Potomac), and major road construction in southern GA (one stretch is 32 miles).
If possible, leave on a weekend morning...early!

 

[Amirah95]

Heading south, there is paving/construction work going on on I-295 in NJ heading toward the Del. Mem. Bridge; on I-95: major construction in southern Maryland and D.C. in and around the Wilson Bridge (over the Potomac), and major road construction in southern GA (one stretch is 32 miles).
If possible, leave on a weekend morning...early!

I noticed some heavy construction in the Aberdeen / Baltimore area of Rt. 95. It didn't affect us as we were coming home late on the north side so there was no traffic. Is this the same area you're talking about?

 

[BC1836]

I noticed some heavy construction in the Aberdeen / Baltimore area of Rt. 95. It didn't affect us as we were coming home late on the north side so there was no traffic. Is this the same area you're talking about?

No. We didn't face anything major traffic-wise in that area. The problem is compounded by when you travel (rush hour and weekedays are the most problematic). And a traffic accident/motor vehicle breakdown compunds traffic no matter what route you take in the USA.
The key thing is, once you take EXIT #67 on I-4 all the traffic woes disappear.
We hope to make make two additional drives to WDW later in the year.

 

[ellenmiele]

Well...the bags are sitting by the door just waiting for DH to wake from his nap and laod the car and then we'll be on our way. Hope to leave around 6:30 and if all goes as planned will be in Port Canaveral by noon and have a restful night at the Radisson before sailing the Wonder on Thurs!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Well...the bags are sitting by the door just waiting for DH to wake from his nap and laod the car and then we'll be on our way. Hope to leave around 6:30 and if all goes as planned will be in Port Canaveral by noon and have a restful night at the Radisson before sailing the Wonder on Thurs!

Have a wonderful, safe trip!

 

[disneyfan55]

Not only have we done the 2000+ mile trip to WDW from NJ over 20 times, we have done the NJ - DL trip twice driving! We have driven cross country 6 times in addition to the 20 plus trips to FL. It's a wonderful way to see the country plus many other sites, National Parks and small towns!