Should I change my reservation????

[kekee]

Hi,

We will be going to the Fort August 21-31, this will be our first trip driving from North of Boston to Florida. My kids are 5 and 8 and they are very excited but I have a feeling the drive on the way home might be difficult. My question is do you think I should change my reservations and do one week at the Fort and then stop for four or five days on the drive home? Maybe Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach or VA area? I can't decide what to do!

 

[polkadotsuitcase]

Personally, I'd want to stay at the Fort as long as possible!

Are you worried the kids will just be completely zonked and crabby on the long drive home? Can you stash some fun things in the car that they can play with on the way back (but don't give it to them on the way down)?

If anything, I'd suggest stopping at Myrtle maybe for a day to break up the drive, but personally I'd pass on stopping for several days -- you'll all be tired anyway! And (again, just MHO) you might have more drive time added if you stop at Outer Banks -- it's a little bit out of the way to get there (heading east a bit). Myrtle might be better.

We don't have as long of a drive as you do, but my guys have done the trip from a very early age. Sometimes it seems like the drive home is actually quicker! They might surprise you and do just fine, and then you'd have shortened your vacation at the most fun place on Earth for nothing!

Good luck with your decision -- and have a great time, no matter what you choose!

 

[Born 2 Fish]

Fort.

 

[disney4dan]

Having done this trip several times with my parents and now with my own kids, I would say to plan on taking a few days to see the scenery along the way and give them a chance to explore, have adventures, see different areas of the country on the way down and back.

We have taken Interstate I-84 to I-81 for many of the trips in order to see the mountains in Virginia and avoid the traffic in the Metro NYC area. We have also taken side trips to Luray Caverns, Hunting Island State Park (got that tip from someone here on the boards), the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel, and just taking secondary roads along the coast in the Carolinas and Georgia is worth it. I still recall being fascinated by the Spanish moss on the trees, the small towns, roadside food stops and the smells/flavors of those trips while anticipating one of the best vacations a kid could have. Our kids still talk about the two nights spent at Hunting Island spending hours in the warm water (a real treat for those of us who turn blue in New England water).

I also remember the scenic routes we took with my parents through Georgia and Tennessee on the way home sometimes, seeing the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway, horse country in northern Florida, the crystal clear water in some of the rivers along the Gulf Coast. Also, don't forget that one of the few places us eastern USA folks get to see a sunset over the ocean is along the west coast of Florida.

Sorry for the ramble, starting to sound like I don't like the Fort, (I really do), but kids that age are ready to be fascinated. There are so many opportunities to do that on that drive. Even just chasing frogs somewhere or digging for the little sand crabs on Virginia Beach.

 

[arielmomma]

While we have yet to stay at the Fort (only 38 days!) we have driven home from WDW to Michigan (20 hours) on a variety of occasions and it really isn't bad.

The last time we did this was in February - my kids had both just turned 6 & 3. We left the AK at 4pm after being there all day and drove straight through the night. We got home by noon the next day. We had spent 8 days in the parks.

We always drive through. We were a little more tired on the way home, but never unsafe. The kids did great as they were asleep nearly all of the trip! When we go in July, I plan on leaving closer to 2pm than 4pm, however.

Nonetheless, it is very doable. I say stay at WDW as long as possible!

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Fort.

Frank, you should really say "excuse me" when you fort...

 

[Tri-circle-D]

kekee- My answer depends on what type of camping unit you are using. If you are tenting, or using a pop-up, or even a travel trailer, I would not want to go through the hassle of breaking camp and setting up again for a few days on the way home on this length of a trip. Having that long block of time at the Fort would definitely be better. If you have a motor home, then maybe I would do some exploring on the way back.

But I'm on Team Fort for this one.

TCD

 

[goingtotheworld]

Another vote for the Fort and more Disney time! Our kids are also 8 & 5....we drove from Michigan (20hrs) and stopped in Macon, GA on the way down. Left at 11pm and checked into our hotel at noon, then drove the rest of the way to Disney (6-ish hrs)the next day. On the way home we left on Saturday at 3:45am and had the kids tucked into their own beds at home at 11:00pm. This was our first trip and it was well worth the straight thru push to have a full day at home before going back to work. I would do it again in a heartbeat!