For those folks driving!

[disneylovin24]

Hi everyone

Driver here! Going to be on our way to WDW from long island in 30 days! This will be my 10 trip driving, and the first time we don't drive straight through in 2 years. I'm looking forward to not being so tired when we get to disney. It's nice to go straight through and get there faster, but it's such a tiring trip.

 

[3girls4me05]

So I am driving down for the first time from just north of Boston. My parents, who have driven to FL before have suggested this route. Opinions?
Mass Pike to..
84 to the NY/CT border, then 684 (goes around NY) White Plains to 287 which goes to the Garden St. Parkway to the Jersey Turnpike to 95. Once in Florida I have my own route planned to avoid Daytona since it will be race weekend. But what do you think of this to get there.
I told them the route others have posted on here (84 to 81 to 77 to 26 to 95 to 4) but they said that takes me 150 miles out of the way. I am leaving at 4am on a Friday if that makes a difference.

 

[DoctorK]

We just decided to save our Southwest Rapid Rewards tickets for August and drive next month from Rochester, Ny. It'll get us an extra day and a half, plus we'll have the car while we're down there.

First time driving down there since 1996, and the first time with DD6. It's a surprise trip, we're picking her up at school on the Friday before President's Day and off we go! I hope it's fun!

 

[DecaturDad]

Hello driving experts,

We are thinking of driving our next trip from Nashville to Orlando. I know the typical route via looking over thsi site, but my question is this:

We are driving the monday and tuesday after Easter... what is your thought about traffic? Should it be thinned out by then?

Atlanta... I've read some stories about long delays.... is there an alternative route you could suggest.

Things to know about us: We truly hate driving and it takes us longer than others since we have to stop so often to just wake up and stay sane. We will be looking for good stopping point on the way down (about 8 hours) and then another 8 hour stopping point on the way back.

I appreciate your help as I must now get myself mentally ready for that drive.

We will be driving down from Atlanta on the same Monday. (Maybe Sunday night. Not sure yet.) Plan on about 7 hours from Atlanta. Since you will be coming straight down 75, you should be OK as long as you don't hit rush hour. (between 7:00 and 9:30 AM, 4:00 and 7:00 PM). Stay in the left car pool lane the whole way. Not sure when you are returning, but getting through Atlanta on a Friday afternoon is a nightmare.

 

[BlueFairy]

We will be driving down from Atlanta on the same Monday. (Maybe Sunday night. Not sure yet.) Plan on about 7 hours from Atlanta. Since you will be coming straight down 75, you should be OK as long as you don't hit rush hour. (between 7:00 and 9:30 AM, 4:00 and 7:00 PM). Stay in the left car pool lane the whole way. Not sure when you are returning, but getting through Atlanta on a Friday afternoon is a nightmare.

You posted on another thread of mine, about doing a park day on checkout. Since you know ATL traffic, here is my next question. We checkout on a Friday. We will take 75 to 285 to I-20 toward Birmingham. Any suggestions for navigating the Friday evening traffic there? Should we delay our trip and hit Atlanta after 7pm? That would fit nicely with doing some park touring until after lunch, too.

On our checkin day, we will pass through Atlanta on the reverse route on a Sunday morning, probably between 7 and 9am. Any problems there?

 

[lilmis1107]

Dear expert drivers,
does any of you know if there is a map of all the disney world streets? We drove last year for the first time and we liked driving from park to park. The only thing was, we got turned around a couple of times because they all look so much alike. I'm a visual person, and need to look at a map instead of writen directions. Does anyone know if such a thing exists?

 

[05MM08MM]

Dear expert drivers,
does any of you know if there is a map of all the disney world streets? We drove last year for the first time and we liked driving from park to park. The only thing was, we got turned around a couple of times because they all look so much alike. I'm a visual person, and need to look at a map instead of writen directions. Does anyone know if such a thing exists?

Can't u just use Google Map or Mapquest for that?

 

[disneylovin24]

Dear expert drivers,
does any of you know if there is a map of all the disney world streets? We drove last year for the first time and we liked driving from park to park. The only thing was, we got turned around a couple of times because they all look so much alike. I'm a visual person, and need to look at a map instead of writen directions. Does anyone know if such a thing exists?

