Not Sure -- Drive Straight Through or stopover from NY

[mrshams]

I'm still trying to decide for our first family road trip in August to WDW what our driving plans should be. Our initial plan was to leave at 5am on Thursday from NY, driving 95 all the way, stopping at a hotel in Florence, SC around 5pm. Then the next day starting at 7am, arriving at WDW around 2pm. Then after speaking with friends and reading other posts here, another option arose that DH and I can't choose -- driving straight through starting Wednesday evening around 6pm, arriving somewhere close to WDW at noon and getting a cheap room for the rest of the day and then be at WDW bright and early on Friday. This option would give us an extra full day at WDW (which I already have park tickets for).

The dilemma is really about our kids. All that time in the car while they are awake might be torture for them, and in turn us. But if we go straight through, it might be harder on us staying up that whole time (I doubt that I could sleep while my DH drives -- I'm a control freak and need to know what's going on at all times).

All advice is welcomed!

 

[Robert P]

I'm still trying to decide for our first family road trip in August to WDW what our driving plans should be. Our initial plan was to leave at 5am on Thursday from NY, driving 95 all the way, stopping at a hotel in Florence, SC around 5pm. Then the next day starting at 7am, arriving at WDW around 2pm. Then after speaking with friends and reading other posts here, another option arose that DH and I can't choose -- driving straight through starting Wednesday evening around 6pm, arriving somewhere close to WDW at noon and getting a cheap room for the rest of the day and then be at WDW bright and early on Friday. This option would give us an extra full day at WDW (which I already have park tickets for).

The dilemma is really about our kids. All that time in the car while they are awake might be torture for them, and in turn us. But if we go straight through, it might be harder on us staying up that whole time (I doubt that I could sleep while my DH drives -- I'm a control freak and need to know what's going on at all times).

All advice is welcomed!

Not knowing any specifics on where you start from, or your 'driving style', I won't try to figure how I-95 daytime traffic will impact your drive across the 2 day plan. I will offer this opinion:

The driving at night is a great way to avoid much of the daytime traffic problems. Our kids usually sleep through a great deal of the night drive, making it much more pleasant for me doing the driving. There is less traffic on the road (overall), and you are less likely to encounter traffic problems along the way (generally speaking). We have done similar to what you have laid out, and gotten a cheap room for the night before our stay began, and it has worked out well for us.
That being said, only you know if driving all night will work for your family. With 2 drivers, and the ability to switch off during the drive as needed, I would say an all night drive is certainly do-able.
If I read your post correctly, the overnight drive puts you at WDW around Noon that Thursday. You will be zonked from the drive, so if all you will do is eat dinner, hit the pool, then sleep for the night, then really you are only gaining the WDW time from Friday morning at park opening until 2:00 p.m. Friday (which was your 2 day arrival point), or about 6 hours. Consider that in your planning comparison.

All in all, if it were me, and I had 2 drivers available, I would do the all night drive. The kids sleep alot more, and the car is quiet and less stressful. I'd get a room upon arrival, catch a much needed nap, then head out later for some park time or fireworks, to make some use of getting to WDW a day early. (I've found that I can't take more than 3 hour nap after an all night drive, or it screws up my regular sleep pattern the next few nights. A 3-4 hour nap lets me rest, and doesn't throw my internal clock off too badly for those next few days.)

Whatever plan you decide to do, travel safe!

 

[Shih-Tzu]

Why not check out the Auto Train (Amtrak) which leaves Lorton, VA (just outside of DC) - I believe it is still in service.... We used it once - it left Lorton at 4:30 pm or so (you had to check in by 2:00 or 2:30 - I know that we left our hotel in Carney's Pt in NJ around 9:00 and were there with plenty of time to spare). The train trip included a supper, snack, movie and breakfast, reclining seats, a snack/bar car and of course passage for your own car and the passengers. We arrived in Sanford FL around 10:00am or so the next day (overnight train ride) and were a 40 minute drive from Disney and got there around noon (after claiming our car). The return trip was the same timings....
We chose the train as you could get up, move around, go have a snack, sit in the lounge car (which had a glass-type roof) and we knew it would be a lot better travelling for kids than being stuck in a car (as we were already two days on the road to get that far)...and we managed to sleep on the train just fine....we just had to take a carry on bag the much the same as you would for a plane - everything else just stayed packed in the car.

 

[BigTigger]

I've driven from central MA to WDW twice without stopping. I had a co-driver both times and no one else in the car to entertain/distract. Both drives took 22.5 hours via the inland route (not picking up I-95 until SC) and had some reasonable breaks for food and stretching. It can be done, but it is very tiring and you need a day to recharge the batteries. Co-drivers does not usually mean both will drive equal amounts as reality and planning never seem to match. Also, catching a nap on the road when not driving is much harder to do than you'd think as noises and other irritations will keep you awake or wake you up sooner than you planned.

