Long Island to WDW drivers opinions please...

[4DisneyNUTS]

Planning on driving for our first time in April. What is your opinion on this and any advice? We will be a family of 6 in a minivan 4 adults 2 kids. What is above the gas/toll costs? Any nice resonable places to stay if we need to stop? Realistically expenses. I have already quoted gas on the high end of being about $450 rountrip but what else do we need to worry about other than tolls, snacks, meals etc...
It seems like airfare is high and car rentals are too. This would save us about $2000 that we can put towards spending $$
Thanks,
Steph

 

[JoiseyMom]

Go check out this link http://www.wdwinfo.com/Transportation/Driving_to_Florida.htm

It will be very helpful!

 

[DisneyFansInLINY]

My parents almost always drove from Long Island to Orlando. You really only need to stop once overnight and there are plenty of hotels/motels along the way. Like pretty much every exit will show a sign of what lies ahead like food, lodging, gas, rest stops, and motels/hotels. I95 is set up for travelers and truckers. I believe we always made it to the Carolinas before we stopped to sleep. However, there are many, many rest stops for quick bites as well as quick naps. My parents always split up the driving so while one slept in the car, the other drove. It's about a 20 hour drive but with kids it could take alot longer lol. However, it's a great way to spend time together. Oh and try to leave as early as possible because the later you leave, the greater the traffic. My parents always left at around 4:00 am.

 

[gk90]

A couple of helpful threads on the transportation board:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2465424

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2507731

 

[ninecrayons]

My best friend and I have done the NYC to Disney drive several times now. It does save some money and it will definitely save more for your family of 6.

In general, we've been able to do it in one full day of driving. It takes about 17 hours and requires two drivers, but it can be done.

This past February we stopped just across the border in South Carolina due to a freak snow storm. (That was NOT FUN.) From there it still took us about 5-6 hours to get to Disney.

I imagine in your situation you could do it with just one stop. I highly agree with the previous poster that stopping in the Carolinas is a good bet. North and South Carolina is where the bulk of your mileage will be. They each take about two to three hours to get through. I would suggest either stopping between North and South Carolina or powering through them and stopping in Georgia. You would likely hit South Carolina in the early evening and Georgia in the later evening.

 

[Chaoster]

My suggestion:

1) If you have more than one driver switch and drive straight through.
2) Leave at night. We leave 9pm. No traffic. If you time it wrong it could take
an hour just to get through Holland tunnel to Jersey. The DC area has bad
traffic also.
3) Use Flying-J for gas. It's a truck stop. Well lite, cheaper gas and clean
bathrooms.
4) If you want to stop over night, go to welcome center when you enter each
state. They will have coupons for hotels.
5) I believe there are no more tolls after Maryland.
6) Get gas in S.C. before entering Florida. Gas is cheaper.
7) Stop at the welcome center, pick up info,coupons and get some free OJ.

 

[ziggystardust]

My suggestion:

1) If you have more than one driver switch and drive straight through.
2) Leave at night. We leave 9pm. No traffic. If you time it wrong it could take
an hour just to get through Holland tunnel to Jersey. The DC area has bad
traffic also.

5) I believe there are no more tolls after Maryland.

Definitely agree on the switching. I usually do every 2-3 hours. seems like a lot, but it really helps. and you get to stretch your legs.

Did the leaving at night thing once, and while it was great traffic-wise, it was painful. It took us a full day to recover from this once we got to disney. I've found as long as you leave early enough in the AM, you'll bypass most traffic spots.

You can also use your EzPass up to maryland.

Have fun!

 

[mousebymarriage]

Not a Long Islander but, I live in Northern NJ (Bergen County) 6 miles from the GWB. We drove down this past Feb. took I-95 the whole way, gas and tolls cost us $300-$350 round trip (gas was around $3.00 per gallon at the time). We drive a minivan which was about 6 months old at the time (Chrysler Town & Country).

We usually drive straight through but, we have stopped for the night in the past. We have stopped in Santee, SC which is approximately 12 hours from our house. We stayed at The Country Inn & Suites, nice clean hotel with an indoor pool for just under $100, includes free continental breakfast.

 

[V4dice]

I don't know if this was mentioned on any of the other threads but on our travels south we have used a book called "Drive I-95". It has exit by exit information on lodging/food/things to see. It has come in very handy especially traveling with kids. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[WDWjen]

We leave NY/NJ area a little after dinner and drive right thru. My husband and I take turns driving/sleeping. We eat dinner, get in the car and put a movie on...then stop around 9pm for a break and the kids go to sleep right after that. They usually wake up around 6am and we are already in GA or FL. I suggest Santee or Rocky Mount if you are going to stay overnight, but we find its easier to just drive straight through. We are a little tired when we get to WDW but we usually plan an easy day the first day. It saves a TON of money with our family trips (2 adults 3 kids) because even the cheapest airfare we have found is $1100 and if we drive then we have a car down there to go to walmart etc.

Pack a cooler with snacks/drinks and pack a goody bag for each kid w/new books crayons toys etc. If you dont have a DVD player or laptop for movies I would try and borrow one for the trip - its a lifesaver!!

 

[mousebymarriage]

I don't know if this was mentioned on any of the other threads but on our travels south we have used a book called "Drive I-95". It has exit by exit information on lodging/food/things to see. It has come in very handy especially traveling with kids. Enjoy your trip!!

Excellent book, I highly recommend it! We have used it a few times and it has been very helpful.

 

[ninecrayons]

That Drive I-95 book sounds great! I will have to pick it up. My best friend is going to Disney to do the College Program so I'm hoping to get down and see her often.

I did want to mention the trip back from Disney to NYC, as that is something we didn't think about the first time we went. I've found it impossible to do that without stopping over night. Even with two drivers, it just seems to take longer and you're kind of coming down off the adrenaline of Disney, so you get tired faster.

If you drive down without stopping, definitely think about stopping on the way back up.

Also, I totally agree about packing snacks and drinks. Those make the trip go much more smoothly because you're just mostly stopping for gas and bathroom.

 

[crl]

We drive down from PA using I95 and I agree that stopping in Santee, SC was a great overnight stopping place. Also, the day we left Orlando, we stopped in Jacksonville, Fl at the zoo. My kids loved it and want to do it again this year. Then we drove through till after midnight and stopped for a few hours of sleep before continuing home the next morning. It worked great because the kids got tired from walking around the zoo and we could log some serious hours when they fell asleep early in the night. (No stroller if possible that day so they sleep in the car!)

 

[Kellydelly]

If you are a AAA member, get a trip-tik map and some state guide books (free to members). I love using the trip-tik to gauge where we are from one stop to the next . The guide books have all the hotels, attractions, and restaurants at the different exits along the freeway. Or find a friend/relative who is a member and see if they will pick this up for you.