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

[OklahomaTourist]

We are planning to head out for our THIRD driving trip to WDW in July...

I did quite a bit of planning for our trip last year and our route was just about flawless - although it was funny to hear our GPS go nuts in Alabama when we rolled onto a brand-new section of US 78 it wasn't aware of..."Make a U TURN...Make a U TURN...Make a U TURN..."

If I could impose on the good folks here, I'd be interested to know if anyone knows of any pending/major highway issues/slowdowns in mid-July along I-40 across Arkansas, US 78 from Memphis through Mississippi to Birmingham, and from there along I-20 east into Atlanta, then I-75 south into Orlando.....

Many thanks,
OT

 

[Jumba17]

BC1836 - I have NEVER heard of a paper bath mat!!! That is exactly the type of hotel I am trying to avoid!!

Thanks everyone for the hotel advice. I am clearly over thinking it -once I start looking at the reviews, I keep changing my mind. I found several hotels that had reviews complaining of bed bugs!!

Do you make one hotel reservation and stick with it? Or do you make a few refundable ones just in case you feel like driving further that day?

 

[OklahomaTourist]

BC1836 - I have NEVER heard of a paper bath mat!!! That is exactly the type of hotel I am trying to avoid!!

Thanks everyone for the hotel advice. I am clearly over thinking it -once I start looking at the reviews, I keep changing my mind. I found several hotels that had reviews complaining of bed bugs!!

Do you make one hotel reservation and stick with it? Or do you make a few refundable ones just in case you feel like driving further that day?

Everyone's different, but I map out my driving reasonably carefully each day out and back. That means I know where I'm heading each day, and reserve accordingly. As far as avoiding the 'Paper Bath Mat and BedBug Inns," I tend to stay with brands I've experienced in the past, and that tends to be Courtyard Marriotts. They are definitely aimed for business travelers more than tourists, but I've yet to stay at one that wasn't spit-and-polish clean, secure, and well-run. Its typically more expensive than, say, a Motel 6 or Regal Inn or whatever, but considering its just one or two days of a much larger, more expensive trip, I don't mind spending a few extra $$ to have the peace of mind of a known quantity where I stop. You can normally get AAA rates, and they will often have rates with a free breakfast depending upon the location.

I won't say I find that consistency across all Marriott brands (Residence Inns vary widely in my experience, often in the negative, and I don't quite understand why), but that's usually how I plan my trips...

-OT

 

[sharadoc]

Everyone's different, but I map out my driving reasonably carefully each day out and back. That means I know where I'm heading each day, and reserve accordingly. As far as avoiding the 'Paper Bath Mat and BedBug Inns," I tend to stay with brands I've experienced in the past, and that tends to be Courtyard Marriotts. They are definitely aimed for business travelers more than tourists, but I've yet to stay at one that wasn't spit-and-polish clean, secure, and well-run. Its typically more expensive than, say, a Motel 6 or Regal Inn or whatever, but considering its just one or two days of a much larger, more expensive trip, I don't mind spending a few extra $$ to have the peace of mind of a known quantity where I stop. You can normally get AAA rates, and they will often have rates with a free breakfast depending upon the location.

I won't say I find that consistency across all Marriott brands (Residence Inns vary widely in my experience, often in the negative, and I don't quite understand why), but that's usually how I plan my trips...

-OT

We make one reservation, then have a few "in the wings" with phone numbers, map, etc. if we want to stop sooner or later.

I agree with Marriott. This time we stayed in a Springhill Suites in Florence and it was very nice. Brand new, really good breakfast and nice amenities. Around $100 a night, but we thought it was worth it for the quality of the room. We figure if we're spending thousands to stay at Disney, an extra $40 on the room on the way seems almost cheap by comparison.

AAA rate usually saves $10-$15 off the rate, and for four of us, the free breakfast more than makes up for the extra cost for the room.

 

[BC1836]

Everyone's different, but I map out my driving reasonably carefully each day out and back. That means I know where I'm heading each day, and reserve accordingly. As far as avoiding the 'Paper Bath Mat and BedBug Inns," I tend to stay with brands I've experienced in the past, and that tends to be Courtyard Marriotts.
I won't say I find that consistency across all Marriott brands (Residence Inns vary widely in my experience, often in the negative, and I don't quite understand why), but that's usually how I plan my trips...
-OT

Indeed! Our original comment about the "paper bath mat" experience referred to our initial unplanned drive in 2002. We had a power outage the previous night before our scheduled flight. Part of our town and an adjacent community were powerless. In the morning, the power had not returned. We phoned the airline and informed those folks of our situation. We were concerned about our refrigerated food and home alarm system. We couldn't depart for the airport until we knew power was restored. The airline said that since our power outage was local and not regional it could not alter our flight or issue a refund to us. What an absurd policy excuse. We were madder at the airline than the loss of power.

