Need thoughts on driving from Boston

[DizGeek]

Am I crazy? Never did it...we're thinking of driving from Boston on Christmas night. I figure about 24 hours straight through--changing drivers of course. Any thoughts? Ideas...other than stopping overnight.

 

[cobbler]

Driving to Disney?? We drive whenever we go down to Disney and as you can see we live quite North of Disney

We stay overnight because it is just to much to do it straight- through and this is even with a husband who travels for a living and is used to driving 12-14 hours straight at a time.

You won't arrive so darn exhausted that you feel you could sleep for a whole day. You can get there refreshed and besides a bed is a little more comfy then a car

We always pack a little cooler too for snacks and drinks for us and the kids so we won't have to make frequent stops, just for gas and potty breaks (which we try to not make so many, just at gas stops).

We don't necessarily say where we want to stop but we mostly like to try to get so many hours in before we stop or some sort of city, for example we might try to have a goal of getting south of Atlanta. And if we feel like going on we do and if not we stop.

HTH

PS - Portable DVD players are wondeful for the kids and sometimes the passanger

 

[DizGeek]

I figure if we can get use to driving then that could mean more Disney trips! I mean, 1 a year isnt really enough is it?

Flying from Boston during school vacation can be welll over $1300 for a family of 4. So we figure, why not give it a shot?

How many trips have you driven to WDW and whats your record time?

 

[KM2004]

Driving is definitely doable. I'm from Boston and i've done it twice.

The drive is long, but after a while, you get used to it

After Virginia, it gets kinda boring (no offense). The Carolinas are very long too...once you think you're out of north carolina, you're not...not close

It's great to see, "Welcome to Florida". It's not great when you still have like 3-4 hours after you see that sign before you get to your hotel

Anyway, give it a shot...try it out. When we reached Florida, we took a nap, then went to the parks after...doable.

The stinky thing is after your trip, you have to drive back

Good Luck!

 

[KM2004]

Oh yeah, the time.

We drive straight through. The fastest time it took us to get down there was 21 hours. We didn't count driving back.

You can drive pretty fast at night (legally fast, )

 

[DizGeek]

Is there anywhere interesting to stop about half way during the ride back?

 

[cobbler]

We drive every trip to Disney.

However I don't remember the timing. On the way down we drive 13 hours into Alabama to visit hubbys grandma then after a couple days there we drive from there to Disney which is about 8 hours or less, depending on traffic on I-75 near I-4.

On the way back, we usually make it into mid to Northern Kentucky before we stop. I know we are 6 hours from Louisville at that point but we usually stop about an hour or 2 south of there.

Not much help, but hope it gives you an idea.


If we had to fly, we wouldn't be able to afford to go down, airfare for 4 runs at least 1000. And well even though we would get there in 6 hours and not in 2 days, we just have to drive or there wouldn't be a Disney vacation.

 

[KM2004]

South of the border is between North Carolina and South Carolina...you'll see TONS of signs for it.

The signs are neat tracking devices to show your progress

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/SCDILsob.html

I wouldn't go there at night, though. Especially with a family (mho)

Other than that place, there's not much to stop bye at. Maybe DC?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

BIL, SIL and 2 small kids did it last April and said it wasn't too bad. Have talked to many others over the years who've done it also - mixed reviews. One that stuck in my head said he was exhausted for 3 days and didn't enjoy the rest of the trip, recommended against it.

We've considered it many times but can only get one week off at a time so it just cut into our vacation time too much. But also we crunched the numbers and when you factor in (for our family of four) meals, snacks and drinks, gas, tolls, mileage on car, possible hotel up and back, and a probable speeding ticket it pretty much was the same so we always chose to fly. (We always get great airline deals on SWA out of Providence). We also used to do a 12hr drive to Cleveland pre kids when my sister lived there and it was awful.

One real issue I see for that time of year is the weather. It's a saftey issue if you're driving in bad weather - you never know what type of weather you're going to hit, and also you're on unfamiliar roads which might be icy. It wouldn't be worth the few bucks you'll save if you were in a bad accident. I'd probably bite the bullet and fly, and if my budget was tight I'd look to find other ways to save. Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

[KM2004]

We had actually gone on the new years day of last year (around the same time your family will be going). The weather was fine the time I went, if you think about it, because you're going down south where the temperature is warmer. No snow or ice, which is good.

