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

[dvcfamily41801]

Howdy to all!
We are in WDW. And our 14th drive since 2002 includes a lap top for the first time. Hence, this message.
Our drive to WDW was eventful. We departed Saturday morning at 3:30 a.m. and experienced drizzle and light rain through NJ, DE and MD. No precipitaion at all through VA and NC. Some periodic rain in northern SC and then nothing until southern SC. The sky opened up with clouds that looked like a cross between Close Encounteers of the Third Kind and The Wizard of Oz. It got so bad we stopped at the GA Welcome Center. Inside we discovered we were in a tornado warning zone! A nervous 20-minute wait resulted in "just" a tornado watch. So we took off and managed to outdrive the bad weather. We made it to Deltona, FL, at Exit #111 on I-4, where we stayed overnight.

The next morning, FL was still rainy. But get this: at Exit #67, the rain stops! By the time we checked in at the GF the sky was gettting brighter, and by the time we arrived at the MK on the monorail, the sun broke through!

All the best.

Glad you made it safe and sound!!!! We are leaving Friday and looks like we will be having some rain. Enjoy your trip!!! Maybe we will see you!!

 

[Marty Moose]

BC1836 - So glad you made it ok! Have a great time!!! Hope your journey home is quick and safe!

dvcfamily41801 - Have you already chosen your stopover hotel/motel in Emporia? Where did you settle on? Or are you just going to wing it?

Jen

 

[BC1836]

Thanks for the well wishes, FidlMom, dsynymomof4, johnnow, dvcfamily41801 and Marty Moose!

It's Wednesday morning at the GF with a MK view.

johnnow: we had no major traffic to speak of since we left on a Saturday morning at 3:30 a.m.

dvcfamily41801: don't worrry about projected rain. Those extended forecasts are just that: forecasts. Our weather forecasts have changed big time since we're here. And for the better. If it rains, it rains. But it's WDW rain!

Hollywood Studios and dinner at BOMA awaits.

All the best.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

BC1836 - So glad you made it ok! Have a great time!!! Hope your journey home is quick and safe!

dvcfamily41801 - Have you already chosen your stopover hotel/motel in Emporia? Where did you settle on? Or are you just going to wing it?

Jen

Hi Jen
We did make a reservation at a Hampton Inn. I was afraid to just see how it goes being Good Friday I was worried there may be more travel and we could get stuck.

 

[patclairesmom]

Howdy to all!
We are in WDW. And our 14th drive since 2002 includes a lap top for the first time. Hence, this message.
Our drive to WDW was eventful. We departed Saturday morning at 3:30 a.m. and experienced drizzle and light rain through NJ, DE and MD. No precipitaion at all through VA and NC. Some periodic rain in northern SC and then nothing until southern SC. The sky opened up with clouds that looked like a cross between Close Encounteers of the Third Kind and The Wizard of Oz. It got so bad we stopped at the GA Welcome Center. Inside we discovered we were in a tornado warning zone! A nervous 20-minute wait resulted in "just" a tornado watch. So we took off and managed to outdrive the bad weather. We made it to Deltona, FL, at Exit #111 on I-4, where we stayed overnight.

The next morning, FL was still rainy. But get this: at Exit #67, the rain stops! By the time we checked in at the GF the sky was gettting brighter, and by the time we arrived at the MK on the monorail, the sun broke through!

All the best.

What time did you make your overnight stop?? We'll be driving from Monmouth County next May, and plan on leaving @3am. Just wondering what kind of time your made.

 

[BC1836]

What time did you make your overnight stop?? We'll be driving from Monmouth County next May, and plan on leaving @3am. Just wondering what kind of time your made.

We departed from the Jersey Shore at 3:30 a.m. and made it to Deltona, FL (on I-4) at 8:45 p.m. During that time we traveled 1,047 miles.

Most of the time we make it to either St. Augustine or Palm Coast (all on I-95 and south of Jacksonville). And we made it to Deltona this time. Since we didn't sleep that well the night before, we couldn't make those final 44 miles. Otherwise, we could have made it all the way to WDW. Of course, we didn't have a reservation until the next night so we would have to book a single night at a value resort or some place nearby off I-4.

The key to our drive is that we only make gas and bathroom breaks; we eat during the drive. And we'll be making the drive again at the end of next month.

All the best.

 

[sarahkjack]

We are leaving next Weds. for our drive to WDW - from Northwest CT - and have decided to tahe the 84-81 route.....I have yet to make any hotel accomodations and after reading this thread last night decided I probably should.....but I'm not sure where to make them, lol! We will leave CT after school, around 4pm....and will drive until about 9-10pm.......but I have NO clue where that will put us as I've never driven this route before....I know that with traffic it will take me about an hour to get to Danbury....but no clue after that.....hoping someone who has taken this route before can help!

Thanks!

Sarah

 

[johnnow]

We are leaving next Weds. for our drive to WDW - from Northwest CT - and have decided to tahe the 84-81 route.....I have yet to make any hotel accomodations and after reading this thread last night decided I probably should.....but I'm not sure where to make them, lol! We will leave CT after school, around 4pm....and will drive until about 9-10pm.......but I have NO clue where that will put us as I've never driven this route before....I know that with traffic it will take me about an hour to get to Danbury....but no clue after that.....hoping someone who has taken this route before can help!

Thanks!

Sarah

Having made the drive from the Hartford area to Scranton a few times, I can tell you it's about 4 hours to get to 81. After that, it's a couple of hours until you get out of PA. Google shows it's about 5.5 hours to Harrisburg from my location vi 84-81. That would put you right about 9/10 PM.

