For those folks driving!

[louey]

Drove straight through leaving Saturday July 30 at 2:52 a.m. Got to WDW at 7:45 p.m. Had one major backup south of Richmond. A terrible accident pretty much stopped traffic on I95. We sat for about 40 minutes. Traffic was heavy right at the WDW exits off I4. Other than that it was smooth sailing! And now we are in Disney!

Hope your having a great time. We are soooo looking forward to our trip We'll be hitting the road in less than two weeks

 

[Poodie]

Ok, this might be a little off topic but we leave in 6 days & we have one more thing to organize. On our drive home we are planning to stop in Savannah for the night. I still haven't decided where to stay & I thought someone might have a suggestion. I would like to be in the historic area. I was leaning toward the Courtyard by Marriott but then I found a Holiday Inn Express on Bay St that has good reviews on Tripadvisor. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks in advance.

We stop off in Savannah on our way home also.... We have always stayed at the Comfort Suites Savannah North in Port Wentworth. It's really nice... and not too pricey either. It's right off of 95 too... so super easy and convenient!

 

[DJFan88]

We stop off in Savannah on our way home also.... We have always stayed at the Comfort Suites Savannah North in Port Wentworth. It's really nice... and not too pricey either. It's right off of 95 too... so super easy and convenient!

Agree that is a good place to stop. We weren't looking for any historic or anything, just a cheap but decent place to crash with our kids. My motto is that I can always go with a Best Western, so that is what we did, right off the highway. Yes it was noisy, but we were beat and slept. They also gave us a free supper (which was actually breakfast) at the Denny's which is inside the hotel. We get right back on the highway super early (we're the crazies that leave hotels at like 2:30 or 3 am to avoid traffic in FLA. ) Needless to say, checked in at CSR by like 8:30 am or something.
Next time, maybe we'll try the Comfort Suites you're suggesting.

 

[2002Disneybride]

We are driving from Ocean County NJ next Wednesday. It will be myself and DH, our three boys (7,4,1) and our 16 week old puppy Matilda who is staying at Best Friends WDW.
So...I have read through this thread, the 2000 +driving thread and I am so on the fence about where to stop-because there is no driving straight with my crew. I think I find the ideal place, and then I go to read reviews and there are some awful reviews! I know that you can have a different experience than someone else, but I am wondering about my choices now!

We figure on driving about 10 1/2 the first day (give or take) I would like to get to either Santee or Walterboro because I am not sure we can get to Brunswick Ga which seems to be another popular stop.
I am narrowing it down ( I THINK!) to Comfort Suites-Port Wentworth, Sleep in Walterboro...I have read so many reviews, so many websites-my head is spinning!

If anyone has a go-to chain hotel or a recommendation-I would really love it.

 

[disneyfan55]

We live in Central NJ and have stayed at the days Inn in Piort wentworth GA quite a few times both driving to WDW and coming home

 

[2002Disneybride]

We live in Central NJ and have stayed at the days Inn in Piort wentworth GA quite a few times both driving to WDW and coming home

I booked Sleep Inn in Walterboro... the days inn in port wentworth looks nice but they don't allow doggies! Thanks for the reply though, disneyfan55

 

[Jrabbit910]

Looking to drive for the first time from NY w/ kids 4,2,1... has anyone drove w/ kids around this age? If so what are your suggestions for leaving time & stopping?

And one more question for anyone... how much have u saved in driving? Was it a big difference then flying?
TYSM!

 

[PrincessMom4]

Looking to drive for the first time from NY w/ kids 4,2,1... has anyone drove w/ kids around this age? If so what are your suggestions for leaving time & stopping?

And one more question for anyone... how much have u saved in driving? Was it a big difference then flying?
TYSM!

I have driven with 4 kids at that time were (8,4, 2 and 9months) oh and my oldest is autistic. We love the comfort of driving because we ahve control of our journey. We want to stop (or need to) we can and our not restricted. We can pretty much take what we want with us. For us flying out of Syracuse we are looking at 300 per person (x number of people over 2) Driving our van it cost us $500 round trip. We don't have a weight restrictions (to a point-without weighing down my van...lol). Kids have their movies to watch or toys to play with. I always have lots of good snacks.

