For those folks driving!

[DisneyBound408]

Can anyone suggest a place to stay coming back from Orlando to Long Island next month? We're taking autotrain down and driving back (1st trip!) Where will we be at about the 12 hour mark? What is a good time to leave Orlando and head north?

Thanks!

 

[pilferk]

Can anyone suggest a place to stay coming back from Orlando to Long Island next month? We're taking autotrain down and driving back (1st trip!) Where will we be at about the 12 hour mark? What is a good time to leave Orlando and head north?

Thanks!

I'm assuming you mean on the drive back, not the drive from Long Island to the autotrain.

North Carolina...either exit 121 or 173...would be my suggestion.

I've said it elsewhere in this thread, but it bears repeating: AVOID exit 145. Not nice, IMHO.

That will get you around 10 to 11 hours into the drive....maybe a little more or less depending on your stopping pattern.

 

[kiingor]

We are planning a trip to WDW in August, and will be driving from the Mid Hudson Valley area of New York. I personally have never driven any farther South than the middle of New Jersey, so this will be a new experience for me. We were planning on crossing the Hudson at the Bear Mountain bridge, then taking the Palisades Parkway to 87, Garden State Parkway, NJ Turnpike, to 95. Our plan is to leave here at about 4:00 am on a Monday. I figured that way, we will make it past the NYC / NJ area before the morning commute gets into full swing.

We plan on spending the night in Florence SC, which I figured we would reach around 6:30 - 7:00, then starting out at about 6:00 the next morning and arriving in Orlando at about 4:00. Does anyone see any major flaws in this plan? Have I missed something important?

I just came back from my drive last week from NJ. I left saturday morning 8:30am - got to daytona beach at midnight - stayed at days inn there. Checked out next morning and went right to the beach for a bit. left daytona beach at noon and head to disney ( 1hr drive) and got there at 1pm. I was gonna go start late sat. night and go straight and arrive at disney sunday noon or evening.. but decided to get a bid of a rest and beach so i can have a fresh start on sunday for disney.

 

[DisneyBound408]

I'm assuming you mean on the drive back, not the drive from Long Island to the autotrain.

North Carolina...either exit 121 or 173...would be my suggestion.

I've said it elsewhere in this thread, but it bears repeating: AVOID exit 145. Not nice, IMHO.

That will get you around 10 to 11 hours into the drive....maybe a little more or less depending on your stopping pattern.

Thanks for your quick response! Yes, I was referring to driving back. Do you know how much further VA is from exit 173? We're really trying to get as many hours in on Day 1 coming back.

Thanks again!

 

[katybugsmom]

Tomh,
Just went by there today-both kids had to go to the pediatrician!!
I have to go back by Hwy.52 Wednesday if you would like me to check out the hotel. It's rather old and I don't know what the rooms would be like. There is a hotel next to Ruby Tuesday's that's much newer and looks to be in better shape. I can check the name of that hotel if you like. Just let me know. Have a great day!

 

[pilferk]

Thanks for your quick response! Yes, I was referring to driving back. Do you know how much further VA is from exit 173? We're really trying to get as many hours in on Day 1 coming back.

Thanks again!

Coming North from Orlando, you're about 7 to 8 miles from the VA border....not very far at all.

 

[Tomh]

Tomh,
There is a hotel next to Ruby Tuesday's that's much newer and looks to be in better shape. I can check the name of that hotel if you like. Just let me know. Have a great day!

Yes, do get the name for me. I'm not sure if I'll change the reservations or not, but it is at least worth looking into. Really, we aren't planning on spending any time there, just a place to flop for the night. We'll have a long day prior to that, driving from 4:00 am until around 6:30 or 7:00 pm, and intend to be back on the road 6:00 the next morning.

The hotel we stay at in Orlando is a bit more important, as I want the kids to be able to get some time in the pool, and we need to really get a good night's sleep there to be ready for the park the next morning.

I hope the kids are better soon! I've got one sick right now too. When the kids aren't feeling well, no one feels well!

 

[DisneyBound408]

Coming North from Orlando, you're about 7 to 8 miles from the VA border....not very far at all.

