For those who've driven more than 15 hours to get to Disney...

[Cando86]

Was it worth it?

I'm absolutely deathly afraid of flying. If I never had to do it again, I would be happy. It gives me anxiety even THINKING about BOOKING flights

So, with that said, my boyfriend and I will be taking a trip down in January 2015. He, on the other hand, LOVES flying. As in, wants to get his pilot's license one day...they say opposites attract?

I'm trying my hardest to convince him to drive down. However, we'd be driving from Michigan. It's an 18 hour drive.

For those of you who have driven to the world... did you feel it was worth it? Especially for those who have drive longer distances (15 or more hours)? Did you regret it and wished you had flown?

Thank you for any advice you can offer!

 

[craftymissbeth]

I'm interested in what others have to say. I'm driving by myself with my 7 yo ds in October from Kansas (I think a 22-24 hour drive). I've never driven that far in my life and I want to make it in 2 days.

 

[marmalade]

We drove from Buffalo, NY in 2012, it was a 20hr drive. Our kids were 5 and 7 at the time and the trip was a lot easier than I thought it would be. We left at 5am and arrived in Orlando at 1am. It went a lot faster than I remember car trips as a kid.

We stopped every 3 hours or so for bathroom breaks and to switch off drivers. I would definitely drive again, but my car is 8yrs old and taking it on a long road trip gives me panic attacks thinking about what would break while we were driving.

I too am a terrified flyer, but I realized if I sit towards the front of the plane I am much more calm. Also the more I fly, the less my fear of it becomes. Now my fear of my car simultaneously com-busting while driving down the throughway in the middle of who knows where is much worse than my fear of flying.

 

[robndani]

We drove from NJ when our kids were 18 months old. We didn't stop to sleep, just for bathroom, a quick meal, etc.. It took a full twenty-four hours. We have flown with our kids six times since then. (They are 4 years old). That about sums it up.

I would possibly drive again with them one day if we took our time and stopped a few times along the way. When they are 20.

 

[monorailsilver]

We didn't necessarily drive to Disney but we did stop for a meal.

We drove from CT to Ft. Myers once and only once! It was about a 23-24 hour drive for us not including rest stops/overnight.

My dh did all the driving. By the time we got to my sisters he was pooped! We went to the beach for sun set and he just sat in the beach chair while the rest if us walked.

I don't think I could drive to Disney with our taking a post drive day rest day. The trip would add another 5 days for us as it would be a 2 day drive each way.

 

[darrengs]

Our first drive down from northern NJ was 2 years ago, with our kids that were 9 and 14 at the time. We planned on stopping, but it was going so well we ended driving straight through. Airfare has gotten so expensive and you must now pay for luggage, for us driving makes way more sense. All that said, we are driving again this month, and I am not regretting the choice at all.

 

[DisneyBride2014]

We drive down twice a year and it is about 21 hours each way (no children though, just me and my fiance). He hates flying, i dont mind it. I dont mind the drive though. We usually drive about 13-14 hours the first day (stopping in southern SC) and then finish up the drive the next morning and we arrive around 1130-12:00 in the afternoon. We make quick restroom and fastfood meal stops but otherwise its straight through. I will admit i do get a little antsy the last 4 hours or so but other than that i think its rather relaxing and its good quality time spent together to start the trip! Depending on whether you would rent a car once there if you flew, it does also have the potential to be cheaper than flying

 

[wdw4rfam]

We have driven about 16 hours, 7 years in a row now with 3 kids. DD was only 6 month the first time. We are deathly afraid to fly, and had a really bad flight one year coming back from Disney and never again got on a plane. It's fine. I actually enjoy driving because it's a gradual transition into reality when we leave instead of waking up in Disney and being home by dinner and back to work next day. We stop one night each way. With no kids, it would be way easier. I have never once wished I had flown.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Have flown twice... Many many years ago and those were my worse WDW trips... Getting on that plane and then being in WDW and knowing I've got to get back on plane to fly home...

That ended my bouts with airlines.... No more..

We moved back to driving and then began using Amtrak... quite a few train trips... fairly cheap in price and comparable to driving...

As of recent, we went back to driving... northeast Ohio....train trips averaged 36 hours one way....car averages 16+ one way....

We like the freedom of the train with us both relaxed but the time of travel is quite too long (huge 8 hour layover in DC) that we went back to driving so to arrive in the early am for a full day of fun upon arrival...

We leave at 4-5 am and hit the Florida Welcome Center around 7-8pm.... We take a long break there ( they have night time armed security ) short nap, bite to eat and then push on to get thru Jacksonville and Orlando before the traffic piles up... We virtually hit zero traffic and breeze right thru to WDW property around 5-6am....

Yeah, it's early but we can and do check in.... Head to Publix for food and drinks ( sandwich fixings) head back to resort for breakfast in food court , maybe short swim and our room is usually ready by 10 am.... Unload our stuff and load the fridge and we're raring to go.... not for everybody but we like the early arrival..

 

[ktate82]

Our first year, we drove (kids were 4 and 5) because airfare was going to be $1200 for us vs a 16 hour drive. We have flown every year since, because we got decent airfare. It wasn't a bad drive, but I prefer to fly. However if faced with high airfare, its not a big issue for me to drive and save the money.

We left at 8pm and got to Daytona about 1pm (they were an hour ahead of us) and that was with just bathroom breaks and stopping to eat breakfast. The kids slept most of the night through, and we switched off drivers.

