Roadtrip!!!

[julluvsdisney]

So We were given a great gift from my DH's grandmother. She wanted us to take a road trip with our kids this summer. We are trying to make it to disney. We also might be able to use my MIL timeshare at sharaton vistana. So if that works we wont have to pay for a room. I do quick rewards for disney gift cards (I have $100 so far) so I am hoping to get another 100 for food while in the park. We are gonna drive from boston so that will eliminate the cost of airfare. So here are my questions: Where is the best/safe/cheapest halfway point from boston? How can I save money on food and park tickets? If the timeshare doesnt work out where is the cheapest/safest/close hotel or motel to disney that you have stayed at? Anyone have any advice? I have never done a big road trip like this! We always fly and stay on property with the dining plan so this is a totally different way to do disney for us! I am so excited! Oh yeah and my DH doesnt think it can be done! I have come to the disboards to come up with a plan so I can convince him it can! Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[julluvsdisney]

 

[mdsoccermom]

Just curious, what exactly is she giving you? Cash to use towards the road trip?

 

[disneylove69]

Can't help with 1/2 way hotel. As far as offsite hotels Comfort inn/ suites are nice and have continental breakfast and usually fridge and microwave. I would skip parkhopper tickets and just concentrate on one park at a time. I would do a hotel with free breakfast or stock up on breakfast foods you can eat in your room. Do QS for the rest. Bring some snacks into the park. As far as ticket prices you can save a few bucks buying online but thats about it as far as discount goes.

 

[deakam]

go to mousesavers.com----they always have a deal at the Downtown Disney hotels. I got a room at the Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort for $69.00 a night the week before Christmas. And it was a Disney view. Watched the fireworks from my balcony. They have a continental breakfast package or you can upgrade to the buffet for $6.00. Transportation to the parks is by bus and it is a nice comfy bus. Saves $15.00 a day in parking. And self parking at the resort is free.

They just had one for the Hilton Suites which offers extra magic hours but I did not think it was worth the price. In fact I would stay at the Disney Value resorts before I would stay there.

 

[happily single]

I'm from RI, so not that far from you. As I type this I am staying at Candlewood Suites in Rocky Mount, NC. We left Orlando about 10 a.m. this morning and made numerous stops, including South of the Border. We made it to Candlewood about 9:30ish. I read the reviews on Tripadvisor and they were great. So far so good. Great rate (about $90 after AAA discount) and I have a 1 bedroom suite with 2 beds. Its soo large. If you want to push yourselves further I recomended Fayetteville, NC. According to Mapquest Rocky Mount is 11 hours from RI.

While heading down I used my GPS and choose the "avoid tolls" route. This took me on Route 84 I beleive through CT and dropped me in VA somewhere. Only paid .75 in tolls, compared to about $30 if I went down 95 all the way

We didn't do Disney this trip so I can't offer much help with Disney tickets, but I would sign up for the Mousesavers newsletter. Every month is thre is a link for great prices from Undercover tourist

 

[julluvsdisney]

Just curious, what exactly is she giving you? Cash to use towards the road trip?

She gaves us $600 cash to use toward the trip for our bdays. we were shocked to say the least!

 

[julluvsdisney]

go to mousesavers.com----they always have a deal at the Downtown Disney hotels. I got a room at the Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort for $69.00 a night the week before Christmas. And it was a Disney view. Watched the fireworks from my balcony. They have a continental breakfast package or you can upgrade to the buffet for $6.00. Transportation to the parks is by bus and it is a nice comfy bus. Saves $15.00 a day in parking. And self parking at the resort is free.
QUOTE]


Im loving this idea!!!!!

 

[julluvsdisney]

I'm from RI, so not that far from you. As I type this I am staying at Candlewood Suites in Rocky Mount, NC. We left Orlando about 10 a.m. this morning and made numerous stops, including South of the Border. We made it to Candlewood about 9:30ish. I read the reviews on Tripadvisor and they were great. So far so good. Great rate (about $90 after AAA discount) and I have a 1 bedroom suite with 2 beds. Its soo large. If you want to push yourselves further I recomended Fayetteville, NC. According to Mapquest Rocky Mount is 11 hours from RI.

While heading down I used my GPS and choose the "avoid tolls" route. This took me on Route 84 I beleive through CT and dropped me in VA somewhere. Only paid .75 in tolls, compared to about $30 if I went down 95 all the way

We didn't do Disney this trip so I can't offer much help with Disney tickets, but I would sign up for the Mousesavers newsletter. Every month is thre is a link for great prices from Undercover tourist

How long did it take you to get down using the avoid the tolls option? I like that anyway to save money!!!

 

[julluvsdisney]

I am so thankful for all of the helpful suggestions!! Keep em coming!!!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Just an FYI on driving, I did the gas calculator using my vehicle from your hometown to Disney and back...

