Mardi Gras Escape Thread

[mrsbert]

Hi !! We're going the 3rd thru the 9th. We usually drive straight through. We've got a DVD player and make a few 9 hr. trips during the year. The boys seem to be fine with it. We usually go at the end of May so this will be a new experience for us. We are definitely bringing beads and I had a Mickey and Minnie Mardi Gras t-shirt made from the DISigns board that we are wearing on Fat Tuesday!!

Counting down the days to our surprise trip.

 

[Mr. Baloo]

Well, I would say it is a brand new way, I looked at the Western Way exit on maps. live. com and the exit was still under construction at the time of the photos.

I will post another thread and ask if anyone has been this way before and ask how it was.... I am not expecting it to be bad as you know how people like to keep things the same and not change something that works....

 

[3for Me]

We discovered the "short cut" last year by accident. Stopped for gas and an older gentleman working there discussed it with my DH. We took it and saved some time. Also, it's a nice new road...

We are leaving Friday evening (missing my favorite parade Krewe d'Etat ) and driving to Tallahassee. We'll make our way to DTD the next morning and eat lunch at our favorite Earl of Sandwich. Then it's on the the Poly for a night until we head to PC the next morning for our 4 night Wonder cruise. Then it's back to WDW for a few days at the GF before heading home.

This is probably our last MG trip for a while, so I'll be really sad when it's over!

 

[pafer]

We are leaving on the Friday when dh gets home from work. I have been able to convince him that we need to be out of the driveway before 4PM. However this puts us in Slidell around rush hour and I am concerned about the parade I hear they have that evening in Slidell. I wanted to leave early enough to get thorugh there before parade traffic and rush hour but he won't leave work any earlier. We plan to try to make it to Tallahasse that first night. Iwould love to drive longer than that but I think we will be too tired.

We have PPP tickets for Saturday and ADR's for Cindy's at 4:30 so we have got to get there early and get checked in.

Dh hesitated when I suggested we go and take my 1st grader out of school. Then we found out how many of the staff at the school have already arranged subs so they can take their own families to Disney. We have been told that with a short week when the kids return to school they don't do much with them anyways at her age. Her teacher said they will not have spelling words or a story to work on that week and no tests.

I can hardly wait to get there.

 

[reeeoga]

I have used the "Western Way". It is quick and easy. It is also fun to be able to see the Castle, Contemporary and Tree of Life from the back (at a distance). It is much easier than I-4. Especially because I am staying at AllStar Movies this time.

Warning: when you are on the Western Way it appears to go on forever . It does not, its just your kids (and Wife) asking over and over "Are we there yet?!"

 

[reeeoga]

This is a tip in the 2008 Unofficial Guide. I was just telling my husband about it last night as I was pouring over the Guide and hilighting away! We're going to try it...sounds like it'll save quite a bit of time. I-4 can be pretty crazy, depending on the time of day you drive through.

My DH, DS9, DS5 are heading to WDW on the Friday before MG...checking out of school early. We plan to make it to Tallahassee...haven't picked a hotel yet. Any suggestions? We're checking in to WL and heading to MK. We have ticket for P&PP for Saturday night. We're leaving WL Monday and checking in to BCV until Friday after MG. This is our 2nd time going during MG week. I hope it's as great as it was in 2006. Before that trip, we had been during Thanksgiving week or in June. I was amazed standing in Fantasyland with NO ONE else around. I didn't believe it was possible. Now, I can't talk my husband into going any other time!!!

We stayed in Tallahasse in 06. West Monroe St has a good number of Hotels on it, all within 1 mile of I-10. I don't remember the name of the hotel, but it was on the right after turning south onto West Monroe. It was OK, nothing great, but did have complimentary breakfast.

You can search for hotels at the AAA website. They give a diamond rating and prices. Several in that area are 3 diamond hotels for under $100.

We move slow on the road and where still able to get to DTD by 1 PM from that area. That was with 1 fuel stop, 2 bathroom stops, and a stop for food.

 

[cfbarker]

We stayed in Tallahasse in 06. West Monroe St has a good number of Hotels on it, all within 1 mile of I-10. I don't remember the name of the hotel, but it was on the right after turning south onto West Monroe. It was OK, nothing great, but did have complimentary breakfast.

You can search for hotels at the AAA website. They give a diamond rating and prices. Several in that area are 3 diamond hotels for under $100.

We move slow on the road and where still able to get to DTD by 1 PM from that area. That was with 1 fuel stop, 2 bathroom stops, and a stop for food.

Thanks for the info! I've been checking out hotels online, but it's nice to get a "real person's" opinion! I'll look on the AAA website.

I see we're from the same area...Lafayette. Nice to "meet" someone from the same area!!!

 

[Tink64]

woooohoooo

I love Disney for Mardi Gras!!!!

We are leaving Sat driving to Lake City..6 hr drive....staying in Lake City overnight...leaving for Disney Sun am staying at BCV....leaving on the 9th and driving straight home........

 

[reeeoga]

Thanks for the info! I've been checking out hotels online, but it's nice to get a "real person's" opinion! I'll look on the AAA website.

I see we're from the same area...Lafayette. Nice to "meet" someone from the same area!!!

There are about 4 of us in the area counting you!