the drive - how do you do it?

[fitmom3]

We just got back from Orlando for march break. We flew out of Pittsburgh for only $120.... The airport is a 5 hour drive (which is a little long for us but beats the 20 hour drive)..we drove back. I hate this drive. My back, sciatic nerve, butt muscles - everything hurts. I hate, hate, hate it. I have run half marathons and trained for a full and this drive is like running a full marathon up hill. My kids were so good. Dh put movies and new games on the playbooks. We drove back last year and I remember the drive being long but not this bad.

 

[cslittle999]

I think in the end you have to be a person/family that likes to drive. We've driven to Orlando four or five times now and had fun each time. It's about 21 hours of driving time. I usually do all of the driving because I'm a terrible passenger. The drive down tends to be very focused on getting there but on the way back we try to add some kind of interesting stop. Usually it's the length of the vacation that determines whether we drive or not. With four people it's just about a wash cost wise compared to flying.

 

[Tower]

What we did last time, and we plan to again this November, is leave at around 7-8PM, drive to Morgantown for our first fillup, which would put us there around 1AM. DW would take over for an hour or so and I'll take over again then. I'll drive to Charlotte, NC, fill up again, have a family breakfast, and drive again for about 2-3 hours well into South Carolina or Georgia. We'll stop then, pull out a football or something and run around a park for an hour, have a snack, and DW will take over the drive. I'll sleep until DW has had enough. She's not a happy night driver so I'll let her have the day.
We'll alternate the driving till suppertime, stop again for that, and I'll take over till we get to my brother's place in Kissimmee. (I hope it's still got openings for our planned getaway)

Going home will be different as my energy will likely be zapped from the drive down. We'll leave in the afternoon and stop along highway 19 for the night. Get up at an early hour and complete the drive home the following day (Saturday). That allows us the Sunday to get geared up for back to school.

 

[Tortuga Rob]

For me it is pretty easy as I am a professional driving instructor and I usually spend 10-12 hours a day in my car. The kids learn at an early age in our family how to vehicle travel. We have done the drive 8 times now. To us it is part of the trip as we really enjoy the scenery. Disney is 22 hours from Peterborough and we drive straight through. We usually leave at 3pm right after school and get there between 4 and 5 next day.

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

You have to like the long drives in order to do this. We regularly drive up north which is about a thousand kilometers from here. Last year we decided to drive to Orlando instead of flying. Everything looked good until programming the GPS and seeing 2900 kilometers to go. 2900????????? OMG what were we thinking?
Lucky we had movies, the DS's with lots of games, etc and just starting to drive. To be honest I'll take that drive any day over my daily commute to Mississauga

 

[PanamaMike]

Last year we decided to drive to Orlando instead of flying. Everything looked good until programming the GPS and seeing 2900 kilometers to go. 2900????????? OMG what were we thinking?

Given that it is about 2100 km from Kitchener to WDW, I think it's time you got a new GPS

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

And new glasses!!!

 

[mamaCta]

We drive distances several times a year. Our closest big box shopping center is 2.5hrs away. Edmonton and the ILs are 8 hours away. Family summer vacations are always long trips with the truck and trailer.

I was raised with driving to Saskatchewan and back for Easter weekend, 3 day trips to Edmonton to shop, getting to Vancouver in one day, etc. Hubby was a long haul truck driver for a living. We have no problem sitting for long periods and the kids have gotten used to it.
We find parks and McDs playlands every couple hours along the way. The vehicle is stocked with movies, coloring supplies, some toys, books, snacks and drinks.

 

[Evelyne]

Hi,
we have been driving every year, (sometimes 2 times)for the last 20 years. We live in Québec near Ottawa. We always drive right thru. We only stop for gaz and bathroom. We prepare a diner, a breakfats (take out at Tim Hortons on the 401), and a lunch. I have surprise bags for the kids, even at 16 and 19!!!

Our kids were used to that very young, even before they knew what was going on!!! I know that is not every body who likes it that way, but we feel it is the easiest way to make the 24h drive.
We usually leave around 17h, so we hit Baltimore and Washinton in the night (by 695 and 495) so, no trafic at all. And by 17h or so the following day we're in the World.

1990 to 1992 Off site
1994 and 1995 Off site
1998 and 1999 Off site
2000 to 2003 All star Sports
2004 to 2011 Pop Century
2012 The World was great again (Pop Century) without the kids for the 1st time
March 2013 Disneymoon with the kids
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