HELP, 22 hrs straight for $2100?

[disneychic33]

Drive it straight thru on the way down, but plan on 2 days to drive home.

Learned that from experience!

This is probably exactly what we will do. I'm always so pumped to get there, but after eight days of Disney I am exhausted. definitely going to be stopping.

 

[disneychic33]

You can pack so much stuff in your car plus you don't have to rent once you arrive!

We always make the drive part of the vacation. I find great stopping points with cool restaurants and parks to stretch your legs. And hit lots of redboxes along the way!

We drive from Indy so it's around 15 hours.

Here's a place in Chatanooga we stopped.
http://ridetheincline.com/
ate here...cool joint
http://www.mojoburrito.com/

Another time we stopped in Chatanooga at this park with a wooden carousel.
http://family.go.com/travel/things-to-do/tennessee/chattanooga/poi-282767-coolidge-park/

In Nashville, the Centennial park is wonderful!! A pretty lake to walk around, playground, cool train to look at and planes. Lots of food choices in Nashville.
http://www.nashville.gov/parks/locations/centennial/

In Marietta:

Take exit 269 B (Hwy 5) off I 75 towards Marietta

Follow the road for about 2.5 miles

The road will lead you directly to the square.
http://mariettasquare.com/

There is a nice, shady, grassy area for picnicking and a train themed play area.

Grab Pizza @ Marietta Pizza Company and spread out on the grass or at table on square. You could even call ahead and it will be waiting for you when you arrive! What a charming little town.

Thank you for the great ideas. I love the little train ride that looks like it would be a lot of fun for a break in the trip.

 

[disneychic33]

We drive straight through from NH. So like you we are looking at 22 hours plus a couple extra. We drive 2xs a year. I have done the drive myself with the kids but I take longer.

IME straight through is very doable on the way down with two drivers. My DH & I take turns and make sure to nap as much as we can. But that being said we always give ourselves 2 days. Say we leave on Friday and have check in on Sunday. Saturday night we have the option of stopping anywhere from GA to Orlando if we need a break. If we make it to Orlando I call a Mousesavers discount hotel near DTD when we get to FL. If we stop in GA we do the last couple of hours Sunday am.

The way home we always do in 2 days. We stop somewhere between NC & VA. We are just too tired after the vacation to safely go the whole way.

We have the guide to 95. I like to mark where we have stopped or anything interesting off the highway. Like the rest stop with 500 mangy cats (well it looked that way) or the Good Earth Peanut Company. One trip we detoured through Gettysburg. The more interesting the trip the more fun it is. My kids have it down now and we know what to expect.

I did make the trip down once before. That time I was alone with my three kids, but we stretched out the trip to two days both ways. We took 95 the whole way. The kids were so excited by that place South of the Border, but when we got there it was closed, lol...maybe this time we will stop and see what it is like while open.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Thank you for the great ideas. I love the little train ride that looks like it would be a lot of fun for a break in the trip.

It'd be unusual and time-consuming in an already brief trip if you to attempt any of the quoted poster's suggestions.

 

[disneychic33]

It'd be unusual and time-consuming in an already brief trip if you to attempt any of the quoted poster's suggestions.

Yes that's true, but we will have more time on the home trip and it might be fun to make some stops to see new things that we wouldn't ordinarily take time out to see. For instance we are thinking about stopping in DC so we can go to the DC cup cake place, because it is my DD 7's favorite show(strange I know). We are keeping it a surprise for the return trip she will be totally psyched up.

 

[daraddg]

We live in southern NJ and always drive the kids love it but we always stop a little more than 1/2 way down in or around florence SC,we usually find a hotel for $100 or less,everyone is well rested then and still cheaper than flying.

 

[4GoofyCrew]

IMO it all depends if this is strictly a 'Disney' vacation or if you are planning to stop and see things along the way. It if it going to be a whirlwind, straight through, everyone is at each other's throats kind of drive, (and you have the money to afford the airfare) I would fly. By the time you factor in gas, wear and tear on your car, and stress it may not be worth the $1000 or whatever that you will actually be saving.