But I agree with the last poster. Gas, food, possible hotel stay, depreciation on your vehicle, etc...will cost you a lot.

At least you'll have a car down there instead of renting.

 

[CamColt]

We have done it 3 times now. The first time was when the kids were 20 months and 4 1/2, and then we did it the next year, and again the next. The first time we also had my mother with us and the last time we had another family of 4 following us in another car.
It usually takes just about 24 hours however we always seem to hit traffic, downpours, or something that slows us down some. Im sure it could be done quicker. When we get to WDW we usually arent tired, but when we return home its another story. We prefer to do it about 10:00am-10:00am. Once we did it 3:00pm-3:00pm and that seemed longet because it felt like 2 days of driving. 10-10 makes it seem like 1 day, and then when the sun comes up we are almost there. We dont do the parks the first day but instead swim, wash up and usually go tot he BW for dinner,maybe take a ride on the monorail, stuff like that. Then the next day we are rearing to go.
I agree with what was said before..those southern states are very long, so it doesnt feel like you are getting anywhere, but we follow on the map and know we are. DH does most of our driving, I sleep early night(around 10:00/11:00). Then around 4:00 Ill start driving and let DH sleep for a while.
OUr kids love driving and when we tell them we are flying they complain they want to drive. It is sort of fun, like an adventure.
If you have any specific questions, just ask.

 

[The Duchess]

We've driven down twice now to WDW from SE MASS. We leave at about 4am and stay over two nights, arriving at WDW about 530pm on a Friday. Last trip, we spend a morning in Savannah,GA which is really a cool city.

At WDW, we spend the first night at FW Cabins and go to the outdoor movie, then check into YC the next morning, so we have a full day.

Last trip was during the Sniper shootings in Virginia, so we did a biiiiiig roundabout way to avoid that area.
Turned out, we were staying overnight in a hotel not far from the rest area where they caught the guys! Scary!

This trip we're going straight 95.Usually we make our en-route hotel/motel reservations in advance, but we're going to wing it this time and see what kind of time we can make.

You can go to the Transportation Board for more info!

 

[KM2004]

Originally posted by CamColt
We prefer to do it about 10:00am-10:00am. Once we did it 3:00pm-3:00pm and that seemed longet because it felt like 2 days of driving. 10-10 makes it seem like 1 day, and then when the sun comes up we are almost there.

Great point. We've left early too, just for this reason. If you leave later on in the day, it's almost wasting that day when you could be in Maryland by the time you actually leave.

 

[CamColt]

Oops, that should have said longer not longet.

 

[OKW Lover]

Any particular reason for driving instead of flying? You should get some pretty good prices for flying on Christmas day.

 

[DizGeek]

Originally posted by OKW Lover
Any particular reason for driving instead of flying? You should get some pretty good prices for flying on Christmas day.

To get good prices on Christmas day, we'd have to leave early. We want to spend the day with relatives and leave that night.

Also, the good prices arent really good. I did some quick searches and came up with $490 NS. We can get a $300 flight but its connecting and the hours are bad.

We've always talked about driving and it may be time to try it out.

 

[KM2004]

Originally posted by DizGeek
We've always talked about driving and it may be time to try it out.

I wish you luck. Don't forget to bring snacks, coffee drinks, gum, Fav cd's, anything that'll help you stay up. Pull over if you really feel the need to. There are hotel/motels all over 95 south, especially in the south.

Oh yeah, if you get hungry, there are waffle houses all over!

 

[DizGeek]

Originally posted by KM2004
I wish you luck. Don't forget to bring snacks, coffee drinks, gum, Fav cd's, anything that'll help you stay up. Pull over if you really feel the need to. There are hotel/motels all over 95 south, especially in the south.

Oh yeah, if you get hungry, there are waffle houses all over!

Thanks for all the info. Good luck with your move and most importantley....Go Pats!!