For those that Drive

[Disney Sheri]

We will be leaving in 34 short (or long) days. This is our first time drving to WDW and it is about a 20 hour drive. We are driving straight through. My question is, for those that drive, what time do you arrive or plan to arrive at the resort. I know DH will be tired because he will be the main driver but do you think noon or 1 is too early to have our room ready? When you do online check-in, is there a place to advise what time you would be arriving? TIA!

 

[momto2sweeties]

Where are you driving from? We are driving from MI in a few weeks.

Our plan is to leave around 4:00 pm and arrive at the resort sometime between 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm depending on how many stops we make along the way and that sort of thing. I don't know if that is the best thing to do so I am interested to see what other people have done or plan to do.

 

[OldGrizzly57]

There is no correct answer...

Whether your room will be ready is more dependent on vacancies the night before that meet your room criteria and after that you are dependent on how fast people check out and how fast housekeeping gets to the rooms that need cleaned.

Griz

 

[peppermintpea]

we plan on driving our first time too... we are about 17-18 hrs and we plan on taking full advantage of the day. I hope to be at GF by 11:00 and chill by the pool until our room is ready. We just cant afford to waste the day!

 

[Disney Sheri]

We are coming from Kansas City. I know DH will not want to do anything but sleep when we arrive. My kiddos and I will head out to DD or something-it won't affect me too much.

 

[Disney Sheri]

Mom2sweeties, we will be there at the same time! Is this your first trip or just your first time driving? We have been 3 times but usually fly. Thought we would save some money and drive this time.

 

[maxiesmom]

There is no way of knowing if they will have a room ready for you or not. So it is a good idea to have a back up plan for your hubby in case you don't get a room right away. Maybe he can sleep in a lounge chair by the pool while you all swim?

Honestly, I don't think it is the best decision to drive straight thru. But then, I have been in a car with a driver who swore he was fine, and then almost drove off the road because he was so tired.

 

[momto2sweeties]

Mom2sweeties, we will be there at the same time! Is this your first trip or just your first time driving? We have been 3 times but usually fly. Thought we would save some money and drive this time.

This is our first time ever going! I went with my parents when I was 4, but that was 26 years ago and I have no memory of it. So this is essentially the first time for all of us. My kids are so excited!

 

[DisneyMomx7]

This will be our third time driving.

We usually left around 9 at night and got to Orlando around 2 in the afternoon. What we did would stay at a DTD hotel - just relax by the pool and eat at RFC at DTD that night. We would get up really early the next morning to check into our Disney resort and have the whole day.

This year we are doing things differently. We are leaving on a Sunday afternoon - probably around 3 pm. We are again driving straight through and hope to get into Orlando around 8 am. We are surprising the kids by staying at Universal for three nights before Disney. We hope to check into the Royal Pacific Resort and spend the whole first day in the park.

The first time we drove (we used to always fly) I was a nervous wreck. Now I find that I like driving better. We drive straight through - I pack food and we only stop for bathroom, coffee and gas breaks. The kids have a chance to stretch their legs then and then they usually go right back to sleep!

Have fun.

 

[Piglet4Ever]

For our last couple trips we have driven to WDW from Northern VA. Both times we left our house between 3-3:30 am and got to WDW around 6-6:30 pm the same day.. that is with a few pit stops.

 

[Disney Sheri]

Momto2sweeties-have a great trip. I think our first trip was the most magical!

I believe we will plan on driving arriving just before check-in. We are use to driving straight through. For us, stopping 1/2 way to our destination makes the trip seem so long. We will have 3 drivers in the car so if one is tired, another one will drive.

 

[sharadoc]

Over on the transportation board, we have a thread called "For 2000+ mile drivers only" where we discuss everything and anything about driving to WDW. A lot of us drive from the northeast, but there is a good contingent that comes from Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and even further west. We can help with rest stops, gas stations, restaurants, hotels, Stuckey's nuts, everything! Please come on over and chat.

 

[Disney Sheri]

Thank you, Sharadoc! I will do that! I appreciate any help I can get

 

[mommy2twingles]

We drove the last two times. The first trip we left around 11 at night and drove straight through except for a stop for lunch to let the kids out of the car for a while. We arrived around 4. This last trip we left around 4 in the afternoon and had to make multiple stops because we were so tired. Still arrived in the afternoon.

For next years trip we will again go back to leaving at 11. This way hubby comes home from work eats something and goes right to bed for a few hours before we leave. I sleep for the first few hours in the car and then drive while he naps.

 

[jollygreengirl]

I can't help you with the long distance driving, but I will say that we typically arrive at our resort around 1p. We've never waited very long for a room. Maybe 1 hour max at a deluxe, but we also check-in online and note when we will be arriving. The front desk will text or call you when you're room is ready. Be sure they have your cell number. I always bring my ds' swim trunks in my purse, so he can swim while we wait for the room. Many times, our room is ready for us when we get there, which is always a nice surprise!

 

[excited4disney2012]

My boyfriend an I drove down from Ohio in January. We totally didn't plan very well. Plus, I think we drove too fast and didn't stop anywhere except for gas because we were so excited! We ended up arriving at Animal Kingdom Lodge at 7 in the morning. I wasn't expecting a room but we were given one ASAP! We were able to shower and take a nap til around noon. Then we spent the day exploring the hotel. Everyone was great! We will make better plans next time.

 

[disneydee6]

I don't think that 12-1 is too early. We drove the first 3 trips, all the way from NY. We always would check in, and spend time at the resort until dinner. Dad can get some z's, we could unpack, maybe swim and explore the resort. Then at night we would go to whatever place has night EMH, have dinner and enjoy our first night taking it slow. After a long car ride, it's nice to take it easy when you first arrive. Good luck!

 

[carly chloe]

We drive from Minnesota straight thru. We get there around 1-3 and then relax around the pool. Where do you find the transporation board??

 

[cburek]

We just returned home yesterday. We usually arrive to our hotel around 11am.We have usually had the room ready at that time but not always. We usually leave around 6p from the Philadelphia area and arrive the next morning. This time we stopped in Richmond VA and then drove the rest of the way the next day. We didn't care for that,would have rathered drove all night instead.

 

[MuchLovedMama]

My hubby and I drove from central Ohio when we were about 17-18. We were way too excited to sleep the night before and that was our problem. About midnight or 1 a.m. I walked into his room and found that he wasn't sleeping either so I said since neither of us were sleeping we may as well get on the road. We drove about 6 hours or so and I was so tired I couldn't stay awake any longer and I couldn't trust him to stay awake so I convinced him to stop at a Red Roof Inn so we could sleep for about 5 hours before we took off again.

If we remember correctly our drive is about 14 hours. Coming home we drove straight through but we were fully rested. If we have to end up driving this time around we decided we're going to pop a couple benadryl so we get a good nights sleep the night before.