Question/observation - driving from long distances

[Laura1994]

I find it interesting that a lot of people mention driving to WDW, especially from long distances. We are from MA (noticed several others from MA mentioning they drive) and we've driven down last year and the year before.

My dh is not overly thrilled with driving, whereas I don't mind it at all. Especially considering dragging 4 kids through the airport, luggin around all their stuff, etc. Nevermind renting a big enough vehicle to fit us upon arrival. I find it much easier to just hop in our vehicle and go, even if it does take 22 or so hours! I don't mind the drive at all, but can't imagine doing it more than once a year (seems some of you may do it more than once per year!)

So how do you do it? Anytime we mentioned driving, everyone thinks we are nuts. I guess that may be why i'm so surprised that so many of you seem to be driving also. Any tips/advice? Are your spouses just as happy w/the driving arrangement?

 

[floridafam]

We always drive and we go 2 or 3 times a year.

I really don't mind it. We usually try to take different ways to add some excitement. We usually go to FL for triathlons and then time at WDW or VB and we have to drive so DH can put his bike on the back of our vehicle.

We did buy a portable DVD player that made the last few trips very enjoyable! One of the best investments we ever made.
Our new vehicle has one so we are all set for our upcoming trip. I honestly can say that I would hate to travel without one.

DH likes to drive just as much as I do. He made many trips to Florida by himself before we were married and would always drive straight through.

We really made good time on our last trip. We stopped at Pilot travel centers-we made it a point to look for these after stopping at one. They are wonderful. We got gas for the vehicle, used the CLEAN bathrooms, grabbed a sub from Subway and were set for hours.

I think the excitement of getting to FL helps.

 

[tjkraz]

We have driven from Ohio and will do it again. The key for us was leaving late in the evening so that we covered a lot of distance while he slept. We hit Atlanta around sunrise and went a little further before stopping for breakfast.

Another stop for lunch at a BK with a playground, which was followed by a 2.5 - 3 hour nap.

All said, I think he slept for about 12-13 hours of the 19 hour drive.

 

[Xtine76]

I don't mind driving at all, this next time will be my first time driving to FL and I have gone long distances before (nebraska to new york straight through 26 hours) and I think I won't have much trouble. It may take a little more time but it is such a moneysaver just think how much airline tickets would be and you wouldn't have to worry about renting a car. I'm going to get AAA before I go this summer, if anyone has any suggestions other than that please let me know, thanks!!

 

[geffric]

We drive from CHI at least 1 per year.. have a van, dvd player.. kids have game boys.. we like it DH and i trade off driving every 2 hours .. stop at then civil war sites, Mcd's etc.. no problem and we love to have a car availalble once we are at WDW

 

[ILPHIL]

We also drive from the Chicago area. What works best for us is to leave just after morning rush hour. That way we miss peak traffic times on the entire trip.
With a full size conversion van there is enough room for my dtr and niece to "have their own space" but still can watch movies or play on the laptop PC.
We make plenty of stops while everyone is awake and I drive all night, with a couple hour nap in GA.
Gets us to WDW by mid-morning ready to unpack, take a quick shower, and get started.

To me, it beats the whole airport thing. Especially having to deal with parking at O'Hare...
Enjoy the drive!!!

Phil
(haven't been able to figure out the fancy signature stuff yet)

 

[Nagle]

We drive down from Ontario pretty much every year. We drive straight thru on the way to Orlando and on the way back we leave early and stop somewhere in southern Penn. for 1 night. We just got a portable DVD player for DS this Christmas and hope it is as good as people have been saying.


John

 

[tinaluis]

We drive to WDW about 2x a year (me, DH, DDs - 7,5 and 2). The drive isn't a piece of cake but we do the best we can. We have a TV/VCR for the kids, stop as much as we need to and try to play travel games to keep the kids busy. We usually drive 12-14 hours the first day, stop overnight, and then onto WDW the next day, about 8-9 hours. We generally stay 2-3 weeks when we're there and any trip would be a budget buster if we had to rent a full size car for that period of time and we must have a car while we're there because we do US/IOA and other attractions as well. Our next trip will be in August and we will be staying almost the entire month so we will be driving again.

 

[Jon99]

We also drive down from the Chicago area about once a year.. I take the day off work, take my wife to work, drop the DD off at my moms, come home and do my packing, load the jeep and TRY to sleep a little.. Then leave the house about 2:00, stop at moms to pick up daughter, pick up my wife at work at 3:00 and head to Florida.. With my little nap I am usually good to drive straight thru and get to Disney around 10:00 AM..

Just the little things, like me taking my wife to work instead of waiting for her to get home gets us on the road an hour earlier.. Then we don't plan the stops, our daughter will.. When she gets fussy, we stop and eat, fill up the tank etc..Other than that, we keep the wheels movin!!!