Try allears.net or just google map of WDW property, Im sure you can fine one on the internet

 

[smidgy]

most of the resort maps you get when you check in have the disney world map on the back. but you can just ask for it.

It really is necessary. those purple signs aren't so easy to read. also, it's important to know if the coming up intersection is a light (such as the intersection of Buena Vista Drive and Bonnett Creek Drive) OR a ramp access (such as Osceloa Drive and Buena Vista Drive)..
don't worry, once you have the map, the lay of the land is pretty easy to figure out. like you, I need the map in front of me.
we almost always drive no to the water parks (both are off of Buena Vista Drive). and we drive, inthe morning, to Animal Kingdom park and Hollywood Studios. (after our resort break, we take the bus to those parks, so we don't have to drive at night).. we also like driving to downtown disney, it's so easy. (unless we will be enjoying adult beverages, then we take the bus)
in summation, ask at check in for a map of the WDW roads. they have it.

 

[DecaturDad]

You posted on another thread of mine, about doing a park day on checkout. Since you know ATL traffic, here is my next question. We checkout on a Friday. We will take 75 to 285 to I-20 toward Birmingham. Any suggestions for navigating the Friday evening traffic there? Should we delay our trip and hit Atlanta after 7pm? That would fit nicely with doing some park touring until after lunch, too.

On our checkin day, we will pass through Atlanta on the reverse route on a Sunday morning, probably between 7 and 9am. Any problems there?

I don't ussually hit that part od town, but you should be OK both ways. By 7:00 PM, you will just catch the end of the traffic. on 285 and 20. 8:00 would be better. On Sunday there should be very little traffic. Atlanta really following a work schedule. Heavy between 6:00 and 9:00 AM and 4:00 and 7:00 PM. Outside of that, it could be heavy, but it will move at 65 plus.

 

[BlueFairy]

Thanks. We are familiar with the route, so heavy is fine, but slow is not. We'll be sure to avoid Fri. rush hour.

 

[drewc]

Hi,

We'll be driving down from NY, and will be heading along I-95 late morning when we approach Daytona on Friday 2/12. Will there be much additional traffic at this time, and if so, what is the best bypass to Orlando?

Thanks!

 

[disneylovin24]

Hi,

We'll be driving down from NY, and will be heading along I-95 late morning when we approach Daytona on Friday 2/12. Will there be much additional traffic at this time, and if so, what is the best bypass to Orlando?

Thanks!

On Friday traffic shouldn't be a problem

 

[mdinme]

Driving from Colorado

We are planning on leaving around 4am and driving to Georgia the first day. My husband booked a hotel, can't remember what city it is in already. We figure we will drive until around 10ish the first night and wake up and leave by 8am the next day to finish our trip. Any adivce on the drive and breaking it up differently?

We're driving from Maine. I suspect your trip is longer, we are looking at 1450 miles or so and have debated how to do it. Trouble for us is getting thru Boston, NY, DC rush hours. The other issue and one I dont see much talk of is the KIDS. For us with a 9 and 12 year old it does no good to stop and get a hotel any other time but late evening. We can't expect the kids to be off schedule, they'll be nuts and if we are in a coma from staying up all night...

We figure we can drive 250 miles in four hours. The first night (thursday evening 5pm departure) the goal is Atlantic City about 325 miles. The hope is to muster up 12 hours of driving day two (800 miles), which will leave us with about 300 for Saturday...

The thing we felt we had to factor in was "normal sleep times for all of us." We are all night owls, even the kids especially during Vacations, so the schedule we figured out will keep sleep reasonable."

Feel free to tell us we're idiots!

 

[Looking4themouse]

My DH and I are planning to drive down for our trip in August, just the two of us, we are from the NH area. Does anyone know if it is realistic to think we can get to SC on the first day? We are planning on leaving early morning on the 16th somewhere along the lines of midnight or just after, and plan on driving through the day, until maybe check in time, so around 2-3pm. My DH has made this drive several times, but not in the past 10 years, and I have only done it once, but it was a disaster and took 4 days instead of two lol.

