If Delta Strikes - Driving from FL to Connecticut

[PolyPal]

We are supposed to fly back to CT on Delta. If the pilots do strike, we already have a one way rental with Avis booked so we can drive home.

If we leave on Florida on a Thursday afternoon, we will likely spend two overnights on the road. (Need to be in Rocky Hill, CT by 4:00 pm Saturday) How would you split the drive? what would be logical stopping points?

Thanks for any advice (& hoping Delta keeps flying!)

 

[pooch]

we live in north central CT and have made it to Williamsburg VA in one day. The trip was about 9 hrs as I recall (was a few years ago) So I would say your 2nd stop should be in maybe central Virginia to the DC area . Don't know the participants or your preferences but I think you could do it in 2 long days rather than 3 if you wanted to.

Hope this helps & that Delta doesn't strike!!

Pooch

 

[cranbiz]

I would just drive straight thru. I do that all the time.

However, a good place to stop is in the Fredericksburg VA area. It's about 13 hours from Disney. That should leave you a 5-6 hour leg for the next day.

 

[tolookaa5]

I agree with crangriz. Drive straight thru or make one stop. two is too many, unless you plan on stopping somewhere to sightsee!!We drive nonstop from MA all the time. Not too bad.

 

[magiroux]

tolookaa5, we are in the same boat and will be driving home if Delta strikes. How long does it take you to drive to Mass non-stop

 

[lauren0309]

What is the cost of renting a car to drive from Florida to CT? We live in NY and on one of the message boards someone said it cost between $1,000 and $2,000?

 

[tolookaa5]

It took us about 22 hours and that is stopping for a dinner and rest. It is not bad. It could only take 20 hours if you don't make a long stop.

Good luck.

 

[cranbiz]

I have done the drive in anything from 18 to 30 hours. 18 if everything is perfect, multiple drivers, no traffic and minimal stops. My average is 21 to Carver, 30 hours was everything going wrong, traffic in NY, NJ, VA and GA.

Last week I made it down in 22 hours, 15 minutes and back in 21 hours 45 minutes and that was with a 2 and 4 Y/O.

 

[magiroux]

What is the cost of renting a car to drive from Florida to CT? We live in NY and on one of the message boards someone said it cost between $1,000 and $2,000?

Right now they offering a special where the "drop off" fees are being waived traveling North. The suspected reason is so that rental car companies can "re-position" their inventory for the summer NE travel season. There may be times of the year (I'm thinking late fall/dead winter) where they would want their cars to stay in FL and would charge large penalties (drop off fees) to discourage people wanting to use this method. I lucked out...if Delta goes on strike, I have a minivan reserved from Alamo MCO to MA for $48.00/tx included.

Thanks everyone on the info on travel time back to Mass

 

[lauren0309]

Magiroux-

Do you get your money back if you cancel your reservation with AVIS?

 

[lauren0309]

Magiroux-

Thanks so much for the heads up on Alamo. We justed rented a car also for $47.00. We have to return it to Westchester Airport. The only thing I found strange is that they didn't ask for my credit card number? If there is no strike, I will call them anyway out of courtesy to cancel the car.

 

[magiroux]

Magiroux-

Thanks so much for the heads up on Alamo. We justed rented a car also for $47.00. We have to return it to Westchester Airport. The only thing I found strange is that they didn't ask for my credit card number? If there is no strike, I will call them anyway out of courtesy to cancel the car.

That's correct, you do not need a credit card to reserve a car and can cancel without penalty, unless you sign up for a special plan with a rental company (Emerald Club or Pre-Pay) that required you to register with your credit card for added discounts. I plan on cancelling if the strike is not called. Hopefully I will not have to fall back on Plan B. 30 Hrs of driving is not my idea of fun .

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

My wife hates to fly.
The first time we went to Walt Disney World, April 2004 with my 3 year old daughter We decided to go to WDW a couple of months before we went with little planning. We rented some points off the DIS forum, checked the airfares a couple of times and picked up a trip tick from AAA.

We drove from my office in downtown Boston to WDW Old Key West stopping only for gas and bathroom breaks.

After the first 3-4 hours in the car driving the rest of the way to WDW isn't that bad; more like a series of short trips.

Our Trip to WDW started Friday, 3/26/04 at 1 pm: Miles, Stopped, Time

Leaving, Boston to Walt Disney World: Friday, 3/26/04, 1:00pm
1, Boston to New Jersey 212 212 6:00pm
2, N J to Aberdeen MD 183 395 9:07 pm
3, MD to Rocky Mt NC 266 661 1:36 AM
4, NC to Florence SC 209 870 4:40 am
5, SC to S Newport GA 210 1,080 7:58 am
Arrived, GA to WDW 251 1,331 12:00 PM

Started, Friday, 3/26 0 1:00pm
Finished, Saturday, 3/27 1331 12:00pm
A 23 hr trip with 5 stops along the way down
76 gallons of gas, $131 for the gas, 17.78 mpg 58mph
Driving around WDW 21

The Trip Home started Friday, April 2nd 11 AM: Miles Stopped Time

Leaving Walt Disney World to Boston:Friday, April 2nd 11:00 am
1, WDW to St Augustine FL 116 116 12:44 PM
2, FL to Savanah GA 178 294 3:55 PM
3, GA to Florence SC 174 468 6:22 pm
4, SC to Battleboro NC 181 649 9:30 pm
5, NC to Aberdeen MD 295 944 2:17 am
6, MD to Bloomfield NJ 181 1,125 5:30 AM
Arrived, NJ to Boston, MA 237 1,362 9:30 am

Started, Friday, 4/02 11:00 am 0
Finished, Sat, 4/03 9:30 am 1362
A 22 1/2 hr trip with 6 stops on the way home
81 gallons of gas $126 for the gas 17.58 mpg 60.5mph
Driving around WDW 62

157 gallons, $257 for the gas, $44 tolls, 17.68 mpg, 59.2mph 2776


The traffic was a mess from Hartford through Delaware on the way down.
It rained from North Carolina to Boston, Mass. on the way home

Me and my wife alternated turns driving our Nissan Xterra when we stopped for gas. My 3 year old held out a lot better than I thought she would on the way down and on the way back to Boston, WITHOUT, tapes, DVDs, video games, just a lot of singing and sleeping.

It's not that Bad!!!

Last year, April 2005 we caught a break in fares and flue down and back out of Logan on a non-stop with American Airlines , $504 round trip total for the 3 of us.

This year, April 2006 we caught a break in fares so we're flying down and back out of Logan on a non-stop with Song/Delta , $496 round trip total for the 3 of us.

April 2007,
If all goes well,
The creek don't rise,
and there ain't no melt down,
We'll do it all again next year.

Good Luck all,
Joe

 

[brentalex]

Magiroux-

Do you get your money back if you cancel your reservation with AVIS?

I made a reservation using the Avis web site. They do not ask for a deposit, or for any credit card information. If I don't need the car, I will call and cancel the reservation, but even if I don't they have no money, so I will not be out anything.