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

[emh1129]

What a fantastic thread- you guys are a wealth of knowledge!
Dh and I have made the decision to drive down from CT to WDW in May. At first it was mostly for budget reasons but now I'm seeing all of the other benefits that you all have mentioned and I'm really looking forward to it!
There are many stressors, for me, associated with flying with little ones. It will be a relief to be able to bring all the items we need & take our time to stop & smell the roses, so to speak
Thanks to the OP for starting this thread- it's helpful to get tips from those who are so experienced at the longer drives!

 

[squirrlygirl]

We leave in 6 days for our first road trip! (haven't updated the ticker-we decided to leave at 4 pm the day before so the younger ones will sleep half of the first day) The kids are excited that their pillows and blankets will be coming with them
I bought an inverter for the laptop so I can entertain my 2 1/2 year old with short youtube videos if she gets tired of dvd's. We're breaking up the trip each way into one 10-hour day (plus stops) and one 8-hour day (plus stops). I'm hoping the youngest can handle it! The other kids have DS's to occupy them, so they'll be in heaven with mom not giving them a time limit

 

[mrstomrice]

We leave in 6 days for our first road trip! (haven't updated the ticker-we decided to leave at 4 pm the day before so the younger ones will sleep half of the first day) The kids are excited that their pillows and blankets will be coming with them
I bought an inverter for the laptop so I can entertain my 2 1/2 year old with short youtube videos if she gets tired of dvd's. We're breaking up the trip each way into one 10-hour day (plus stops) and one 8-hour day (plus stops). I'm hoping the youngest can handle it! The other kids have DS's to occupy them, so they'll be in heaven with mom not giving them a time limit

What is an inverter?

 

[Amirah95]

Hi - we drive from southern Massachusetts twice a year with 3 kids. We usually take our time going down and drive back in two days. We just can't justify spending the money for 5 airline tickets and we like having our car. Our next trip is in 2 weeks. Yipee!!!!!

I totally agree with you about the airline tickets.

 

[Amirah95]

We're breaking up the trip each way into one 10-hour day (plus stops) and one 8-hour day (plus stops). I'm hoping the youngest can handle it!

That sounds like a great idea. I just wish I could convince DH this is a great strategy for our DD1 who will be just a week shy age 3 when we're back on the road again.

 

[shafke]

What is an inverter?

It is a device that plugs into the accessory plug in you car to convert the 12v dc current to 120 v ac. You can then plug in any standard plug such as the charger for a latop or portable DVD player.

 

[mrstomrice]

It is a device that plugs into the accessory plug in you car to convert the 12v dc current to 120 v ac. You can then plug in any standard plug such as the charger for a latop or portable DVD player.

Ohhhh..how much do they go for?

 

[TINKERIFIC]

Are there any out there?

We are in the 2000+ roundtrip drivers group. We live about 50 miles west of Houston in Sealy, right of I-10.

We are looking to drive for our 3rd time. This will be our 1st time actually stopping for the night. My DH likes to drive straight through, but I insisted we stop. I know, he is crazy!!! He likes to drive during the night because 1. the traffic is nothing and 2. the kids will sleep 90% of the drive. We would leave around 4pm and arrive around 10 am the next day.

We want to get a majority of drive in the first day, with about 4 to 5 hours left on the second day.

I am estimating we should stop around Tallahassee...does this sound right?

Any suggestions on hotels right off of I-10 in that area. Preferably in a decent part of town. Nothing fancy, just a place to sleep. Would like a continental breakfast...my DD likes the ones where you can make your own waffles.

EDIT:
I found two that I may consider - any opinions are VERY MUCH welcome regarding both the hotels and area. Both are located on North Monroe, just north of I-10 in Tallahassee.

1. La Quinta Inn, Tallahassee North

$55/night
exterior corridors
breakfast
​

IMHO, LQs are hit or miss, but this price is right. I normally am a stickler for interior corridors, but I can change for just one night. Especially since we will just be sleeping there and nothing else.

2. Fairfield Inn, Tallahassee North

$129/night
interior corridors
breakfast
​

I have never been disappointed in Fairfield, so this is a given that I would probably stay here, but the $55/night at LQ might change my mind if this is a decent part of town.

