Has anyone ever driven down to Disney??

[NJDisney]

I would love to drive but I am afraid of the kids (all 4 of them) fighting too much. Reading this has given me new hope.

Thanks.

 

[taymaesmom]

We always drive too, making our 6th family trip in Dec. Its not quite 14 hours from our house to Disney and we always leave at 4 am then drive straight through. We manage to arrive in time to check in, unpack and then head off to a park for dinner and a few rides. Luckily for us our dd's are great travelers, the oldest loves to watch the world go buy and the youngest sleeps. She normally sleeps about 10 hours of the trip each way! And is super excited to make the trip this year in our new SUV where her seat reclines back LOL!

 

[Chelley00]

I would love to drive but I am afraid of the kids (all 4 of them) fighting too much. Reading this has given me new hope.

Thanks.

We have 4. We survive :lol:

Our first big car trip was when youngest DS was 16 months old (18 hours to Texas) The trick is to keep them occupied. New little toys, coloring books, paper to draw on, movies, travel games, snacks etc. We also pack soccer balls and frisbees to let them run out some energy at rest areas/gas stops.

 

[momofrrr]

for me it is not the drive there but the drive home. You are so excited to be going that it is easy to tolerate but coming home, when you are tired, is tough. I would suggest planning a stop overnight.

 

[tinker&belle]

I have driven there once, and unless I have all the time in the world, I will never do it again!!

It was awful! I didn't even have kids then so I can't imagine it with kids. I like road trips, but it was just too long. And took up too much time!

We live in Indiana too and it is just too long for us. I know some people do it, but I love that we can be there in about two hours after the plane takes on and get on with our vacation. Plus then I would dread the end of the vacation even more!

 

[Chaoster]

We drove down 4 years in a row. It all depends if you like to drive/ride in a car or not. I have co-workers who go down every year but will never drive. We look at the drive as part of the vacation. Leave about 9PM at night to miss the traffic and we drive straight through. Stopping at Flying J for gas and bathroom breaks. Stopping for breakfast and lunch we get to WDW about 4pm the next day. Coming home we stop in Roanoke VA. works out great for us. Like others have said rough driving straight through on return trip. But with three drivers it probably doable.

 

[Sunbeamblue2002]

Well maybe I just have shell shock because its been less then a month but it was a little tough. We drove from Ohio and as one said the drive down was way better then the drive back. But we were a family of 7 so flying was prohibitive cost wise. That said if your children are older you might have a slighly better time as our 2 yr old got a little cranky for being cooped up so long. That being said the post about getting there alot easier is true. Plus we left mid afternoon and they slept most of the way down. Coming back was a bit different because after a week in the parks getting cummfy on the drive back was a tad harder. Just make sure you do plan to have lots of activities for them and remember to stop every so often to strech. Over all it was fun and I would do it again just not anytime soon.

 

[rene30]

We're from NC, about a 10 hour drive. We've driven and taken a plane then using the magical express. I prefer to drive because this way we have our own car when we're there. If we want to eat off site we can without a problem, I also like to pack as many items (ex. cereal, bottled water) as I can. This way when we get to the resort I've got most of the items our family will need and we're ready to go!

 

[mapleleaf1389]

My wife and I drive from upstate NY every year. It is long, but it saves a ton of money. If you need any advice on stops or routes, please feel free.

 

[quentina]

we're SERIOUSLY considering driving to Disney in November with the 3 younger kids. DH and I have annual passes and I found 2 day unused park tickets for the kids (long story!). We are DVC owners and found availability -- we just need to get there. Unfortunately, airfare is not in the budget right now. I think it'll be about 16 hours for us, plus stops. We'd like to drive straight down and then stop one night on the way back. DH and I are pretty close to booking the room and you guys have given me some great ideas -- thanks!

We are you in PA? My friends just did it and went 81 to ???? (I could ask her). They didn't pick up 95 until South Carolina. She said it was great and is doing it again in May.

