Our drive from MA

[toystorymom]

I had posted a couple of questions about driving from Massachusetts and got such great info and ideas, thanks for all the help.

We drove down for Presidents/school vacation week. There were 5 of us, DH, myself, and our 3 boys (9,6,4). I am pleased (and a little surprised) to say that everything went extremely well, none of us were really bothered by the ride, and the boys (who argue quite a bit as the norm) were so well behaved. We all said we would do it again, without a doubt.

The flight prices for that week were really high, especially for 5 of us, and we knew we would rent a car because in addition to Disney we also went to Sea World, Universal, and Islands of Adventure. I kept a record of everything we spent on the road. Our grand total for gas and tolls for the round trip was $290.80. I would say we saved quite a bit of money!

If anyone has any questions I'd be happy to help if I can. I know alot of people won't even entertain the idea of driving but for us it was either drive or stay home. I'm glad we tried it - I have a feeling we'll be doing it again. If it means more trips to Disney then we're all for it!

 

[mudman]

Thanks for your post.

We are traveling from MA next month (April spring vacation).

I am wondering the following?

1. How long did it take you?
2. Did you stop overnight, if so where? Did you make a reservation? and would you recommend the hotel/motel to someone?
3. What route did you take?
4. Do you think that the traffic was increased due to the fact that it was a vacation week?


Thanks,

 

[Our2Girls&Disney]

The cheapskate inside of me would like to try this, but I honestly don't know if I could spend that much time in the car because of the stress level. The longest we have driven with kids was 7 hours and I was stressed the entire time. I was taking care of the kids, reading the map to DH, and watching out for the crazy people on the road. when we finally got there, I was so relieved.

 

[PattnFmly]

I drove quite a few times before I was married, so I know the drill, but it's been awhile. What time of day did you leave/arrive? And DH is interested in knowing what kind of car you drive (ie. gas mileage)? I never minded the drive down, because of the expectation of the vacation ... it was only the drive home that was tiring!

 

[toystorymom]

Sorry about the delay in my reply. Also sorry this turned into a novel!!

Friday was the last day of school, that night the kids went to bed as usual and DH got some sleep while I finished up the last minute things.

We live South of Boston and pulled out of the driveway just before midnight. 2 of the boys went right back to sleep, the 4 year old stayed awake for awhile, just looking around, but he eventually drifted off. There was no traffic at all and we were over the GW bridge in NY before 4 AM. The kids slept until about 6, (the norm, unfortunately) and we stopped around 7:30 for breakfast in Lorton, Virginia. We saw the Autotrain which was cool, as we've considered trying this.

Back on the road, we really just drove all day. We brought plenty of food and drinks so we didn't stop for lunch. Couple of quick stops to stretch and use the bathrooms at rest stops or welcome centers. We stopped for dinner around 5 or so, by this time we were in Georgia. We had made a reservation in Brunswick Georgia, which was about an hour from where we stopped. We did consider going all the way to Dis but we were ready for the break. We checked into the Comfort Inn in Brunswick around 7 pm. We were pleasantly surprised with the hotel. $50 for the night using AAA, the room had the 2 queen beds, microwave, fridge, coffeemaker, etc. Very clean, inside corridors, right off the highway, lots of restaurants in the area, etc. I would definitely stay there again. Next morning we got up and had the free continental breakfast, were back on the road about 8:30 and checked in at Disney before noon on Sunday. Nowhere on any part of the trip down was traffic a problem, we took 95, the Jersey Turnpike, and again 95 to I4 into Orlando.

The ride home we had also planned to leave about midnight but ended up leaving earlier, around 10 pm or so on Sunday. We hadn't made a reservation this time, we weren't sure how far we'd go. We expected alot more traffic since the bulk of our driving would be on Monday, but it really wasn't a problem. Again, the kids slept all night and we didn't stop until about 8 am for breakfast. We were through DC about 1 pm, a little tired but seemed silly to stop in the middle of the day, noone would have slept. We got on the Jersey turnpike and got caught up in traffic behind a bad accident, over an hour delay. Since now it was getting toward the evening commute we decided to get on the Garden State Parkway and come over the Tappen Zee. The slow traffic was coming South out of the city so we really didn't have a problem. Once over the bridge we came into Conn. and stopped for dinner. By now it was 7 pm, and we were so close to home. Tucked the kids in, they all fell right to sleep and we pulled into the driveway at 10pm Monday night. Carried the kids to their beds, they got up regular time in the AM, showered, and off to school.

Total driving time there was about 21 hours, home 24 hours, including stops. We have a Plymouth Grand Voyager, no idea about the specific gas mileage, but like I said, under $300 for the round trip.