We pledged that if power returned by noon, we would not worry about our refigerator contents, home alarm system, timers, etc.; we would drive instead. Power returned by around noon and we secured the house. An obligatory visit to a hospitalized family member curbed our departure. We left NJ by 3:30 in the afternoon and headed out on I-95. We made it into NC by late evening and finally were able to get a room at my aforementioned motel hell.

Since then, it's been smooth sailing, well, driving. We always have at least one I-95 reservation made in advance (cancelling the other before 6 p.m.) at a well-known facility.

We flew to Texas last week and acknowledged how easy it is to drive. (An, yes, we've driven to Texas twice!) You pack whatever you want, leave whenever you want, stretch and walk whenever you want, and never take your shoes off once during the journey!

In two weeks, we'll be taking that 2,000+ mile round trip again.

All the best.

 

[Puget Peach]

That's the plan . I'll fly from Seattle to Chicago and pick up my BFF, her son and wife along with their three kids, then drive thru to Walt Disney World to camp at Fort Wilderness for two weeks. Looks like the first two weeks of June 2010. Any suggestions? We'll have four drivers and the kids are 13, 9, and 3.

 

[dalstitch45]

Hey guys,

I am sure this question has been answered, but with 70 pages on this post to read, my eyes got tired. I am going back to WDW going into Memorial Day weekend, and staying through the first week of June. I will be driving down from South Jersey to Orlando for the first time.

I have been pricing the airfare, which is really good ($130 RT). This does not include any bag charges. However, the rental car prices are really high this year. The best rate with discounts is about $472 for seven (7) days. The rental price for the whole stay is about $840 with taxes included. This was for a mid-size SUV. The mid-fullsize range car is about $100 cheaper for the same period. I am definitely going to have a car either way I go. I plan on seeing some other parts of FL this time.

With that said, I priced the gas, tolls, food, and hotels to drive from NJ to Orlando (RT). If gas stays near the range it is now, my cost would be around $450-$500 (give or take) if I drive. This would save me in the range of $600.

The option of the AutoTrain was not even a consideration. The general consensus of everyone posting seems to be to leave early on a Saturday. I would probably drive to Savannah, stay overnight, and leave fresh in the morning for Orlando.

My only problem is I am not looking forward to the drive, as I have flown all these years. I have never driven beyond Atlanta, and it was not straight through. It would be nice to have my own vehicle, since I convinced myself it was why I bought it in the first place to go on long trips. The time it takes to drive is my #1 drawback vs. cost. Any suggestions or helpful hints would be appreciated. I've got my ears on. Talk to me.

 

[Mysteria]

Dal- May I ask how you came to your total for driving? We live in North Jersey and we've done it before on about 300-350 r/t not including driving around FL once we get there (we have a Honda Element which averages 27 MPG highway the way DH drives - fast lol). You may be eating at or staying in higher end places though. That's why I'm asking. Maybe I can help you get that cost down a little more.

 

[FidlMom]

Dal-

Another question - how many are in the car and how many are drivers? (Okay, that was 2 questions already). We drive straight through from Connecticut with 2 drivers and 2 teens in the back. We load up the car with snacks and sandwiches to avoid both the costs and time of stopping for a resaturant meal. No hotel stop also saves time and money. Our only stops are restrooms and more coffee! The kids are okay with it because they know we're already spending a lot of money at Disney.

 

[dalstitch45]

Mysteria, I actually came up with a total of about $388 (RT) with hotels. However, I added a little for the just in case (like gas surges during the holiday, etc.). Although, I did say give or take. Again, I have never driven down before, and couldn't remember the website with the total trip information. I used GasBuddy, and checked some of the hotels.

Fidlmom, there are two (2) drivers, but neither of us wants to drive this straight through. We all know what a nightmare I-95 can be going through Baltimore/Washington, especially with an accident or traffic backup. I have no desire to be dog tired when we get there. Plus, I don't sleep well in a vehicle. I am one (1) of those people that needs eight (8) hours of sleep. Now that I am just a wee bit older, straight through doesn't appeal to me anymore. I used to drive to SC every year in my 20's and 30's, so I have done 13 hours before. Plus we are seeing other parts of FL this time, and I want to enjoy it.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I was just wondering how many of you make reservations for hotels no matter what Interstate route you drive before you leave and how many of you just wing it and stop at any random location once you feel tired?

