Looking for advice from those who drive to Disney from Toronto

[mom2brats]

We have always flown but considering driving this summer. Looking for any advice. How far to drive the first night?? Where do you stop/stay??? Thinking I make it somewhat of an adventure. Hope I am not making a mistake!

 

[nat1234]

I drove down the last time I went in 2009. It's actually not a bad drive. I'm planning to do it again when we go this September. I live in Hamilton so a little closer to the border than you but still easy. On the way down we took our time because it was the first time we had driven down and I didn't want to do the mountains in the dark. On the way back, I drove home in a day and a half. The roads you travel on are nice, there are frequent rest stops with clean bathrooms. And as you cross into each state there is an information area, with bathrooms and also information. On the way down, we stopped, I think in Charlotte, NC and the second night in Jacksonville, FL. On the way back we stopped in Georgia for the night and drove straight home the next day. I just grabbed a trip tix map from the CAA and used my GPS and we made it. That time I went with my mom and 12yr old daughter. This time it's the two older daughters and myself for our birthdays. I'm looking forward to our road trip. It's not for everyone but if you have the time it's nice to do once. I know lots of people here have driven and I'm sure you will get lots of help. Good luck deciding.

 

[August2010]

We have driven 4 times since 2010 from KW area. We have gone both I75 and I95. We usually stop 2 nights and make a trip out of it. I like to get some shopping in on the way!
We usually do a beach trip on the drive home in either Daytona, Hilton Head or Myrtle Beach. The kids love that as much as the Disney week.
We spent $240 on gas each way last time (in Sept for a Honda Pilot). When you factor in hotels and food the cost is probably close to airfare. We like having our own car and not have to worry about carseats etc. Then we can load up on water, beer and snacks at Target before he hit Disney too.

 

[nat1234]

I liked being able to bring water and snacks too. Driving down I even get to bring my own pillow, which I love. It also makes bringing stuff back.

 

[Babooagain]

We've always driven straight through in the past and it usually takes about 24 hours. This summer we're taking it easier and are planning to stop for 2 nights in both directions. We're thinking of stopping in Beckley WV the first night and then Jacksonville Fla the second night since it's only about 2 1/2 hours to WDW from there. DS and DDIL are flying in from Ottawa so we'll meet them there.

 

[bdoyledimou]

I have done 9 road trips with the family, and drive striaght through -- leave at 9 am and take it easy and it's simple to do (although i am getting old now and our next drive trip will be an over nighter) --

It is exactly 2200 km's from my house to Art of Animation -- we stop at Crakerbarrel for breakfast lunch and dinner -- it's nopt the ride there that kills you though -- it's the drive back home ;(

 

[GoofyCdn]

We have driven it 3 times now from Hamilton. We usually leave around 6 or 7 pm just after grabbing a quick dinner. We drive straight through. We have driven down I75 through Detroit, as well as I79 through Pittsburgh, and I77 through Cleveland. I79 and I77 merge in Charleston, WV. My wife usually takes the first few hours. I drive the over nights and then she drives more once the sun comes up again. We typically have arrived around 4pm. Perfect for dinner at the resort and a good rest before the first day at the park!
We did drive down once where we left in the morning and found that by 8pm we were getting tired and needed a place to stay. I can't remember where we stayed but there's plenty of towns along the way to find hotels. Funny how driving over night doesn't make me as tired as driving all day. I guess it's the driving in the sun during the day that tires me out.
We prefer to drive as we go to the grocery store when there and get bagels, cereal, water and other breakfast items that we eat in our room before we go out for the day.

 

[Tortuga Rob]

We usually drive straight through as well. Typically we leave Peterborough at 3pm and arrive at 4-5pm next day. This year we plan on leaving at 10 am so hopefully we get there around noon. We have driven I75 route six times and 77/79/81/95 route once. We prefer I75 for rest areas and food choices. I love driving through Cincinnati and Atlanta. Hopefully no more rock slides! That was fun........

 

[busyshrew]

Please excuse me for hopping in on this post.
We are also thinking about driving down this year for the first time. DD is older so we need to respect her school schedule, and March Break flight prices are crazy!! (we normally go in early February when it's cheap and quiet).

But this year we'd like to try it as a real "road trip" and I could really use some advice.

We're planning on driving down and doing 1-2 day breaks (where, we aren't sure) both on the way down and on the way back... I've never seen Washington, we have friends staying in Myrtle Beach who have invited us to stop by....

Would you mind giving me some details on where you might suggest laying over on the drive down & back?

Thanks, and again, my apologies to the OP. Hope you don't mind me adding in my question.

 

[MedicGoofy]

We have driven it 3 times now from Hamilton. We usually leave around 6 or 7 pm just after grabbing a quick dinner. We drive straight through. We have driven down I75 through Detroit, as well as I79 through Pittsburgh, and I77 through Cleveland. I79 and I77 merge in Charleston, WV. My wife usually takes the first few hours. I drive the over nights and then she drives more once the sun comes up again. We typically have arrived around 4pm. Perfect for dinner at the resort and a good rest before the first day at the park!
We did drive down once where we left in the morning and found that by 8pm we were getting tired and needed a place to stay. I can't remember where we stayed but there's plenty of towns along the way to find hotels. Funny how driving over night doesn't make me as tired as driving all day. I guess it's the driving in the sun during the day that tires me out.
We prefer to drive as we go to the grocery store when there and get bagels, cereal, water and other breakfast items that we eat in our room before we go out for the day.

I really like this plan! I have been thinking of doing this for a while now and have always wondered what they best way to do it is. I would be driving solo BUT have no issues staying awake or with driving. I drive for a living and work 12 hour nights.

Definitely a plan to keep in mind

 

[NJR]

We "drove" last year from the KW area - we really only drove as far as Lorton, Virginia, and then took Amtrak's Auto Train from Lorton to Sanford, Florida (about 40 min from Orlando). We made a bit of a road trip out of it - we drove down to Washington and spent a few days touring the Smithsonian museums (Natural History and Air & Space), then short drive to Lorton to board the AT. The train left around 4pm, and arrived in Sanford around 9am. You have the option to stay in coach seats, or upgrade to sleeping accommodations; either way, your fare includes dinner and breakfast. It was great having our own vehicle but spare ourselves some of the driving (not to mention the wear and tear on our minivan)!

 

[bdoyledimou]

i find the auto train extremely expensive when you consider that you have to drive 10 hours just to get to it -- almost half way!! it is actually cheaper for my family to fly from Buffalo than to take the auto train -- not including gas to get there - and that is just lower level seating -- not a sleeper cabin.

 

[NJR]

i find the auto train extremely expensive when you consider that you have to drive 10 hours just to get to it -- almost half way!! it is actually cheaper for my family to fly from Buffalo than to take the auto train -- not including gas to get there - and that is just lower level seating -- not a sleeper cabin.

Depending on what deals there may be on airfare it is possible to fly for less $, but once you add in a rental car (a must for our family) those savings are usually wiped out. Bringing our own vehicle allowed us to pack it up as much as we wanted without worrying about excess baggage fees or dragging it all (plus car seats) through an airport - golf clubs, portable grill, box of kitchen goodies for the villa, it all went in. We felt like we got the best of both worlds - a bit of touring around (Washington), and then relaxing the rest of the way. It certainly will not appeal to everyone, but since we were not interested in driving straight through and would be stopping overnight anyways, we figured we'd stretch out and let the train do the rest of the work for us. Besides, it wasn't just about transportation, our boys loved the adventure aspect of the train and have talked about it often since - they can't wait to do it again

OP, have a great trip!