To drive from NJ or not to drive…

[imnotsancho]

Obviously everyone is different but just looking for opinions. Family of 3 here decided that we want to get away. We’ve been pushing off a Disney trip since October and just feel like we should go end of February to celebrate our daughter’s birthday as she can get vaxxed next week.

We are staying at French Quarter and we are considering driving from NJ to Orlando. The main reasons for this are the cancellations of flights (airline staffing issues) and COVID concerns with busses.

Its a 16 hr drive in February going from north to south. Is this just crazy or would other people do this?

 

[wdw&sonny]

Another thing to consider is IF you should contract Covid at Disney, what then? You may have to quarantine and make alternate flight plans.
IF you drive, you can just get in the car and leave when you want to.

 

[imnotsancho]

Another thing to consider is IF you should contract Covid at Disney, what then? You may have to quarantine and make alternate flight plans.
IF you drive, you can just get in the car and leave when you want to.

Yes that is another pro and something that is making us lean towards driving...

I'm also quick to say I'd rather drive than go to the airport because I hate airports... But snow and the exhaustion of driving the long distance with a 5 year old are concerning...

 

[lockets]

How long would trip be for

 

[Yoshi]

My family has driven from PA to Orlando many times over the winter.

Normally there are no problems but there is a risk of severe winter weather. One time we were driving back home and there was an ice storm making driving on I-95 almost impossible and dangerous. We exited near Kings Dominion in VA and got one of the last rooms. Others had to sleep in the lobby as there was no hotels with rooms available.

 

[mike0035]

Auto Train from Virginia to Sanford

 

[thegame310]

I wouldn't drive it straight, but I would absolutely take shifts with someone for a 16 hour drive.

 

[imnotsancho]

How long would trip be for

5 nights. We were thinking of leaving jersey on a Friday, Disney Saturday, leave Disney on Thursday and take our time coming back if necessary…

 

[Ross Kratter]

It’s really not a bad drive, straight down 95 to 4. I drove from eastern Long Island on my own in November and stopped at a hotel in Rocky Mount, NC, which was right around halfway.
I wouldn’t drive through the night and then expect that you’ll have energy for the parks the day you get in; drives like that are exhausting.

 

[imnotsancho]

It’s really not a bad drive, straight down 95 to 4. I drove from eastern Long Island on my own in November and stopped at a hotel in Rocky Mount, NC, which was right around halfway.
I wouldn’t drive through the night and then expect that you’ll have energy for the parks the day you get in; drives like that are exhausting.

Yeah that’s what I’m thinking too. The day we get there would definitely be a lounge around day while I rest. Haha. I’m getting the sense it isn’t too bad. Coming home would be my worry, since the parks and general excitement to be there, should give me adrenaline when I get down there…

 

[Belle1962]

I would avoid Fridays. They always seem to be busy highway days. Sharing driving is good and lots of toys/games to entertain the little one.

 

[kwdw]

I can handle 10-12 hours in a car on one day and frequently experienced 6-8 as a kid, and I was a kid before hand held video games and tablets. I think your answer to this is how well the 5 yo does in the car. If you are going to drive it straight, you need a plan to break up the day for the kid. Things to look forward to at different points of the drive to help her not get too antsy about when it will be over. Maybe presents to open at certain points in the trip (just cheap toys/snacks/games for the car). Videos to look forward to at certain points. A playground break at some point. And you should know her general car tolerance in the first place. My niece at 4 had about 45 minutes to an hour in her before she would say she had to pee. It wasn’t true; it was her way of throwing a fit to get out of the car as we’d stop and when she got to the bathroom say she didn’t need to go. So, I would have never tried that long of a trip with her at that age. (And yes, she outgrew this annoying behavior, now she is just glued to her phone instead , and could easily watch videos and play games her phone for 16 hours as long as she was also supplied with snacks.)

 

[LMO429]

We did the drive from NJ to Orlando in May. February you may have to contend to some winter weather. We actually loved driving down and having our car would do it again and we had a 6 year old with us. We stopped in walterboro sc on day 1 then did the rest of the drive the next day

 

[imnotsancho]

I can handle 10-12 hours in a car on one day and frequently experienced 6-8 as a kid, and I was a kid before hand held video games and tablets. I think your answer to this is how well the 5 yo does in the car. If you are going to drive it straight, you need a plan to break up the day for the kid. Things to look forward to at different points of the drive to help her not get too antsy about when it will be over. Maybe presents to open at certain points in the trip (just cheap toys/snacks/games for the car). Videos to look forward to at certain points. A playground break at some point. And you should know her general car tolerance in the first place. My niece at 4 had about 45 minutes to an hour in her before she would say she had to pee. It wasn’t true; it was her way of throwing a fit to get out of the car as we’d stop and when she got to the bathroom say she didn’t need to go. So, I would have never tried that long of a trip with her at that age. (And yes, she outgrew this annoying behavior, now she is just glued to her phone instead , and could easily watch videos and play games her phone for 16 hours as long as she was also supplied with snacks.)