 

[LovableGluttons]

Yes! We've driven to Key West once from Plattsburgh, NY and once from West Texas. Thatwas way before kids and we took two full days each time.

We drove from Atlanta to Orlando after a red eye flight from Vegas, but that trip was just weird.

 

[asudol]

We're driving down at the end of the month from the Toronto Ontario area.. 2 cars, 4 adults and 2 under 3 for about 22 hours of driving.

We toyed with the idea of going straight through, but I don't think that'll work with the kids. Stopping in WV on the way down to break up the trip.

Should be .... interesting My parents always drove when I was a kid, so why not continue the tradition? The drive is half the battle .. err. I mean fun.

 

[alwaysmom]

We've always driven to Fla. (but hopefully doing the train down & flying back on next trip). The last trip we did drive straight through since we were making such great time, we pulled into POP about 19 hours after leaving home. Previous trips we stopped close to the Fla border for the night. DH does all the driving, I pretty much sleep . We do take it easy and stop when we need too. Kids all have there games and DVD players, me my pillows and magazines. The trip down is nice but the trip home seems to take forever. We leave between 2 am & 4 am. We wouldn't hesitate to do it again.

 

[heatherwillmom]

We always drive. It's a 12 hour drive for us & we always drive straigth through, taking turns sleeping & driving. We drive at night so the kids can sleep better & there is less traffic.

 

[enchantingodin]

I never drive down to Disney. I always drive UP.



Couldn't resist...

 

[honeydiane1953]

My husband and I are driving down in October with our . And I was ,wondering if anyone ever drove what they thought about it? My husband will fly, but i won't. and frankly looking around it seems cheaper to drive.

It depends where u r starting from? Yes I have driven and flown. I live in central Ga so it's not far. I prefer flying although Hartsfield is a nightmare.

 

[honeydiane1953]

we are coming from new york.. My husband wants to drive straight through.

ny oh heck no ~~~~~~ no way

 

[dyna]

We always drive never ever fly on the way down we always stop at least 1 nite on way back it's iffy just got home about an hour ago from driving straight thru took us 16 hours total...we had no kids with us can't say we could have done it straight thru in 16 hrs with kids.

Last week on the way down same interstates the 1st 600 miles took us about 15 hrs We did our part stayed on the road but was tied up in traffic several times for what we never knew.

 

[NewmanFamily6]

We have driven and it takes us 12-13 glorious hours For our family of 6 it is much cheaper for us to drive. It does stink to drive that far but once we are there it is worth it

 

[kelly1218]

We have driven ever since DD was 18 months old. Flying with the 2 kids was actually so much stress.

Driving gives us the ability to leave when we want. It takes us about 17 hours.
That is driving straight through. (we stopped the first time....then figured out we didn't need to waste the time stopping)

We leave about 5-7pm on friday night.... stop in DE at Craker Barrel for dinner....and ALWAYS stop in Fredericksburg, VA at the WaWa, south of the border, and the same rest stop in GA.

We make other stops...but those have repeated each year...without actually planning.

I work nights....so I stay up as long as I can when I get done Thursday night....pack the car, pack a cooler (we have lunch meat for 'breakfast' the next morning) and then sleep until the kids get home from school.

It works for us...and since 2001....our cost of driving has been $325-410 each time.
That is for gas (has been $2-3.75/gal),tolls (we have 3 I believe...maybe$10 each way) snacks, one sit down meal each way, and an oil change when we get home.
I don't count the cost of the cooler items...cause if we weren't going...I would still be buying stuff for us at home.

As for kids activities.... we have printed out games and puzzles, iPods, gameboys, crafty items like pipe cleaners, friendship bracelets, shape magnets and a cookie sheet. (a cookie sheet is a GREAT travel companion~ works as a tray for eating...to color on, etc.)

a word of caution I tell everyone.... CRAYONS WILL MELT IN THE CAR IN THE FL HEAT.