Who drives to WDW

[spatter1234]

Did you have any trouble finding a hotel with available room when you were ready to stop?

 

[Pikester]

Hello! My family of 4 will be driving to Disney in Dec 2008 from NH. My husband has driven down to Fort Myers, FL for many years either with his parents when he was younger or buy himself as he got older so he knows his way down there. He is the driver in the family but he says I'll have to do some driving since we plan on getting to the FL boarder in 22-24 hrs and then on to the World. We do plan on taking breaks when we need it and depending on how our time is may stop in Daytona so the kids, DS10 and DS7, can see the beach. I am REALLY nervous about having to drive but he has made a timeline so that I won't be driving through the big cities. I told him to give me "flat and long" and I'll be happy.

 

[dawz1026]

Hello! My family of 4 will be driving to Disney in Dec 2008 from NH. My husband has driven down to Fort Myers, FL for many years either with his parents when he was younger or buy himself as he got older so he knows his way down there. He is the driver in the family but he says I'll have to do some driving since we plan on getting to the FL boarder in 22-24 hrs and then on to the World. We do plan on taking breaks when we need it and depending on how our time is may stop in Daytona so the kids, DS10 and DS7, can see the beach. I am REALLY nervous about having to drive but he has made a timeline so that I won't be driving through the big cities. I told him to give me "flat and long" and I'll be happy.

you will have plenty of flat and long!once you get to VA and NC looooooong,flat and booooring lol...We do it every year from NY! You will do fine!

 

[ksjayhawkfan]

We are really thinking about driving for our trip in October. There will be my DH, my DS-11, DD-9, DS-3, new baby who will be 3 and a half months old and myself. We will be driving from Kansas. But I really dont want to have to wrestle a 3 year old and an infant on the plane. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[spatter1234]

We are really thinking about driving for our trip in October. There will be my DH, my DS-11, DD-9, DS-3, new baby who will be 3 and a half months old and myself. We will be driving from Kansas. But I really dont want to have to wrestle a 3 year old and an infant on the plane. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

When our DSs were little, the only way we would fly is if we had non-stop flight. Wrestling them on the lay-overs was much worse than wrestling them on the plane. When we could get non-stop (normally with Northwest), they gave us 1/2 price for our infant son. We always bought an extra ticket even though we weren't required to (under 2 yo) just for the extra space. The 1/2 price made it worth it. Hope this helps!

 

[TinaLala]

We've driven down from MA a few times. We're leaving Friday night and driving 6 hours to PA where we'll stop at a hotel. I'm ringing a AAA hotel book I got from requesting my trip-tic. I research the hotel before we leave or on the way down and call the hotel before we get there to ensure vacancy. Then we'll drive the entire day Saturday - 10-12 hours could be in GA. Then drive Sunday until we get to FLA!

I've already picked up our trip-tic from AAA, a road atlas (just in case) and DH will be picking up a GPS system this week.

We stop at Cracker Barrels on the way down - get a map at any of your local Cracker Barrel restaurants so we know where they are on the way down. Good spot to stop for a clean bathroom and a cheap, but good meal. We usually have something leftover to bring with us so when someone is hungry 20 mins later, they can eat their leftovers. Do you think I work there or something??? Hey I get 35% off our food and anything in the store, how could I not give it a selfish plug!!

 

[spatter1234]

We stop at Cracker Barrels on the way down - get a map at any of your local Cracker Barrel restaurants so we know where they are on the way down. Good spot to stop for a clean bathroom and a cheap, but good meal. We usually have something leftover to bring with us so when someone is hungry 20 mins later, they can eat their leftovers. Do you think I work there or something??? Hey I get 35% off our food and anything in the store, how could I not give it a selfish plug!!

.

Don't blame you for the plug. We don't work there but try to find one whenever possible. My kids love Cracker Barrel and at least we know we are getting a good meal. This is the one place I don't have to order Chicken Strips and French Fries. They will be getting enough of that once at WDW!

 

[tiggerx3]

Hi dvczerfs,

You hit the nail on the head!
We're just sounth of Scranton and we take 81 to int66, to rt17, to int.95 at Fredericksburg. We usually leave mid afternoon at 2sh, so the traffic isn't too bad. Our goal is to drive to the Georgia line and rest there a few hours. We buy the "Next Exit" book and use that to find gas and restaurant stops off the exits.

Can't wait for Aug 29th to get on the road!

 

[bluenosemickey]

It's 36 driving hours. We have done it with 2 nights on the road, one night on the road, a few hours sleep and no stay on the road. No matter how you slice it, it's a long drive. Our kids never cease to amaze me with how well they travel. Technology is a must, DVD player (with a back up) and the DS's and lots of snacks.

We stick to the 95 as much as possible, stop only at the Cracker Barrel and we have always had great luck just using the room saver books at the state line rest stops for hotels. You can get some great prices for nice hotels if your willing to risk having to visit more than one if its a busy time of year. We typically get a nice Best Western, Holiday Inn, Fairfield or Hilton for about 69-79 per night. You can also go on line and print off some coupons in advance.

The journey is part of the trip, also it's typically 4-5 thousand dollars to fly 5 of us to Orlando from Halifax! We can usually do the drive for around 1000.

