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

[dvczerfs]

wow, we related or something? My vote is for the minivan too.
we go every year from NJ too, we have the town and country,
we get about 23 MPG and plenty of room and comfort
and we fold down one of the middle seats,
but we use an extra crib mattress, (fits just right)
so one of the resting drivers can sleep, (fetal position of course)
or watch some t.v., (i didnt hear anyone mention the portable t.v.,)
its almost a given now. As i drive down in the middle of
the night, all you see is glowing cars with movies playing in each
suv and minivan heading to D.W.
we also stop at McD's for b'fast. its most dependable and fast,
and if you get one with a playground, its a great way for the kids to
stretch the legs and get rid of some energy, while the drivers refuel and get coffee.

is 95-17-66-81 a Pennsylvania trick or is that good for NJ too?
always looking for a better way around D.C. -Balt

where is the best place for gas? S. Carolina right?
(but not south of the border!)

i guess it would depend on what part of jersey you are coming from. im about 10 min. west of phillipsburg nj. going down i hop on 78-81-66-17-95.

 

[BC1836]

After 1,000+ miles to get here our most recent "drives" have been in boats, launches, doom buggies, and monorails.

 

[Flyerfan]

After 1,000+ miles to get here our most recent "drives" have been in boats, launches, doom buggies, and monorails.

They're the best kind.

 

[cruisingkat]

We are going down to Disney Oct 4 and returning from Florida Oct 20 or 21 and then going back down to Disney Nov 11 and returning from Florida Dec 6. - a 21 or 22 day gap between the two trips.

A three-week, turn-around 2,000+ mile WDW round trip?

You have the record to beat! Once you establish the record!

All the best.

Well we just got back tonight from the Oct 4 Disney and Florida trip. Tired from the long drive home but at least it was sunny all the way home - quite different from our drive down on Oct. 4 - rain from Tennessee all the way to Disney. Once we got to Disney, the rain stopped - but boy was it extremely hot. I believe I heard that they had record breaking temps while we were there.
We have reservations for Wilderness Lodge starting Nov. 12 - so we will have about 20 or 21 days until we leave again. I guess that I will just wash our summer clothes and repack them - we certainly won't need them at home.

 

[BC1836]

Well we just got back tonight from the Oct 4 Disney and Florida trip. Tired from the long drive home but at least it was sunny all the way home - quite different from our drive down on Oct. 4 - rain from Tennessee all the way to Disney. Once we got to Disney, the rain stopped - but boy was it extremely hot. I believe I heard that they had record breaking temps while we were there.
We have reservations for Wilderness Lodge starting Nov. 12 - so we will have about 20 or 21 days until we leave again. I guess that I will just wash our summer clothes and repack them - we certainly won't need them at home.

A three week turnaround!

We're at WDW right now. Our next planned return will not challenge your upcoming record, that's for sure.

Gas prices at WDW Hess have gone up over 10-cents since we arrived. It was $2.63 for regular last night.

All the best.

 

[onelugnut]

same here for the gas prices,
wawa gas up about 20 cents since last week.

 

[cruisingkat]

We noticed gas prices went up 20 cents or more per gallon from our drive down Oct. 4-5 to our drive back Oct 21-22. And that was in all states that we drove through - FL, KY, TN, GA, and IL.

 

[BC1836]

We're back home after a 2,369 mile round trip!

We did have an overnight in Colonial Williamsburg on our way down before staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Lake Buena Vista. Then, a few hundred feet drive the next morning to WDW property via DTD.

No traffic stories to report in either direction except for a local accident stoppage for a half hour on the day we left home.

The week's weather started on Sunday (12/18) morning at 49 degrees (at sunrise) but quickly improved to the upper 60s. The next day: the 70s. After that: 80s. No rain of note except for a quick shower (the length of a Haunted Mansion ride) and one brief spritz one evening.

The crowds at the F&W Festival were huge, especially on Saturday night. At one point, 75 people were standing in line at the Ireland kiosk.

We're already counting the days until our next drive!

All the best.

 

[BrandiP]

Add us to the club! We drive from Reading, PA about 16 hours. The first time I thought my hubby was crazy for wanting to drive, but now as we're approaching our 4th time I wouldn't do it any other way!

I'm loving all the great tips on here! Thanks!

 

[dvczerfs]

We're back home after a 2,369 mile round trip!

We did have an overnight in Colonial Williamsburg on our way down before staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Lake Buena Vista. Then, a few hundred feet drive the next morning to WDW property via DTD.

No traffic stories to report in either direction except for a local accident stoppage for a half hour on the day we left home.

The week's weather started on Sunday (12/18) morning at 49 degrees (at sunrise) but quickly improved to the upper 60s. The next day: the 70s. After that: 80s. No rain of note except for a quick shower (the length of a Haunted Mansion ride) and one brief spritz one evening.

