Who's driving in Nov/Dec?

[TinkrBeth]

We are driving down the day after Thanksgiving from Central Illinois... it will take us about 17 hrs. Will be armed with DVD players and Gameboys for the kids!

 

[TnTsParty]

We always drive but then again we only have a 2 1/2 - 3 hour trip (depending on which resort we are staying at) We will be leaving here around 5:30 AM (to avoid the morning traffic mess in West Palm.) on Dec 14th and that should put us at POFQ by 8:30 AM - even if they don't have the room available we can check our luggage (or keep it in the truck) and head over to MK to spend the morning then back to the resort (again at what time depends on if we got our room already) Then back to MK to see Wishes at 8PM!! Oh I can't wait!!!

 

[Luv4Disney]

Been there, done that, will never drive during December again. It costs as much to drive as it does to fly, and take 1/12 of the time. Of course, we drove when that huge snow/ice storm hit So. and No. Carolina. I95 was literally a sheet of ice! I could've skated down it! It was scary seeing all the cars on the side of the road. I never want to experience that again! I'll risk it in the air!

 

[kellyg403]

We will be leaving in Dec also from NC and will be stopping in Savannah, Staying overnight and finishing the trip. Figured better than being exhausted the first day at WDW. Anyway, the question for those of you who have stayed in Savannah, where/which hotel is closest to 95? Nothing expensive since we will need two rooms and want to save all our money for Disney!!!
Anyone stayed somewhere convenient and clean with advice would be greatly appreciated!

TIA

Kelly

 

[jbird327]

3 hours to the Autotrain on Dec 15th. This will be my 3rd time on the train, I am not a big fan of flying.

 

[twoprincesses]

We will be going in Nov. from Houston, TX. approx. 16 hrs i think... does anyone know the situation in LA? and how that will effect the drive time if any??

 

[gilesdad]

We are driving down the day after Thanksgiving from Central Illinois... it will take us about 17 hrs. Will be armed with DVD players and Gameboys for the kids!

We're also driving down the day after Thanksgiving from Central Illinois. (Champaign) And also with Gameboy and DVD's.
We'll be driving to Marietta, Ga and staying at the Hyatt Regency Suites Friday night. (priceline.com --$40) Then on to Venice, Fl to stay at my parent's "winter home". They are snowbirds from Champaign, but they won't be in Florida while we're there so we'll have their place to use for free lodging.
Then on Tuesday after Thanksgiving we'll check in at Fort Wilderness and pitch the tent. Disney World was an after-thought sidetrip for us but now I'm consumed with planning our short 3 day stay there. Wish we weren't going all the way to Venice now but at least the drive home FROM Disney will seem short compared to the drive down to Venice. We'll find a priceline.com hotel around Chattanooga for the return trip. That way it's broken into 2 fairly equal driving days. See ya there!!!

 

[RussH]

I will be driving down this early December the same as the last 7-8 years. I carry to much stuff to fly. Normally it is a straight through minimal stops cruise control on 83 blast but not this year. Instead of averaging 73 MPH trying for 60. Somehow work approved 1/2 of friday off I will be leaving at noon drive to Fla-Ga border and stop find a motel for 5 or 6 hours. This puts me in WDW around 10 check in at POP and off to Dawa around opening.

 

[always quiet]

Been there, done that, will never drive during December again. It costs as much to drive as it does to fly, and take 1/12 of the time. Of course, we drove when that huge snow/ice storm hit So. and No. Carolina. I95 was literally a sheet of ice! I could've skated down it! It was scary seeing all the cars on the side of the road. I never want to experience that again! I'll risk it in the air!

Wasn't that Dec. 2002?? We drove down that year and while the Northeast had snow, we saw ice everywhere once we got past Maryland. The trees were actually encased in ice and glistened in the sun!! Beautiful to see but didn't make for the best driving conditions!!

 

[mamaminnie]

We're driving too. . but only about 2-2 1/2 hours (from Palm Beach COunty) We'll pick up ds (7) early from school and be in the MK for dinner. Staying at POFQ from 11/16-11/20.

