When driving I95, do you book overnight stops ahead?

[stacy6552]

Hey gang,

we are going to brave the big bad drive to WDW next month. We're going to try and make it straight through on the way down. If we dont, will we be hurting because we didnt book ahead?

Do you usually book overnight stays ahead of time or just stop somewhere?

 

[jel0511]

We always book our overnight stays in advance. We saw MANY people turned away when we have been checking in. If you're particular about where you sleep, I'd book in advance.

 

[punkin]

It really depends on when you are going. Generally, unless I'm travelling on a really busy day, we do not book ahead.

 

[stacy6552]

where do you guys stay?

 

[dznyntnh]

The last time I drove down was 1996. But I've never planned ahead where to stay.

We usually have an idea of where we are going to stop and as soon as whoever's driving gets tired we whip out the AAA book and start hunting up a hotel.

Of course now with cell phones, you can call ahead and check availability before you even stop.

When I used to drive from NH, I would take my time driving down. I would stop in Fredericksburg, VA on day one (about 10 hours, and where I went to school, so I like to stop and look around) we'd stop somewhere in Kingsland, GA the second night (the last exit in Georgia). From Kingsland to wdw is about 4-4.5 hours, so you can leave good and early and get there by noon.

I actually enjoy the drive, but haven't had the time lately to do it.

 

[jel0511]

We drive from Central Jersey and always stop in GA. Usually we stop in Savannah, but when heading down to the Miami area, we drive a little further and stop in Brunswick. In Savannah, the Clarion Inn and Suites is nice, but they allow pets and with my allergies a big no no. We're trying the Country Inn and Suites this time, and they don't allow pets, and it looks really nice. From Savannah, it's approx 4 - 5 hours to WDW, so if we leave relatively early, we're at WDW by lunch time. On the way home, we've stopped in Fayetteville, but this year we're driving to Rocky Mount NC. We're staying in the Courtyard there, and not too worried. In my experience, the hotels off 95 aren't what you'd expect. Even if you go with a well-know chain, sometimes, they're seedy. I've stayed in some seedy Hampton Inns and Fairfields in my day. Also, some of them have outside corridors, which personally I think aren't very safe. You don't know until you get there, so do the research if that will bother you. You're best bet is to figure out approx how far you plan to drive the first day and find a place to stop. We've learned our limit (with two one hour stops) is around 14 hours before we have to end our day (which is 12 hours of driving). That always gets us to the GA boarder, sometimes farther, but we choose to stop in Savannah. Here is a good website that will help you determine where you would like to stop, and how far you can go.

http://www.usastar.com/i95/homepage.htm

 

[AspiringCindy]

We booked ahead at both Florence & Santee, SC. driving down. That way, if we felt up to it, we could drive a little further. Well, we made it to Santee, and called to cancel Florence. On the way back, we forgot to call ahead. BIG MISTAKE! We were turned away at 2 dozen places(and called another 2 dozen) only to find out that every hotel along I95 from North Carolina to Virginia was sold out! This happens often on Fridays and Saturdays! Pick 1 or 2 possibilities...then reserve a few! You can always call to cancel!

 

[stacy6552]

thats my next question....cancelling? At what point do you have to pay anyway?

 

[jel0511]

Originally posted by stacy6552
thats my next question....cancelling? At what point do you have to pay anyway?

You usually have until 6PM on the day of the reservation to cancel without penalty. Usually you pay for the room once you arrive.

 

[Mjasp]

We just got back from FL and we did have 2 ressies booked, but since it took us 4 hours to go 40 miles in Virginia we didn't make it as far as we thought. We wound up staying in Fayetteville NC, After calling about 20 hotels we got lucky, well maybe not so lucky, as the place wasn't so nice, It was a Sheraton that is currently privately owned and in the process of going to be a Clarion.

On the way back there was no traffic and we stopped in Fredericksburg VA.

 

[Guads6]

We've done it both ways. When we wing it we stop by 6:00 p.m. to make sure we get a room. For our upcoming trip we used mapquest to figure out where we wanted to drive to. Example we plan on driving 11 hrs(plus stops) on our first day. That will put us in SC so I have a reservation in SC. Then if we do 6 hours plus stops that will put us two hrs from Disney, so we will be staying there our second night. Then 3rd day we will be at Disney by 11:30 to check in!

 

[Snowysmom]

We did reserve rooms for our trip to WDW this past summer. As I was checking in, they were turning away walkins so I was glad I had planned ahead. I had until 6:00 pm to cancel.

 

[Jacksmom99]

We always make reservations and then end up canceling because we are making good time and want to keep going. I always have my AAA guide books with me and start making phone calls at before noon as we are dirving. This year however, I'm hoping that after 3 trips we have our timing down better and will keep our original reservations. By booking early I've gotten good AAA rates. When I have to cancel and then make same day reservations, I usually pay a lot more. We are leaving from MA and driving to Lumberton, NC on the trip down. On the return, we are staying in Chester, VA. This plan is for about 12 hours of travel time on both days.

 

[DisneyFanatik]

Originally posted by Guads6
We've done it both ways. When we wing it we stop by 6:00 p.m. to make sure we get a room. For our upcoming trip we used mapquest to figure out where we wanted to drive to. Example we plan on driving 11 hrs(plus stops) on our first day. That will put us in SC so I have a reservation in SC. Then if we do 6 hours plus stops that will put us two hrs from Disney, so we will be staying there our second night. Then 3rd day we will be at Disney by 11:30 to check in!

Where are you staying on your second night? I am trying to plan our trip just about the same way.

 

[Barb A.]

Mjasp, Where did you stay in Fredricksburg, VA? I think that will be one of our alternatives for stopping on our upcoming trip.