For those of you who drive to WDW

Purrrrfecta

A little crazy cat named Lorelei
Joined
Apr 1, 2001
Messages
1,363
I am trying to get a bit of information so I can decide on what to do.

When you drive down to Disney do you rent a car, or do you have your own?

How many miles do you have on it if you do drive your own?

Do you get your car checked out before you go?

I am considering driving down this year, but I want to make sure I am making a wide move by driving my own car down. It would be about 1000 miles for me to do so.

Thanks, :goodvibes

Connie
 
We have driven twice - about sixteen hours.

We get a couple check up (oil change, air filter etc..)

It wasn't a bad drive but I still prefer to fly.
 
My DH makes the drive from NJ to our home in Florida near WDW every month. He has a 2005 Prius with 16,000 miles on it. Prior, we made the r/t several times in a 2001 Saturn L series that had 80,000 miles on it on teh final trip.

For the Saturn, the first time we drove it down we had new tires put on, the ones on it were still legal, but not by too much, and with the summer heat we decided it was going to have to be done soon enough, so we might as well be safe than sorry. Of course it had always gotten maintenance as suggested by Saturn, and was a very reliable car.

The Prius he just does the regular oil changes and whatever maintenance Toyota suggests.

Anne
 
We have made the drive several times from Cincinnati. Just hop on 75 South and keep going to the Florida Turnpike. Be sure to have a big handful of quarters for the turnpike. :sunny:

We have an Odyssey with 110,000 miles on it. The high mileage would not deter us from taking the vehicle to Orlando again. We are careful to get regular service on the it and make sure the tires have adequate tread. I usually try to have the service done the week before the trip. I let the lady at Honda service know that we will be driving the van to Orlando and back and ask that they make sure it is ready for such a trip.


There is a great barbeque place in Macon, GA (I475 exit 3, follow the signs) where we like to stop for dinner. We also like to stay at the Holiday Inn in Tifton, GA (I75 exit 62).
 

I have driven it many times. From Baltimore it's exactly 900 miles, but the route is very simple - I-95 to Tampa, then I-4 to WDW. Couldn't be easier! We have never rented; we always use the biggest vehicle we have, which is usually a Chevy Astro (very comfy). Once we used a Honda Passport, which was okay but not as comfy as the Astros.

Change your oil before you leave, even if you are not near the regular time, and have all your fluids topped off and your A/C refrigerant checked. It's also a good idea to put fresh refills onto your windshield wipers, check tire pressure (DON'T FORGET THE SPARE!), and make sure you have an emergency road kit with flares, jack, tire iron, etc. A little preventative maintenance can stop potential probles before they even happen!

Get the car's interior cleaned just before the trip, it makes it more comfy than riding down in a dirty car. Go easy on scented cleaners and air fresheners, though; you will be stuck breathing that stuff for 14-16 hours!

It takes about 14-15 hours from Baltimore. I have always driven it with at least one friend who can drive, and we switch off every 3-4 hours. Boredom is the worst enemy on a drive that long - both for the driver and the passengers. Whoever rides shotgun is the navigator, and has the responsibility of keeping the driver alert. If you have more than two drivers, mui bueno, because then somebody can take a nap. If you only have two drivers, the navigator should nap at the beginning of the other person's shift, not the end.

Pack a variety of snacks and drinks. Don't just pack a big bag of chips and be done with it - after about 500 miles, those chips start to taste like cardboard. Pack at least 3 different types of snack (chips & pretzels, some sweets, some veggies), and pack some sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Keep some of this stuff in a small cooler within easy reach. And don't forget some plain old water - there are times when plain cold water tastes better than any soft drink, and you can also use it for cleanups.

Keep a roll or two of paper towels, some wet wipes, and a bottle of spray cleaner on hand. A whisk broom might also be handy. Stuff happens - food and drinks can spill.

Make a restroom stop at each and every gasoline stop.

Keep your camera handy in case of pretty scenery.

Sunglasses on a cord are much easier to take off and put on as the sun moves across the sky. They also don't get lost as easily.

If you are leaving during cold or rainy weather, get the car started 10-15 minutes ahead of time to make if warm and cozy before you get in. Then you can stash your jackets in the back instead of sitting on them the whole way. If ou are leaving in hot weather, start the car early and get the A/C running; you might also put a few towels on the seats to prevent sun-heated seats from burning your legs - these will come in handy in Orlando, too.

Make sure you have highway maps of each state you will pass through, and find a good map of Orlando, and pack these up front so the navigator can easily reach them.

Keep drivers license, insurance card, and registration in a handy spot in case of accident or cop encounters.

Keep track of your position constantly; this helps to keep you awake and alert, and makes the time go a little faster as you pass major crossroads, towns, and landmarks.

And relax! You will be in the car a long time, enjoy the scenery and each other's company.
 
Thanks Ducklite for the tips. I am from New York City originally, and my girfriend, her husband, my husband, and I made that trip down. WOW! It was rough. I am glad we had all those people to drive!