Gas prices alone would be $425.00. That doesn't even include a hotel either way or stopping for a sandwich. Not to be a downer, just wanted to let you know with the gas prices, this is actually a LOW estimate!

 

[julluvsdisney]

Just an FYI on driving, I did the gas calculator using my vehicle from your hometown to Disney and back...

Gas prices alone would be $425.00. That doesn't even include a hotel either way or stopping for a sandwich. Not to be a downer, just wanted to let you know with the gas prices, this is actually a LOW estimate!

Yea I did that too. For my car it came out to $368. We are gonna be putting in more money in for the trip. I dont think you could go anywhere these days just on what his grandmother gave us! When I did the airfare out it was about 1200. I wanna spend that on the entire trip! I figured out I am able to get tickets through the yes program thatll be 508 gas is 375 give or take, the hotels on the way and back will be about 100, and if I am able to use my MILs timeshare thats 0. that brings us to $1000. No souvies this time Ill get over it! lol! beyond that is food which alot of it we will eat at the villa! the disney gift cards I have will cover when we are at the parks! I hope im not forgetting anything big!

 

[happily single]

We left RI at 2 a.m. (yup, as in the morning). Hit no traffic, made it through part of Virigina by 9:00ish I think. But then hit a lot of traffic in DC and don't even get me started on NOrth Carolina.

We left so early to try to avoid the heavy rain predicted. Well by 2:00 p.m. it was raining and hail and there were tornados all over (saw that 24 people died within minutes of where we were struck on the highway). Also a tractor trailer flipped and literally shut the highway down. We were stuck on Route 95 from 2:00 p.m. give or take until 11:30 p.m. when I turned around back onto 95 North, drove over an hour-still no available hotel rooms-we, tried at least 50 hotels with no availability. We, along with about 50 other families, slept in our car at a closed gas station. Not, how I recomend starting a roadtrip!!

 

[julluvsdisney]

We left RI at 2 a.m. (yup, as in the morning). Hit no traffic, made it through part of Virigina by 9:00ish I think. But then hit a lot of traffic in DC and don't even get me started on NOrth Carolina.

We left so early to try to avoid the heavy rain predicted. Well by 2:00 p.m. it was raining and hail and there were tornados all over (saw that 24 people died within minutes of where we were struck on the highway). Also a tractor trailer flipped and literally shut the highway down. We were stuck on Route 95 from 2:00 p.m. give or take until 11:30 p.m. when I turned around back onto 95 North, drove over an hour-still no available hotel rooms-we, tried at least 50 hotels with no availability. We, along with about 50 other families, slept in our car at a closed gas station. Not, how I recomend starting a roadtrip!!

WOW thats crazy!! I liked the first part though! I would have gone crazy sitting in traffic that long! How old are your kids? I have an almost 3 yearold and I am trying to avoid making him crazy sitting in a car too long. I am trying to plan it to where we have some planned breaks to give him time to stretch his legs. How was the drive back?

 

[hercamore]

You need to to budget 14$ a day for disney parking fees.

 

[arthur06]

Some of my greatest trips are those that are on the tightest budget! I think that spending $1,000 is really low, but I bet you can do it!

 

[julluvsdisney]

I just found out I won an online drawing for $200 SHELL card ! I cant believe it! That just made my gas cheaper!!!! So here is my break down:

Timeshare Free(includes free shuttle to and from park)
Tickets =500
gas 350-200 gc =150
hotel while driving there and back =$100
Food =$400


Grand Total=1150-600 from grandma=550 OOP! Did I forget anything?

 

[pigletto]

Have you checked the Y.E.S. thread on this board to see if you can take one of the classes for discounted tickets?
We saved about 750 dollars on our 8 day premium tickets that way AND we get to take a cool class while there!

 

[julluvsdisney]

Have you checked the Y.E.S. thread on this board to see if you can take one of the classes for discounted tickets?
We saved about 750 dollars on our 8 day premium tickets that way AND we get to take a cool class while there!

I did Im so excited! We are doing the american history class! My son LOVES history so I know this is right up his ally!!!! It is saving us about 500 I think! That was my biggest saver!!

 

[pigletto]

I did Im so excited! We are doing the american history class! My son LOVES history so I know this is right up his ally!!!! It is saving us about 500 I think! That was my biggest saver!!

I'm so glad it worked for you!
I couldn't believe the savings
I rented points as well for a DVC so it was a great savings all around. Have you considered driving straight through?

My neighbors did it from Canada with their two young children (6 and 4). It's about 22 hours from here. They did it in shifts so that one person could sleep while the other drove. They left around supper and the kids fell asleep and slept through the entire night. They stopped at rest stops for snacks and a stretch. She packed the car with activities and played movies for them and books on tape. They said it went fantastic.

That would get you there faster without needing a hotel on the way there or back. Might be worth it