 

[nono]

My children are 7 & 4, and they love riding in the van "all day."

We generally max out at about 12 waking hours, so either we stop at a hotel or we drive overnight hours, so their maximum awake time isn't greater than 12 hours.

In the early hours of being awake, my kids are content to just sit and zone to music. I don't push entertainment at that point. I give them drinks and breakfast, then plan for a rest stop. After using the facilities, we do about 10 min worth of races at the rest areas. This usually means after getting back in the car, almost 1/2 hour of "recap" of the race from my kids, giggling and laughing, so again, I don't push any entertainment. As their conversation starts to wane, I suggest an audiobook. I try to have one that's about 1 - 1 1/2 hrs in length.

After that, we get out the crayons and color, do mazes, etc. I give them another drink. We redo the rest-stop scenario. Another discussion ensues about the glory that was had (or not) in the races.

I bring along 1 beautifully illustrated book, and bring it out now. I read the story and we ooh and ahhh over the illustrations, passing the book around. After we read the book, I hand over the pipe cleaners and the kids go nuts sculpting with them.

We have a late lunch. Rest stop w/races again. I declare nap time. They will knock out for about 30-45 min. After their nap, the DVDs are put on. And they can veg for the rest of the trip.

For us at this point, it isn't about cost. We actually have fun doing the drive.

 

[Jrabbit910]

.

Thanks so much. My oldest is on the spectrum too! This would be our very first LONG distance trip we take and I do not have a clue if its a good idea or a bad idea! My DH is all about the road trip but he makes me do all the driving around here because he claims he does it too much at work! so guess whos gonna be driving there most of the trip! LOL I am just nervous about the kids part & if we were to stop I wouldnt even know where is a good place to stop! Any suggestions with that?!?!? Or do I try and drive straight thru?

My children are 7 & 4, and they love riding in the van "all day."
Thanks so much for responding!
So you do a straight run? It sounds like a good time that your having! Im just gonna drive w/ u guys!!! LOL ... I am so up in the air about driving vs flying. My DH is all about road trips but hes never done it w/ kids before! So I dont know how he will handle the road trip either!

 

[PrincessMom4]

Jrabbit910, when are you leaving?? You can join us. We've done this almost a dozen times driving with kids so we know the stops. I would recommended stopping in Virginia or North Carolina for the night. Then its another 10hrs straight drive to Orlando. If you can stop again I would, not sure of your check-in dates.

 

[tripletots]

have dropped to 3.23 at our local Sheetz and Costco is 3.20. We are in Midlothian which is a suburb of Richmond. We aren't near I-95. Does anyone know how the prices are from Virginia to Florida? Especially the Hess in Disney? Just trying to budget. We leave on the 19th and when I first starting planning this trip it was going to be well over $400 (Toyota Sequoia). I just hope it's come down a lot.

8/14/11 Gas prices have dropped to $3.19. However we just came back from the Va. Beach area and prices there were around $3.47-3.57.

 

[njmom47]

We are driving from Ocean County NJ next Wednesday. It will be myself and DH, our three boys (7,4,1) and our 16 week old puppy Matilda who is staying at Best Friends WDW.
So...I have read through this thread, the 2000 +driving thread and I am so on the fence about where to stop-because there is no driving straight with my crew. I think I find the ideal place, and then I go to read reviews and there are some awful reviews! I know that you can have a different experience than someone else, but I am wondering about my choices now!

We figure on driving about 10 1/2 the first day (give or take) I would like to get to either Santee or Walterboro because I am not sure we can get to Brunswick Ga which seems to be another popular stop.
I am narrowing it down ( I THINK!) to Comfort Suites-Port Wentworth, Sleep in Walterboro...I have read so many reviews, so many websites-my head is spinning!

If anyone has a go-to chain hotel or a recommendation-I would really love it.