I would shop around a bit more for airfare (maybe consider flying out of someplace else that is still close to home but maybe offers more flight options???). Even if you aren't going in the offseason you might be able to do better than $2100.

We have flown both times from MI. The airfare that we have paid has been the equivalent of gas money and hotel stops for the 2400 mile round trip. It has been a no brainer - we opt for the least stressful and the quickest. Plus we go in the winter and there is NO WAY I am driving in snow/ice in the north to get to Disney.

 

[pyrxtc]

I would drive straight thru to save myself that much money. I'm coming from NH so I feel the pain. We are never so tired that we lose a day except on the way home after our long vacation.

 

[torinsmom]

I did make the trip down once before. That time I was alone with my three kids, but we stretched out the trip to two days both ways. We took 95 the whole way. The kids were so excited by that place South of the Border, but when we got there it was closed, lol...maybe this time we will stop and see what it is like while open.

I always stop at SOTB either om the way or on the way home. It is pretty tacky, but I like the last big shop on the left as you come in. They have little trinkets from all over the world. I always bring back a few items for my class to use in our geography baskets.

 

[tlh0726]

We are the complete opposite. We will take two days to get down but will go straight through for the ride home! At the end of vacation, all we want to do is get home!!!! Lol

We leave around 2-3 am and drive it straight thru get to Disney around 4-5pm and hit the parks.
We normally hit a park or two our last day, leave around 4-5 pm drive to around 1030ish, pick a hotel, sleep, get up and head for home.

We are all exhausted from our trip to drive straight thru home. At about the 10 hour mark, everyone's patience is done. Then mix in DC and thier lovely way of not properly marking routes. Never again!!

 

[huhwhat]

I always fly..I would be too worried about a snow storm............

 

[MineMail]

Yes that's true, but we will have more time on the home trip and it might be fun to make some stops to see new things that we wouldn't ordinarily take time out to see. For instance we are thinking about stopping in DC so we can go to the DC cup cake place, because it is my DD 7's favorite show(strange I know). We are keeping it a surprise for the return trip she will be totally psyched up.

Is that the place that makes the vegan cupcakes? If so, skip it. The shop isn't anything fancy, it's actually a cluttered, run-down bakery that has seen better days. The cupcakes weren't tasty at all, but we're not vegans. Maybe they taste better to someone who is used to those recipes and ingredients.

I vote for the Auto Train as well, but I don't know if it will save the OP much $$$. Using it on the way back is a great idea - you can nap on the train and start your drive north refreshed.

 

[tink576]

Is that the place that makes the vegan cupcakes? If so, skip it. The shop isn't anything fancy, it's actually a cluttered, run-down bakery that has seen better days. The cupcakes weren't tasty at all, but we're not vegans. Maybe they taste better to someone who is used to those recipes and ingredients.

I vote for the Auto Train as well, but I don't know if it will save the OP much $$$. Using it on the way back is a great idea - you can nap on the train and start your drive north refreshed.

Really? That might be a different place, I've had numerous friends visit DC cupcakes because of the show and rave about it. I haven't been personally but know the cupcake are expensive and the lines wrap down the street (I saw their pictures of the lines).

 

[averill94]

I always fly..I would be too worried about a snow storm............

UGH This is exactly what happened to my in laws...they never made it and were stuck in a hotel room with 5 kids for a couple of days. Turrned around and came home!

 

[Dizisfun]

We have done the drive down and then did the Auto Train back. You can get a sleeper, but we did it without. The boys were 8 and 9 and they were perfectly content to sleep in the seat. They were so excited about being on the train they didn't want to sleep anyway.

 

[Sagginit]

Really? That might be a different place, I've had numerous friends visit DC cupcakes because of the show and rave about it. I haven't been personally but know the cupcake are expensive and the lines wrap down the street (I saw their pictures of the lines).

I think you are referring to babycakes, which is in NYC. They have an outpost in DTD now and are vegan. I once hauled it all the way downtown to get a cupcake and I thought they were awful, dense and bland.