Our2Girls&Disney - I hear you about the stress level, there are times when I'm driving my kids down the street and they are making me crazy. I'm not sure what it was, but they were incredibly good and patient. The way there they had excitement, the way home exhaustion. We had the DVD player w/ lots of movies, their gameboys, my little one brought his leap pad, we did mad libs, the oldest played the license plate game, lots of coloring books, word searches, things like that. Lots of fun snacks, and lollipops! Nice treat and they kept them quiet for awhile

We have friends who also made the drive and they split the drive down into 2 12 hour days, leaving around breakfast, doing all their driving during the day. It worked great for them. We liked getting a good chunk out of the way while the kids were sleeping and doing the majority of the driving the first day. Just a matter of preference.

Hope I haven't bored you to sleep, I know that's more details than you probably ever needed. Have a great trip mudman! Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[nin8jc]

Wow! Thanks for sharing. Your kids are the same ages as mine and I'm not so sure that they would be able to handle the drive (or should I say I couldn't handle it ). I guess it's all in the timing and being prepared w/ keeping them busy. I thought it would take a lot longer to get down there.

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

My wife hates to fly; so the first time we went to Walt Disney World, April 2004 with my 3 year old daughter we drove from my office in downtown Boston to WDW Old Key West stopping only for gas and bathroom breaks.

After the first 3-4 hours in the car driving the rest of the way to WDW isn't that bad; more like a series of short trips.

Our Trip to WDW started Friday, 3/26/04 at 1 pm: Miles, Stopped, Time

Leaving, Boston to Walt Disney World: Friday, 3/26/04, 1:00pm
1, Boston to New Jersey 212 212 6:00pm
2, N J to Aberdeen MD 183 395 9:07 pm
3, MD to Rocky Mt NC 266 661 1:36 AM
4, NC to Florence SC 209 870 4:40 am
5, SC to S Newport GA 210 1,080 7:58 am
Arrived, GA to WDW 251 1,331 12:00 PM

Started, Friday, 3/26 0 1:00pm
Finished, Saturday, 3/27 1331 12:00pm
A 23 hr trip with 5 stops along the way down
76 gallons of gas, $131 for the gas, 17.78 mpg 58mph
Driving around WDW 21

The Trip Home started Friday, April 2nd 11 AM: Miles Stopped Time
Stopping for gas and bathroom breaks.

Leaving Walt Disney World to Boston:Friday, April 2nd 11:00 am
1, WDW to St Augustine FL 116 116 12:44 PM
2, FL to Savanah GA 178 294 3:55 PM
3, GA to Florence SC 174 468 6:22 pm
4, SC to Battleboro NC 181 649 9:30 pm
5, NC to Aberdeen MD 295 944 2:17 am
6, MD to Bloomfield NJ 181 1,125 5:30 AM
Arrived, NJ to Boston, MA 237 1,362 9:30 am

Started, Friday, 4/02 11:00 am 0
Finished, Sat, 4/03 9:30 am 1362
A 22 1/2 hr trip with 6 stops on the way home
81 gallons of gas $126 for the gas 17.58 mpg 60.5mph
Driving around WDW 62

157 gallons, $257 for the gas, $44 tolls, 17.68 mpg, 59.2mph 2776

The traffic was a mess from Hartford through Delaware on the way down.
It rained from North Carolina to Boston, Mass. on the way home

Me and my wife alternated turns driving our Nissan Xterra when we stopped for gas. My 3 year old held out a lot better than I thought she would on the way down and on the way back to Boston.

It's not that Bad!!!

Last year, April 2005 we flue down and back out of Logan on a non-stop with American Airlines , $504 round trip total for the 3 of us.

This year, April 2006 we're flying down and back out of Logan on a non-stop with Song/Delta , $496 round trip total for the 3 of us.

So, as they say around my way;
If all goes well,
The creek don't rise,
and there ain't no melt down,
We'll do it all again next year.

Good Luck all,
Joe

 

[cranbiz]

In a couple of weeks YEA! I'm going back again but this time with my BIL's kiddos. It will be me, DW, and 3 girls, 2,4 and 12. This will be an interesting trip. I'm still driving straight thru but I'm sure there will be many more stops than normal. If I can make Deltona in 22 hours, I'll be thrilled.

When I have company, we always stop for breakfast somewhere in the NC/SC area (usually SOB) and go on. DW and I will split the driving.

The best I could find for airfare was over $600 and I still would have needed a rental once there. My truck gets about 23mpg going to FL and I get the toll discount by using my FastLane transponder. Last trip cost me about $275 all together (including the gas for travel around FL)

 

[Webbie]

Do any of you use EZpass on your trips south? We signed up for this for our trips to the DC area and love it. No waiting in those long lines in Jersey, just drive on thru.

 

[magsmom]

Yes, FAST PASS (MA) and ezpass (NY) can both be used for all tolls through VA. It's great.