How do we start our vacation?

[mrsbert]

My family will be going to WDW on or about May 28/29 for 6 days. We live in Louisiana and it will take about 14 hours to get there. I will be with DH, DD 4, and DD 6. I would rather get a hotel for only 5 days on-site and 1 day off-site if needed. How do those who drive handle it? Do you drive straight through or stay in a hotel on the way there. If you do stay off site, do you go to the on-site hotel the next morning and check-in, then go straight to the parks? On the way back, do you go to the park, spend the night in the on-site hotel then leave the next morning to drive straight through back home? I want to do this the most economical way but also the most sane way for everyone in the family.

Just need some advice. I'm starting to doubt all of my plans, of course.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

We have only driven to WDW once. We spent one night on the road and arrived at WDW the next day around 6:00 pm. We had a longer drive than you did, ours was about 18 hours. We spent one night at a value resort (Pop Century) since we got in sort of late and transferred to the WL the next morning early. We really enjoyed having our car to use that week. Hope that helps you.

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

I am also from Louisiana. We went to DW two years ago for Mardi Gras. We left on a Friday evening around 4:00 (after school) and drove about 5 hours. Got up the next morning, back on the road for another 6 hours. Checked into the hotel and headed to Downtown Disney for lunch and shopping. We don't like to use up a day of our passes for only half a day. Breaking up the drive like we did was very plesant for my 3 children. If I could offer you one tip it would be to bring a DVD player. If you don't have one it is so worth the money for a little piece and quiet on the drive.
Have a wonderful trip.

Going back next year for Mardi Gras. Feburary 2006!

 

[mrsbert]

I have family that lives in GA and our DVD player and monitor gives me sanity. Of course the kids bicker about what to watch.

I noticed your trip only takes you 11 hours. Maybe I've calculated mine wrong. Especially since my DH never drives the speed limit. Maybe I need to route the trip again through Mapquest....

 

[ihearttink]

We drive from Connecticut (yes, terrified to fly), and it takes about 20 hours.

The day before our stay at Disney starts, we drive until we find a hotel fairly close. We get up early, drive to our resort (about 8a.mish) and check in. It's than off to the parks for the day, and the room is ready when we get back. One time the room was actually available at the morning checkin.

 

[glencoe]

We have an 18-20 hour drive ourselves. We leave at midnight, let the kids sleep most of it, then have a car DVD and portable DVD to hopefully make everyone happy for the hours that they will be awake! Anyway our plan is to just arrive at Disney about 6-8 pm (I am hoping to leave a little earlier so we can arrive around dinner time). Eat and settle in at our hotel,watch the electric water/light parade and Wishes from the pool maybe just to unwind and let the kids burn off some steam. Into bed for the Disney Death March the next day. I dont want to waste a day's admission for just an evening. If you get in early enough do DTD, souveniers are cheaper there than in the park.
As for using a value the first night that is a good idea, however I would pack a quick back so you don't have to dig through your luggage for that first day. I also heard they are slow to move luggage from one resort to another (another thread) so don't expect your stuff to arrive that early to your new resort.
We chose not to do that, because, well, I am on vacation and I like to settle, unpack and RELAX

I don't want to have the hassle of a family of 5 repacking (we both know whoends up repacking! So that is just my opinion.
Our family is just a drive straight through family, I would rather save a travel hotel night money for a nice PS meal w/ the family at the parks!
Good luck in your decision!!

 

[Mitchell]

We drive from ST. Louis (about 16 hours) first time we stopped overnight in Atlanta, woke up around 5am and got to Orlando @ around 2 pm. We checked into our hotel and then went to Downtown Disney.

2nd time, we drove straight through and when we checked into our hotel around 4 pm (ready to go to DD) my BF got sick and we ended up staying in that night.

This will be our 3rd time and we are going to stop in Atlanta( driving through took too much out of us,plus we will be leaving right after work)

We always like to start off our vacation by going to Downtown Disney! Gets me in the Disney mood!!

Melissa

 

[LSUDis]

Mrsbert,

We're from Louisiana, too, and we are going at the end of May/first of June. Wow!
It takes us approx. 13 hours to drive. (We are in central Louisiana). In what part of the state do you live? We have to get on I-49 south to Opelousas, then go to Baton Rouge, Hammond, state line, etc. on I-10.
We leave early in the morning (aiming for 6:30 to 7:00, but never making it ) and spend the night in Marietta or Pensacola. Then, drive in the next day, spend the night off-site, get up early, check-in, and go. If rates go down with a code, spending a night on-Disney is about as cheap as staying off, so think about that.

This year, we are going to leave early and drive longer (to Lake City, which is where we turn to go south). Spend the night at Lake City (rates at Comfort Inn are about $68.00) and check in at about 12:00 or so at Disney. I don't know that we will do a park that day, though. With tickets being cheaper for longer days, we may.

Also, get gas before Tallahassee. It was the most expensive gas for the entire trip!

Have Fun!

 

[DonaldDuck]

Hi! I'm also from Louisiana but live in Memphis.

DH and I use to drive before we had DD. We have flown the last two times we went.

When we did drive. We would leave in the evening. And drive through the night. We usually arrived at our hotel early. And have been lucky in getting into our room for a shower and nap. Have had more success at the All Star Resorts. At the deluxe resorts we have had to wait for an hour or so before we got into our room. So we would go and have breakfast.

Good Luck on your trip.

 

[jsmla]

Baton Rouge here. We usually drive straight through. We leave around 5 am and are usually there before 6 pm. Unless I've gotten a really great deal we stay offsite the first night. My kids did better with a good night's sleep behind them before we hit the parks.

Jennifer

 

[finnie48]

Hi.

A few times when we drove from NJ, we would stay at an inexpensive hotel, arriving in the evening, in the Lake Buena Vista area (Days Inn, Comfort Inn, etc.) near Downtown Disney. Then drive over to DTD for supper and soak up some of the WDW atmosphere before checking in to our resort early the next morning, refreshed and rarin' to go. Whatever you do, have a most magical trip.

Peg and Bob

 

[mrsbert]

I'm from southeast Louisiana (Hammond area). I guess I was off with the time it takes to get there. I think if we end up getting a good discount code to knock the value resort down by $30 to $40 per night, we will stay on site the first night. As it is, I talked DH into staying the 6th day because there wasn't much difference in price of tickets. I'd be pushing it to stay 6 nights without a discount code. Patiently waiting....

Come on codes !!!!!!!