How many people drive to Disney?

[cgcruz]

We flew down once, but prefer driving. It's about a 12 hour trip, so it's not too long. I like getting the trip. We take a break when we feel like it. Its only my chick and me, so no kids to worry about. Plus, once we're at WDW, we can go anywhere without a problem. Dont have to worry about rental. We can get to Fla, drive around orlando, then come back home on less than $150 in gas. Love it.

 

[lorimc]

On the way home, we stopped for a couple of nights on the beach at Destin then all the way




Ahhhhhh....Destin!

It was either Destin or Disney this year. We went with Disney, but you can;t go wrong with either one!

 

[Marmstrong]

We're about 9 hrs (plus stops), so driving does make the most sense, not a lot of time savings to fly since there's lead time at airport and time on the other end...also very expensive to fly in and out of Charlotte NC.

Last year we drove to Savanah after work, then made a stop in St Augustine for tour of the Castillo and early lunch, were at AKL by 2.

This year we're going to try leaving right after the kids get out of school (2pm )on a Tuesday (Feb 27) and drive to Jacksonville --about 6 hours we hope!). We're early risers, so will try to beat J'ville rush hour (going straight through instead of around bypass) and hope to be at MGM by 10 or so.

We can't check in at SOG until my parents arrive, they're traveling separately, we figure they can just call us when they arrive. They say they don't want to go to MGM so we don't have to wait around for them.

 

[hello kitty]

It's a 3 hour drive for us.

 

[ricktib]

We have it down to a science.

Ditto - 6 hrs for us and we stop at GA exit 1 on I-95 at the gas station that has the Long John Silver's (none near where we live). I enjoy the drive and having the car there, and wouldn't consider flying unless it was over 14 hours or so - and we fly free!

 

[Stargazer]

1st trip will be in June and we're driving. It should take 14-16 hours from AR to FL. Thank goodness for our portable DVD player . The longest trip we've ever taken with DD has been 12 hours when she was 3, so I'm hoping she'll do as great as she did before.

I think we're leaving early Friday and driving most of the day with occasional stops and staying overnight in the panhandle of FL (so, leave at 6am and arrive 2-3pm) and do a little local sightseeing, relax by the gulf, etc. We'll get up Saturday and then drive the rest of the way in (my guess is leave from panhandle by 7am and get to Orlando by 3-4pm).

 

[CaptainJackObsessed]

We drive and fly but prefer driving because it is half the fun!! Its about a 17-18 hour drive and we use to do it straight through without a stop! Well my parents did anyways...not so much anymore. I always make my parents stop at the Florida welcome center and they always get orange juice

 

[sandybobandy]

We drive!
It's about 14 hours from Minneapolis to Nashville where we stay over, and then around 9-10 hours from there to Disney.

We love to drive!

 

[momof3disneyholics]

Well, since it is only about a 10 minute drive, we usually drive!

 

[diseyore]

We drive too since it is only 45 min.

 

[kt_mom]

We drive. THe first time my husband I drove we left Saturday evening about 5 and drove all night. We got into Orlando/Kissimee area about 4am. We made great time. The second time we went I was about 9 weeks pregnant and not feeling very well and wasn't able to help much with the nighttime driving and we ended stopping in GA somewhere I think.

This year we will leave on Saturday night and drive as long as we can, hopefully at least 1am. THen get up early the next day and hopefully arrive a little after lunchtime. THat way we can rest up and go to the park that evening for dinner at the castle.

 

[goofyernmost]

When I first started going with my wife and kids we really couldn't afford to fly there. So we drove! I liked to leave my house, in Northern Vermont, early and go through to Fredericksburg, VA. the first day. The second day we would leave later in the morning and go to Walterboro, SC. where we spent the night. The next day was an easy drive to Kissimmee where we would arrive about 2 PM, settle in, do some exploring so we knew where things were, (i.e. stores, drug stores, restaurants, etc.). We would relax that night and then hit the parks with a vengeance the next morning. It became routine after a while. We stayed at the same motels, ate at the same restaurants, stopped at the same rest areas, got gas at the same places on every trip down and back.

I have said it somewhere on this site or another...the trip to Florida was always fun and time would fly by. The trip home dragged on and on and on.

 

[carissanboys]

We're driving for our first trip ever to Disney next month. I'm looking forward to the drive actually, even with 3 young boys We're driving from outside of Baltimore and will do it in 2 days.

 

[Blueyed Girl]

We will be driving too! It is around 13 hours if we drive straight there. DH and I did it when we went in 1997. It was a LOOONG day. We should have taken a more scenic route but I think that adds almost another 2 hours to our trip.

Anyway, this time we have DS(2) and we just purchased a Yukon so hopefully it will not be such a horrible drive. We are driving 9 hrs the first day and 4 hours the next. The first day we will be breaking up into 2-3 hour shifts with small breaks in between so that DS doesn't get too bored. I've got lots of books for him to read, sticker books with stickers, a coloring book, a travel sized Thomas the train with track, and a bunch of movies! He doesn't know about the toys/books we got him so every hour or 2, we will present him with a new activity in hopes that it makes the ride easier. WISH US LUCK!!!

 

[kaybird]

We used to ALWAYS drive, many times, with and without the kids. From Ks, it it 23.5 hours, most of the time we would go straight through on the way, then, curiously, the car did not seem to be in as much of a hurry on the drive back. After our 2003 trip, we had a major accident in Dallas on the way home, so have flown since then. I don't sit in the car for as long at a time now.

 

[postalcop]

we drive most of the time. it's much easier with 2 kids,(and cheaper), we just flew in dec. for a quick 5 day trip, but to was to crazy waiting for all the buses. i like just having our own car,(well we bring our rv) so we can come an go as we please!! we usually leave 3 am. and get to GA about 4 pm. spend the night, and the next day we are in disney 4 hours after we leave our hotel.

 

[fla4fun]

I drive - either 20 minutes from home or 15 minutes from work. But we used to drive down from Ohio many years ago, and I remember the long trips too.

 

[MomofKatie]

We drive from Charlotte- it takes right about 9 hours, including stops for meals, gas, and potty. We take 77S to 26E to 95S to 4W.

Last month, DD and I left at noon from her school, and pulled in at the hotel at almost exactly 9pm. This fall, we will leave at about 4am, and plan on arriving at around 1pm.

 

[cobbler]

We drive because it is cheaper than flying. We go one of two routes.

Hubby has family in ATL and then in southern Bama. So we either drive 12.5 hours to ATL and spend the night (free) with family and finish the drive the next day.

Or we drive 14 hours to southern Bama and visit (this one is usually a few days visit) and finish the drive to FL.

It is cheaper to drive than fly for us. Less than half the price.

 

[martyshoney]

I have been to Disney World 7 times and only once have I flown. It was much better as far as time went b/c it takes us about 13 hours to drive b/c of all the potty breaks I always need!! But I prefer to drive b/c I can take whatever I want and I don't have to worry about checking it in or stuffing things to make sure I don't go over my limit. Now our trip a month ago was not easy with a 14 month old but we managed and I would do it again!