 

[bolo]

We are really thinking about driving for our trip in October. There will be my DH, my DS-11, DD-9, DS-3, new baby who will be 3 and a half months old and myself. We will be driving from Kansas. But I really dont want to have to wrestle a 3 year old and an infant on the plane. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

we always drive everywhere since buying 8 plane tickets to fly anywhere is super expensive!

so, my best advice is be prepared. we pack plenty of snacks, bring the portable dvd player and ds, a small blanket and pillow for everyone, and i keep out a few "surprises" for along the way. some examples...activity books and crayola twistables (easier and not messy like crayons), dollar store toys, a new dvd, fun snack (like blowpops or assorted gummies), mini magna-doodle,...well, you get the idea. when my kids were really little i even wrapped each surprise in tissue paper and they would get to open something each time we entered a new state.

it can be done, even with little ones! our last trip to florida (not to disney tho) my kids were 10, 9, 22 mos, and twins were 9 mos. (oh yeah, and i was newly pg and not feeling well...ugh). and really, other than my not feeling good, the trip went pretty smoothly. and since then, we drive to myrtle beach every year (13 hours) and it's always fine. don't stress and enjoy the journey...and have fun!

 

[torinsmom]

Wow! You guys are making me feel like it is a hop, skip and jump to WDW from NC! I can't imagine it taking 20 or even 30 hours to get there! 9 hours seems like forever to me!

Marsha

 

[TSMAMI]

Did you have any trouble finding a hotel with available room when you were ready to stop?

I use aaa internet triptik. You can map out your driving directions.If you know what area you are wanting to stay, you can zoom in on the area and it will show you all the hotels in that location. Somethimes they are right off the highway. I tend to make sure that its a hotel chain that I am fimilar with.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

We've never booked a hotel in advance to stay overnight, and we've never had any trouble finding a place to stay. We take the I-75 and use the book by Dave Hunter to help us. Depending on how things are going, we'll look ahead and decide where we want to stop - we usually try to pick an exit with several hotel options.

I find that when you drop in like that later in the evening, you often get good deals. The hotel manager knows that if you don't take the room, he's going to get zero dollars for that night, so even if he gives you a discount he's still coming out ahead. I always ask if there are any discounts or special deals and we usually get a deal.

Teresa

 

[mom24diskidz]

We have only driven to WDW with all kids in tow...It used to take us less time but now we camp in FW so we are towing a camper.. We are from Pa.I think last Nov it took 20 hours towing...

 

[Amyz00]

We have only driven to WDW with all kids in tow...It used to take us less time but now we camp in FW so we are towing a camper.. We are from Pa.I think last Nov it took 20 hours towing...

Wow! Do you have to drive a lot slower when towing a camper?

 

[dvczerfs]

Hi dvczerfs,

You hit the nail on the head!
We're just sounth of Scranton and we take 81 to int66, to rt17, to int.95 at Fredericksburg. We usually leave mid afternoon at 2sh, so the traffic isn't too bad. Our goal is to drive to the Georgia line and rest there a few hours. We buy the "Next Exit" book and use that to find gas and restaurant stops off the exits.

Can't wait for Aug 29th to get on the road!

hi tiggerx3, we always went 81 to int77. which is a nice trip. all mountains,very nice. we had a camper in wapwallopen pa. and the people we went down south with went 66 to 17. mutch faster. we drive 1100 miles and the only place we hit traffic is int78 and rt100 in the lehigh valley!!

 

[pammck]

We are so excited! we are heading to Florida and Disney next Wed the 9th at 4 AM. We are in Western NY. We drive to Fl every year as we are a family of 7. But we only get to Disney every 5 years. WOOHOO!! Can't wait


Pam

 

[OKW Mom]

We'd pack and gas while it was light and then load up the sleepyheads in the car seats and take off. When they woke up we were usually very close to WDW!

The 2 of us would take turns driving until we'd get to our destination. The Ford Windstar was a tank and that gas info is HISTORY!

We're in Baltimore MD now and we drive a 4 dr diesel sedan now.

I am such am excited wreck I cannot sleep the night before we leave (at 54!) so we still leave at night. Our tank holds 23 gallons and we get about 35 MPG.

Although we do not have to stop for diesel we do stop at every state line for stretch/potty breaks and driver swaps. No little ones anymore-EVERYONE takes a turn driving!

We are a driving family-and if time permits it we'd rather drive because we make that part of the adventure.

When we arrive before check in we drop by the pool and lay in the sun and take a nap!

 

[milmom6]

We just drove down from Michigan and I bought the book "Parents Survival Guide to I-75 from Detroit to Orlando". We left right after school on the 20th, drove to Ky where we stopped at the grandparents and spent the night and next day. Then, we got up at 3am Saturday morning and we were in Disney by 4!!! The book has a lot of fun places to stop, but there were a couple of places like McDonalds playlands that were not playlands anymore. But, all in all, the parks and such were wonderful for 15 minute play and stretch stops.

On the way home, we left Friday (28th) around 4, stopped at midnight in Georgia, got up early the next morning and drove until 7pm and once again stayed with the grandparents and then got up and left around 10am. We arrived back to dreary, cold Michigan around 6:30pm.

The boys had new DS games and I rented some movies so the trip went really well. We also played the typical car games and since they did not want to lose their arcade quarters, there was very little arguing!!!

We are flying next time, but only because I got flights for $54 a person each way.

 

[Pikester]

you will have plenty of flat and long!once you get to VA and NC looooooong,flat and booooring lol...We do it every year from NY! You will do fine!

Thank you so much for the vote of confindence!