I do recommend driving overnight or during parts of the overnight to reduce the potential traffic issues and such. I do not recommend a straight through drive for the reasons noted above. You can do the overnight drive, stop in SC for the kids to use the pool while you sleep and recharge and continue on later in day two and arrive at WDW that night in much better shape than if you did an all-nighter and arrived mid-afternoon.

 

[Shih-Tzu]

Forgot to mention - when considering the price of the train remember what you're saving with:
- not buying gas
- meals were provided (if they still are)
- less wear/tear on car
- no overnight hotel
- no time lost to "stretch", eat or bathroom breaks
and we didn't feel tired at all when we got there....

 

[Alexander]

I cannot comment on what will work for your family, but I know driving at night is absolutely the best way for mine. DH insists on driving at night to avoid all of the traffic. He often works nights, so being up all night and sleeping during the day is not an issue for him. The kids also sleep more than half of the drive there. There is no better way to make good time and have a peaceful drive than with my kids sleeping. We have looked at the autotrain numerous times and the one thing that remains the same is it is EXPENSIVE. Much more so than even if we flew to FL. We feel it is pointless to drive all the way to VA, get on a train that will take longer to arrive in FL than if we just continued driving. But, as I said, this is what works for my family, I'm sure everyone has different ways that are best for them.

 

[mrshams]

Thanks for all the input. I think we have decided for driving straight through. I know it'll be easier with traffic, and hopefully the kids will sleep. I'm more concerned about my DD6 who gets fussy at bedtime, but she'll probably just tucker herself out and fall asleep. We'll arrive in FL a day ahead of schedule, get a cheap room, sleep it off and be at WDW with a full day now on Friday, instead of an abbreviated one.

 

[GranddadTom]

I’ve driven through the night – Maryland to Orlando (870 miles) – many times and I prefer doing it that way. My daughter lived in Orlando for seven years so we made many trips down there. My wife is a retired teacher and when she was teaching, we’d wait until the Washington, DC traffic cleared out (9:00 pm) and then we’d be off. From Maryland, its 12 ½ to 13 hours. I would get off work around noon and go home and get 6 or 7 hours of sleep before we left – for me, this is really important because you must not drive if you are sleepy. If you do drive while sleepy, you put yourself and others in harm’s way. I do all the driving and the toughest part is around 4:00 am. After the sun comes up, you get a second wind. As a previous poster mentioned, you will be wiped out so I wouldn’t plan on doing anything but sleeping once you get there. Something else to consider is bathroom breaks. Believe it or not, getting gas isn’t a big deal – many stations are open with the pumps on for credit card purchases but the building is close and there is no attendant and therefore no access to a bathroom. At the beginning of each state there will be a welcome center that remains opens all night so plan accordingly.

 

[tami82]

Yes i agree the Autotrain is very very expensive, we looked into it and would not accommodate us 5 for a reasonable price. If it is for maybe 2 or 3 people without small kids it can be done but not for a family

 

[Tjkane28]

Forgot to mention - when considering the price of the train remember what you're saving with:
- not buying gas
- meals were provided (if they still are)
- less wear/tear on car
- no overnight hotel
- no time lost to "stretch", eat or bathroom breaks
and we didn't feel tired at all when we got there....

Maybe the cost has changed in the past two months, but when I looked at the cost of the auto train, it came out to be as expensive as flying from upstate NY and the cost of a rental car. The Auto Train was not cheap. No savings for me.

 

[Tjkane28]

If driving straight through, I would suggest leaving after the rush hour in the NE. That means after 8PM?

It all depends on your constitution. Some people can drive through, others need a break. As a previous poster reported, a straight through drive may require a day of recuperation. So getting there quicker may not get you to the parks faster.

I just completed the trip from upstate NY. Left at 2AM Sat 6/20. Arrived WDW 8AM Sun 6/21. Spent 11 hours at the Best Western in Santee, SC. Leaving from LI should get you to Savanna, GA in 13 hours. That leaves only 4 hours tops to WDW.

 

[PaDisney02]

We drove to disney last year from PA

On the way to disney:
Left Monday morning from home and drove all day. Then we stayed at a hotel overnight and drove the rest of the way on Tuesday. We ended up getting to diney around 4pm. In my opinion it worked out great. We stopped along the way a lot for potty breaks and snacks and plus it was nice staying overnight and taking a break from driving.

On the way home:
Hubby had the "wonderful idea" to just drive straight through. For us, this was a mistake! It was way too long (16+hrs) to be in the car. The kids were screaming and had trouble sleeping in the car.

Good Luck in what ever you decide!