My family and I always make reservations a few months in advance for two Hampton Inn locations when you drive south on I-75 in Cleveland, Tennessee and Valdosta, Georgia and for two Hampton Inn locations when we drive back home going north on I-75 in Dalton, Georgia and Lima, Ohio. We like doing that because we have stayed in those cities before and we know all Hampton Inn locations are very clean, plus we don't want to take a chance and have them sell out. I once overheard an employee at the front desk at the location in Cleveland say they are sold out for that night to someone on the phone, so we would not want to end up a location that might not be the greatest location.

 

[Mysteria]

Mysteria, I actually came up with a total of about $388 (RT) with hotels. However, I added a little for the just in case (like gas surges during the holiday, etc.). Although, I did say give or take. Again, I have never driven down before, and couldn't remember the website with the total trip information. I used GasBuddy, and checked some of the hotels.

Fidlmom, there are two (2) drivers, but neither of us wants to drive this straight through. We all know what a nightmare I-95 can be going through Baltimore/Washington, especially with an accident or traffic backup. I have no desire to be dog tired when we get there. Plus, I don't sleep well in a vehicle. I am one (1) of those people that needs eight (8) hours of sleep. Now that I am just a wee bit older, straight through doesn't appeal to me anymore. I used to drive to SC every year in my 20's and 30's, so I have done 13 hours before. Plus we are seeing other parts of FL this time, and I want to enjoy it.

Yes you did say give or take. Was just trying to see if I could save you some more.

CR - We book in advance on the way down. We most often travel at the same time as my in-laws when we go to Fl and they have dogs so we need a dog friendly place. The way back depends how many drivers there are. If it's more than one we'll drive straight through.

 

[Funwith4kids]

I was just wondering how many of you make reservations for hotels no matter what Interstate route you drive before you leave and how many of you just wing it and stop at any random location once you feel tired?

My family and I always make reservations a few months in advance for two Hampton Inn locations when you drive south on I-75 in Cleveland, Tennessee and Valdosta, Georgia and for two Hampton Inn locations when we drive back home going north on I-75 in Dalton, Georgia and Lima, Ohio. We like doing that because we have stayed in those cities before and we know all Hampton Inn locations are very clean, plus we don't want to take a chance and have them sell out. I once overheard an employee at the front desk at the location in Cleveland say they are sold out for that night to someone on the phone, so we would not want to end up a location that might not be the greatest location.

We used to just wing until several years we tried to stop and there was no rooms anywhere and we ended up all the way arriving @ 3AM. However, cirmustances were Easter break and a hurricane wiped out gulf coast (Katrina?) and everyone was spring breaking it in FL.

My advice is plan ahead and cancel if you don't them.

 

[shafke]

I was just wondering how many of you make reservations for hotels no matter what Interstate route you drive before you leave and how many of you just wing it and stop at any random location once you feel tired?

My family and I always make reservations a few months in advance for two Hampton Inn locations when you drive south on I-75 in Cleveland, Tennessee and Valdosta, Georgia and for two Hampton Inn locations when we drive back home going north on I-75 in Dalton, Georgia and Lima, Ohio. We like doing that because we have stayed in those cities before and we know all Hampton Inn locations are very clean, plus we don't want to take a chance and have them sell out. I once overheard an employee at the front desk at the location in Cleveland say they are sold out for that night to someone on the phone, so we would not want to end up a location that might not be the greatest location.

When we drove we had resevation for a hotel in SC. While we were driving we realized we were going to arrive at the Hotel way too early to stop for the day... around 11 am. We stopped at a McDonald's, used their free WiFi (actually the McD's was not free but the restaurant next to it was), cancelled the existing reservation and mad a new reservation in GA.

We must have gotten the last reservation at the hotel because when we got there, there was a sign in the window that there were no vacancies.

My sister who was down there also and did not make reservations for the drive back and had a hard time finding a hotel in the area they wanted to stop.

 

[BC1836]

Since our first unplanned drive in 2002, we have used reservations (in advance of the drive and during the drive) most of the time; however, a couple of times we just drove up to a hotel/motel and booked a room for the night.

Driving on a Friday or Saturday underscores the need for a reservation although many variables come into play -- from holidays and weather to local festivals in the area of the facility and the overall economic picture.

All the best.

 

[TSMAMI]

We always make them in advance. The only way I change them (on the road) is if we pick up one of those hotel coupon books at the rest area and it has a cheaper price, I might switch.

 

[Luvamouse]

I was just wondering how many of you make reservations for hotels no matter what Interstate route you drive before you leave and how many of you just wing it and stop at any random location once you feel tired?

