Planning on driving to Disney, any advice?

[domesticdiva]

We (I) am starting to think about our next trip to Disney. Last time we flew and stayed right in the park and it was fantastic! I'd like to go for two weeks and possibly hit Universal and rent a condo outside of Disney for a week and stay inside Disney for 4 nights. Is it practical to think of driving in a day and spending one night along the way? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I loved Disney!! We went for the first time in May and it was pure magic, I can't wait to go back!!

 

[MickeyNikki*]

We used to drive until we discovered flying from Buffalo which is so much cheaper.

The few times we drove we had CAA map out the directions for us, I think they are called TRIP TIKS. We would leave home at around 3 in the morning and try to do most of the driving in the first day, this way we would arrive in Disney early afternoon on Day 2.

 

[jtdl]

Get Dave Hunters book Along I-75 if you plan to drive that route. It is an essential tool! It tells you what restaurants, motels, gas stations, etc are at each off ramp and also gives alots of interesting facts, tidbits about things along the way. It was very entertaining. The last time we went, we had that book as well as CAA TripTiks, but we never even looked at the Triptiks.

Our last trip we left in the evening, 6 pm, and drove through until about 1 pm the following afternoon. We stopped at a motel in Georgia, rested, swam, shopped at an outlet centre right next door and then continued the remaining 6 or 7 hours the next day and arrived in Kissimmee in the afternoon. Our son was three years old that trip, so we thought it might work out better if he slept most of the ride. When he started to get restless we stopped and got a motel room.

I think the next time l would prefer to leave in the morning and stop at suppertime and then carry on the second day. If one can sleep while one drives and then change positions, it might work out better, but I was too nervous that dh would fall asleep while driving if he didn't have someone to talk to and so we both stayed awake the whole night!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

DON'T do it is my advice oops - guess we're not talking about me!! hehe

We are driving this summer - only b/c I was outnumbered. We are doing 1 week cruise from Tampa then 5 nights in Disney so we really did need a vehicle. Sigh. All those hours cooped up in a car with dh and my 7yo adn 13yo ds' will drive me crazy - Going to get a good book though as our read aloud (hopefully the last Harry Potter book will be out) and some new DVD's to watch and I guess I'll have to start thinking about starting to buy things for our travel box again. I think I'm a worse traveller then the kids are - only consolation I have is that we'll be starting out early in the morning so we can stop early in the evening!

 

[branmack]

Our family drove down for the first time last Sept and had a blast doing so.

My kids were better than expected. DVD players are a must. We really enjoyed the time together. We played travel bingo with disney related prizes. We also played disney trivia. Thinking about buying "Disney Scene It" game for the next drive down.

We left Canada at 5am and stopped for the night at 6pm at a hotel with a pool. Left the next morning at 7am after a free breakfast at the hotel and arrived at POP around 2:30pm.

The return trip was just as good.

I loved driving because I didn't have to worry about the luggage issue. We packed everything in plastic tubs and were able to bring lots of snacks and bottled water.

 

[marybrat]

I'm not in Canada, but we're driving this summer from Buffalo, NY. I'm curious as to whether folks think 95 or 77/79 is a better way to go? We will be towing a 30 foot travel trailer.

 

[LdnCpl]

Although we are flying on our next trip(March-due to DW's work schedule) I am one of the crazy one's that actually likes the drive down. Yes it seems to take forever when you're all excited to get there but I like to see slices of Americana that flying won't get you. We've stopped at KFC's birthplace in Corbin,Ky and drove by the Olympic flame in Atlanta, spotted our first palm tree at the Days Inn in Adel,Ga and I like those kinda things. I think it may because my first trip when I was 12 (not saying how old I am but EPCOT was still being built )was a drive down and I remember it well. Captain and Tennille on 8 track, 6 Gun Territory etc. Drive down, take in the surroundings and enjoy it.

 

[branmack]

We live just over the Peace Bridge. The mountains are the biggest concern on the I77/I79 route. We have not taken the I95 route but we have heard that there are just as many mountains. It sounds like there is no way to avoid the mountains.

 

[marybrat]

We live just over the Peace Bridge. The mountains are the biggest concern on the I77/I79 route. We have not taken the I95 route but we have heard that there are just as many mountains. It sounds like there is no way to avoid the mountains.

The mountains have been our concern. If they are in both places, we'll do 77/79. Thanks!!

 

[cottontail]

Hi:
We just travelled thru the mountains last week of Feb/early march 2008. They were so beautiful. Make sure you have a full tank of gas, done your bathroom stops and have had your food. They were so beautiful, I think it is around three to four hours thru the mountains on the I79/77 route.

Mind you we were driving in the winter had to watch, watch the weather on the internet and look for an open window of good weather for travel.
The big storm of yesterday made us change our hotels and drive longer to avoid being in the mountains and this huge snowstorm. We had a good sunny day and drove 15 hours from disney to grove city pa. But that was with hubby getting behind someone doing eight to ten miles over the speed limit for most of florida and georgia. Be aware of the speed in summersville, wv I-19. Just outside Beckley wv.


There should not be any problems when it is not winter, maybe fog.

Deb.

 

[iluveeyore]

We usually fly if possible because we just want to get there and get on with it! We have driven about four times though, and are driving again this May only because we are stopping in Charlotte, NC for the Nascar race
My best advice is to break it up and spend one night on the way down. It takes exactly 11 hours from the Fort Erie border to get to Charlotte - if you stop at the welcome center for the state you want to stay over in, they have great deals for one night stays in the coupon books you can get there! Happy trails.