For thoose of you who drive to WDW....?

[DisOrBust]

WE will be driving for the first time from WI this January. I would like to drive straight thru on the way down ( I use to work nights)but I am not sure if we will make it. WE have a huge conversion van so I was thinking I could pull into a "rest stop" and nap an hour or so if I get too sleepy. Has anyone done this? What kind of rest stop was it? My real concern is if it's safe??

 

[We4mickey]

Hello fellow Wisconsinite.

We did this just last year. We also have a conversion van. We traveled with a large group and slept in rest areas when we were tired. I was a little skeptical about it, but my parents and others in our group have done it many times pulling their trailers. I can't tell you off hand where the waysides were that we stayed at, but we tried to stay in a well lit area. There are some that have an area just designated for vehicles or campers so the trucks and there engines don't keep you up. We also saw some waysides that had security as well.

 

[campingcorgi]

On the way to WDW we always stop at the Flying J truck stops to overnight. They will have lots of RVers pull in, and usually even have a separate RV parking lot. Your conversion van will fit right in. Flying J's are open 24 hours, and well-lit and secure-feeling. On our last trip my 70-year-old mother went with us, and we even converted her! She said she felt as safe as at a motel. I personally don't like sleeping at rest stops, there was family murdered at a rest stop in Tennessee a few years ago that kind of got our attention.

Have a great trip!

Barbara
214 days till I go 'home' to FW

 

[Cathy baby RN]

We drive down every year from Northern Illinois to WDW and always stop in a rest stop to sleep for a few hours.........and usually in Tennnesse! Now Barbara(campingcorgi) has got me scared! Which reststop in Tennesse did this murder happen? Was the family sleeping????
Another thing to worry about,
Cathy

 

[robinb]

How many adults are driving? I drove from Madison, WI a couple years ago (and will do so again in December) and it is a long drive. In the winter. 1300 miles each way, or about 21 hours. Unless you have more than 2 adults driving, you may run into trouble. Plus, once you get to WDW you will be exhasted!

We're planning to stop in Atlanta on the way down and Nashville on the way back.

 

[DisOrBust]

Thanks to all your replys!! I am figuring it will take us 21 to 24 hrs with two adults driving. We are planning on leaving at 430pm and driving until its to much. Thanks for the tip on "flying J", do they charge you for "sleeping over"? I just don't want to drag 2 sleeping DDs out to a motel room for a few hours. I had also "heard" about that family in Tenn., is it true or Urban legend?

Thoose of you from WI, what route did you take? Did you avoid Atlanta?

I really hope its not a mistake to drive. We flew last year direct and it was still a hassle.

 

[campingcorgi]

No, the Flying J doesn't charge for staying over. We just gas up and find a good spot.

Unfortunately, the murdered family is not an urban legend. The family of four was abducted from an I-81 rest stop in upper east Tennessee and murdered at a remote location. The mother, father, and 7 year old (girl I believe) were killed and a 2 year old boy survived but was paralyzed. The little boy's grandparents had a custody battle and he went to live in the Netherlands. The murders happened in April of 1997. The above information is from a quick google search I did this morning, so hopefully it's 100% accurate.

Compared to many states, Tennessee doesn't seem to have as many rest stops or as much security--to me, anyway.

Barbara
212 days till I go home to FW

 

[spiceycat]

florida also have someone murdered in one of their rest stops a few years ago - since he was from out of the country (maybe GB) it make the news. Florida now has security at its rest stop so I feel save - although I only take a little 20 min (or less) nap.

alabama has always had security in their rest stops (remember these rest stops came about when we had a handicapped governor - so they are pretty good)

 

[TinkerbellRules]

When we pulled our travel trailer, we have stayed in two different 24 hr Walmarts. They allow RV's to park overnight. Not sure about conversion vans though. Be careful of the rest areas. Besides the safety issue, a lot of times there isn't any room because the semi's have the spots, although they usually have separate areas (trailers park with semis, so that never worked for us). Also, the semi's are LOUD! I think it would be better to stop overnight somewhere, especially with kids. We drive 16.5 hrs straight and it's rough (w/o trailer, w/trailer much longer). Can't imagine 21 - 24! We have a conversation van as well. My Dh's bottom got tired last time

We also drive around Atlanta from Indiana.

Just my opinion...

 

[Freak4Disney]

It sounds pretty unsafe for one person trying to drive that many miles at one time. It just would'nt be enough rest to sleep for an hour and you could be driving sleepy, which could be as dangerous as mass murderers at state rest stops. I like the idea about the Flying J Truckstop. I am driving from south Mississippi to Disney in January and I'm stopping in Ocala for the night. It's only about 700 miles the whole way but I'm cheap when it comes to missing out on a full PAID day at the World. Anyway, ya'll just have a safe trip and a wonderful vacation.

 

[We4mickey]

DisOrBust,

We have driven through Chicago and down through Rockford. If we leave early 4:00am we may go through Chicago, any other time (more often than not) we take the Rockford route. It is a much more relaxing ride. We are usually pulling our trailer and not having to fight the traffic and tolls is a big plus. As far as Atlanta goes, if it is early in the morning or late at night we drive straight through and don't take the bypass. My dad couldn't believe we were doing it the first time he was with us, but it is just fine at those times.