My family and I always make reservations a few months in advance for two Hampton Inn locations when you drive south on I-75 in Cleveland, Tennessee and Valdosta, Georgia and for two Hampton Inn locations when we drive back home going north on I-75 in Dalton, Georgia and Lima, Ohio. We like doing that because we have stayed in those cities before and we know all Hampton Inn locations are very clean, plus we don't want to take a chance and have them sell out. I once overheard an employee at the front desk at the location in Cleveland say they are sold out for that night to someone on the phone, so we would not want to end up a location that might not be the greatest location.

Yup, we do. In fact that is on my list of things to do this week. I'm picking my girls up early from school on the 9th and so am making 2 ressies for the 1st night of travel-- about 100+ miles apart. We'd like to get to the 2nd, but both can be cancelled by 6 p.m., so we can't go wrong. Sometimes we can drive forever on the excitement and sometimes it crashes us! We know where we like to stay-- both location and chain, and as the years go by, I am less amenable to driving from one to the next looking for a room. Or calling 6 hotels in one town on a Wednesday to find one that finally wasn't booked solid! And none of them knew why they were mobbed...?? Past experience makes me do this ahead if it matters. On our trip home, we will wing it and I'll employ the "check-the-GPS-for-the-next-big-town-with-hotels-we-would-stay-at" method of booking ahead. Of when we pull in the parking lot that is...

23 days until we leave. I am sooooo excited!

 

[stinkypeet]

We are leaving on the 9th the day before good friday around 12:00- 1:00 pm from south jersey(cherry hill), picking the kids up from school for a surprise visit to the Kingdom.... They thought we could never surprise them again... Ha...does anyone think i"ll have trouble getting thru ... Balt-DC- Richmond ....at that time..? should we leave earlier/later?

 

[dvcfamily41801]

In two weeks, we'll be taking that 2,000+ mile round trip again.

All the best.

When will you be heading out? We are going in two weeks as well.

Here is our story....and forgive me. Last week I started at the first post on the thread and was able to get up to about page 40 and had to stop and never finished up. So I apologize if all of this has been mentioned.

We drove to WDW back in 2004 and left at 4pm (just outside Phila) so yes we hit..Philly....Baltimore and DC rush hour and if I am not mistaken a little in Virginia. What can I say we were excited!!! The past 3 years we have gone to DVC HHI but were unable to get a reservation at 7 months so figured...whats 5 more hours. This drive we leave about 8-9pm and drive overnight straight thru. Works for us...I am not a good passenger just get really jumpy sometimes.

Originally our plan was to leave Friday night and stay Saturday night at DVC HHI so that we could still spend a night there, use points so does not cost us anything and just finish up our 5 hours Sunday morning. Then I realized it was kinda stupid to drive the 50 minutes off 95 to stay someplace one night and drive the 50 minutes back and keep on going. Adding that extra time was kinda crazy, especially if our room was not ready until say 2pm...we could (God willing) be at OKW by then!! So we axed this.

Now we are planning on still leaving around 8pm and driving straight thru just to WDW. Now I start thinking about driving at night and worry, blah blah blah, that I am seriously considering starting our trip at about 8am Friday and stopping in GA for a night (I see a Hampton Inn in Brunswick) and see its about 3 1/2 hours from OKW that we could finish up easy on Saturday morning. Then I start to worry about driving during the day and worry, blah blah blah. I have been trying to come up with games and stuff for the car and figure they would be reserved for the ride home, as originally we would be doing a lot of sleeping on the way down.

So....what should we do? I am trying to figure out what is going to be best for my nerves and the sanity of my DH and DS (9). I am afraid that if we drive during the day the urge to stop will be more frequent whereas we are more likely to stay on track driving overnight. Now we are not afraid to pull over at a rest area (well lit) if we need to shut our eyes for a little bit.

Thanks for any suggestions!!!

 

[FINFAN]

dvcfamily41801,
We drive form Chicago area...about 19-20 hours give or take. We have learned for us it is better to stop, get a decent (at least 5 hours) nights sleep and then we fare much better for the start of our vacation. When strapped for days, we have gone straight thru and save 2 days for return as we are SO much more tired driving back home than going to Orlando. Now our drive consits fo getting DD to college in Sarasota...no WDW for a while, and it KILLS us to have to make the drive and not get to go. This summer is even worse as DS's birthday hits on a saturday when driving DD back...he is SO bummed that we can't go, but DH can't take more than 5 days off of work ( without worrying about NOT having work to go back to )so our time does not allow to hit the parks even for 1 day. I guess on the upside, $300 t get in for 1 day is SOOOOO much, especially when seeing the 4/7 deal..I just keep telling myself that. Have a great trip , I say get some rest...you will get to OKW with plenty of time and can ease into your trip.