More questions for those that drive FROM MD to Disney??

[edk35]

Okay we are FOR sure driving. I have already booked Vero beach for our last 4 nights. We plan on staying at SSR for 6 nights. Okay...now to figure out...should we stop along the way or push through and arrive SSR late???? I don't think we would get on the road any earlier than 7:00 a.m. I think because we will be excited to go ....we won't stop tons either. Our kids are older.... 19, 16 and 11.....we have a van with a DVC player...so that is a PLUS.
If we drive straight through I would probably make it 7 nights at SSR because we would getting in SO late...but we would be THERE. If we stop in GA then we would probably arrive SSR around lunch time maybe. Just trying to figure this all out. We are NOT the type of people to get up and start driving at 2 or 3 in the morning. I would say UP at 5 and hopefully on the road 6:30 or so. If we stop...then we would need to book a place that has 2 queen beds and room enough for a rollaway. I would try and avoid booking 2 rooms unless there is some super deal. We are elgible for military discounts too. We are not AAA members.

Any suggestions?? TIA

When you drive...what time do you leave your home?

Where do you stop over night if you stop?

What time do you get on the road the next day?

If you don't stop....what time do you head out from home and when do you arrive your Disney resort?

I did save the link to the I-95 exit guide information. Thanks to the person that posted that before.

 

[PrincessDadx2]

We leave from FFX county and usually leave our house about 5:30am. We pack everything the night before and try to leave about 20 minutes after getting up.

We usually stop in Fredericksburg for gas and coffee at the WAWA. Fredericksburg is the first stop after clearing DC traffic and we try not to stop until we clear that. Hit NC about 8:30 or 9:00 and stop at first Cracker Barrel over the border. If we are going slow we will stop in Savannah Georgia about 4:30 - 5pm. WDW is about 4 hours from Savannah.

If I am feeling good and we hit Savannah early we have driven straight through and hit WDW about 8:30pm - so 15 hours or so. You can save time by stopping for quick breakfast like McDonalds vs. Cracker Barrel. Also, we stop for gas and food in Manning, SC - usually has the best gas prices on 95.

We usually stop at a Marriott with a full breakfast and get out of Savannah by 8:30am. That puts in in WDW around lunch time the next day.

If there is an accident or something, you will have a tough time driving through but if you are up to it with the 70mph sped limits on 95 you can make it straight through in 15-16 hours. I am the only driver, so sometimes I am not up to making the trip.

Another option we have done is to leave on Friday after work/school and drive like 4 hours into NC. Then we leave the hotel in the morning and get there early evening. You arrive the same time as driving through on Saturday, but it is easier on the driver.

 

[tmccullough]

We drive it straight through but we leave the evening before when DH gets home from work around 6:00pm. It takes about 16 hours and the kids sleep most of the way. We take a potty break around 8:00 or so in the evening and then drive it straight until we hit the border of FL. Then we use the rest area, stretch, get some fresh air for a few minutes and drive the rest of the way. The nice thing is that it gives us 8 days for a 7 night stay and we drive it the same way home after we have our last TS. It is a long drive but worth it. We've even done it with an infant along for the ride and the baby didn't fuss one time! Also, with leaving at the time we do, we usually are at check-in by 9:00 or so and have always gotten good rooms because we beat the rush. Last May, we flew (in-laws couldn't drive that far)and honestly, it was nice getting there in a few hours but even though we took an early morning flight, we still had to do ME bus,etc. and we didn't get to check-in until much later in the day and it was busy. We also felt like we lost a day going down and flying back because we had to meet ME bus by 2:00 in the afternoon! We will never fly again - what a mess to go through at the airports! I'd rather drive it any day than go through that mess again!

 

[edk35]

We leave from FFX county and usually leave our house about 5:30am. We pack everything the night before and try to leave about 20 minutes after getting up.

We usually stop in Fredericksburg for gas and coffee at the WAWA. Fredericksburg is the first stop after clearing DC traffic and we try not to stop until we clear that. Hit NC about 8:30 or 9:00 and stop at first Cracker Barrel over the border. If we are going slow we will stop in Savannah Georgia about 4:30 - 5pm. WDW is about 4 hours from Savannah.

