How far is your drive to WDW, Florida

[Lcm2108]

Our trip right now is about 12 hours. We live in south central Louisiana. We are driving there for Christmas and closing on our house December 28, 2004! After June 7, 2005, we will be just minutes from WDW! We will see the Wishes fireworks from home, can't wait!!!!

Safetymon, brady961, PatriciaH, cranbiz, and everyone else living nearby---
Do you EVER get tired of going?
We will be moving to Summerport Subdivision, Windermere address but off of SR 535. My DH is working at Sand Lake Hospital and for Christmas, we are getting PAP's.

Lisa

 

[beast/del]

Wow!!
I thought my drive was long. We drive straight thru the night and go to the parks the next day. I been to Canada and that's a far drive. If I had to drive that long I think I would have to fly to.

DISNEY IS NEVER TO FAR TO DRIVE TO!!!
IT'S WORTH EVER BIT OF THE DRIVE!!

 

[frsttimers]

approx 12-13 hours......according to mapquest that is. This will be our first time making the trip and my DH is a tad bit lead footed so we may make it in less!!!!!

 

[disneylovr1]

It's about 950 miles from Pittsburgh, and was about 1150 miles from where I grew up. It used to take us about 20 hrs, but then they increased the speed limits by 10 mph! Now it's about 15 hrs from my house, 16 from my parents. We've done the drive about 17 times, my dad won't fly. When my husband and I go we have flown. I love the drive down, but the drive back is terrible! No more excitement to look forward to, just back to the old grind. We used to drive straight through and sleep at a rest stop in the Carolinas for a few hrs, now we just rotate drivers and don't stop.

 

[MelessaG]

About 20 hours and with four children, we do save money even with the higher gas prices...otherwise I would gladly fly like we used to do.

 

[jay-nee]

Honestly, we don't do it to save money...but, we do save money. There are 4 of us and the airfare is usually $280 pp if we are lucky. We get 30-35 mpg in our car (Saab 9-5). Gas cost us $200 roundtrip. We stay in Hampton Inn for $90 includes tax. We take our lunch each day...like turkey and swiss roll ups the 1st day and, yes, PB&J the second. We eat at Cracker Barrel the 1st night for about $40.00. So the grand total down and back is about $500.

We drive 5 miles over the speed limit. DH is a PT semi-driver and doesn't need a speeding ticket on his license. Plus, it's just safer. We time our drive to go thru NYC (GW Bridge) mid-morning and then hit DC in mid-afternoon. South of that, it's pretty smooth sailing on 95 until Orlando which we inevitably hit at 3pm...

We stop every 3 hours for a stretch break and everyone HAS to go the bathroom at this break. We also gas up at this point too.

Total drive time 23 hours...1445 miles our driveway to the entrance of POFQ.

We're leaving in 60 days and none of us can wait! Hopefully, we won't have any weather to contend with... That would be a bummer...

It's funny, I always wondered how many of us DIS folks drove and where from...

Great thread...

 

[threeboysmom]

We're from NH and drive straight through each time. It takes us exactly 24 hours with the planned stops we make (every 3 hours we get out to stretch legs and use rest rooms). Yes, it's tiring, but there's nothing like seeing the sun rise as we hit South Carolina, spotting our first palm tree , and then finally crossing over the Florida border (feel like stopping the car and doing the happy dance!).

We're doing it again in a couple of weeks and can't wait!!

Does anyone do the same stops each trip like our family? We've fallen into a rut of ALWAYS making our first stop at the mall in Danbury, CT, stopping in Baltimore, Maryland at the BIG fast food rest stop, stopping at the rest stop in Georgia to run around (beautiful grounds), and then eating breakfast at a Cracker Barrel restaurant as soon as the boys wake up, usually around 7:00 a.m. I'd like to vary our upcoming trip. Anyone know of some good stops, or want to share their own family's car trip traditions?

 

[Ratpack]

About 420 miles for us. Takes 7 hours and that is with stops along the way.

 

[cobbler]

Tons of savings for us to drive over fly. If we had to fly we couldn't afford to go. Around 220 per person and there are 4 of us so that would be about 900.

We drive about 22 hours. We drive 13.5 hours straight through to Alabama and stay with hubbies family who lives down there for a few days then its 8 hours from Bama to Orlando.

On the way home we try to stop in Northern, KY because we know it is only 6 hours from Louisville to our home and spend the night so the 2nd day of driving isn't as bad.

As for savings we budget 175 for gas round trip, 8 toll round trip, 80 for hotel room on the way back and down there we pack a cooler so we don't have to stop except for gas and bathroom. So our total driving budget ends up being around 325-350. A savings of around 550 - which in my book means I can spend more at Disney or stay longer

 

[hAm53]

my drive is 12 minutes to the airport, then another 20 from MCO to WDW.
I remember sitting in my parents van when i was younger driving the 2 days from long island to WDW, and it seems like such a waste of time to drive when you can use those extra hours with mickey.

 

[MamaLema]

Originally posted by striker3636
We are 25 hours and are planning to do it over two days. We have a 3yo dd and 5 yo ds and hope we survive with our sanity!

Mamalema - can't believe you made it straight through! We are in Waterloo, so just a bit further than you. We're not brave enough to try it without a stop at a hotel with a pool etc to recharge batteries..

Annette

Really, it wasn't that bad. The last 2-3 hours were the worst though.

 

[crazy4wdw]

470 miles from where I live in notheastern South Carolina to WDW. It usually takes about 7 hours.

After reading the other posts on this thread, I guess we are fairly close to the Mouse House when compared with many of the other Diser's.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we have gone a couple of times with sister inlaw and family in their van, but husband doesnt like driving down. So we have been going the last 4 - 5 years by AMTRAK TRAIN............so if we leave out of Dedham,Ma. around 630 AM, arrive in Wash, in the afternoon, stay there a couple of hours, hop back on the train, arrive inOrlando the NEXT DAY around lunch, but usually the train runs at least an HOUR to THREE HOURS LATE. I am the one who doesnt like to fly. every one in work laughs at me . and my husband says that " We could of been in California by now". i know , but i just cant FLY................

 

[sunking]

From Levittown, PA it is about 1000 miles on the nose. We usually drive straight thru and it takes us about 14 to 15 hours. We normally leave in the middle of the night and arrive in the "world" in time for an early dinner and alittle bit of park time. Looking forward to the drive in April!!!!
Sunking

 

[TraceyL]

4 hour drive, overnight at the airport, 9 hour flight then 40 minute drive

 

[tinkerbee]

About 17 to 18 hours we always drive straight through. We leave around 5 in the evening and drive all night Works great for us since I won't fly.

 

[beast/del]

TraceyL,
Where do you live that you have a nine hour flight??

 

[lovethattink]

We use to live in PA and had a 16 hour drive. We drove 4 times in 1999. We moved to Central Florida in 2000. Now it's about an hour drive...depending on traffic.

 

[lovmy2girls]

About 6 - 7 1/2 houurs depending on how many potty breaks and if we eat on the way down. Put the DVD's on for the girls and off we go.

 

[jeg721]

It's about 15 hrs for us. I take way too much stuff for us to ever be able to fly. We usually spend the night in SC then on to the world ready to hit the parks!