For people that drive Question

[TSMAMI]

We drive to Disney everytime we visit, my question is what time do you usually leave for your trip? We leave from Upstate NY and we tend to leave about 5am. We run into traffic in DC sometimes. I see a lot of people state they leave at night. Do you feel going to rest areas at night? Is it a better drive? I go with my 2 kids ages 8 and 6 and my mom...Any ideas?

 

[sticker231]

We drove in October from NJ. It took 16 1/2 hours. We left around 7:30 at night. This way the kids were able to sleep closer to their regular time. It also gave us a huge jump on the traffic, in my opinion. We were already way past DC and ten hours into the journey before most people were even starting to wake up.

 

[tessie28]

we drive every other year...from New England.

my husband is a coast to coast truck driver, so I trust his judgement...lol

our kids are now 14, 12 and 10....

We always leave early in the morning, and stop about every two hours, and try to eat on a regular schedule....we will stop to eat at around 6 or so...and we find a hotel at around 7 maybe 8. We always find one with a pool, and let the kids get any pent up energy out of thier system....

We get a nights sleep, and then, head on our way...the last day,can sometimes be a bit tiring....its so dissapointing to reach the florida line...yet you still have hours to go! LOL....but your ending destination is your resort, or in the other direction, home.... so its all good!

My husbands opinion is it is healthier and safer.... for everyone, to stick to a "normal" schedule...rather than drive all night while your kids sleep, and then be exhausted all day, while your kids are pent up and full of energy...

 

[HugsForEeyore]

When I drive to Disney, I leave from northern NJ usually about 7:00 am. That way, I hit Washington DC around noonish, and not during rush hour. I would drive to northern Georgia and spend the night, usually ariving at the hotel by 9:30-10:00 pm. Next day, I leave the hotel around 10:00 am, and arrive at Disney around 2:30ish. I do the drive solo, and this schedule works well for me.

Though on my last 2 trips, I been opting to take the Amtrak AutoTrain instead. With hotel, high gas prices, wear on the car, and just the weariness and safety issues of driving 900 miles, the AutoTrain really has become worth the price to me.

 

[Sleepy]

NEVER stop at a rest stop.

Always find an exit with a fast food restaurant. Many years ago, had it not been for a biker, my mother might have been attacked or killed by some creepy men at a rest stop. The biker noticed (as he was pulling inot the rest stop) that my mom was alone and these guys were approaching her by blocking the way to her car. The biker made it look like they were together, but traveling seperately.....mom in the car, he on the bike. He told her to go ahead and he would catch up with her later. Mom was never able to thank this guy. He probably saved her life.

I have seen too many stories on the news of people....including couples, attacked or killed at rest stops. It's just safer and easier to stop at an exit that has fast food places. That is what we have done for years. I'd rather squat by the side of the road than stop at a rest stop.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

We are leaving Northern NH around 2am (probably earlier if DH has his way). I just figure we'll probably hit rush hour around New York We'll probably stop for breakfast in Connecticut.

 

[TSMAMI]

NEVER stop at a rest stop.

Always find an exit with a fast food restaurant. Many years ago, had it not been for a biker, my mother might have been attacked or killed by some creepy men at a rest stop. The biker noticed (as he was pulling inot the rest stop) that my mom was alone and these guys were approaching her by blocking the way to her car. The biker made it look like they were together, but traveling seperately.....mom in the car, he on the bike. He told her to go ahead and he would catch up with her later. Mom was never able to thank this guy. He probably saved her life.

I have seen too many stories on the news of people....including couples, attacked or killed at rest stops. It's just safer and easier to stop at an exit that has fast food places. That is what we have done for years. I'd rather squat by the side of the road than stop at a rest stop.

Wow..That is truely scary!

 

[TSMAMI]

When I drive to Disney, I leave from northern NJ usually about 7:00 am. That way, I hit Washington DC around noonish, and not during rush hour. I would drive to northern Georgia and spend the night, usually ariving at the hotel by 9:30-10:00 pm. Next day, I leave the hotel around 10:00 am, and arrive at Disney around 2:30ish. I do the drive solo, and this schedule works well for me.

Though on my last 2 trips, I been opting to take the Amtrak AutoTrain instead. With hotel, high gas prices, wear on the car, and just the weariness and safety issues of driving 900 miles, the AutoTrain really has become worth the price to me.

How is the ride on the Autotrain? We were thinking of taking this on the way back, since driving home is the worst part of the trip!

 

[clkelley]

I usually leave after work (about 5pmish) and get myself South of Atlanta by around 11pm. I pull into a KOA campground with pull throughs and get some sleep, then pull out the next morning around 7:30 am and get to WDW by 2pmish.

I have a 690 mile trip.

 

[WDW Freak]

NEVER stop at a rest stop.

Always find an exit with a fast food restaurant. Many years ago, had it not been for a biker, my mother might have been attacked or killed by some creepy men at a rest stop. The biker noticed (as he was pulling inot the rest stop) that my mom was alone and these guys were approaching her by blocking the way to her car. The biker made it look like they were together, but traveling seperately.....mom in the car, he on the bike. He told her to go ahead and he would catch up with her later. Mom was never able to thank this guy. He probably saved her life.

I have seen too many stories on the news of people....including couples, attacked or killed at rest stops. It's just safer and easier to stop at an exit that has fast food places. That is what we have done for years. I'd rather squat by the side of the road than stop at a rest stop.

