traveling FROM disney to Naragansett, RI...

[AMYCC1]

Hi all,
I'm mostly a lurker but need to ask a travel question. We live in the Orlando area (and are WDW annual passholders) and are planning a trip to Naragansett, RI this summer. We're tossing around the idea of driving (with our 18 month old twins and DD5)...are we nuts? Has anyone done this trip without losing their minds? Any suggestions or advice? The cost of driving is SO much cheaper than flying and renting a car so it's almost our only option. Any words of wisdom about driving would be most appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[OKW Lover]

If you don't mind 24 hours in a car - in each direction - plus the added danger of driving over flying then by all means take the car. OTOH, if you watch for special airfares to PVD (Providence, RI) you'll probably find something pretty cheap if your dates are flexible.

 

[safetymom]

I would fly. Just keep an eye on the fares and you may be able to find some good ones.

 

[anne60]

We drove from Massachusetts to WDW over Thanksgiving week one year. We also drive up and down the east coast frequently because we have a child in college in DC and another who plays soccer all over the $#*@ country.

I think we have all built up such a tolerance for long rides that now a 3 hour ride each way is like going to the corner for a gallon of milk.......

Anyway - my biggest piece of advice is to time your drive so that you are not going thru DC or NYC at rush times. The BEST ride we've had was leaving the DC area early on a weekend morning. If you can position yourself so that you are traveling from DC to RI on a Saturday or Sunday morning, you will have a better chance of not getting stuck on the Beltway, the New Jersey Turnpike, or 95 going thru NYC. Of course, we did not have to deal with beach traffic......

Either way, enjoy your vacation, I spent every summer vacation of my childhood in Point Judith....great memories!!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Southwest often has Dings for $49 ew and sometimes even less. Your kids don't have to buy a seat. They can fly free if they sit on your laps. I've done it before and we wished we had bought him a seat but if my only other choice was driving I'd put the kids on my lap in a heartbeat. Will another adult be travelling with you? I believe only 1 free baby per lap. Do you have a port. DVD player? Maybe you can put an Elmo show in (or something they like) to keep them still a little. We've brought Play-Doh too. Quiet that it doesn't disturb other pax.
Even if they cry for the whole 2 hrs. it's still better than crying for 24 hrs. They'll never want to get in their car seats again! good luck!

 

[JoeCathyAngelina]

We're driving down to WDW from Boston during April vacation. It takes us 22 hours to drive strait through stopping about 5 times for gas and bathroom breaks.
The fares for us are too much ($500/person) and the Airport/travel hassles are too much for me to stomach. It takes us about 10-12 hours from the time we get ready and leave our house, (a 20 minute cab ride to the Airport), till the time we check into the Hotel at WDW.
If you can pick up a decent fare into Green field/Providence RI and fly with the kids on your lap then the only other expense would be a rental car when you get to Providence RI.; so flying would cost about the same as driving.
For me there is a lot less stress in driving than flying.
Good luck all,
Joe