Recs needed for first time driving to WDW from the NE

[mobrien207]

Hi,
We're towing a trailing from the central NJ area down to FW in late-August for the first time. We figure we'll leave around 4AM and hope the kids sleep. We'd like to park overnight in a Wal-Mart, but don't have a clue as to how far we might get and how to find a nearby Wal-Mart.

If you have any experiences with this or driving tips with kids, I'd please share. Thanks in advance,
mob

 

[ftwildernessguy]

As far as the kids, leave in the wee hours of the morning to maximize sleep time for them in the truck, and think DVD/TV - will keep them quiet for hours.

I live near Allentown, PA and this is the route and times I take to go - not for everybody, but works for me:

Leave at 11pm. I take 78 West to 80 to Harrisburg, Pick up 15 south and then 270 south in Frederick, MD. 270 will link up with the western loop of 495 and we arrive there around 3am so avoid all the DC traffic nightmare. 95 south to Savannah, GA the first day - we usually arrive about 4-5pm. The next morning, we are up and on the road by 1am so that we can avoid the Jacksonville traffic and blast straight through Jax without having to take the bypass. We stop in Palm Coast to have breakfast at the Cracker Barrel and get gas. Then on to FW - I avoid I-4 and go down south and take the Bee Line over to WDW - it costs about $8.50 in tolls but I don't have to deal with Orlando traffic with the trailer then, either. We get into FW early, so check in and park in the overflow lot if our site isn't ready. Then check the dog into the kennel, take the bus up to the Settlement, then the boat to WL where we will have an early lunch.

 

[lucy_love]

Then on to FW - I avoid I-4 and go down south and take the Bee Line over to WDW - it costs about $8.50 in tolls but I don't have to deal with Orlando traffic with the trailer then, either.

I live in Orlando, the Bee Line is now the Beach Line, they changed the name. I don't want the OP to get confused, I can picture mob looking for a Bee Line and getting lost.

That sounds like a great way, I-4 usually ALWAYS has traffic unless you go in the middle of the night.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

So now what kind of cute mascot do they have for the Beach Line?

 

[Gatordad]

Hey, I used to live in Stewartsville, on the NJ side... howdy neighbor.

 

[loveDmouse]

As far as the kids, leave in the wee hours of the morning to maximize sleep time for them in the truck, and think DVD/TV - will keep them quiet for hours.

I live near Allentown, PA and this is the route and times I take to go - not for everybody, but works for me:

Leave at 11pm. I take 78 West to 80 to Harrisburg, Pick up 15 south and then 270 south in Frederick, MD. 270 will link up with the western loop of 495 and we arrive there around 3am so avoid all the DC traffic nightmare. 95 south to Savannah, GA the first day - we usually arrive about 4-5pm. The next morning, we are up and on the road by 1am so that we can avoid the Jacksonville traffic and blast straight through Jax without having to take the bypass. We stop in Palm Coast to have breakfast at the Cracker Barrel and get gas. Then on to FW - I avoid I-4 and go down south and take the Bee Line over to WDW - it costs about $8.50 in tolls but I don't have to deal with Orlando traffic with the trailer then, either. We get into FW early, so check in and park in the overflow lot if our site isn't ready. Then check the dog into the kennel, take the bus up to the Settlement, then the boat to WL where we will have an early lunch.

How much more time (if any) does that add to your drive taking the Bee (Beach) Line? Does that run you right to WDW? Never been that way before.
It would be nice to avoid Orlando. What a pain that can be.
Thanks.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

It adds about 1/2 hour to the drive. It's a straight shot into WDW, coming across south of Orlando.

 

[loveDmouse]

It adds about 1/2 hour to the drive. It's a straight shot into WDW, coming across south of Orlando.

Thank you!