The crowds at the F&W Festival were huge, especially on Saturday night. At one point, 75 people were standing in line at the Ireland kiosk.

We're already counting the days until our next drive!

All the best.

welcome home bc!! glad you had a safe trip. i couldnt believe how light traffic was myself. i have never seen it that light. more people flying?

 

[dvczerfs]

Add us to the club! We drive from Reading, PA about 16 hours. The first time I thought my hubby was crazy for wanting to drive, but now as we're approaching our 4th time I wouldn't do it any other way!

I'm loving all the great tips on here! Thanks!

hi brandi, welcome to the club!! we drive from nazareth pa. i think the world knows were reading pa is now!

 

[BC1836]

welcome home bc!! glad you had a safe trip. i couldnt believe how light traffic was myself. i have never seen it that light. more people flying?

We weren't surprised about the traffic on Sunday from WDW to Petersburg, VA; however, the final drive home yesterday on Monday was a suprise. A brief slowdown in southern MD at a construction area (30 mph) but nothing else to complain about. Most of the big rigs must have been on 1-81.

The only complaint we have right now is the Jersey Shore rain (one week ago at this a.m. time we were having breakfast at the GF!).

Note: The return drive was unique since the trees in VA, DE and NJ had made significant autumn color changes. The further north we traveled, the more diversely vivid were the colors. It's something you don't see at 30,000 feet in the sky.

All the best.

 

[sharadoc]

Note: The return drive was unique since the trees in VA, DE and NJ had made significant autumn color changes. The further north we traveled, the more diversely vivid were the colors. It's something you don't see at 30,000 feet in the sky.

All the best.

Cool - yet another thing that makes driving a great idea!

 

[BC1836]

A flight to Austin, TX is approaching.

No doubt, the arrive-at-the-airport-early, security-check, luggage-check, shoes-off, usual-flight-delay, cramped-seat, pray-for-unlost-luggage experience will conjure up images of a drive to WDW!

 

[mill4023]

One of the reasons we moved from Oregon to North Carolina is so we wouldn't have to fly to Disney World.
Well, ok, it wasn't really one of the reasons if you ask my wife, but in my mind, it was a big plus. With 4 or 5 kids, it's so much cheaper to drive than fly. Of course, we only have about 600 miles each way, not the 1000 plus that many of you are driving, so it's not so bad.

 

[PanFan01]

We always drive down to Disney from our home in Southest Michigan. We like road trips. We have a Chevy Suburban so there is plenty of room for all of us (me, DH, DS 11, DS 9). It takes us about 17 hours. We leave at 4:00 am and drive all of the way to Ocala and stay there for the night. We wake up the next morning and we are only one hour away from the gates. We love it. On the way home we split it up, nine hours the first day and eight the second. My husband does all of the driving and I navigate with my "Along I-75" book. Love all of the touristy info in there. Looking forward to our next trek in August 2010.

 

[BC1836]

We always drive down to Disney from our home in Southest Michigan. We like road trips. It takes us about 17 hours. We leave at 4:00 am and drive all of the way to Ocala and stay there for the night. We wake up the next morning and we are only one hour away from the gates. We love it. Looking forward to our next trek in August 2010.

Our drive is a little over 17 hours. We enjoy the early, early morning departures since they avoid a lot of traffic.

This year our stop before WDW was at a Holiday Inn Express in Lake Buena Vista just a few hundred feet from the Disney entrance that leads to DTD. Hence, our second day drive was a few minutes!

All the best.

 

[BC1836]

Now I know why we drive...

Took a flight to Austin yesterday. Scrunched in a window seat. Felt like an astronaut. No food given out. Not even the mini-bag of peanuts/pretzels. Etc.

I-4: wherefore art though?

 

[Flyerfan]

Now I know why we drive...

Took a flight to Austin yesterday. Scrunched in a window seat. Felt like an astronaut. No food given out. Not even the mini-bag of peanuts/pretzels. Etc.

I-4: wherefore art though?

Doesn't it somewhat make you feel like a prisoner? I know that there are some places you have to fly but just the thought of being in a "tube" with 100+ other people with no stops for food or "other" makes me shudder at times. I have flown before and probably will again someday...maybe. But for now, we will stick to the open road.

 

[Alexander]

Flying is by far our first choice for traveling to FL. We have direct flights that get us there in 2.5 hours. Driving takes 24. However, given that there are now four of us requiring seats--and traveling during peak times--we are talking upwards of $2000 to fly--then rent a car on top of that! Driving is where we'll be in April unless some terrific rates drop out of the sky--I'm not holding my breath! Load up the movies, snacks, games, pillows, etc. We haven't driven in probably 8 years or more!