Travelling by Car to Disney from New Jersy

[DisceyMomofC&A]

We will be traveling from Southern New Jersey to Orlando next week and we have decide that we want to split it into 2 days. We have a 6 and 2 year old and would like to do the long leg of the journey the first day. We are thinking of stopping in the middle of Georgia or beginning of Florida. the problem is I know nothing about the areas off I-95 in Georgia and Florida. I would like to stay somewhere clean and safe. If anyone has taken this route before and has any suggestions please let me know. Thanks.
Dis Mom

 

[bartleby1]

Try this site for lots of info on I-95: http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm

They also have a book you can order that tells all the restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc, off each exit.

As far as where to stop, we just look for the "big" exits with lots of stuff off them. We travel down from North Jersey with little ones and like to stop in South Carolina. It is a little more than half way. That way the kids don't get too cranky and we all get a good night sleep and a fresh start in the morning.

HTH!

 

[macmahony]

We have driven that exact drive twice, and are doing it again in September. The first time the girls were 3 months, almost 2, and almost 3. We left about 8 at night, drove all night, and part of the next day. We stopped around 3 the next afternoon about 3 hours from disney. (we were right by jacksonville when we stopped). The next year (kids were 15 months, almost 3, and almost 4), we left around 6 in the morning, and drove all day, stopped around 8 at night and were about 5 hours from disney. We stopped somewhere in Georgia.
This year I am not sure when we are leaving yet, I have not decided which way I like the best. We try to push that first day, and get as much driving done as possible, I think we are awfully close to just being able to go straight through. The second day, we get up late, take our time and finish the drive, and are usually at check in at three.
We did not plan on where to stop, we figured with three young girls, it would be easiest to just go, and stop somewhere when it was time. We just make sure to stop somewhere with lots of choices to pick from. We start looking for a place about an hour before we want to stop, that way we can find some place nice.
We love the drive, it for us is as much fun as the time in disney!

 

[kaw1218]

If you plan on stopping, I recommend the tourbooks from AAA. They have an extensive list of hotels listed. We bring one with us 'just in case'(we drive straight through). They have one for the Florida/Georgia area. (I am not sure if S.Carolina is included or not) It lists tons of places to stay, complete with amenities, average prices and phone numbers so you can call and see if they have availabilty so you don't have to stop at numerous places.

Macmahony- when are you going? We will be leaving the Philly area Sept 8 around 6pm to start our trip!

 

[disney_me]

AAA all the way!! They will map out your whole trip and tell you some good places to eat and sleep.

Don't forget your AAA diamond parking pass. You can ask for one at the front desk.

I live in Delaware and have gotten the passes 3 x's w/o having to book my trip to WDW with them.

 

[Karel]

We have done the same trip (and will do it in August). Usually we leave about 4 in the morning, in order to get around Washington DC. We can get to Washington in 2 and half hours at that hour in the morning.

We like to put in a long day the first day but it might be too much for your two year old. When our daughter was that age, we evened it out more and stayed over night in Orlando at a cheaper off site hotel. ETa; that would be the second night.

If you can make it to the Georgia/Florida line, there's a great Country Inn and Suites - it's either Kingsland or St. Mary's. That puts you four hours out of Disney.

There are spots in the drive that there are not many hotels. I'm thinking it's the southern part of NC and Georgia.

One trip we ran into the Georgia/Florida college football game and no rooms to be found for miles. We ended driving to St. Augustine in Fl before we found a place to stay. Usually though, there's no problem.

 

[antree]

We have driven this many times, no matter what time it is we drive until we hit Savahanna Georgia. It is about 5 hrs to Disney from there. Of all the places we ever stopped this area was always the best.

Maria

 

[ilovepooh]

Thank you for your comments. I am trying to get DH to agree to driving to WDW from Southern NJ with a 2-year old. He says DS is too young, but thanks to all of you, I now have some success stories to share with him.

 

[java]

We have done the drive many many times(kids are now 12,8,3,1) We generally stop around NC first night if we leave in the evening. This year we are really trying to get to Georgia. We plan on leaving 5 am on a Friday. We make a reservation ALWAYS!!! a just in case one. If we look like we will pass it- we cancel it and make another. All it took was one nightmare trip down- not a room to be found.....anyplace at all and we don't go without a place to stop. We all feel better knowing the worst case is we stay someplace that we know. I have seen the Jameson Inn's in Georgia and we have never stayed in one. We are thinking of trying one this time down. The killer part of the drive is that NC/SC part and then when you get to FL and think yippee we are there and you still have about 3 hours to go. So I think good idea to try to get to GA(I think it only takes about an hour to get through GA if I remember correctly.) Usually we get exhausted by the time we are at SC and have often stopped there(tons of hotels in that area- Hampton/Fairfield Inns Holiday Inn express....) Check out the transportation board here at DIS there is a driving thread with great tips= also a sticky thread at the top that actually has a link for exit by exit stuff.(hotels ect...) good luck and we'll be on the road in about 3 weeks!!!

 

[pepperw23]

A friend of mine at work told me that they always stop at the Red Roof Inn in Jacksonville. She said it was the first or second exit.

 

[DisceyMomofC&A]

Thanks everyone. We leave a week from tonight and I think that I am leaning toward staying in Brunswick GA. Disney is about 3 1/2 to 4 hours away from their. I figure we will be rereshed and excited about getting there so the time will fly. lol Atleast I hope. I could have a 2 year old who refuses to get in a car seat instead.

Thanks
Dis Mom