I agree with avoiding rest stops, especially at night. I was traveling alone in the early 90's on my way back to school and stopped at a rest stop at dusk to check-in with my parents (this was long before I had a cell phone). The phone booth was at the end of the parking lot away from the restroom building. As I was telling my parents that I was fine and would make it to school shortly, a creepy guy started to walk toward me looking around to make sure that no one else was coming that way. My eyes got quite wide at that point because I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but a truck driver who was just pulling in saw the situation and parked (illegally as his truck wasn't supposed to be in that part of the parking lot) between me and the creepy guy. The creepy guy just turned around and walked back to his car on the other side of the parking lot. I never got to thank the truck driver personally, but I waved a thank you and I'm sure he saw the look of relief on my face. I was too scared to leave the phone booth for a few minutes.

I don't know what would have happened if the truck driver hadn't pulled up, but I know it wouldn't have been good. To this day I am very wary of stopping at rest stops that are relatively empty, even during the day. I much prefer a gas station or fast food restaurant. It is so much safer in my opinion!

 

[TSMAMI]

I agree with avoiding rest stops, especially at night. I was traveling alone in the early 90's on my way back to school and stopped at a rest stop at dusk to check-in with my parents (this was long before I had a cell phone). The phone booth was at the end of the parking lot away from the restroom building. As I was telling my parents that I was fine and would make it to school shortly, a creepy guy started to walk toward me looking around to make sure that no one else was coming that way. My eyes got quite wide at that point because I wasn't sure what I was going to do, but a truck driver who was just pulling in saw the situation and parked (illegally as his truck wasn't supposed to be in that part of the parking lot) between me and the creepy guy. The creepy guy just turned around and walked back to his car on the other side of the parking lot. I never got to thank the truck driver personally, but I waved a thank you and I'm sure he saw the look of relief on my face. I was too scared to leave the phone booth for a few minutes.

I don't know what would have happened if the truck driver hadn't pulled up, but I know it wouldn't have been good. To this day I am very wary of stopping at rest stops that are relatively empty, even during the day. I much prefer a gas station or fast food restaurant. It is so much safer in my opinion!

I think I will stick to driving during the day.....

 

[Tissa]

We leave at 4am and drive until 4pm then stop for the night and head back out around 6am.

We could never leave at night because my youngest will not sleep in the car, he would just whine until we pulled over and got him in a bed. The other thing is that if something happens like a breakdown it's better to have it happen during the day when things are open.

We do stop at rest stops and have never felt unsafe while there. I travel with my mom and my two boys. We usually only stop at the big security patrolled ones as soon as you cross over a state line. Again never at night.

 

[Dawn68PA]

We leave around 6pm and drive all night. We don't stop at rest areas at night. We stop at major gas stations off the highway (Sheetz and such). Never had a problem. Kids have always slept all night, no problem, as do I. Hubby will sleep most of the day of our trip and he drives most of the night. I will awaken early in the morning (5ish or so) and take over driving so he can get some shut eye until we reach the WDW area. Coming home we drive during the day. Yak, sleep and read on the way home and we take turns driving.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Since my family and I always drive to Cleveland, Tennessee on our 1st day of driving and we also have to factor in the line up for US Customs at the Ambassador Bridge in Detriot, we would leave our house at 2:00 AM.

 

[Sleepy]

I think I will stick to driving during the day.....

You can still drive at night. Just don't stop at a rest stop. Stop only at a 24 hour fast food place or a well lit large gas station. Traveling at night is safe as long as you don't put yourself in a situation where you know creeps are going to be waiting for targets.

 

[dawz1026]

When I drive to Disney, I leave from northern NJ usually about 7:00 am. That way, I hit Washington DC around noonish, and not during rush hour. I would drive to northern Georgia and spend the night, usually ariving at the hotel by 9:30-10:00 pm. Next day, I leave the hotel around 10:00 am, and arrive at Disney around 2:30ish. I do the drive solo, and this schedule works well for me.

Though on my last 2 trips, I been opting to take the Amtrak AutoTrain instead. With hotel, high gas prices, wear on the car, and just the weariness and safety issues of driving 900 miles, the AutoTrain really has become worth the price to me.

is there much traffic in NJ that hour?

 

[Disneyof3]

Were approxiamately 24hrs to disney when we drive straight through, minus the 3 food stops and the 4 potty stops. We always leave around 5-6 pm at night with the kids in there pj's and blankets. We usually stop for MCD on the way somewhere in ohio and then my DH and I take 4hr turns driving through the night. We usually hit north Florida by morning and stop at a Waffle house for breakfast and then usually hit Kissimmee by 12noon. I find this the easiest with the kids because most of the driving is done at night and they are all sleeping. We are flying for the first time this trip and can't wait to be there in 5hrs.

 

[nezy]

I AGREE W/TESSIE. We definately stay over in a hotel at night along the way and make time for the kids to run around-- they have played football or whiffle ball in the parking lot or grassy areas of hotels or stops along the way.

The times we leave varies. The worst traffic spot is the DC are. It is best to go through this area at off times--not between the hours of 3-8pm.

We have also done Auto train. It was a great experience, but very difficutl for any adults on the trip to sleep--we went coach. If I did it again, I would have to get a room which can be pricey w/ a family of 5. So for now as long as DH does not mind driving we drive!
I will add that to me it is worth staying in cheaper hotel outside of Orlando the night before you check in, rather than to check into my more expensive hotel at Disney if we are getting in late at night. For example we have stayed outside of jacksonville--could have made it all the way to WDW, but I didn't want to pay for a full day at a hotel and check in at 11:00 pm. So we schedule our drive time/check -in accordingly.



Safe driving everyone.