We just got back from WDW and drove any questions?

[dsneygirl]

Going south we took I-75 it was approx 2100km door to door and about 21 hours of driving. Coming home we did I-95/77/79 found this was shaved off about an hour or so.

We spent $280 USD on gas for 12 days (including a side trip to Tampa) for our '04 Escape towing 4 bikes.

We found the I95/77/79 route quieter, more scenic but not as built up. Whereas on 75 there is food/gas every few miles. Also coming home I 79 you get all the tax free cloth shopping in Pennsylvania

Any questions feel free to ask.

 

[cabmom]

Did you have a good time?

Where did you stay in Orlando? What was it like to see the castle decorated? How was the weather?

Marilynn

 

[WDW1st-timers]

Going south we took I-75 it was approx 2100km door to door and about 21 hours of driving. Coming home we did I-95/77/79 found this was shaved off about an hour or so.


Did you drive straight threw or did you stop? 21 hours isn't too bad, I heard that it's about the same from the Windsor Ontario area too.

We spent $280 USD on gas for 12 days (including a side trip to Tampa) for our '04 Escape towing 4 bikes.

Thank you, thank you....I actually put $500.00 US in the budget for gas for 12 days...and we plan on basicly staying on site and riding the bus and stuff. Plus $280.00 sounds alot better than $500.00.

We found the I95/77/79 route quieter, more scenic but not as built up. Whereas on 75 there is food/gas every few miles. Also coming home I 79 you get all the tax free cloth shopping in Pennsylvania

What did you like better for driving??? I-75 or the I- 90 route?

I can't wait for December to come ....we are leaving on December 31st and checking in on the first of Jan. If you have any tips please email me.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

Just a thought for you but if you are leaving on Dec 31,05, you may want to consider the I-75 route

There are many twisty roads the I-90 - I-77 route and I have heard that the I-75 is much better maintained in winter conditions.

We have not calculated the gas cost yet but we filled up 3 times on the way down for about $30.00 each time so I too would say not more than $250.00 on gas in US dollars. We drove a Full Size Impala.

Hope this helps

 

[Hockeychic]

I agree, if you are going in icky weather definatley I75 route is much better. But I find the 77/79/95 route much more enjoyable.

Welcome back. I hope you had a great trip......

I put $400 Canadian aside for our drive but we are only driving a 02 Honda Civic 4DR.

How did the castle look....I can't wait to go!!!!

 

[briarberry]

We are driving in August and I thought gas would be around $400 so that is welcome news. I drive a small SUV too. Thanks for the help!

 

[dsneygirl]

Did you have a good time?

Where did you stay in Orlando? What was it like to see the castle decorated? How was the weather?

Marilynn

We camped at Fort Wilderness. The castle looked pretty good. I was not as crazy about the gold characters (Pumba, Flouder) stuck on the roof though. Weather was rainy and overcast the first 4 days and we drove through 2 days of rain but the end of the week was gorgeous!

 

[dsneygirl]

Just a thought for you but if you are leaving on Dec 31,05, you may want to consider the I-75 route

There are many twisty roads the I-90 - I-77 route and I have heard that the I-75 is much better maintained in winter conditions.

I have never driven in the winter but that is what I always here as well. The moutains in W.Virginia can be very foggy and would be much more diffcult in the snow.

We paid on average about $2.10/gallon for gas. It varied from $2.05 in GA to about $2.14.

 

[dsneygirl]

Did you drive straight threw or did you stop? 21 hours isn't too bad, I heard that it's about the same from the Windsor Ontario area too.

We stopped the first night in Berea KY. We planned on going further put it was a driving rainstorm and DH didn't want to drive any further. There is an exit here called Man O' War Blvd. with great shopping. Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, Gap, Circuit City etc.

The second night we stayed at my aunt and uncles outside Atlanta.

Driving home we only stopped at a rest station and slept in the car for about 5 hours. It was DH's idea I would have rather stopped somewhere. (But that's another story)

 

[digskat]

We stopped the first night in Berea KY.
How far of a drive was it the second day? What time of day did you leave, according to mapquest and our trip last year it is a 22hr drive. We are thinking of leaving at 4am on Oct 13. DH is worried about hitting rush hours, just wondering if we'd best best to leave earlier? We do not want to drive all night. Thanks Kat

 

[dsneygirl]

We drove about 10 hours the first day. From 9am in the morning 'til about 10 pm (stopped for food and shopping) The 2nd day we only went 5 hours as far as Atlanta. It was then another 6-7 hours the last day. If you left at 4 am you could easily be well into Georgia by early evening and then only have 6 hours the 2nd day.

 

[digskat]

Thanks dsneygirl! I just can't wait til Oct!!!

 

[davidm16]

I regularly drive Toronto to Orlando/Clearwater (2-4 times/yr for the last 12 years). Always take the I79/I77/I95 route. 20-22 hours depending on weather/traffic/constructon.
Last trip down was in March 05 in GMC Envoy. Trip was 14 days, based in Clearwater, 2 trips into Orlando, a trip down to Ft Myers. Total fuel was $450 U.S. roundtrip.

No real bad weather to speak of and 75% of my trips are in the Dec- Mar time period.

Usually leave by 6 in the morning Day 1 get as far as Columbia or Orangeburg S.C., then back on the road the next morning into Orlando/Clearwater by late afternoon.

 

[WDW1st-timers]

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'm sure that they will help. But here's a question maybe someone could answer for me. I heard that there is an area on the I-75 about half way down to disney that it can get really compliciated for driving; does anyone know about this? Or what area I might be talking about? Has anyone here had problems driving down and finding an area confussing?

Thanks everyone!!!!

 

[digskat]

There are a few areas that get a little tricky. I was glad to have the Along I75 book by Dave Hunter. It's a bible you should not live without when driving the I75 I paid $30 for the book and we got our money's worth the first trip. I suggest you buy the book. It was awesome in Atlanta it told you what lane to be in and when. If you buy this book you'll have no trouble. It also gives you the hotels at each etc Take Care Kat

 

[Debbie]

Along I-75, takes you through the drive so easily, it's a walk in the park! Dave tells you which lane to move into, and when to do it. He has the speed traps marked, and you know exactly what fast food is available at all times. When I get to the Florida border I for joy, and then say, DARN! I WISH, he'd go right down to Orlando! (the book stops at the GA/FL border.)

 

[cudworth]

We are flying into gainseville as it was cheaper than Orlando .Could you tell me if you remember what the drive was like from there to disney .

 

[dsneygirl]

We are flying into gainseville as it was cheaper than Orlando .Could you tell me if you remember what the drive was like from there to disney .

I don't remember exactly but maybe 2 hours.

 

[WDW1st-timers]

There are a few areas that get a little tricky. I was glad to have the Along I75 book by Dave Hunter. It's a bible you should not live without when driving the I75 I paid $30 for the book and we got our money's worth the first trip. I suggest you buy the book. It was awesome in Atlanta it told you what lane to be in and when. If you buy this book you'll have no trouble. It also gives you the hotels at each etc Take Care Kat

Thanks....I will look into getting the book.

 

[digskat]

Florida border I for joy, and then say, DARN! I WISH, he'd go right down to Orlando! (the book stops at the GA/FL border.)

I thought this too! But I printed off a direction sheet from Mapquest and it helped with this. It also helped getting from Port Huron to the I75! You just put in your address and the address of the Hotel and BINGO! Directions from your Door to Mickey's.....If only it wasn't a 22Hr drive!! I'd be there in a flash!