Thanks! I was checking a map and I'm thinking we'll try to get to Chester, VA. It seems there are alot of hotels off of exit 61.

 

[katybugsmom]

Tomh,
I'll get the name of the hotel for you. I'll post it here for you late Wednesday afternoon or early evening. Have a great night!

 

[Tomh]

Thanks katybugsmom

 

[mickeyluv]

We'll be driving down to Cape Canaveral on July 2nd from Eastern NC (Greenville, NC). We'll be taking I-95 most of the way. Does anyone know the halfway point (area)? I'm thinking maybe Savannah Georgia area. What is the best website to use for me to find a good hotel just off of I-95?

 

[pilferk]

Thanks! I was checking a map and I'm thinking we'll try to get to Chester, VA. It seems there are alot of hotels off of exit 61.

You'll find a pretty good exit guide right here on the Dis main site:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/Driving_to_Florida.htm

We come to and from CT...and leave around 2 PM (down and back). For us, those NC exits are the perfect stops...not too long, not to short...but your mileage, literally, may vary. We've got young kids, so that effects us some.

 

[pbharris4]

We'll be driving down to Cape Canaveral on July 2nd from Eastern NC (Greenville, NC). We'll be taking I-95 most of the way. Does anyone know the halfway point (area)? I'm thinking maybe Savannah Georgia area. What is the best website to use for me to find a good hotel just off of I-95?

Brunswick, GA which is an hour south of Savannah is a nice quiet area and not as touristy. We used to stop at Savannah all the time and I love it, but just too crowded. We aim to stop at Brunswick now and there's a newer Holiday Inn and Country Inn & Suites there right off I-95. Both in a safe area. We stay at the Holiday Inn..I love the beds at that one. I mostly use www.TripAdvisor.com for opinions and sometimes book through there or the actual hotel website wherever the better deal is.

 

[katybugsmom]

Tomh,
Sorry I couldn't respond until now. I went by the Econo Lodge this evening and I don't know if I would stay there or not. It's a much older motel behind a Waffle House-very dark and dreary looking. Not much lighting at all. If I had seen it for the first time tonight and I needed a place to stay I would look somewhere else. The hotel beside Ruby Tuesday's is Best Western. Looks clean, neat with lots of lighting at night. There's also a Super 8 right next to the Cracker Barrel too. I would look up both of those on www.tripadvisor.com and see what you come up with. Good luck!!!!

 

[katybugsmom]

PBHarris,
I have stayed many times in Brunswick as a single person on my way to and from Orlando-I worked there for a time right after college. I never had a moments trouble there. Very nice and quiet. Easy on and off I-95. Hope you guys have a great trip!!!

 

[HolidayRoad]

I have been driving to WDW pretty regularly from Massachusetts, about every year. I am sick of the traffic along the way, the basic AAA trip tick way. I have read about alternative ways that seem pretty cool, on this thread, going 84 to 81 then 64 over to 95 again thereby avoiding NJ and some other big cities, sounds pretty good to me. My question is for those that have driven both ways, the basic AAA route and this alternative route. What are the pluses and minuses of each? How much longer does the alternative route take? I'm heading out three weeks from tomorrow and I'm just trying to make the best decision possible. Thanks so much for your help and guidance.

 

[Tomh]

Thanks katybugsmom, I will look into those two hotels.

 

[cruiz2007]

Does anyone know if ez-pass works in other States out of the Tri-State area?

Driving from NJ to Disney in April.

Thanks
Cathie

 

[missy2217]

EZ Pass is good in most states travelling south on 95. NO GOOD in Florida though on toll roads!

 

[MinMouse]

Does anyone know if ez-pass works in other States out of the Tri-State area?

Driving from NJ to Disney in April.

Thanks
Cathie

There are no tolls past MD on I-95 We were totally floored about that on our first trip down. We were prepared with change on our first trip and didn't need it at all. We take I-95 to I-4 (also not a toll road). Florida does not accept EZ Pass on the Beachline (formerly the Bee Line) or the Florida Turnpike.