What is it like driving to from Toronto - Orlando during the month of December?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Unless Transport Canada changes these new rules about carryon bags next December my family and I will be driving from Toronto - Orlando and not flying down like we normally would during that time of year. So I am wondering for those who have made the drive what is it like and for the record we would be taking Interstate 75, plus if it helps the car we would be taking is a Lexus GX 460.

Also I even suggested flying out of Buffalo however I was told that's something which we won't be doing.

 

[happy place]

We're heading down in march and between the new airline regulations and not finding a reasonably priced flight to match our hotel dates, we may just be driving this march.

We haven't done the drive in december, but have driven down in feb. I - 75 has one great advantage over going through buffalo and down through new york, and it is that there are hotels, restaurants and gas at almost every stop. If you have access to CAA, I'd definilty get a trip tik - they outline areas of construction, and based on when you are travelling will make recommendations about going around or through cities like Atlanta, to avoid traffic. They will also highlight states, or areas of the highway were speed limits are more heavily enforced than others.

It's along trip, and as we have realtives in Windsor, we often stop there for the first night, or on the way back.

Make sure you have a lot of activities for the kids and a portable dvd player is really helpful.

There is a great website, don't recall the name, which shows what is avaialble at every stop along 1-75, it should help with planning. I think it also includes gas prices all along the route as well.

One tip - if you do the drive- you have to stop at the Florida welcome centre for a glass of fresh juice! hey also have maps etc,

Another favourite of ours on the drive is to stop in Tipton, Georgia and buy peanuts and pecans.

Good luck with your planning,

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks for all that information and I forgot to mention every summer my family and I drive down using Interstate 75, so we know everything about it and etc. We are also CAA members and have used a trip tik in the past, although we haven't got one in a few years. However since the roads will be very different during December that's something we would consider getting to be on the safe side, plus we also make advance reservations at various Hampton Inn locations.

 

[OntFamily]

First, it's not strictly Transport Canada's rules, we are just following USA guidelines for flights entering the USA. So it'll have to be the USA changing their rules.

Any route in December can be risky, due to winter. Whatever route should be checked out 24 hours in advance, and then re-check frequently. In case of inclimate weather, you can drive either I-79/77, I-81, or even jog over to I-95. Dependent on the weather, of course.

Also, if the concern about flying is due to lack of carry on, why not just pay the luggage fees for extra checked bags (much less expensive to pay luggage fees, than drive). Also, you can ship your bags via courier.

Finally, even though you say BUF is not an option, a two hour drive to BUF, is much shorter than a 20 hour drive. And flying out of BUF is much less expensive, with more airlines to pick from than YYZ.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Also, if the concern about flying is due to lack of carry on, why not just pay the luggage fees for extra checked bags (much less expensive to pay luggage fees, than drive). Also, you can ship your bags via courier.

Finally, even though you say BUF is not an option, a two hour drive to BUF, is much shorter than a 20 hour drive. And flying out of BUF is much less expensive, with more airlines to pick from than YYZ.

Well in my carryon bag I pack my various pin bags and my pin lanyard, so I would never risk checking them and having the bags go missing.

As for not flying out of Buffalo my dad doesn't want to do the actual drive there and waiting at the border both going and coming back home, because who knows how long that would be. Plus he also doesn't want to leave his car there for the whole time we are gone.

 

[pxlbarrel]

First, it's not strictly Transport Canada's rules, we are just following USA guidelines for flights entering the USA. So it'll have to be the USA changing their rules.

Any route in December can be risky, due to winter. Whatever route should be checked out 24 hours in advance, and then re-check frequently. In case of inclimate weather, you can drive either I-79/77, I-81, or even jog over to I-95. Dependent on the weather, of course.

Also, if the concern about flying is due to lack of carry on, why not just pay the luggage fees for extra checked bags (much less expensive to pay luggage fees, than drive). Also, you can ship your bags via courier.

Finally, even though you say BUF is not an option, a two hour drive to BUF, is much shorter than a 20 hour drive. And flying out of BUF is much less expensive, with more airlines to pick from than YYZ.

Actually, the no carry on rule IS Transport Canada's restriction, not the US. It's their solution to easing the delays and lineups at security. The less carry on means less time searching and researching bags.

I'm also considering driving next time we go if this restriction is not lifted or modified in such a way as to not cause me stress or grief. LOL And while I would consider driving, I wouldn't consider flying out of Buffalo in the winter. I suppose it's because if I drive, I would have some control of when I would leave and or delay any of my departures depending on weather. If I flew, and there was a big snowstorm, I'm going to have to deal with driving down in a snowstorm just to catch a flight OR having to reschedule because the flight's been cancelled. It's just me being paranoid.

At this point we're not scheduled to go down to WDW any time next year ... yet.

 

[photomama]

was your flight back to Toronto that bad?

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

was your flight back to Toronto that bad?

Actually the TSA security at Tampa was better then I thought. We got in the line around 11:30 AM this morning and waited about 5 minutes until it was our turn. Then they looked through my carryon bag, however I knew that would happen because that's where I packed my two WDW pin bags and my pin lanyard. So basically just like in the past when they looked through it I was just standing there letting them search it and etc until they were finished.