 

[dvczerfs]

national lampoon vacation is on the travel chanel at 8pm for all the new drivers!!!

 

[rotlex]

national lampoon vacation is on the travel chanel at 8pm for all the new drivers!!!

LOL, I love this flick, and just can't help but talking about loading up "the family truckster" every time we leave for an extended drive.

Next 2K plus Disney trip coming up in 3 weeks! I need to buy a DVD of this to take on the drive for the kids too see.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Today just past 2:00 AM my family and I started our Clearwater Beach/Walt Disney World vacation, since we are driving down. Anyway I am writting this tread from the Hampton Inn location in Cleveland, Tennessee off Intersate 75 and it took us just over 14 hours to get here. Tommorow were driving to Valdosta, Georgia and on Monday were arriving in Clearwater Beach.

 

[Amirah95]

national lampoon vacation is on the travel chanel at 8pm for all the new drivers!!!

Hilarious! It's been on all week and I've been catching parts here and there.

 

[sgtdisney]

We're on our way as well. Left Northeast Illinois early yesterday morning, and only ended up making it to Chattanooga last night. I had hoped to make it past Atlanta, but it wasn't meant to be. We took 57/24 and had some problems. A big accident by Alcola in Illinois cost us over an hour and 1/2. The state police routed us off highway (57 southbound was completely closed) and drive through Alcola and then to down a country road for 15 miles or so with the hundreds of other drivers from 57. Then there was some construction on 57 and also on 24. Seems they are doing a lot of work now with the funding from the government. Then large amounts of rain around Nashville and through the mountains so we stopped here in Chattanooga. Hopefully we'll make it to Orlando by dinner time.

 

[squirrlygirl]

Ohhhh..how much do they go for?

I bought a well-rated one with one plug off amazon for around $14. My phone can be used as a modem, so I'll be connected to the internet on the way down without constantly draining the laptop battery

 

[NALA 24]

I love the "live" trip reports. Please drive safely and alert us to any major construction problems along the way.

 

[squirrlygirl]

Can't wait to join those of you that are on your way! The kids have made a countdown chain, the fridge is getting bare, and we've drained our pool so it can be put up while we're gone. DH got new tires on the van Thursday, and I've printed out all my reservation confirmations. My oldest has been busy loading up his iPod with TV shows (thinks he's too cool to watch Disney movies on the way down, but I bet that pretense disappears halfway there ).
DH will try to get home from work a bit early Friday so we can leave earlier-he has visions of getting up at 6am for day 2 of driving, but our current schedule doesn't get us to the hotel until 1 am. I'm thinking he'll discover he's a bit too tired to do that, but he's thinking the disney magic will kick in and he'll be anxious to get going!

 

[Cupmom]

LOL, I love this flick, and just can't help but talking about loading up "the family truckster" every time we leave for an extended drive.

Beware the National Lampoon Vacation DVD is rated R which I never knew because I never even bothered to look. I bought it
for our road trip, fiqured it wasn't that bad from all the times I had seen it on TV. I was wrong...Cursing and nudity..well my 9 year old and grandma got quite the surprise!!!

 

[Amirah95]

I think I'm going to document our next trip via Youtube. Hmmmm...

For those of you who are leaving...HAVE A GREAT RIDE DOWN AND HAVE A MAGICAL TIME AT WDW!!!!!!

 

[dvczerfs]

LOL, I love this flick, and just can't help but talking about loading up "the family truckster" every time we leave for an extended drive.

Beware the National Lampoon Vacation DVD is rated R which I never didn't know because I never even bothered to look. I bought it
for our road trip, fiqured it wasn't that bad from all the times I had seen it on TV. I was wrong...Cursing and nudity..well my 9 year old and grandma got quite the surprise!!!

yes, what you see on tv is edited!! big time!they cut alot of it out.

 

[rotlex]

yes, what you see on tv is edited!! big time!they cut alot of it out.

Oh wow I did not know this as I have only ever seen it on tv. Thanks both of you for that info! That could have been quite uncomfortable with kids!