Hey, I am gonna be 40, we stayed at that Holiday Inn before!!!! They even allow pets! We had ours with us that year. We rented a car, but I think this year we are going to drive ours.

Thanks for all of your help.
 
Out of all of my trips, including our upcoming March trip, we've driven. It's about a 16 hour trip for us.

We always have the oil changed and the tires rotated before we leave (unless we've just had it done). We tend to trade in cars every three years or so, so worries about our cars have never been an issue. (Now watch us break down on the way in March.)

We usually leave at around 4am and drive through to Destin, which is a good mid-way point for us. (It ended up being a dangerous thing for me though, since I fell in love with the place and actually lived there for a few years.) We usually leave at around 7am the next morning and continue on to WDW and arrive close to check-in time.

The only time where I REALLY regretted driving, was the time we left at 4am in the most incredibly dense fog I've ever driven in. I was literally gripping the dashboard. Other than that, it's all been good!
 
I'll echo many of the other posters in their thoughts regarding having the vehicle checked out mechanically, fluids topped off, oil changed, etc. Quite honestly, for anyone, regular maintenance is far cheaper than ignoring it and facing major repair bills down the road.

Also have new wiper blades installed. Makes a HUGE difference on interstate driving in the rain.

I also suggest joining an organization like AAA for roadside assistance. My family has a Plus membership which gives us extra towing miles, free gas, and a few others, but in all the years we've owned it its paid off in the maps and guidebooks we use to find good stopping spots/restaurants along the way. This summer's drive, our third, it paid off in spades when one of our tires blew on the drive home. Kudos to the SC Highway Patrol for stopping to check on us and making the AAA call on our behalf; a truck was at our side in 15 minutes, tire changed in 10 and we were on our way to our hotel stop. What would have easily been a $100+ roadside call (it was Saturday night of Labor Day Weekend) didn't require a dime.
 
I agree with the others...when we made the drive from Chicago, we made sure that the car was checked out and that the oil was changed before embarking on the 1200 mile drive. The only goof we made was not checking the weather! We figured that we would be safe once we got past Tennessee, but this was last year when Atlanta had a terrible ice storm and we got stuck right in the middle of it. Other than that, the drive wasn't bad. It would have been 18 hours without the storm, but that brought it up to 24 due to the road closures caused by accidents.
Barb
 
msmayor said:
I also suggest joining an organization like AAA for roadside assistance. My family has a Plus membership which gives us extra towing miles, free gas, and a few others, but in all the years we've owned it its paid off in the maps and guidebooks we use to find good stopping spots/restaurants along the way. This summer's drive, our third, it paid off in spades when one of our tires blew on the drive home. Kudos to the SC Highway Patrol for stopping to check on us and making the AAA call on our behalf; a truck was at our side in 15 minutes, tire changed in 10 and we were on our way to our hotel stop. What would have easily been a $100+ roadside call (it was Saturday night of Labor Day Weekend) didn't require a dime.

Their Triptiks (do I have that right?) alone, are worth the AAA price, IMO. Something about being able to flip over another page, makes the trip go by faster for some reason.
 
Will -

Your reply was brill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, I will keep all of these things for advice. I especially like the sunglasses one. I always lose mine. I also agree about leaving in a clean car. YUCK there is nothing worse than a dirty car when you are making a long trip somewhere. I have to keep a garbage bag in there I have two small kids. 9 & 2.5 They are very messy at times, and my son has no idea of what a garbage bag is and he is 9! :confused3

For all ofy ou who suggested AAA. Yep, I have been a member for years, and my mom and I make sure we renew it as well.

You all have made me feel kinda excited with the thought of driving down. Now all I have to do is decide on what type of new minivan I am going to get :teeth:
 
I drive down ofter. I have done it with a truck with 225,000 miles on it (which is still in FL running fine). I used my old pickup several times and it had anywhere from 70,000 to 125,000 on it. The only trouble I ever had with that truck was a fuel pump on a trip to Ashville NC for a funeral.

Done it with an old Grand Wagoneer with 200,000. This trip (leaving tomorrow night) is with my new truck with 8,500 on it.

Make sure that you have your vehicle serviced before, check the tires and go!

With the amount of miles that I drive a year normally, I don't bother with a rental, I just go.
 
We drive down (we live about 1 1/2 from DC) and we rent a car. We feel better renting and not having to worry about anything happening to our car. We use Thrifty as they have had the best deals.
 
We live NE of Atlanta and drive down....it takes about 7 hours and DM has a great 1995 Caddy with 29,000 miles on it.

It actually takes us less time to drive that it would to get across Atlanta to the airport...security...blah...blah...blah...

We love having our car and love being able to pack pillows, soda, snacks....and even though it sounds strange....we now drive to the parks....Moms car cools down and warms up really fast! Plus we are guaranteed a seat!

We just have the car checked out by the dealer and make sure it is nice and clean!

Have fun!
 












Save Up to 30% on Rooms at Walt Disney World!

Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer in late summer and early fall. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.This offer is valid for stays most nights from August 1 to October 11, 2025.
CLICK HERE













DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest

Back
Top