What do you drive to WDW?

[Lesley]

Okay...well, obviously a car or a van of some sort....but just out of curiousity I have some questions...

What kind of vehicle?
How many people in the vehicle?
How much stuff?
Do you think about your WDW trips when selecting a vehicle?

To start off, and keep things interesting I'll tell you about our first drive to WDW...

We had 2 adults and one child (plus a baby in utero...23 weeks gestation)....with stuff for a 10 day stay...plus camping equipment....in a Geo Metro. Let me tell you, I can pack a trunk like you won't believe. Also, you'd be surprised at the amount of room in a Metro trunk (sedan, not coupe).

The second trip was the same, except for having a shorter stay, no camping equipment, and the baby in a car seat.

We're trying to decide what the next car should be...as our beater car may be down for the count and our Metro is about ready to be demoted. If money were no object...there's a Venture Warner Bros. edition down at the dealership that I really like (the built in video system is really cool, plus there's 3way audio)....but more reasonably we're thinking of something just a bit bigger than the Metro. Something that seats 5 and has a bit more trunk space. Also it feels really goofy to valet park a Metro that's obviously not a rental, so we haven't done it. I want something I don't feel silly leaving with the valet!

So, all you drivers out there....what's your set up?

 

[imgoingtodisney]

MILs residence is FL - she owns a winter home in FL and summer home on Cape Cod. Every spring and winter she has one of her 4 sons/SIL drive the trip either down or back with her. This year is my husbands turn. They are driving down in her Malibu. They will be taking my 9yr sons and my luggage with them. When son and I fly down a few days later our luggage will already be in the car waiting for us so we will only have our carryon to take on plane. MIL and husband will be at airport to pick us up and then we're checking into Wilderness Lodge for 6 nights then over to MILs winter home for 3 nights.

 

[caitycaity]

we have a ford taurus (2000) and we've been really happy with it so far. there is a TON of trunk space and it can seat up to 6 (6 seatbelts), but 5 is more comfortable.

Just this 4th of July we had 2 large coolers, folding chairs and 6 people! It was tight, but we all made it!

We're planning on taking the autotrain to WDW for our wedding/honeymoon in November and we'll be taking it then too.

 

[lisapooh]

A Chevy Lumina Mini Van with 4 people and luggage for a 10 day trip as well as a power wheelchair. It can be a tight squeeze.

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

GMC Yukon XL (we rent it from Budget @ MCO )

 

[Chuck S]

When we take a driving vacation, I use my '98 DeVille. (2 or 3 adults - it has lots of room). Although for a family, this is probably not the most pratical. If you'll be using your car a lot for vacations, you might want to consider a GM product or SAAB that has Onstar available. I recommend this simply for safety, since if there is an accident and your airbags deploy help will be dispatched, your vehicle will be located by GPS. We've all heard stories of people with cell phones that couldn't be located.

Of course, this is assuming you're looking to purchase a vehicle and not get a rental for the trip.

 

[Cindy B]

Had to giggle on the Geo, we have one too, but a Storm..not a Metro!

WE havent driven the Storm to Florida, because it is our older car, model year 1990....

But we previoiusly drove down with our 1995 windstar.
We no longer have the Windstar, but a 2001 Saturn.
We would take the Saturn.

 

[Emy'sMom]

My in-laws are letting us use their new Chrysler Town & Country mini-van. Thank God!
It'll be me, DH and 4 yo DD with enough stuff to last us for 5 days at WDW and 7 days at the beach!

Debbie

 

[MickDaddy]

We drive down from Georgia, not a bad trip, but just brought a Mazda van with on board VCR and video screen in the back. The kids watch Disney videos on the way down, and the words ARE WE THERE YET ? have yet to be uttered. Also bathroom breaks are kept to a minimum.

 

[RussH]

When I go on my solo trips like the next one in September I drive my truck. It's a 98 Ford F150 with a rigid cover over the bed. I load up the bed with 5 big plastic tubs full of supplies and my furniture moving 2-wheel cart. Last trip was able to unload with only 2 absolutely full cartloads. Maybe I take too much stuff.

Get home from work Friday night and go right to bed. Wake up about 01:20 pack shower and head out.
My experience is that driving straight through is best on Saturday mornings...really early Saturday mornings.
From my house in Cincinnati it is 920 miles to the gate at ASMu and if I didn't have to make 3 pit stops there is only 1 traffic light between my house and Disney property.

Best time was this past December a smidgen under 13 hours.

From past trips with family OR friends I have noticed the following.

1 or 2 people - straight through no delays
3 people - +1 hour
4 people - +2 hours
5 People - +4hours
6 or more - don't bother you will never get there.

RussH

 

[Lcm2108]

We drive our 1999 GMC Surburban. We are about to make our 7th WDW trip in 13 days in this vehicle. We get 18 miles to gallon but it is still cheaper than flying for our family of 4. We have the little TV/VCR thing which helps a lot. We even watch the tapes we taped at WDW on the way home. The trip is between 11 and 12 hours, depending on the number of stops.

We sometimes bring my daughter's friend, which makes 5. We put down part of the middle seat and put our cooler there. We usually have 4 suitcases, the pullman type, a beach bag, two food boxes, extra coke, beer, water, and two pillows from home. Everything fits in the back-including all the souveniers I buy which I put in that big blue WDW shopping bag you get a DD.

We stop once for gas, just before we get to I-95. We use our vehicle a couple of times while there but mostly, it stays parked and we use WDW transportation.

Lisa

 

[Pixieduster]

We bought a Ford Windstar last year and besides the fact that we really loved this van, we also purchased it with our Disney vacations in mind. We drove it down to Florida from NJ in May and it was wonderful. We have the VCR built in and it was great with the kids (we have two, a 5 and 7 year old). It really helped to keep them entertained. It was wonderful to have so much space.
Definitely a great van for traveling.