How many people drive to Disney?

[T-i-double-g-err]

It takes us about 7 hours from North Atlanta so we are too close to fly. The kids 11, 9 & 2 watch movies and play video games. We usually stop 2 or 3 times and eat in the car (which also helps pass time).

We've bought annual passes 2 times the past 3 years. The 1st time we had passes we made 10 trips for a total of 30 park days. This time we will make 7 trips for about 25 park days before they expire.

We drive from north Atlanta as well, but it typically takes us about 8-9 hours with potty breaks once every 1-1.5 hours...

 

[NYCDVClover2000]

We drive from NYC every year. My husband does it in about 18 to 20 hours straight.

 

[byoung]

I'm sure a lot do, but not me I fly!

 

[goofydiz]

We drive also. It's about 10 - 10 1/2 Hours for us. We have flown once - this was right after 9-11 and before "Magical Express". After driving to the airport which takes about 45 minutes and having to get to the airport early to check-in and waiting for the Mears bus to the resort, we didn't really save all that much time. It was more of a hassle than anything. We really missed the excitment of driving. We really enjoy the entire experience of driving. We usually leave around 12 -1am. We don't usually stop all that much - only for gas, and a quick breakfast. Next Mardi Gras we have planned a trip to take the entire family of 24. I expect plenty of stops along the way with that many people. It will be interesting.

 

[resol37]

My family always does. We live in North Carolina (and never went to WDW before we moved to NC), so it's not a huge drive for us. Average is about nine hours.

But, while I'm here, I might as well relay the "Twelve Hour WDW Drive" Story.

In 1998, my family of four (parents, brother, and I) went to WDW with our neighbors (Jan, Troy, Jan's son from her first marriage, Jan & Troy's two kids). We took two vans, but travelled together keeping one another within sight.

Sometime about two hours in, Troy's van started to overheat. We pulled over on the side of the interstate to let it cool for 20 minutes. And then drove for 20 minutes, cooled down for 20 minutes, drove for 20 minutes, etc.

Now, I was sleeping most of the time because a friend of mine from school (I was 15 at the time) had had his funeral the day before and I wasn't in the best of moods...I missed some of the details. But we stopped at a gas station/shop. Who's tow truck was broken down. That should have been a sign right there. There wasn't much they could do (I forget what the problem was exactly) and they recommended that we take it to a dealership.

We decided to pack everyone (including luggage) except Troy into my family's van. That's three adults, one 15 year old, two 12 year olds, a six year old and a five year old in a 1994 Ford Aerostar with one less seat than we had people. But it was cool because Jan decided to buy a bag of pork rinds and a six pack of beer at the gas station to ease her pain.

Apparently, after we split up, Troy's van was fine. He ended up driving back to NC, getting a few hours sleep, and driving back down to FL with his Lexxus the next day. To this day, I still don't know why.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are listening as Jan and Troy's six year old son asks, "Is that our hotel? Is that our hotel?" as we pass any Motel 6, etc. on the last hour and a half of our drive. Twelve hours after leaving, we're in WDW.

Yes, a long story for such a simple questions. But moral is, while driving can be cheaper than flying if it's an option, make sure you get a tune up before you leave! On our next trip my brother and I are taking a seperate car (mine!) from my parents. My entire tax return is going to make sure that that car is in tip top shape!

 

[ansky922]

We have driven 3 out of the last four years. Will be driving again in April My husband does most of the driving usually about 13+ hours with few stops
We save a little money by not flying.

95 south all the way

 

[sknydave]

Lots of people drive to Disney World! The Magic Kingdom parking lot is the 4th largest on Earth for a reason!

 

[PreeningPixie]

I drive! But then I'm only an hour away from WDW...it'd seem kind of pointless to drive to the Orlando airport to take a 2 minute flight to Disney

 

[Metro West]

I drive all the time...only 45 mins down I-4!

 

[CottontailCurl]

Not sure where we could drive to or from as we have the atlantic ocean to cross

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?

 

[CottontailCurl]

Ok, seeing the thread about flying to Disney, I was feeling left out So how many people drive to Disney?

We do!! I love to drive, my husband would fly to the next city if he could so I do the majority of the driving on our vacations. We leave very early in the morning, usually 4 or 5 but we have been known to leave at 3:00. I love to glide through the quiet of cities when no one is on the road. The kids sleep most of the morning and half of the trip could be made with them asleep if I plan it right! Ours is a 10 hour trip. Our traditions are to have a sub sandwich/picnic lunch at the Florida welcome center with our grande OJ sample (unless we left early, then it's brunchfest). The kids told us our shortest trip to Walt Disney World was the one where we didn't tell them that was where we were going. They said it definitely seems to take longer when they have the anticipation of getting to the World slowing the van down!

 

[KimTinVA]

We have driven the last two times and will drive again in April. We live near DC, and have 3 yr old twins. So we hop in the car around 2am, drive to Hilton Head, spend the day at the beach and stay overnight. Then get up early the next am and head for Disney--get there around 9-10 am. Not too bad, the ride home is not as much fun!!

 

[kerry34]

We drive from MA. Myself, DH, Mom, and five kids. We would not be able to go as much as we do if we flew given the amount of money we would have to spend on plane fare. We usually leave in the wee hours of the morning and drive until North Carolina and then stay overnight. The kids are very acclimated to driving now since they have done it many times. We have a DVD player in my van, plus video games, a cooler with snacks and drinks, and I usually make up little bags for the kids with various things inside to keep them busy on the ride.

