November Drive

[dbogen]

Hi all, My DH wants to drive down the next time we go to the world. I have 2 questions for all you experts.
1. We are driving from Fairfield County Connecticut, about how long will it take to get there, I figured if we leave saturday morning we will get to the all stars Sunday evening. Does that sound correct.

2. I am considering the week of Thanksgiving my DS (8 and 10) have a full day on monday half days on tues and wed and no school thurs and fri so I figured if I have to pull them from school ( I know this can cause a debate) missing 1 full and 2 half's isn't that bad. My question is just how crowded is it that week? I have read mixed posts and just can't figure it out

The last times we went we did it the first week of Oct and then labor day week.
Sorry this post is so long, and thank you in advance for all the great advise I know I will receive.

Deanna

 

[anne60]

We drove down from Central Mass, (15 minutes from the mass pike and I84). Left the friday before thanksgiving, returned home the sunday after Thanksgiving. We left Mass at 2:30 pm on Friday. Got to just south of Richmond, VA around 12:30. Going thru NYC and the NJ turnpike took forever. Left the hotel in VA at 7:30 am, got to our hotel in Kissimmee around 11 pm Saturday night. Hit traffic outside Jacksonville and again on I4 heading to Orlando, and one spell in Georgia (I think a combination of construction and an accident). On the way home, on Sunday, we spent SEVEN HOURS IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. We now joke that we are honorary New Jersey-ites!! The parks were pretty good Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. We spent Tday at IOA/USF and had FOTL, so we did not wait at all. Friday, we went to EPCOT, and we had a great time, but it was rather crowded. We headed home on Saturday. Had pretty good weather, nights were cool. Over all, I would do it again, but would head home a little earlier on Saturday, stop early Saturday evening, and then get up VERY early Sunday so we don't get stuck in Jersey.

 

[dbogen]

Thank you for your input. I think we might be a go. Now if those darn rates would just come out LOL.

Deanna

 

[AspiringCindy]

Did you travel the NJ Turnpike? I am surprised that you hit so much traffic. We travel the Turnpike often enough, and the busy hours are usually only rush hour M-F. We live in the northern most end of NJ and didn't have a problem driving down to Fla. Driving the entire length of NJ on the turnpike should only take 2 1/2 hours. It takes us 18 hours driving time to get to WDW. We do stop over night. If you plan on stopping, book a room in advance. Often hotels along I95 sell out!
I also hear, during that time of year the park is crowded!

 

[anne60]

The turnpike was backed up, so we went on the road parallel, route 295, which was fine. Then we tried to get back on the NJTpke at exit 6, still backed up, we rolled to exit 7 and got off again. After that we drove a bunch of secondary roads to the Garden State Parkway. It was the Sunday after Thanksgiving, probably the busiest day of the year!