 

[johnnow]

It's time to pack up the car. 12 hours till go time. The only thing that I'm not looking forward to is getting up really early. Actually, it's more getting my DW up that scares me the most. Hopefully, it won't be too rainy out when we leave. Now, if I can just find a DD that's open that early.

 

[Wendaeh]

It's time to pack up the car. 12 hours till go time. The only thing that I'm not looking forward to is getting up really early. Actually, it's more getting my DW up that scares me the most. Hopefully, it won't be too rainy out when we leave. Now, if I can just find a DD that's open that early.

Wishing you a safe trip! Here's to sunny skies and dry roads....

Wendy

 

[BC1836]

It's time to pack up the car. 12 hours till go time. The only thing that I'm not looking forward to is getting up really early. Actually, it's more getting my DW up that scares me the most. Hopefully, it won't be too rainy out when we leave. Now, if I can just find a DD that's open that early.

Let us check the weather for you. We are looking at our MK view from the GF and there's not a cloud in the sky over Cinderella Castle.

So hurry on down!

All he best.

 

[dsnymomof4]

Let us check the weather for you. We are looking at our MK view from the GF and there's not a cloud in the sky over Cinderella Castle.

If you're trying to make us jealous....it's working!
Hope you're having a great time!

 

[BC1836]

We are having a great time! Thank you kindly.

Alas, though, in less than 20 hours we will be on the road once again. And tomorrow night we will have a view of of I-95 from Emporia, VA. That will not inspire jealousy, to be sure.

Until next time, we're off for our final night at the MK.

All the best.

 

[sarahkjack]

Still trying to figure out our accomodations for the trip down next week....I think we'll stop in Hagerstown MD the first night and probably Savannah, or maybe a little further south depending on the kiddos do in the car all day (I have 4 of them ages 11, 8, 6 and 2.....)......anyone have any suggestions for good hotels in the Savannah area? Or anywhere a little south of Savannah?

Thanks!

Sarah - excited to leave for WDW next week!!!!

 

[marcyinPA]

Still trying to figure out our accomodations for the trip down next week....I think we'll stop in Hagerstown MD the first night and probably Savannah, or maybe a little further south depending on the kiddos do in the car all day (I have 4 of them ages 11, 8, 6 and 2.....)......anyone have any suggestions for good hotels in the Savannah area? Or anywhere a little south of Savannah?

Thanks!

Sarah - excited to leave for WDW next week!!!!

I just booked the Fairfield Inn 95 south in Savannah for our June trip. We'll be driving from Annapolis MD and should get into Savannah around 6pm. This hotel has a pool, and a free breakfast. The reviews on Trip Advisor were pretty good. I did just post a new thread to see if someone here has any info on that one. We got the AAA rate, and with taxes, it comes to about $130. Not cheap, but I'm a bit of a hotel snob and don't like staying in places that may be "questionable"....

 

[schoonersky]

OK - help. 2013 miles each way here from Nova Scotia to Orlando. Approximately 33 hours of driving time according to mapquest. I am actually contemplating the full drive. Time isn't really an issue, and we are already thinking we will drive to Manchester, Portland or Boston for a direct flight for $800US to avoid the $2400 Canadian flights out of Halifax. So that drive will be 10 to 11 hours and will require one night hotel, each way. Add on another night of hotel each way and the extra driving, and we would be there.

Long days of driving though...if we went to Hartford on day 1 that would be 12.5 hours, then on to Raleigh at 10+ hours, then to Orlando at 9.5 hours.

Worth it? Or better to just fly from Manchester, Portland or Boston for $800US?

I'd welcome thoughts from experienced 2000 mile drivers! LOL

 

[natlovesarielpins]

isnt it cheaper to fly..i drive to orlando from mia and when i get there my body is numb lol i wish i can fly but its not cheap for us lol

 

[schoonersky]

Flying from Halifax is $2400 return. So we are going to have to drive to at least Bangor, and if we drive 7 hours to Bangor might as well drive to Portland or Manchester to get direct flights so there is no stopover on the way. So, looking at 9 to 10 hours of driving and a night of hotel, each way. Plus $750US for the return flights.

At that point, is it cheaper to add another night of hotel and drive the other 20 hours (each way), or is it likely about the same price?

If it's the same price, are there other reasons I might want to do it (besides just the benefit of having my car there, and not needing to worry about getting off Disney property for a day or two or three.

That's what I'm trying to figure out.

 

[Wendaeh]

Flying from Halifax is $2400 return. So we are going to have to drive to at least Bangor, and if we drive 7 hours to Bangor might as well drive to Portland or Manchester to get direct flights so there is no stopover on the way. So, looking at 9 to 10 hours of driving and a night of hotel, each way. Plus $750US for the return flights.

At that point, is it cheaper to add another night of hotel and drive the other 20 hours (each way), or is it likely about the same price?

If it's the same price, are there other reasons I might want to do it (besides just the benefit of having my car there, and not needing to worry about getting off Disney property for a day or two or three.

That's what I'm trying to figure out.

When are you going? There are southwest flights in July for $79 each way to Orlando....not sure how many in your party....

 

[schoonersky]

Going for free dining, tentatively August 16th to 30th but willing to move that around a bit to accomodate an airfare deal. Contemplating driving the week before (so leave Halifax on Saturday the 8th, drive down 8,9,10th and get in on 11th, do SeaWorld, Aquatica, US and IOA on the 12, 13, 14, 15th and check in at POP on 16th. Then stay at POP 16th to maybe the 24th and take off for the 4 day trip home.

Or driving to Manchester and flying on a day 'around' the 13th to get a good airfare, staying till about the 27th and flying back to Manchester. Gotta do some math on this one.