For those who drive a LONG distance to get to WDW?

[melk]

For those of you who drive to WDW, how long do you actually spend at WDW? We have friends that just drove it (to FL, but not Disney) and said it would be ridiculous to spend less than 10 days there. But that would mean a minimum of a 14 day vacation for us, that would include the drive time. Just wondering how long the rest of you go for? Thanks

 

[We4mickey]

We drive from Wisconsin and never go for less than a week and a half, but most of the time it is 2 weeks. By the time you drive 2 days each way you will at least have a week to relax and enjoy.

 

[Disney Talker]

We generally go for 7 to 10 days and we drive about 800 miles to get there. Shortest we have ever stayed is 5 days..and that was a very long weekend trip...have fun...driving is not so bad...

 

[Alice Sr.]

It usually takes me about 19-20 hrs. Our road trip usually consists of myself, my 2 DD's (14 and 11) and at least one of their friends, obviously I'm the only driver. I need at least 7 days in between so nothing shorter than 11 days. I have done it in 10 but would not do it again.

Alice

 

[brittsmum1998]

We are DVC members so we go usually twice a year. We usually drive from Massachusetts most of the time. Most trips are arriving at the World on Sunday and leaving on Saturday. This last trip we arrived on Wednesday and left a week from Saturday. It was a much better trip. In January we will be flying out on Saturday and leaving the World the following Friday. Our family consists of me, DH and DD who is 4 yrs old. The trip has always been great BUT the ridehome is alot more "irritating". Not too excited about coming home I guess the pluses are that if you have small kids, you can pack more stuff! I do great!! shopping when at DTD.

 

[RussH]

For as long as I remember I have driven straight through from Cincinnati. It is 902 miles from my house to exit 25B and if I didn't need to stop for gas and some very short a breaks there is exactly 1 stoplight between them. Prepack Thursday evening get home Friday late afternoon and to bed. (one of those people that can sleep anywhere anytime) Up Saturday at 01:30 and on the road by 02:00. Saturday is the best travel day which gets me into ASMu in 12-12.5 hours checked in unpacked on the bus and having a cocktail at Tune-In by 16:00. I go solo most times and have learned that for every person you add over the driver also add a hour of drive time. This works up to 7 people at that point you will probably never get there.
A week/8 nights is the minimum I would stay when driving and 2 weeks is just a little long for me.
RussH

 

[cindala]

When we use to drive, we would stay 9 nights at Disney, and 1 on the way down, and 1 on the way back, for a total of 11 nights away.

Because driving ate up too much of my DH's vacation time, we now fly, and stay 8 nights.

 

[judi]

We must be a little goofy since one year not long ago we drove down for 3 nights and drove back again. We drove straight through both ways. We had our three children with us and at the time they were 15, 10 and 8. Not a problem. Was it worth it? Heck yeah it was 3 extra days to spend at Disney that year.

 

[themeparkcomando]

We have driven several times (1,100 miles) because my DH hates to fly. Before kids, we would go for a week, but after kids we try for 2 weeks. We do stop overnight. It's not bad, but our kids are frequent travelers.

 

[DC7800]

We have been known to drive down (650 miles) to WDW for just two nights, though 7-10 days is usual.

 

[jesdmill1]

We drive (about 850 miles) from KY. Last year we went straight through, but this year we're taking 2 days for each way. We're staying 10 nights at the world and 2 nights at hotels, so 12 nights (13 days?) It is a long trip, but its the only one we'll take this year so we have to make it last Our schedules make vacation at any time other than summer impossible.

The drive is actually fun I think! We play car games (count the number of falling down barns, slug-bug), I make special mixed CDs for the drive, and the scenery is really pretty. We also count cracker barrels (there's one about every 2 miles it seems - that's where we always stop for a break as well). I don't think I'd go straight through again though... we were way too tired the next day after 15 or so hours in the car!

 

[karyn]

You are going to see notes all over the board looking for you and Kimmar. I got a response back from her already. You are probabley laughing your pants off. Anyway in the past i think you told me you usually fly out of LGA with no problems. If so, where do you park? Have a great airfare on hold. Let me know. Thanks so much.