Ontario people who drive to WDW...

[cottontail]

Hi: We are very careful going thru Summersville as the writer before spoke about. The last time going thru we actually had one police officer driving right beside us, my husband made sure he went below the speed limit, it was as if the officer was pacing us to see if we would go over the speed limit. I guess if they pay no taxes they must catch alot of people.

Deb.

 

[CdnMom2]

Have driven both I-75 & the Mountains & flown down. Everyone has pretty well pointed out the differences. The I-75 Book is invaluable if you go that route. I would never do the Mountains Route in the Winter. We took it Southbound early Dec. & ended up with some dicey weather once we were half-way.

The CAA TripTiks even warn you to avoid that Summersville/US19 route. Helpful Dis'ers had already well-warned us when I had posted about the route. But I was rather surprised to see it actually printed in the TripTik too! Apparently, as you can imagine, Ontario plates are a favourite target.

For us, 6 people with 1 driver & 4 kids, the I-75 Route is best for all reasons people have mentioned. Straight on it all the way, with the I-75 book you can avoid many traffic problems & stay entertained, countless possibilities for food, bathroom, & hotel whenever you decide to stop. The other route was a beautiful sight & I'm glad we saw it, but for us I-75 is just less stress. Of course, if we were veterans of the route like others on here perhaps we'd feel differently.

 

[misslissa]

Hi there!

I work at a CAA office in the GTA and we are told the following to tell our members:

- I75 is the fastest, safest most direct winter route
- I77/79 are great throughout the summer but a little icy and could be dangerous depending on winter weather and if you are driving a larger vehicle like a van or RV
- I95 is the longest route... but hits a few nice cities along the way, some people enjoy it

We also did sell out of the Along I75 books that some other posters recommended. Everyone who comes in says that the book is absolutely amazing and wouldn't drive without it.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Our route is I-75 it is more direct from London and we know the route like the back of our hands now. Plus it is more highly traveled by trucks etc so if anytrhing should happen to you you are guaranteed to have other traffic to stop and help out. We just got home and our fillups and total cost for gas was 182 dollars US to drive to Disney and back plus our driving while we were there.

 

[Mortlives]

We'll be doing the I77/79 route in 9 days. (Single digit dancing ). We've never had a problem through Summersville, but then again, we're enjoying the scenery so much, we don't want to speed.

 

[son3disfan]

Thanks everyone. I will be putting this info. to use planning our trip next spring. We will definitely cross at the Peace Bridge this time.

Hey! Waterdown! Me too!
Anyway, we have driven down the I75 4 times and flown once. We are flying this year again because it was SO CHEAP!!! ($54.oo one way fare - US) . Our car is getting older and the wear and tear really does add on after 4 trips. The other thing you have to add on to your expenses when driving is the oil changes. ( one before we leave and one after the almost 5000 km). I love driving , really. The time we spend together, the games in the car and all that. I just couldn't resist the flights this year. Even with renting a car it works out to be not too much more then driving,- stops for hotel, snacks (although we always brought lots!), gas and wear and tear, not to mention the 22 hour drive!
I'm also concerned that gas will go up again. It was at 1.59 a gallon this March when we were there. and we have a truck ( not so good on gas milage).
However you get there , I'm sure you'll have a GREAT time.
ENJOY!

 

[A&CsMom]

Hi son3disfan! It's a small world! Thanks everyone for your opinions on the different routes.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

I just got one of those Garmin GPS units and already inputted Disney World. From our door to the Magic Kingdom it's 18 hrs 20 mins. woooohoooo nonstop of coarse not stopping for anything including gas lol I will have to check which route it took me on. I do know it's along the route I already picked but im not sure if it's 100% the same. only 5 months to go.

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

oops this went in 2 times

 

[Chester's Mum]

We have driven 6 or 7 times from Toronto. We like the I77/I79 route through Erie, Pennsylvania. There were lots of nice clean picnic areas and rest stops, and we always pack a picnic for the first day of the drive, its much easier than looking for restaurants in a strange place.

Also we usually drove until around 8 or 9 pm on the first day, and stayed in N.C. or S.C. That way we would arrive in Orlando around 4 or 5 the second day of the trip.

Once we took the I95 (I think). We had to go through Washington D.C. on that route. It was a nightmare. Washington at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning is worse than the 401 at 5pm any Monday to Friday.