If I am feeling good and we hit Savannah early we have driven straight through and hit WDW about 8:30pm - so 15 hours or so. You can save time by stopping for quick breakfast like McDonalds vs. Cracker Barrel. Also, we stop for gas and food in Manning, SC - usually has the best gas prices on 95.

We usually stop at a Marriott with a full breakfast and get out of Savannah by 8:30am. That puts in in WDW around lunch time the next day.

If there is an accident or something, you will have a tough time driving through but if you are up to it with the 70mph sped limits on 95 you can make it straight through in 15-16 hours. I am the only driver, so sometimes I am not up to making the trip.

Another option we have done is to leave on Friday after work/school and drive like 4 hours into NC. Then we leave the hotel in the morning and get there early evening. You arrive the same time as driving through on Saturday, but it is easier on the driver.

Oh we LUV Crackerbarrel...... But that does kill a good 1 1/2 hours sometimes. I have a feeling we will try and get to Savannah or push a bit further. I would like to get to SSR around noonish.

 

[kellyg403]

We drive from East NC...it takes us 2 hours just to get to I95 then another 8 from there. Wish we lived closer to the highway!

We aren't the type to get up at o dark thirty either, our kids are older etc. We normally have checkin on Friday so we leave after everyone gets home from school or work Thurs and drive to Savannah. Stop at the Marriot there, usually we get there about 10:30. Get up about 8 a.m. and get to WDW around 1. Just in time to checkin and drop our stuff in our room if its available already. We usually do stop in Lumberton there at the McDonalds, though last trip we made it all the way down into SC before anyone was really hungry or had to use the potty.

Driving home we drive all ten hours. We are not excisted to get home, but most of the time we have delayed to the very last minute leaving the mouse's house.

We don't like to drive straight through because the kids just want to get to the parks once we get there. The first trip, dh and I were exhausted from the drive and swore we wouldn't do it to ourselves ever again. We break it up so we can enjoy the first day there as well.

Kelly

 

[dblr]

The last time we drove was over the Christmas New Years week, we left from the De& Md state line around 5pm and drove thru the night, me and my oldest son, breakfast somewhere off Rt. 4 and checked into SSR about 10 am. I think we made 3 fuel stops and swaped twice for driving change.
Going again this Juhne but will be pulling our camper so I usually do all the driving not sure if my son is ready to pull a 40' camper so we will make 1 overnight stop but we will leave early in the morning the 1st day. The 2nd day will start out around 9 to get to the campground by early afternoon

 

[NHWX]

You should be able to do it.

We drive from New Hampshire to either Fredericksburg or Richmond on the first day, and then from there to Orlando on the second day. It's shorter mileage-wise on the first day but frequently there's traffic or construction in the metro areas so it takes about the same time. We do have a saving grace - my dh is a very determined person and not concerned about spending hours in the lefthand lane.

I think we've done it twice now where we leave after work/school on Friday and get south of DC then. That's tiring.

NHWX

 

[aceys_h0ney]

We drive from Central, VA we got straight through but we travel at night. The kids all sleep great in the car, I do as well. Hubby used to be a long distance truck driver so he does not mind driving 12 hours and then hitting a park when we get there. We will leave our house between 7-10 pm just depends on hubby. He does sleep all afternoon to prepare.

 

[djbleach]

We live near Norfolk Va and just drove last month. My wife, 6dd , dog and I.
We left around 6 Friday night. Stopped around 1030-1100 in Santee, SC.
Got some sleep. Up the next morning and drove the rest of the way. Around 5 1/2 hours.
Wife, DD flew back. Dog and I drove.
I'm not a big fan of night time driving, plus I'm not sure If you make as good time because It's "harder" to speed.
What I mean Is, In the daytime, you can get up with a group of cars going 90-95 and cruz. Seems like It's easier to watch out for the law.
Nighttime driving just seems like it takes longer. I work night shift so, I'm use to staying up all night.
Anyway.
Sure It can be done.
Budget wise. Sometimes It's not that much more to fly. Hotel, Gas, Food stop (then if you get a ticket, you probably would be best to fly.)
Good luck

