highway anxiety

[DebT1964]

Hello,
This will be our 3rd family trip to Disney since 2009 - we've flown on our earlier trips, but are thinking of driving this time, as there are 5 of us and I can't find a cheap flight and we also rent a car. Anyway - live in Rochester NY and total miles is about 1250 miles each way. We've been driving to Myrtle Beach every April for the past 10 years - but over the last 3 or 4 years I've developed a severe highway anxiety. My husband does all of the driving which is good - but I get physically sick sometimes because I am so nervous - expecially on I95 with all of the fast drivers and trucks. It's seriously making me reconsider our WDW trip in August - I don't know if I can handle it. Does anyone else who drives down experience this or have advice? It is very frustrating because I never used to have this problem, and can't seem to get past it. Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[pepe of ohio]

I can sympathize with you.....I have the same feeling flying...it makes my vacations unbearable....I didn't fight it..we take the train to WDW...we're 1100 miles in northeastern Ohio and we have the time for Amtrak....it's relaxing and a nice way to travel. We've taken the train for the past 20 years but this past trip, week after Thanksgiving, we drove down with our son-in-law, daughter and new granddaughter. This solved my driving in the future thoughts. I don't like riding in a car unless I'm driving.....can't stand mountains anymore and being cramped up for 16 hours...not alot of fun. So we'll be using Amtrak from now on again...so nice to get up and stretch, walk back to the club car...stretch out and recline in our seats, food and drinks we take with us and a short walk to the restroom...my way to go.

I know I wasn't much help but I didn't try to beat my anxiety, no drugs and just no way to board a plane....same for a car anymore. Think about the train....Priced about the same as driving...me and the wife...round trip 450.00

 

[Ress76]

Hey, I'm in Rochester too! I have flown and I have driven, and next trip, may do the Autotrain! If your schedule is flexible enough, what about a more leaisurely, non 1-95 trip, maybe down through WV, down into Georgia and come down the west side of Florida? I absolutely hate 1-95, but my traveling partner doesn't normally have the patience/money to take a more leisurely trip. I am not a big fan of driving in general, to be honest, but I do it because it gets me to the one place where all my cares and concerns go away.

Maybe look into the Autotrain...then you only have to get from Rochester south to Virigina. If that's not an option, maybe your doctor could give you for your anxiety and nausea?

Ress

 

[pumpkinboy]

Two suggestions: Perhaps you could talk to your doctor about your anxiety and perhaps get medicated to deal with it. In your anxious state, you are not much fun for your hubby, I'd imagine, so medicated might not be a bad alternative.

As for the I-95 route, I know what you mean; there are decent alternatives to 95, tho the choice would depend on weather and recent snowfall events. I-75 and the Florida Turnpike might be a decent approach route to WDW, which would take you thru more of the mountains, while your regular I-95 route takes you down to the coastal plains. Rochester to WDW might be a little longer going thru places like Athens, GA and Gainesville, FL, but it might be more scenic. I know coming up the east ocast that way, I stopped at a couple of lovely wineries in NC (near Mt Airy) on the way, and drank in the scenery. Play around on Google Maps for a bit and check out the alternatives to 95. Maybe find some interesting waypoints on the way down to keep your mind occupied.

Good luck!

 

[ladyhawk14624]

Another Rochesterian here! This year we are flying for the first time in decades. Our previous 2 trips have been by car. We drove down in 2007 with 4 teenagers and us all in one van. In 2009 there were 10 of us and we drove down in 3 cars. We left Rochester and headed west. Around Buffalo we turned south and made it to Athens, Georgia the first night. We stopped for a nice picnic lunch and again for dinner. Our granddaughter had a bladder infection which meant we were stopping constantly (seemed like we stopped at every rest stop) but we still made it to Georgia by 9pm. It's so much shorter going that way than going on 95 plus you avoid the entire DC area. An acquaintance told us about this route and even though we were skeptical we researched it and loved it. I got the directions from the AAA website and they were great.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

TAKE THE TRAIN!

 

[lisa-upnorth]

glad to see my fellow train lover Pepe feels the same as me again

I am in upstate ny-near lake george, and could never survive the drive down!! I haven't flown in over 14 yrs and the last time I did was not pretty!! I was a wreck the whole time and dreaded returning everyday

taking the train is the best for people like us!!! you would love it! no stress from the air or the crazy drivers and traffic

there is no other way for us!!

 

[NJBILL]

TAKE THE TRAIN!

Made 8 trips to WDW by train with kids..They love it.

Auto Train great too..

Here is a link to find discount flights to WDW if you change your mind.

http://travelweather.weebly.com/disney-weather.html

Here is some info on AMTRAK discounts.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amtrak-guest-rewards/1144644-2011-amtrak-promotions-discounts.html