Questions About Driving to WDW

[SuperGurl]

We plan to drive from Ohio to WDW. The drive is estimated to take 18 hours . My husband and I plan to take turns driving. For others who had to drive down a long distance, were you exhausted when you first arrived or were you able to do a park that first day? I was hopping we could do a park the first day but I'm not sure if we'd be too worn out from the drive.

 

[tawasdave]

I have driven down from Michigan (20 hours at least) three times...straight through SOLO ( well with kids not old enough to drive)...and been at the park at opening the morning we get there...GO FOR IT..No prob for me...course I am to excited to sleep (kinda like that commercial they are showing now)...what you may consider is doing AK first day...it closes early..usually 5 pm. That way you can make the first day an early night. Have Fun!!!

 

[disneysnob]

We have driven from Boston the past couple of times, and are planning to drive again this June (if we can't get a good airfare ) We've done 14 hours straight, so we stay overnight in North Carolina. The next day it's about another 8 or 9 hours to WDW. We've never done the parks on our arrival day because we don't want to waste a day on our passes. By the time we check in and settle down, it's already mid/late afternoon. ( It does seem , though, that we all get a 'second wind' as we drive through WDW gate, so we probably could do the parks on the same day.) We do ride the monorails and check out the scenes, hang out at the pool,then we usually have an early dinner, and wake up refreshed the next day and get to the park early.

 

[kydeb1346]

We have a 13 hour drive from KY. What we have always done is drive down that first day and check out the resort, have a nice dinner (maybe a character one to get in the mood!) and then call it an early night. The next morning we are up early and ready at a park for the opening. AK might be a good one since that closes earlier than the rest making it a fun day at the park but also a shorter one. Have fun!

 

[jekajekalynn]

We always drive down from Southeast MI . We always make it in my Sunday around 1 or 2. My advice is NOT to do any parks when you first arrive.

Trust me, after 2 days of driving the last thing you want to do is go in the parks is the busy part of the afternoon. We always wind down in the pool of our vacation house , order in pizza, and then get a good night sleep so you can hit the parks at opening.

 

[Mom to 2]

We drive from Northern WI, takes us almost 30 hours, but we never do a park the first day. We use arrival day to pick up groceries, swim, relax, and just get our bearings after such a long drive. We go to bed fairly early and start the parks first thing in the morning.

Lory

 

[MidgeD79]

We also drive from SE MI and never go to the parks on the day we arrive. This year we will stay off-site on arrival day and then bright and early the next day check-in at Pop Century and head to the parks..

 

[BamaBaloo]

Every time that we have driven down, we always stay the night before our package starts in Gainesville. Cheaper than staying on property, and then you only have about an hour drive the next morning. Just drop your bags off at your resort and hit the parks at opening.

 

[maxaroni]

We've done it both ways....last year, was the first year we didn't go to the parks on arrival day. We were surprised we liked it better. We got to the hotel, unpacked and relaxed by taking it easy: a walk around the grounds, dip in the pool etc. We had a nice relaxing TS meal and then another dip in the pool. We woke up refreshed and ready to go the next day.

Prior to that, we've gone to the parks on arrival and found that the heat and crowds just wore us down and we were dragging.

 

[Pixiedust34]

We'd rather spend a night in a motel on the way than drive straight through.

Last summer, we stayed in SC for the night and drove into Disney the following afternoon. After checking in, we went grocery shopping, went swimming, and explored the resort. We also took a spin on the monorail.

Next summer we hope to make it to JAX to spend the night, which means we'd arrive at WDW sometime before lunch. We'd do the same "relaxing day" at arrival--grocery shop, swim, etc. We might schedule a special dinner at a resort for that evening. But, after a long car ride we like to relax and get settled.

On our first full park day, we are 100% ready to go!

 

[kaelarad]

We drive straight through to WDW from Baltimore. We leave about 3:00 am and we tend to arrive late afternoon. after checking in depending on how we feel we go to Downtown Disney for dinner or take a stroll through one of the parks. Then it is early bed so that we are ready for a full day in the park!

 

[Microcell]

I live 20 hours away, so two solid ten hour days! I would love to come from Ohio!