 

[DVCJones]

I hear ya!!!! As a Child I think we made the road trip to WDW from MA. 15 times. Now as an adult, I continue the annual roadtrip with my own family. My DH and I drove for our honeymoon in 2001 and now we have taken our 2 DD's twice already and plan to again in April

We DON'T fly!!!! For one, it is very expensive, and my DH and I hate to fly. We find that driving gives the freedom to do what we want when we want. It is really kind of fun!!! We usually leave early 2 or 3am drive until 11pm. We get to WDW around 3pm. We usually start with and ADR at Chef Mickey's and a quick trip on the monorail. We hit the parks early the next day!!!

The ride back is not as thrilling

 

[mommaU4]

We drove to WDW in November of '05 from northern MI.

There were two adults and 4 kids in the car.

The night we left there was a storm and we had to go about 35-40 miles an hour!! Took us 7 hours just to get out of MI!!

We stayed the first night in Indiana, and the second in Tennessee. We arrived in FL. late on the 3rd day. This was the Sunday after Thanksgiving and everyone and their mother was returning home, so the traffic was at a stand still at some points.

Going home, we spent the night in Kentucky and made it home the next day.

It was fun, definitely an adventure. Doubt I'll ever do it again though.

 

[goofyernmost]

[/QUOTE]There were two adults and 4 kids in the car.

The night we left there was a storm and we had to go about 35-40 miles an hour!! Took us 7 hours just to get out of MI!!:[/QUOTE]

I can identify...I've been caught in some of those storm problems myself. All I could do was keep plugging away and hope for sunshine and warmth.

 

[micminnieapolis]

I've read all your posts twice now! We started going to WDW in 1977 and drove every year until Spring 2000. We drove from Ohio, Wisconsin and now Minnesota. We could tell you where all the speedtraps were located and the best gas prices. We even had our favorite rest areas! We have stories to tell that would fill a book. Our Spring 2000 trip involved 8 high school seniors and I wasn't driving with that crew so we arranged a flight. Then 9/11 happened and flight prices went down so we could fly more cheaply than drive. Airfare is up -- especially in a city without airline competition and so we drove again this past Christmas.
Through the years we have had different strategies depending on the ages of the kids and time allotments --more recently the plan was get in the car in Minnesota and get out at WDW (including this past Christmas). People didn't/don't understand our fanaticism about going to WDW -- we now go 2-3 times a year. They especially don't understand getting in a car for umpteen hours and driving someplace you've been lots of times before. Some people just don't understand WDW! I'll choose any way to get there as long as I get there! And more often is better than once or none!
Our spring trip looks like it will be by car since airfare is really sky high. It will be unique because it will just be DH and me. I'm sure we'll have hours of driving memories to keep the talk alive for the whole trip. We will have to stop overnight since our creaky bones and meds-induced sleepiness will dictate -- besides our rule has always been that 2 people always have to be awake at a time, the driver and the navigator.
Interestingly, a friend whose husband works for an airline and can't get reasonable airfare talked with our daughter about driving so far. DD told her that driving is fun! This from a kid whose first trip was in a carseat from 10PM until the next day at about 6PM! Her other trips were about the same way since DS is older by 7.5 years and was a third driver in many trips.
I should mention that our trips have not been without incidence -- we once spent 3PM Good Friday in a K-Mart having a brake line repaired after going in a ditch. DS was driving (about 17yo) and suddenly lost control and was doing 360s and 180s in the middle of the road. Scary! We actually think that the brake line broke and caused the problem but couldn't prove it but the vehicle did have a recall about a year later for brake line problems! That same son wrote a college paper about our family tradition of going to WDW and the drives were a big part of it! It was a tear-jerker!
We get a kick out of people who say they can't afford a Disney vacation but they always factor in airfare. For us we couldn't afford to stay at the Poly or CR (which were our only choices) if we flew, so we drove because we were determined to get there! Now we have DVC and we still want to get there. Actually, the deal is that if we drive at Spring break which coincides with the Holiday this year, then we'll try to go in October for 4 days. I'm a teacher so I'm limited by the school year!
Someday, we'll be able to drive leisurely and stay for a loooooooong time! I've already planned my first retirement trip (whenever that happens since I keep buying DVC points) for the September of that year so I don't miss the back to school bustle!
No matter how you choose to go -- just get there! Safely! Our kids have let us know that they value our tradition!

 

[Freyja]

This year we´re going to drive from NYC to WDW. We´re going to be on the road for 5 days, which means we won´t be driving to much each day. We´ll probably also spend 2 nights in Washington. We have 22 days in whole on holiday and hope to see and experience alot.

 

[zipuzee]

We've been 7 times now and always drive. Fron New Orleans, it's about 11 hours, and while we can do it in a day, we usually get to Gainesville and spend the night. That way, we get up early and get to WDW early and have the better part of a day to enjoy the parks.

 

[photobob]

We've always driven, we live 550 miles away. Most trips we've left at 6 am central time and arrived around 4 pm eastern. So it usually takes about 9 hours and we stop for lunch, gas and tee tee breaks. This past year we went down a day early and stayed offsite and went to check in early the next morning and checked the bags and hit the parks. Probably do that again this year but may do a value resort the first night before checking into BWV.