I have always thought about driving down and stopping at one or two places on the way. But then I do worry about what could happen. Last year while on a road trip in AZ the brakes gave out on a massive flatbed truck in the parking lot next to our motel, rolled downhill, and crashed into the lobby we were eating breakfast in! talk about being accident prone. luckily we jumped quick and no one was hurt but I don't think I could trust my luck on a road trip to disney. we fly from Atlantic City in NJ and usually pay less than $150 a person, roundtrip, with luggage. for two people it is always cheaper than driving.

 

[Dizisfun]

Stickyfinger's is a Vegan cupcake place in DC, also VEGdc is Vegan. But there's Georetown Cupcake in DC which is the one associated with the show with the sisters. If you have a Facebook account there is a fan page.

 

[timmac]

I haven't read through the entire thread yet, so forgive me if I repeat anything already suggested.

My first question would be how did you arrive at your estimated cost of driving? You're looking at about 1300 miles each way, so 2600 miles total. I'm guessing your figure was based on something like 2600 miles / 26MPG = 100 gallons of gas * $4/gal = $400 cost to drive. This is, in all likelihood, a gross underestimation of the cost of driving. Using a more comprehensive figure, say 35cents/mile (which includes wear items on the car, and the cost of the car itself, for instance, on top of just the gas.. and even that estimate is low), you're looking at more like $900 to drive.

I'd also offer that your estimate of 21.47 hours probably doesn't take into account stopping for things like bathroom, gas, and food. In my experience driving long distances, figure you need to stop at least once every 300 miles... assuming everyone can hold their bladder even that long at a time. By the time all is said and done, probably closer to 25-26 hours, assuming you get lucky and don't hit any traffic, construction, or other obstacles. Also, worth keeping in the back of your mind... how reliable is the vehicle you'd be driving? Just a single incidence of major repairs, including towing, and being at a garage you aren't familiar with... might eat up any potential cost savings, and leave the vacation plans completely derailed.

Now, back to the issue of fly vs drive, and the cost. There's definitely some pros and cons either way. One obvious one is to have a car available while in the world, without having to rent one. That can be a great convenience. On the other hand, not having to drive and getting there quicker can be a great value as well. In fairness though, I wouldn't call it just a simple three hour flight. Door to door, including travel to the airport, arriving in enough time, landing, taking magical express... you are likely looking at more like 7-8 hours from start to finish. Still a good bit faster, of course.

Then, there's the issue of sleep. How well do the kids sleep on a long car ride? Think you and DH are going to be able to sleep all that well when not the one driving? Everyone is different, so you have to evaluate your own family... but I would wager everyone arrives in Disney feeling quite tired, and the better part of the first day might be a bit of a wash... especially for you and DH after driving. Also consider these effects on the return trip. I know in my own experience, after that long a drive, there's no way I'd want to have to be back at work the day after that long a drive.

Of course at the end of the day, it's your call. If it wasn't already showing through, I'm definitely in favor of flying over driving, though. I don't think the cost savings are remotely as good as they might appear back-of-envelope, and to the extent there is any real cost saving, I don't feel that the trade-offs are worth it. That's my opinion, though.

 

[disneychic33]

Is that the place that makes the vegan cupcakes? If so, skip it. The shop isn't anything fancy, it's actually a cluttered, run-down bakery that has seen better days. The cupcakes weren't tasty at all, but we're not vegans. Maybe they taste better to someone who is used to those recipes and ingredients.

I vote for the Auto Train as well, but I don't know if it will save the OP much $$$. Using it on the way back is a great idea - you can nap on the train and start your drive north refreshed.

No, I don't think they are vegan, but I'm not to worried about the cup cakes themselves. I just want to give my baby the thrill of seeing something from one of her favorite shows.

 

[disneychic33]

UGH This is exactly what happened to my in laws...they never made it and were stuck in a hotel room with 5 kids for a couple of days. Turrned around and came home!

We have thought about those freak snow storms too. They can be a pain, believe me living in VT, we get enough of them. We have decided that it might be more fun to drive though. This is vacation, we are going to see where the road leads (hopefully to WDW).