 

[megveg]

I havent driven to Disney specifically, but I've driven from the middle of Massachusetts to Homestead, FL and it was 23 hours. Its definitely worth it and road trips are fun. One of the best things about driving is you'll have your own car with you for grocery stops and to carry whatever you want without paying for extra luggage. I drove pretty much straight through except stopping for gas and an hour long nap in VA. I liked being able to control when I arrived in FL.

 

[sharadoc]

Hi. Please visit the thread on here "For 2000+ mile drivers". It's all folks, like us, who drive to Disney at least 1,000 miles each way. We drive from PA and have done so 11 times and our 12th is coming up in November.

For us, we enjoy the time together, we bring music we haven't listened to in a long time, or actually talk. The kids watch movies, listen to music and read.

The one fact that always causes trouble that I hear from others is the "It's going to be SO LONG!" attitude before you ever get in the car. If you have that attitude, it will be a terrible trip and you'll have every minute of it.

We know it's going to take long, we know we're going to sleep overnight in a hotel, we know we're going to hit rest stops and restaurants, and our expectation is real. We leave at 9 am, drive until 11 pm, sleep and leave again at 9 am and arrive at Disney around 3 (check-in time). We're well rested, and ready to go.

The 2000+ mile drivers thread has a ton of ideas, tips, etc. for the drive. If you post a general thread like this, you'll get just as many posts telling you to fly and make you feel bad for wanting to drive. On our thread, we all agree that driving is what we CHOOSE to do and love it.

 

[MaggieMouse]

We've driven in the past for economic reasons and it was no problem whether we drove straight through or stopped for the night. This time we are flying though and I'm happy about that, my dd not so much.

 

[ParrotBill]

We stopped flying and started driving when we had to go during summers due to school schedules as as air fares rose and flying stopped being fun.

We drive from Rochester NY - 20 hours driving. We drove straight through once and it was too hard - so we've taken 2 days ever since. We drive a long first day, about 12 hours, and a shorter second day, about 8 hours.

We are getting experienced with it and know how to pass the time well now. We alternate listening to music and books on CD. We take a break every 3 hours and switch drivers at 6 hours or sooner if tired. When riding as passenger we nap. My daughter brings per PC for movies, and her 3DS for games.

We use a GPS and a phone with Google maps to study traffic problems ahead and plan alternate routes when needed, or to find restaurants for meal breaks.

Don't be afraid to drive!

 

[Nicoleinwi]

Never drove to Disney but just got back from driving 21 hours one way out west. It was nice not worrying about packing too much.

However being in WI and having the same weather as you I would not drive in January anyplace. Too stressful worrying about bad weather.

 

[bdoyledimou]

i have driven down from Toronto -- a lot (see my tag!) the drive there is easy -- its the long drive home that kills me --- but it is doable and fun -- we generally leave at 3 pm, stop every three hours, do a power nap at the Georgia border for an hour - then stop at the Flordia border for breakfast -- then its straight on to Disnwy World arriving at 1 ish -- kids can swim for a bit while i nap in the car waiting to the rom to be available.

 

[cruisingkat]

We drive to Disney & Florida from the Chicago area 3 to 5 times a year since 2007. We have even taken a circular trip a couple of times - Chicago - Houston - Florida - Chicago.
I don't mind flying but I don't like the packing (weight restrictions, luggage size, liquid restrictions, etc.), having to get to the airport early, the lines for check-in and security.
I like being able to pack up the car the night before and still have room for last minute items and souvenirs.

 

[Zooshoveller]

We drive 18 hrs from Alabama to Michigan. We stop at every rest area and stretch our legs, stop to eat, and take turns driving every 4 hours. We usually leave late afternoon, drive thru the night (less crowded, easier for kids to sleep), and arrive around noon. We drove an older minivan and total gas was $250-300. That's a lot cheaper than 4 plane tickets and car rental, and we can pack a lot more.

 

[amcnj]

I like to leave early (2:30 am) and arrive in the WDW area 5:30-8:30 pm, depending on stops, weather, traffic, etc. The early leave time gets me past Washington, DC by 5:30 AM so I avoid traffic issues there, and arriving that same evening gives a full night's sleep after the drive before having to do or go anywhere else he next day. Check your route and time it to avoid any potential rush hour bottlenecks. The rides home can feel longer, especially if you stop and have a "day 2" drive. But overall it has worked well for us.

 

[PSUGuy]

Since 1999 we've flown from the North East Pa area every year on average. This March we had a Myrtle Beach/Savannah trip planned but the weather was no better there than in Pa so less than a week out we booked 5 days at WDW, staying at AllStar Music. We had already paid for a night at the Hampton Inn in Fayetteville, NC for the Savannah trip so we drove there the first night, getting to the Marriott Grande Vista at 4 the next day. We checked into the All Star on the third day.

I'm glad we did Disney over a cold Savannah but we'll never drive again to Fl. First, I hate losing vacation time to travel, and no, getting there is not half the fun, WDW is the fun. When we go in 72 days we'll be in MCO at 9:30 am the first morning and in the Rose & Crown before Carl pulls the first tap. Second, even when I was younger anything over 8 hrs a day at the wheel took a toll. WDW, as my SIL complained last Oct., is not a relaxing vacation. I want to be fresh when I arrive, capture the first day and be in my bed at home before dark the morning we check out. Can't do any of that by driving.

Bill From Pa