 

[Luvamouse]

Driving from Colorado



We're driving from Maine. I suspect your trip is longer, we are looking at 1450 miles or so and have debated how to do it. Trouble for us is getting thru Boston, NY, DC rush hours. The other issue and one I dont see much talk of is the KIDS. For us with a 9 and 12 year old it does no good to stop and get a hotel any other time but late evening. We can't expect the kids to be off schedule, they'll be nuts and if we are in a coma from staying up all night...

We figure we can drive 250 miles in four hours. The first night (thursday evening 5pm departure) the goal is Atlantic City about 325 miles. The hope is to muster up 12 hours of driving day two (800 miles), which will leave us with about 300 for Saturday...

The thing we felt we had to factor in was "normal sleep times for all of us." We are all night owls, even the kids especially during Vacations, so the schedule we figured out will keep sleep reasonable."

Feel free to tell us we're idiots!

I will just say that leaving from RI, we avoid NYC by taking 95S to Rte 9 in CT, in Middletown take 66-691-84 (kind of just all merges along) to 81S in PA right down to S. Virginia. Then take 77S into SC and then 26 to 95. We never hit traffic, avoid cities and tolls and it is much nicer. For us it is almost exactly 100 miles longer, BUT-- the times saved avoiding traffic makes it a wash or even faster than 95. Use GPS if you have it to call ahead to hotels on your route and at least you know you have a room when you arrive From Maine at that time of day--I'd take 495S rather than hit Boston and by all means take 295 around Providence due to a complete re-construction of the highway through the city right now (and for the next couple of years...)

Either way, have a great trip-- my kids really love the drive and are now 9 and 15 with a good 30K in trip miles under their butts. Let alone miles driven NOT on vacation BTW-- a DVD player makes it MUCH easier. iPods are also a huge help. Small talk and travel games don't make 1400 miles well enough

 

[Luvamouse]

My DH and I are planning to drive down for our trip in August, just the two of us, we are from the NH area. Does anyone know if it is realistic to think we can get to SC on the first day? We are planning on leaving early morning on the 16th somewhere along the lines of midnight or just after, and plan on driving through the day, until maybe check in time, so around 2-3pm. My DH has made this drive several times, but not in the past 10 years, and I have only done it once, but it was a disaster and took 4 days instead of two lol.

That is possible of course, but a long drive. I think it is a good 14-15 hours for you with no traffic. Of course that depends where in NH to where in SC. You have the possibility of hitting a lot of traffic in the cities on 95. It's kind of a crap shoot-- different people will have different stories about delays or none. We take Rte 81 as it is much clearer. From S. RI to Mooresville, NC takes us about 13 hours with not too many stops. It is about 820 miles. We then shoot the next 500 or so to WDW the next day with much less stress. I think it can be done in that time frame, but it really depends on traffic and of course now-- snow. Everywhere you go

 

[casey49781]

who has drove from michigan any tips for me? thanks i live in the upper pennisula

 

[Looking4themouse]

Thanks for the response Luvamouse, we are from the southern end of NH so I figured about the 14 hours, but wasn't positive. I don't want to go crazy or anything, but would like to get the major part of the driving over wih over night, so as to avoid traffic. I figured we can get through the Boston and NYC area before the world has woken up, DC is the only thing that scares me, it seems like every time we drive through there we get stuck in traffic, forever.... I've thought several times about the alternate route, now I just have to get the DH on board. He of course prefers the way he's always gone straight down 95, I think he's afraid I'll get him lost which I would never do, I pay very close attention to all the signs on the highway.

To the person driving from Maine, I live in NH and travel to NYC-NJ area frequently to visit family, I don't know what part of Maine you are from, but it takes me about 3-4 hours for me to get to the NYC area depending on traffic. It would probably take me 6-7 hours from here to get to Atlantic City.

 

[katjac2]

Looking for car rental coupon codes. Would like to rent a van to take the kiddies to Disney. Current rate in Buffalo ~ $1000/2 wks, sure could use a discount. Thanks