For those driving to WDW, how many hours does it take for everyone?

Disneykim

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Feb 17, 2005
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Were leaving in 5 weeks and I'm so excited! :Pinkbounc The only downside is driving :moped: since it takes us (from Michigan), with a few pit stops and a couple of stops to eat, about 22 hours :crazy:. This year I'm trying to talk my hubby into taking 2 days to get down there. Was curious how long it takes for others? :woohoo:
 
It takes us about 19-20 hours when we drive from Missouri. We've done the straight-through thing, but I wouldn't advise it. We now do it in a day and a half when we drive. After driving for 22 hours without enough sleep, you're likely to be just too darned pooped after you get there to enjoy your first day.

We've found it's MUCH better to do a stopover and get up early to drive the last few hours into WDW. Then we drop our bags in the room and hit a park!

DisFlan
 
Takes us around 19 hours of actual driving from southern, NJ.
 
We live just south of Indianapolis.

We generally actually leave the house about 10 am and arrive in the Orlando area about 3pm the next day. We drive to about 50 miles south of Atlanta, stay overnight. We attended University of Florida, so, we usually hang out in Gainesville for a while. I think actual driving time might be about 19 hours, though.
 

Usually leave about 3:30am and stop around Perry Ga(about 7:30p). Get to Disney before noon. Sometimes change what time we leave and stop but even with an overnighter we make it in a day and a half. Susan
 
Approx 16 hours for us and we do it over 2 days each way. Dd's are 9 and 11 and with the DVD, gameboys, books and snacks they do fine this way. DH does most of the driving as he gets figety when I drive. I take 2-3 hour turns whenever he needs a break.

Day one leave here by 4am to beat the DC traffic, drive 10+ hours, usually about 11 and stay in Georgia. We usually get to GA in time to have a relaxed dinner let the kids swim in the indoor pool and and rest up a bit with an early evening. Day two leave about 7:30 or so and get to WDW early afternoon. We generally have pool time, maybe mini golf and do a character meal at a resort that day.

Return trip is a bit more even, leave the resort by 7ish and drive 9-10 hours then stay overnight again. The last day is the most difficult - but we get up early and hit the road for the final leg.

TJ
 
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I'm in GA and it's about an 8-10 hour drive depending on how many times we stop, we always drive being not that far away I can't see flying down to Disney.
 
It's about 12.5 hours from us in southern Kentucky, taking I-75 for about 95% of the trip.
 
West Michigan here...it takes us 21 hours. We leave on a Friday afternoon about 2 or 3pm and drive to Scottsburg, IN for the night (6 hours). Up early on Saturday and drive about 11 hours or so to southern Georgia and overnight again. We're on the road by 8am on Sunday, check into our Disney hotel by noon, and we're in the parks by 1pm!
 
It takes us around 20 hours driving time but we break it up. We leave after work on Thursday and drive about 5 hours stop for the night get up Friay morning Drive through the day making several stops to get out and stretch and stop somewhere near the Florida border and Saturday we can get to WDW and have the full day at the parks although you may have to wait to get your room.
We have gone all the way to WDW on Friday but arrived very late and we have felt that why pay for the extra night when we can save alot of $$ to use on pins.


John
 
Poohs Pal said:
Usually leave about 3:30am and stop around Perry Ga(about 7:30p). Get to Disney before noon. Sometimes change what time we leave and stop but even with an overnighter we make it in a day and a half. Susan


Any idea how long from Perry, GA to Orlando? Was thinking (might sound crazy), but leaving here around 3:00 am and driving straight through to Orlando.
 
It usually takes us 7 hours to get there. I feel so lucky after reading everybodys time. My husband drives to the halfway mark(Tallahasse) and I drive the other which I love because my stretch is so exciting!!
 
We are in the southern half of Ohio and it takes about 16 hours if we don't make too many stops.
 
It will be around 23 hours for us when we make the trek this June. Orginially we were going to fly, but after checking rates, times, etc, we decided to drive. We are both educators, I teach, and my husband is in the technology department so we won't need to rush back. Our plan right now is to leave as soon as my last work day is finished. Around noonish and drive until we get to St. Louis. Then we will get up and drive to Valdosta, GA. The next morning get into Orlando. Our girls are actually pretty excited. Of course as others have said a DVD player and movies are priceless on long drives. This way we won't have to bother with a rental or not having transportation when we get to Orlando. Wish us luck.
 
DisneyKim, It takes about 5 hours. If we get up really early we can make better time with less traffic and we are all adults so no kiddie stops. Dsis wants to drive straight through this time but I don't think that will happen. Sitting that many hours is getting tougher as i get older :rotfl2: . This trip we have decided to leave on a Tuesday when dd gets out of work, about 6pm. About 4am the drive start to hit me. Did this once and it wan't pretty and I was younger :woohoo: . Susan
 
Poohs Pal said:
DisneyKim, It takes about 5 hours. If we get up really early we can make better time with less traffic and we are all adults so no kiddie stops. Dsis wants to drive straight through this time but I don't think that will happen. Sitting that many hours is getting tougher as i get older :rotfl2: . This trip we have decided to leave on a Tuesday when dd gets out of work, about 6pm. About 4am the drive start to hit me. Did this once and it wan't pretty and I was younger :woohoo: . Susan
Michigan to Florida in 5 hours - no offense but I wouldn't want to be in the car with you :goodvibes
 





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