The toy idea is a great idea. We used to travel north 4 hrs to Massachusetts every few months to visit family. The last time we did this was 2020 I think since we canceled last year. She is pretty patient in the car, but she won't sleep. All of these are great tips!

 

[glocon]

We did the drive from Nashville which is only 12-13 hours, but would leave super early (like at 4am) so our son would sleep for the first few hours. He was a great car kid. Maybe leave while your daughter could sleep the first little part?

 

[Beer Me]

I don’t mind long road trips but I also value my comfort. We start early but plan it out so that we stop around dinner time. Then check into a decent hotel, have a nice meal somewhere then maybe a swim or watch a movie in the room. Start vacation on day one.

 

[imnotsancho]

I don’t mind long road trips but I also value my comfort. We start early but plan it out so that we stop around dinner time. Then check into a decent hotel, have a nice meal somewhere then maybe a swim or watch a movie in the room. Start vacation on day one.

That’s the plan…. Hopefully that happens haha

 

[goofyernmost]

If it is crazy then I will turn myself in. Over the years I made approx. 28 road trips from Vermont to WDW. I didn't attempt to do it in one day, that to me would be crazy. It is a long ways and feeling fatigue on I-95 is close to a death wish. But if you have a family it will save a lot of money, plus with Covid it is also less of a pita because there are no protocols in your car. Just please don't drive that route if you are tired. I currently live in Central North Carolina and it is exactly 10 hours (605 miles) from my door.,

 

[Mrs.AMC]

I'll say, as a life long Southerner, you DO NOT want to hit anywhere in the South during a winter storm. We do not know how to drive and do not have the equipment to keep the roads clear. Feb is a time when we can get some winter weather.

That said, I'm anti driving because it's akin to torture to me to ride in a car for more than 2 hours. We are 8 hours away and fly all but the trip we returned from yesterday. I had surgery and was not allowed to fly yet so we had to drive. It's been years since we drove down and quickly realized why. We still split the trip up, spending the night about 3 hours from Disney each way, so we got part of both arrival and departure days in the parks.

 

[Judique]

I'll say, as a life long Southerner, you DO NOT want to hit anywhere in the South during a winter storm. We do not know how to drive and do not have the equipment to keep the roads clear. Feb is a time when we can get some winter weather.

That said, I'm anti driving because it's akin to torture to me to ride in a car for more than 2 hours. We are 8 hours away and fly all but the trip we returned from yesterday. I had surgery and was not allowed to fly yet so we had to drive. It's been years since we drove down and quickly realized why. We still split the trip up, spending the night about 3 hours from Disney each way, so we got part of both arrival and departure days in the parks.

There are times when it's not skill, it's conditions and right now there is a situation on 1-95 in Virginia near exit 136 between Fredericksburg and Potomac Mills as a general area.

6 Tractor Trailers involved in an accident. There are miles of cars stranded and stopped. Some have been in their cars almost 24 hours. Many have run out of gas, have no food or water and have children and pets in their cars.

Emergency Services have been trying to bring blankets, food and water. It's not moving. I understand VDot is doing the best they can to get it cleared.

It could be me. I'm local and often drive that stretch of road. I've lived in this area on and off for 45 years and I've seen backups and ice and snow and have sat in traffic, but nothing quite like this. I used to talk about the Nov 11th storm in the 80ties where I was out stranded in a snow storm and resulting stopped traffic, but this beats that one.

If you drive, keep your gas tank full or your battery charged up. Carry emergency equipment such as food and water, and blankets. Keep a phone charger in your car. And feel free to add to this list. I would need to have medication as well.

I'll be driving south later this month, but will be watching weather closely. Oh yeah....watch the weather forecasts closely, both where you are and where you are travelling to and through.

edit: almost forgot, day before - 61 degrees at my house and green grass. This morning 16 degrees and 10-12 inches of snow. Haven't seen accumulated snow that didn't melt in a day in 3-4 years.