How about a Massachusetts Roll Call?

[Simba's Mom]

Please-can I be counted? Grew up in Worcester area Massachusetts, last 17 years in Paxton. So my body's in South Texas, but my heart's in Massachusetts. Missed the Marathon today!

 

[buzz5985]

We're from Wakefield. Drove down Feb 2002, myself, DH, DS - 5, Dog - 10. Left at 4 am, stopped about every 2 hours for 15 minutes, stopped overnight in RockyMount NC, Left there at 5 am, arrived disney 2:30 pm. We had a blast. Secret is planning. My DS had a portable VCR, and my DH and I had books on tape, and the Dog - just loved being with us.

 

[poohbear1029]

You can take the girl out of Massachusetts, but you can't take the Massachusetts out of the girl!

As I posted earlier, I am from Rutland....just North of your hometown, Paxton!

 

[MelCald]

Sturbridge Here!!!
Sorry, can't help with driving..never done it!!

 

[Poorman]

We fly. Too old to drive.

 

[larfamily]

I grew up in Bellingham, but now I live in Rhode Island.

 

[mitcam]

Simba's Mom, you are definitely welcome! Once a New Englander Always a New Englander, that is unless you root for another Sports team?

How about those Red Sox!

 

[MAC3]

Billerica Here too!

We have driven twice (to which DH replies NEVER AGAIN). He hates driving when you can get in a plane and be there in 2 1/2 hours.

But we did like BCV4US stop in Lumberton N.C. to sleep rest. I could never ask him to drive straight through. It is a long haul though. Wouldn't mind trying it with that Van with the DVD player!

To all my fellow Disney freaks from Mass!

 

[cherylp3]

Dracut here! I drive down to Lorton Virginia and take the autotrain.


Cheryl

 

[Basser]

Brockron, We drove down last year and I highly recommend a stop over in N.C. or S.C. That way you are'nt to tired to enjoy your first day at WDW.

 

[CrayzeeDiz]

We have driven down 3 times in the last 2 years from Melrose.
My wife is afraid to fly otherwise we would not drive. We have 5 year old twins and a TV in our van. Cannot survive the trip without it. We are going on the magic 7 day cruise in January 2003 and I am trying to talk my wife into flying. I have had enough of the driving. It is realy exhausting. We usualy will drive straight through to Virginia Sleep in a Hotel. (usualy around Quanico.) Wake up early then Drive through to St. Augustine and stop Sleep enjoy a day as we have friends who live there and then drive the 3 hours to Disney from there. It is a very , very long drive. The plus is you get to use your own car the whole trip. the minus is you tack on 4 extra days of travel time (2 going and 2 coming) that could be spent actualy enjoying Disney world. i dont believe that you save much money either by driving. If you add up the cost of gas, hotels , food and travel treats for the kids - the savings isn't much.. Good luck and enjoy your trip...

 

[Michelemouse]

Former Millbury girl here...now in Putnam, CT so still not too far away.

We always drive straight through...no stopovers. For us it is a 20 hour drive door-to-door (we are one town away from Webster, MA if that helps). We leave home at 2am and arrive in WDW at 10pm. We put the kids in the car asleep (getting harder to do now that they are 10 & 8) and they stay asleep until at least 7am. They both usually peter out later in the evening and we wake them up with we get to the WDW archway. We like doing the drive this way because it feels like a regular - if somewhat long - day for us. We used to drive overnight but found that we were exhausted while the kids, who had gotten a good night's sleep in the car, were raring to go.

We bring books, CDs and travel games but do not have a TV in the car. We have just purchased a laptop computer that plays DVDs so we may bring that with us this time.

For us driving is a tremendous savings over flying. It costs us approximately $300 to drive. If we flew we'd be looking at $700 - 800 in airfare alone. Then you have to add on a rental car or transportation to/from the airport and other travelling expenses (snacks in the airport, etc.) and it starts closing in on $1000.00. By driving we are able to go twice a year. If we flew we'd only go once. That alone is worth the drive!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

For us driving is a tremendous savings over flying. It costs us approximately $300 to drive. If we flew we'd be looking at $700 - 800 in airfare alone. Then you have to add on a rental car or transportation to/from the airport and other travelling expenses (snacks in the airport, etc.) and it starts closing in on $1000.00. By driving we are able to go twice a year. If we flew we'd only go once. That alone is worth the drive!