My mom has driven back and forth to and from Fl (west coast)/Ocean county with 27 lb Smokey the cat and said she has found pet-friendly hotels in both Santee and Walterboro. If you do a Google search for "pet friendly hotels in XXX, SC" you should be able to find them.

 

[louey]

We just got back on Sunday, Aug 21st. We left to go on the trip at 3:00 a.m. and it works out great because I got some sleep and felt pretty good. I had a reservation at a Hyatt in Jacksonville, but I felt fine so we drove all the way checked into a Embassy Suites right on I-4 about 10 minutes from the Contemporary!!! I do all the driving which I don't mind since I am not a good passenger. We always rent a Toyota Sienna and the cost of gas round trip was $300.36 which I didn't think was too bad. We left the van parked at resort 90% of time only used it a couple of times. The drive home I am sorry is always soooooo long and even though I don't like to fly I may have to for the next trip. We had a great time and it was plenty HOT!!!!!

 

[Jrabbit910]

We just got back on Sunday, Aug 21st. We left to go on the trip at 3:00 a.m. and it works out great because I got some sleep and felt pretty good. I had a reservation at a Hyatt in Jacksonville, but I felt fine so we drove all the way checked into a Embassy Suites right on I-4 about 10 minutes from the Contemporary!!! I do all the driving which I don't mind since I am not a good passenger. We always rent a Toyota Sienna and the cost of gas round trip was $300.36 which I didn't think was too bad. We left the van parked at resort 90% of time only used it a couple of times. The drive home I am sorry is always soooooo long and even though I don't like to fly I may have to for the next trip. We had a great time and it was plenty HOT!!!!!

Hey Louey,
How long was the drive for you all together? Thats the time I was looking to leave from NY...

 

[louey]

Hey Louey,
How long was the drive for you all together? Thats the time I was looking to leave from NY...

Well we got a little side tracked in St. Augustine thinking we might want to stay the night there but decided to go on to Orlando. I think we arrived at the Embassy Suites around 6:00 so I guess around 15 hours. Coming home though more like 17ish ugh traffic near DC , GPS lady took us 295 to Rt 301 then a rain storm... too many lights that way Safe travels

 

[byejou]

We are camping at Fort Wilderness for the 1st time next May. We live just outside Philly. The kids have Ask testing that week so we plan to leave ASAP on Friday afternoon. I thought of taking them out of school at 2 and hitting the road. I plan a 12 hr drive, stopping to sleep and back on road to hit fort by noon. Is it doable? Any travel helps would be great. And I know this plan hits VA/DC at rush hr but not sure if I can do a straight through drive.

 

[Echo queen]

I just love reading this thread, we will be driving from Texas to Illinios (1100 one way)for the week of Christmas. I may be the only driver on the way up if my dh can't get off work, he will fly up a few days later. My boys are 16 and 13 and I am so looking forward to it. There are great driving tips here. Thanks

 

[SFRN97]

(We do stop for breakfast and to stretch/bathroom anytime we please, also about 1/2 hr. nap at a rest stop in there.).

We are making our first trip this April. We are planning on going straight but was wondering are there any safe rest stops where we could take a 1/2 hr nap if need be?

 

[Octoberbride03]

We are driving from VA down to the port in 3 weeks. Have reservations made in Brunswick, GA for on the way down.

On the way back we have left it pretty open as to whether we'll take 2 days to drive home or 3. BUT we haven't decide on whether we'll take 85 all the way back or get off of there at some point and finish via US17(our house is a short drive form this) I also haven't made hotel reservations anywhere for the return trip.

So I need opinions on which route and whether I should try and make reservations now, OR should we just hit a welcome center/rest stop and let them make reservations for us while we're on the road?

Thanks very much

BTW: we have driven down before and back. Last time we made a spur of the moment decision to use 17 most of the way up. It wasn't bad but it was a lot harder finding hotels since we did no research on the route. Our original plan had been to stick with 95 all the way up. For what that is worth