 

[edk35]

We have only driven ONCE from MD and we stopped over. That was back in 2002. Ever since we have flown. This year we are going to Vero after Disney so we wanted to drive and the kids really want to ROAD TRIP for some reason. So we are going to try it. Our plan is to leave around 6:00 a.m. Our problem will be where to book a room at Disney or around Disney that would allow us to cancel last minute or by 6:00 the day of check in IF WE ENCOUNTER travel problems. Regular hotels use to let you cancel up until 6:00 pm but I think Disney is a week prior isn't it? We can stay at Shades of Green too but you have to cancel 30 days prior. So that won't work. I don't want to waste weekend points arriving SSR at 8 or 9:00 pm on Friday the day we travel down.

 

[Straitlover]

If you decide not to do it all in one day, if you can make it to Brunswick, Ga, there is a Holiday Inn & Suites that could probably fit you all in one room. It has a separate little room w/ a fold-out sofa and you could fit a rollaway in the main part of the room. It's nice, too! Has an indoor pool.

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/ssibr

 

[minnie1928]

Oh we LUV Crackerbarrel...... But that does kill a good 1 1/2 hours sometimes. I have a feeling we will try and get to Savannah or push a bit further. I would like to get to SSR around noonish.

I had to laugh at this...we drove down to WDW and stopped for breakfast at a Cracker Barrel in GA. Everyone that ate a meat product in their breakfast ended up getting food poisoning. Needless to say, whenever I say "who wants to eat at Cracker Barrel?" everyone yells "NOOO!".

 

[Judique]

We have only driven ONCE from MD and we stopped over. That was back in 2002. Ever since we have flown. This year we are going to Vero after Disney so we wanted to drive and the kids really want to ROAD TRIP for some reason. So we are going to try it. Our plan is to leave around 6:00 a.m. Our problem will be where to book a room at Disney or around Disney that would allow us to cancel last minute or by 6:00 the day of check in IF WE ENCOUNTER travel problems. Regular hotels use to let you cancel up until 6:00 pm but I think Disney is a week prior isn't it? We can stay at Shades of Green too but you have to cancel 30 days prior. So that won't work. I don't want to waste weekend points arriving SSR at 8 or 9:00 pm on Friday the day we travel down.

I just got back and as usual I drove down and back. I always stop overnight. It's easier and safer.

This trip we left at 2:30pm - would have left early in the day but DD had an important day at school that couldn't be missed. We checked in to our hotel near Savannah along 95 at 11:30pm. This included several gas stops and some quick food - no long stops. I had worked that day as well, so I was quite ready to stop by 11:30. Next morning we left a bit later - 9am, but we were going through to Vero Beach, not Orlando, so I was not concerned with getting to parks.

Exit 104 near Savannah Airport has quite a few newer rooms. There are a Four Points by Sheraton, Springhill Suites, Comfort Suites, and several others. I usually use reward card points for these rooms.

The drive from here to Orlando is pretty easy. Its roughly 300 miles. It is usually about 5 or so hours for us, because we stop at the Florida welcome center and the outlets near St Augustine - the left side of the road - these have a Disney outlet and I can pre-shop a bit. I think they are the Premium Outlets, but the names change and I've done so many trips - I just know where they are....

Coming back home - we like to leave Disney about 3ish. We usually have a late lunch at Downtown Disney and then drive to Florence, SC...lots of newer rooms in this area also. This is a 400ish mile drive.

Oh yes - let me share a restaurant that is a chain in the south - none here in Maryland (or Florida). It is Fatz Cafe - off exit 164 in Florence, west side of the highway. The peach cobbler is yummy, and they have a nice varied menu similar to Friday's - closest I can get to describing it, sandwiches, dinners, salads,etc. Your group would all find something to like. They have a website so you can check the menu.

You mentioned that you do not have AAA - I will never NOT have it while I do road trips. Peace of mind for me!

 

[edk35]

I just got back and as usual I drove down and back. I always stop overnight. It's easier and safer.