That is why we have decided to try driving. Up to this point, we have flew. Because we have always had a child under two. The trip this past OCtober, we had to pay for all of the kids. I will not pay for a ticket unless it is under $200, so I wait for sales and specials. The average price I pay is $190 each. So for us a family of 5, it is close to $1000 for airfare, then there is the cost to and from the airport on both ends. IF we hadn't purchased DVC, we would still be flying, but with no way to get off Disney property ( unless we rent a car, that is another expense) getting the food to the villa's would be tough. I just figure, nw that we have a "home" we can drive and it wil be easier to transport all the things we will need for the "home"

Thanks for all the feedback, and it is nice to see how many Massachusetts Disney fanatics we have on the board.

 

[bres@westernMA]

Hi from Dalton in western MA.
We have never even thought of driving. We usually try for either Southwest or Delta Express to avoid those hated layovers. Some day I'd like to think about wintering in the south but it will probably take me a week to get there?!?

 

[Connears]

Natick here!
We have been driving since we bought at OKW in 1994(12 times). We have also driven to HHI 6 times in that period. We found it the most cost effective way for us to use DVC. We actually prefer it now, but DS is now 13 and would like to get there quicker, but he knows the routine. We have had TV/VCR in the past, but Santa brought a portable DVD player and it works great in the car. We also listen to books on tape(all four Harry Potters and the first 2 books of Lord of the Rings). We usually stop around VA/NC border and in good weather sleep for a few hours and then continue on until Jacksonville and get a hotel and good nights rest and WDW next day by 1pm. In winter, we stay in hotel 2 nights. Routine is leave friday and arrive at resort by1pm on Sun. stay until friday and back again.

Connears

we also have been going straight through NY over GWbridge and takes much less than going around. Just have to time as not to hit rush hours.

 

[Jacksmom99]

Brockton here, soon to be Norton as soon as the papers are signed!!

We have driven down twice and are planning another trip this August. We have not driven straight through. The first trip we took 3 days, the second trip we left at 8 pm on a Th night and would've made better time had we paid done better research and avioded the construction on 95 in CT. We stayed in Lumberton, NC on Fri night and we at the BCV by 3:00 on Sat.

A funny story about the length of the trip with children..... My mother took my DS 4 to Easter mass with her. She sings with the choir and had him sitting in that section with her. Apparantly the priest was taking a little too long because my DS leaned over to my mother in that LOUD 4 year old "whisper" and said..."Nana, this is taking longer than Mickey's House!!" Time is all realative in the eyes of a child

 

[mickey'smj]

Lynn, here.

Flying to HH on Sunday. Can't wait! This has been the worst winter and so far spring is no bargain, either. Hoping for South Carolina sunshine.

 

[goofyforwdw]

We are from Melrose also (CrazeeDis) and for the last 2 years have flown but when the kids were small and money was tight we drove down many times. We had a conversion van and that made all the difference. With 3 kids each had their own seat and we would lay the back bed down and 2 could sleep on that during the night and one in the reclining chair. During the day the would watch movies or play on the bed in the back We packed lots of snacks and drinks and we really did have fun. There would be the moments that jumping out of the van into traffic sounded better than another ten minutes in the van with the darlings but they would pass. We did find that leaving after school 3)worked est for us cause we would drive for like 3 hrs stop for dinner(6) then drive another 3 stop for a break kids (9)would fall asleep stop again around midnight and then hubby would drive through till 4 or 5 am stop for a quick break drive till 8 stop for breakfest stop again in 3 hrs for lunch and then next stop was check in at about 2-3 depening on traffic. We would also not go rt 95 the whole way we go rt 90 to 84 to 81 to 66 to 17 to 95 it adds about 50 miles but is the same time and much nicer road and bathrooms. I would do it agin if I had to but I do think flying is much eaiser and faster now that I am more mature. I still drive down to HH every summer. The only bad part about driving is driving home boy that is hard as you are tired and nothing to look forward too.
Good luck and have fun

 

[Mattsmom]

Simba's Mom, you are definitely welcome! Once a New Englander Always a New Englander, that is unless you root for another Sports team?

My DH would agree with you!!!! I'm another New Englander living in TX. Not a far south as Simba's Mom. I sure do miss home. I grew up in Quincy, MA and have family living in alot of the towns posted here.

Heaven for me would be summer in MA and winter in WDW!

Go Red Sox!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MOMO2DK]

HI
Wenham here! (where's that? ~ North Shore near Beverly/ Danvers/Hamilton)
We've been members since 1999, and have been twice, both via Delta Express. Last trip in Dec 2002, I found the increased security at airports to be very frustrating with children in tow. I greatly appreciated the increased security for our safety, but the long lines with the kids seemed miserably longer.

It's been interesting reading everyones driving experiences, especially with kids. My DH and I love long drives and with all your input we'll have to seriously consider driving- the cost savings will help with the decision.

Thanks for the Massachusetts roll-call and all the driving advice!