Seriously Considering Driving from NJ in October

[Lorix2]

We've driven down and back 3 times starting the first time when my kids were 10 and 5.

We always overnight somewhere in VA or NC depending on how everyone's feeling. I can't drive all the way thru, neither can the kids.

The trip down is great because it's part of the adventure and our vacation, but coming home has never been easy. Knowing how long we have before we can be home makes everyone cranky because the trip is over and everyone just wants to get home as quickly as possible.

I would do it again for sure, but I know the ride home will not be as fun.

Hope you have a great vacation

 

[Gowahoowa]

We are driving to WDW for the 5th time since 2007 in 41 days!! We love the drive. We just had our 3rd child so this will be our first trip with an infant. However, our girls were 2 and 4 when we first drove! We leave between 5-6am and always stop in Savannah on the way down. There are a ton of nice hotels right off of the highway. We usually pull into Savannah between 7-8pm. It's about a 13 hour drive with lunch and rest stops included. Then the next day we're pulling into WDW at or around lunch time! I would try and make it to GA since it makes for an easier drive on day 2. Stopping in SC makes it an 6-8 drive instead of an 4 or so hour drive. Take care and good luck.

 

[mousebymarriage]

We have driven a few times from northern NJ (Bergen County, approx 6 miles from the GWB) and we have flown many, many times, I actually prefer driving. Our first attempt at driving my youngest was 5 years old and we didn't drive straight through, we stopped in Santee, SC which is about 12 hours from our house. We have left our house at a variety of times (late afternoon, midnight, 2;30am etc.) and we have done it both ways, driving striaght through and stopping. I think leaving early evening after dinner time and driving straight through works the best for us because the kids get in the car in comfy clothes like sweats and a tshirt (they think they are too old now to go in their jammie). They watch movies for a while and then sleep most of the trip, by the time they wake up it's almost time for breakfast. Driving through the night really cuts down on the "are we there yet?" questions.

I try to sleep most of the day that we are leaving so that I can drive through the night and DH can sleep, I just plug in my i-pod (1 ear piece only so I can hear any emergency vehicles etc.) and everyone sleeps. Driving through the night works for us because my kids sleep great in the car and I am a night person so I don't really have any trouble staying awake.

If you choose to drive just make sure that you make frequent stops for the kids to stretch their legs (because you have little ones in car seats so they can't move around as much) and it's important for you as a pregnant woman to get out and stretch your legs. When the kids were younger we would try to stop at places that had indoor playplace so they could burn off some energy for about 30 min.. It's also a good idea to take a frisbee or a ball and just toss it around in the grass when you stop at rest areas for bathroom breaks, 15 minutes extra at a rest area for the kids makes the ride much smoother.
**DH never wanted to drive but, now he says he will never fly to Fla again because the drive isn't bad and having our own car while we were in Disney is great. Plus you don't have to worry about overpacking!
**Oh, by the way when we drove in Feb it cost us about $300-$350 round trip gas and tolls. We have a 2009 Chrysler Town & Country minivan.

 

[916chipndale]

this year we might have a change of plans. we might need to take a relative to his parents house in orlando. so we will probably drive straight thru this trip. we will still leave the day before the trip around 2 or even earlier. we will probably arrive at there relatives house at 10 pm. either were guna sleep there a hotel in orlando or a value and move to the poly the next day. if we do this its going to be way deifferent then usual.

 

[walkdmc]

With a 3 yo, you'll be making too many stops to do it in one day, IMO. I just drove from Philly to WDW with a stop over in NC. I had 9, 6, 6, and 3 year olds. It worked out well. All said, I'd do it again but I wouldn't attempt it in one day. I know of adults, with adult children who do it at one time, and shockingly, enjoy it, even make a game of it. But little kids make that drive a whole different ball of wax. Not to mention you'll have Lucky Charms falling out the van doors every time you roll into a rest stop. Can you handle that kind of mess?

Fly now, drive later, when the kids are older. Or, consider that Autopark thing that leaves from VA and takes you somewhere in Northern FL on train, while transporting your van.

Or, break it up into two days of driving.

 

[sticker231]

We have driven down several times and will only fly if we can get cheap fares out of AC airport. We do it straight though and leave around 7 pm. We have a dvd player in the car and the kids each have a DS. We pack the car with some snacks and drinks, but try to limit the drinks to save on bathroom stops. By leaving at night, the kids stay pretty close to their normal sleep routine and you get some quiet time while driving.

Best of luck with your trip.

 

[patclairesmom]

my family drives every year. we are in central nj (edison). we leave around 3 am the morning before our trip.we usually drive through dc at 6-630 am.so we always skip the dc traffic.at around 9-10:30 well stop for breakfast. usually at a cracker barrel in emporia va (southern va by the nc border) we ythen usualyl drive to south of the border (south carolina) and stretch. by about 6 we reach jacksonville and stay at a holiday inn near the airport and call it a night.we usually start driving the next morning at around 7:30-8:30 whenever were done getting ready and eating breakfast. its usually a 3 1/2-4 hr drive to disney from there.we usually arrive at 1

Can you really make it to DC in 3 or 3.5 hours?

 

[JB2K]

We (myself, wife, and 1 kidlet) have done both the flight and drive to WDW -- like the OP from NJ, our trip is about 1,000 miles one-way (from St. Louis).

It does slow you down a little, but given the amount of money that was banked, all future trips to WDW will be in the comfort of our SUV...

 

[916chipndale]

Can you really make it to DC in 3 or 3.5 hours?

most of the time yes nj usually takes 1.5-2 hours and delware is like 15-30 min going to dc is like 1 hr. mapquest says 3 hr 37 min to dc from our house but we usually make it there a little earlier. whenevr we get past dc the sun is either still not risen or is just starting to rise.