I admire all of you who drive from far away. DH and I would kill each other if we had to do that.

 

[trampslady]

Add me and hubby to the driving list. We are leaving Dallas on Tuesday, November 22 at 3am and hope to arrive at WDW around 11pm. It will be our first straight through trip, but with just the two of us, I think it won't be a problem.

This will also be our first attempt to go the coastal route (barring any further hurricane issues!!!!) instead of the "high road" through Jackson, MS.

 

[Minnie824]

I just found this thread, and haven't had time to read it all, but we're driving too! Our first trip with our DDs aged 4 and 1.5 from Chicago suburbs....18 hours plus stops supposedly, and we're going to *attempt* to leave 3am and drive straight thru, taking turns driving. If the girls need to stop, we'll stop. Since this is our first big drive with them, we'll just see how it goes. Maybe we'll see some of you on the road!

 

[natlexi]

Count us in for the drive in December from VA. Should be interesting with DD3 and DD6mo. We'll take two days with a stop outside of Jacksonville, although my DH thinks we can drive straight through!! I told him that was fine as long as I could drive and he sat in the backseat entertaining the kids!!

We'll be at the Poly from the 10th through 17th and really looking forward to it! It will be our second stay there. Everyone drive safe!!

 

[MissBubbles]

My mom & I will be (okay I'm driving since she's 81 years young) from Missouri. Stopping just east of Paducah, KY the first night and driving down I-75 to be in Kissimmee on 12/26. We'll be at Epcot on Day 1.

 

[kmkja1]

We come from Ohio and like to leave aroud 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Kids watch movies on the DVD player untill 10 or 11 then go to sleep. Wife and I trade off driving through the night. Traffic is light, temp is comfortable and it is quiet because the kids are sleeping. They wake up in Florida a short drive from WDW so they are happy to. Makes for a great trip down.

 

[CheshireVal]

I'll be driving down on the 16th, but it's only about a 7 hour drive assuming we don't hit horrible traffic on I-75 anywhere.

 

[Suzyq9241]

Where do I begin....

Can't wait,

Dh and I are leaving on 11/15 (my birthday) after work from NJ (taking our time) and arriving in Orlando on 11/18 at the Crowne Plaza for 2 nights than off to Orange Lake ( I heard they have a new water park there and we are staying right across the street from it) but on the way back we will leave on the 11/26 and be back in NJ by 11/27 - Need to be back for work - but need to be in WDW for as long as I can.

 

[tlbwriter]

We're driving from the Columbus, GA area. We might leave in the morning and get there for dinner, or we might leave a day earlier, as soon as the kids get out of school, and spend the night in Valdosta, GA. I'm not really dreading the drive to WDW, especially if we split it into two days, but I'm dreading the 14-hour drive to get from our house to my in-laws's house in Georgia!

 

[MHTeacher]

This will be our first time to drive to WDW from North Alabama. Planning on leaving on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The plan is to leave after church services (by 1:00p.m.) We will probably stop around Tallahassee, Fl and spend the night. Hope to be in Epcot by lunch Monday a.m.

40 days ...Can't Wait

 

[mommaU4]

Been there, done that, will never drive during December again. It costs as much to drive as it does to fly, and take 1/12 of the time. Of course, we drove when that huge snow/ice storm hit So. and No. Carolina. I95 was literally a sheet of ice! I could've skated down it! It was scary seeing all the cars on the side of the road. I never want to experience that again! I'll risk it in the air!

I wish I could fly! Even though I'm not crazy about flying I am not crazy about the thought of a 24 hour drive either!

We would have to fly out of Traverse City MI. and with 6 of us flying the airfare would run us around $1800 to $2400 depending which airline we went with! Plus we would have to change planes in Detroit.

According to AAA's fuel cost calculator round trip gas is only about $350. The way down we have a hotel room for $84 a night and the way back we will stay with relatives. The food cost will be minimal since we plan to pack snacks and sandwich makings. So in our case driving is definately cheaper. Whether I'll be able to remain sane by the time we get there is another matter. But I try to remember that even the drive is part of the adventure.