Help all New Jersey Drivers (Advice)

[SAKPEG99OKW]

Ok here's the scoop. DW, DS (11moths) and myself will be driving from central NJ in early Nov. We will be leaving on a Friday and staying till the following Saturday. My thinking is to leave after dinner Friday night let's say 9:00pm, ariving some time saturday night. My question's are:

1. Leave after dinner or early in am Saturday?
2. Best route from central NJ?
3. Any must see's along the way?
4. Any must have's in the car? i.e. food, water games mags?

Any help/advice helpful.

Thanks in advance.

Scott, Peg and Tyler

 

[zurgswife]

Will you be planning on driving straight thru or stopping somewhere for the night?

We have driven from Philly (17hrs) a few times straight thru and I would definatley start earlier in the day if this is your stratagey...By the time you arrive you are exhausted.....so, if it an extention of your normal day and you leave at 9pm then a rough estimate is that you would have been up at least 39 hrs by the time you arrive...sounds like too much time awake....

 

[ncbyrne]

Central Jersey to WDW is a long drive! We've done it a couple times leaving Friday after work. We drive from Cranford and stop about an hour past DC on Friday night. Then drive from VA to near the FL border on Saturday and then get up EARLY on Sunday and drive the rest of the way. We follow I-95 the entire way to FL. I bring along the Rand McNally Road Atlas to help us get around major cities. With Disney as our goal, we don't do any other sight seeing en route. You won't have much time to see anything else if you are leaving Friday night and want to be there by Saturday. I bring along a needlework project to work on, and DH listens to music. Bring pillows for the car!
I suggest that you bring a cooler with snack food and some drinks. Make pit stops often and always alternate drivers. Bring some favorite toys for your DS and it might be a good idea if you and your DW take turns sitting in the back to play with him too. The ride will be the longest for him since he'll be restricted to the car seat.
We are leaving tomorrow for WDW, but we're flying!

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

Guy's thanks for the posts. I think we will have to re-think our strategy. 39 hours awake seems like a lot. Plus it does'nt sound very safe. If you can think of anything else, please post.

P.S we are driving from westfield.

Scott, Peg and Tyler

 

[zurgswife]

Here's my suggestion.....after having driven it straight thru 3 times...it is way to draining....your exhausted for days after you arrive. We are driving in Oct and are stopping in NC overnight to break up the trip.

Not sure what area consitutes Central NJ...(not originally from PA) I would guess a staight through drive no problems is about 17-18 hrs.....similar to PA. I would try to drive to NC...maybe Durham. I would start as soon as you could after work dinner time rather than waiting until 9pm. I would plan to drive for 6-7 hrs which depending on traffic and accidents would put you somewhere in NC.....I'd spend the night and leave in the mornnig and arrive Sat evening though you'll be tired from Driving all day you won't be totally spent.

No must sees....just drive

We bring a small cooler and have drinks for us and the kids, snacks, games, toys, and we have a TV/VCR....this is a life saver if you have the room.....

 

[ncbyrne]

Wow, we're practically neighbors. I live in Cranford just 1 block from the Westfield border near the college! There are a couple other Cranford DISers too! With a little guy almost a year old, wouldn't it be easier to fly? You'll be there in a couple hours, all refreshed and ready to take on The World!

 

[Tracy M]

We just made the drive in August from South Jersey near AC....we have 2 DS ( 9 & 3). We left at 5am on Saturday....hit "zero" traffic thru the Balt/DC area....but got held up in Virginia... I think due to vacation traffic. You shouldn't have that problem this time of year. Stayed over nite in Florence, SC. Sunday we left @ 6:30 and arrived in Orlando around 2:30 (we stopped for breakfast, breaks, etc.) However, we still had energy once we arrived and did dinner @ Downtown Disney.

I have to agree the TV/VCR is a must! Best investment I ever made after DVC. It really makes the trip tolerable for the kids...and parents benefit too! One thing I always do for the boys, whether we fly or drive, is buy a few new toys from the dollar store. New toys seem to hold their attention longer than toys they already have....of course because their new! Also keep the cooler w/snacks & drinks.

Hope you have a great time....ENJOY!

 

[MsDisney23]

Tracy M, I'm your neighbor, Vineland,NJ here. Here is some very very sad news. This week on the NJ turnpike, which I myself worked on for several years in the construction industry had a fatal accident. A family of three from Orlando was hit by a Tanker truck. Husband, Wife (also 7 month's pregnant) and 11 month old daughter all killed. Everyone driving please slow down in these area's and also keep in mind that some trucker's seem to drive over the amount of hours they are allowed to drive daily. I wish everyone a safe and happy drive. Also the Auto Train I hear is pretty good....

Forgive me for posting this, however I think we all need to be reminded of the danger's of the road.

 

[lsyorke]

"SAKPEG99OKW"

No advice from my end ,I always fly(much to impatient to take that kind of time! But wanted to say hi from Clark.

 

[Tracy M]

Hi MsDisney23....I love it when I hear from DIS neighbors close by! You are right about being careful.....I95 from North Carolina south to Orlando is a free for all. People drive very fast & dangerous. BE CAREFUL...

 

[zurgswife]

Everyone driving please slow down in these area's and also keep in mind that some trucker's seem to drive over the amount of hours they are allowed to drive daily.

Just to point out that the reports say that the driver of this car cut in front of the trucker trying to make an exit. I'm sure there are drivers out there they don't follow the allowed hours but there was nothing in the reports I heard that this was the case during this accident....Just and FYI