how much will the drive cost ?

[cindala]

When we use to drive, it would cost us about $300 round trip, including gas, one nite stay down, and one nite stay back, and all our meals and snacks.

 

[bobcat]

We are planning our third driving trip this summer and I prefer to travel this way. I am a control freak so I like to drive. It also give me uninterupted time with my kids.

From central Ohio it takes us 18 hours. I usually drive most of that in one day and stop at the GA/FL border overnight for about $30 and one night on the way back for around $40. Gas costs are usually around $100 round trip and I average 25-28 mpg in my minivan. So for about the cost of one plane ticket we can travel and take our time. I try to get about $50 in gas cards from mycoupons and that really helps with the cost.

 

[TINKTWINS]

everyone is really giving me some great tips and encouragement.

my ds's 11 and 13 are both really excited to try the drive. my dh is willing to let me plan another trip ( we were just there in april ) if i stick to a budget this time. so saving 1000. on no air or rental makes him very happy. you have all given me $ amounts which is what he needed to hear.

my only issue is my 2 year old twins that sometimes but not all the time, dont like to be sitting for so long. however, if we drove id plan on at least 2 weeks and we were thinking july or august so there is no pressure if it should take us longer to get home. by the way how are the crowds then?

thank you all, youve been very helpful

 

[MinnieMe2]

We've driven from Central MA to WDW with our four kids four times, starting when they were all quite small. The gas prices varied, but I'd say our minivans probably went thru $150 - $200 worth of gas each time. We'd spend two nites in hotels going down and coming back, so that added to the cost of the trip, too, but it was still cheaper than air fare.

We'd leave late at nite so the kids would sleep for the first eight or so hours of the trip. When they started to wake up, we'd just about be in Washington, DC, where we'd stop for breakfast and tour the National Zoo. It's free, it's fun, and it gave everyone a nice stretch. Then back in the car. I packed a cooler, the kind you plug into the car outlet, with cold drinks and sandwiches. We'd stop for lunch at a rest area on the highway. The rest areas anywhere but Massachusetts are usually very nice! Then we'd continue until we just couldn't stand being in the car any more, usually around 3:00 or 3:30 in the afternoon. I'd refer to our Trip Tix from AAA to find a hotel, call from the car for a reservation, and we'd stop for a swim, dinner, and a good nite's sleep. Day Two was pretty much straight driving, stopping only to eat another picnic lunch. We'd spend one more night at a hotel, then make it to Disney late the next morning.

The kids were responsible for their own car 'entertainment'. They'd have games, Walkmen, coloring books, whatever, and, of course, each other. Sometimes they'd entertain each other nicely, sometimes not so nicely. For those not-so-nicely times, I brought a book on tape. I'd put my headphones on and drown them out until they settled down !

Overall, driving down worked well for us and our kids. This summer, we plan to drive down again. Now that the kids are all teens, we'll probably only have our youngest with us. The thought of being in a car with a 15-year-old girl the entire length of the East Coast doesn't excite me too much. I think I'd rather travel with 2-year-olds!!! But the drive itself isn't bad, and it certainly saves $$$. However, I wouldn't go without AAA even with a new car. Stuff happens, flat tires, whatever, and the tour books they give you offer some good info about the places you're going thru.

Have a great trip. We always go in July or August, and the crowds can be bad, but we enjoy Disney anyways!

 

[yoopermom]

can be a lifesaver, really! Bought one last summer, and have absolutely no regrets. Plug in the headphones (splitter if you have more than one kid), and you're set.

Second, if you do plan on "calling ahead" that day to get a hotel, you'll save lots of $$ if you call the hotel direct, NOT the 800 number for the chain as a whole. Ask for the cheapest rate possible, and list all your possible discounts. If you don't like the price offered, ask for something lower, or call elsewhere. The 800 line operator will only give you the "stock" price, but the person on duty at the hotel itself will actually know how full they are, etc.

Good luck!
Terri the Yoopermom