This trip we left at 2:30pm - would have left early in the day but DD had an important day at school that couldn't be missed. We checked in to our hotel near Savannah along 95 at 11:30pm. This included several gas stops and some quick food - no long stops. I had worked that day as well, so I was quite ready to stop by 11:30. Next morning we left a bit later - 9am, but we were going through to Vero Beach, not Orlando, so I was not concerned with getting to parks.

Exit 104 near Savannah Airport has quite a few newer rooms. There are a Four Points by Sheraton, Springhill Suites, Comfort Suites, and several others. I usually use reward card points for these rooms.

The drive from here to Orlando is pretty easy. Its roughly 300 miles. It is usually about 5 or so hours for us, because we stop at the Florida welcome center and the outlets near St Augustine - the left side of the road - these have a Disney outlet and I can pre-shop a bit. I think they are the Premium Outlets, but the names change and I've done so many trips - I just know where they are....

Coming back home - we like to leave Disney about 3ish. We usually have a late lunch at Downtown Disney and then drive to Florence, SC...lots of newer rooms in this area also. This is a 400ish mile drive.

Oh yes - let me share a restaurant that is a chain in the south - none here in Maryland (or Florida). It is Fatz Cafe - off exit 164 in Florence, west side of the highway. The peach cobbler is yummy, and they have a nice varied menu similar to Friday's - closest I can get to describing it, sandwiches, dinners, salads,etc. Your group would all find something to like. They have a website so you can check the menu.

You mentioned that you do not have AAA - I will never NOT have it while I do road trips. Peace of mind for me!

Thanks for the information. Well we don't have AAA but we do have a road service plan with our insurance USAA. I will look into exactly what that is. I have only used it once in 21 years of marriage and that was for a tow.

I am going to keep this information. I have NO idea what we are going to do. I am getting excited just thinking about "how to do it though". LOL Your idea sounds good too......leave after lunch time and drive until about 10 then stop somewhere. DH would just take that day off so we can sleep in and not get up really early. Then the next day I would think we would not have that far to go and we could just check right into SSR. The other possibility is leaving around 5 or 6:00 a.m. and driving straight through arriving maybe by 9 and staying at Buena Vista Suites that first night. Hmmmm decisions decisions.

 

[Tina]

I made the drive home from WDW in October in record time: 13 hours exactly from SSR to my home in Western Prince William county (near Manassas). I made absolute minimal stops (3) - potty/gas/McDonalds-to-go each time. I kept the speed to 70 mph the entire distance and, luckily, hit no traffic backups.

 

[Sadie22]

The first time we flew, the next two times we drove and took our time. We are taking the AutoTrain down this time. On the way back we will stop and visit our son. His place is not on a main route, so I'm no help on where to stay on the road this trip. Long distances without stopping aren't good for me. The last time I drove a long distance, after I got home I ended up at the podiatrist's office with a pinched nerve in my right foot. We had gone to our son's place to help him move in. My husband drove all the way back home in one long day while I kept my foot up.

 

[SOnotLayuh]

Where is the link to the 95 thing? I would love to check that out!

 

[scjo68]

http://www.i95exitguide.com/

Link to 95 that I found.

 

[scjo68]

We drive from Central VA. We have always driven, never flown so far. We enjoy the drive.

We have tried it several ways.
Driving straight through, leaving at 4:00am, and arriving around 5:00. (We do have to make several potty and run-around stops for the kids) seems to work the best with us.

Last year we didn't leave home till around 3:00 pm because my DD had a figure skating competition that day that she didn't want to miss. So we stayed over in Fayetteville, NC., which was OK, too.

We have never driven straight through on the way back home. We just don't have the excitement pushing us on. We usually stop in Santee, SC. There is a nice Hamptn Inn there, and that eases our transition back to real life.

 

[fatuhiva]

Don't know if this would work for you, but on long trips we'll often plan to leave the night before, after work - around 6-ish. This way we can get 4 or 5 hours under our belt. I'll pack a small bag with just the necesities for the night so it's a quick in & out of the hotel.