Who's driving in Nov/Dec?

[Maridw]

Thankfully I can say this is the first trip that we are not driving down for. We were able to get plane tickets at a good price. But we normally don't mind the drive.

We usually leave around noon or early afternoon and are there in the evening and that is a do nothing except maybe DTD if we are there early enough. Otherwise we start our days in the park the next day.

Can't wait for this trip over Thanksgiving. Arriving the night before and leaving on the Monday after.

 

[photonut]

Hey fellow drivers!!!
I just booked American Airlines from Detroit to Orlando for $189 US plus tax for Dec 30th - Jan 7th.

VERY CHEAP.....


And now we are not DRIVING!!!

 

[Wendy1953]

We're driving down in January from Long Island, NY....quite a trip! DMIL will not fly, so hubby and DSIL will drive down, I'm flying!

 

[Belle&RellasMom]

We're driving from Michigan and leaving on Friday, November 4th (first time to the Food & Wine Festival ). We usually alternate between driving and flying...if we can get a good deal on 5 tickets then we'll fly, lately though we've been taking the highway. We'll leave right after school (3:30) and drive straight through the night. It usually takes 18 hours, although we've done it in 17 before, and I'm sure DH will be trying to break that record!!! Leaving in the afternoon works out well for us...the girls usually watch a movie for a couple of hours, then a quick stop for dinner, and they're asleep by 10:00-ish...they sleep through the night and by the time they wake up, WDW is only a hop, skip and a jump away! DH does the majority of the driving, however I usually get a 2-4 hour shift sometime during the night.

Driving straight through on the way home is harder to do...no excitement to keep you going...so sometimes we do it in two days (as we are planning on this time).

 

[gjw007]

Like many others here, I also will be driving down in December. It is about a 14 to 15 hour drive depending on stops and traffic.

 

[kerry34]

We are also driving in Dec. Leaving on the 16th early in the am. I have never driven this time of year so I am hoping that the weather will hold out for us. Making sure I bring enough extra money in case we get delayed on the way there or back.

 

[jdonat]

It's been al looong time since we've driven down to FL -last time my DW
was 5mo pregnant with DD#2!
The kid's holiday schedule is really warped here in Chicago -they're getting
off on the 23rd. Airfares on either Dec23 or Dec24 were horrible. So, we're
gonna drive. We've got a 2005 Grand Caravan with the 6 DVD player built in,
so's we're gonna load that sucker up with DVD's for the girls.
I think we're going to leave in the evening on Christmas Day, and get to about
Nashville/Chattanooga (about 400/450 miles). We'll get up early and head
south towards FL. My parents live in Palm Coast (on I-95 between Jax and
Daytona), so's we'll start our trip there with a late Christmas. We'll head down
to WDW about 12/29, and leave for home from there on 1/6 or 1/7.
We've got 3 drivers, including my 17yr old DD, so's I hope the longer part of
the drive won't kill us.
I remember GA being loong, and the I-10 part across FL to Jacksonville to
be boooring.
I'm really happy we've got a new van with all the goodies...
John

 

[5kwallace]

We are driving @ 11 hours at the end of November from Northwest Alabama. Not to bad of a drive unless you hit traffic delays in Atlanta, GA.

 

[minniedisney1]

Our car could probably navigate itself to WDW!!! We are leaving very early (3-4 am) on 12/14. That will put us in Orlando around 11am-12pm. I usually get a room for that night around I-drive. So check in there & then hit DTD!!! Then up early on the 15 for the real fun to start!!!
We will leave WDW sometime the evening of the 22 & drive a few hours. Stop and drive the rest of the way on the 23rd.

52 days!!!! Can't Wait!!!!

 

[kaelarad]

We will be driving, leaving on December 20. Leave at 3:00am for the fourteen hour trip. We always drive. Of course this trip we have the presents and Christmas tree!

 

[*Flower*]

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

Kelly, where in NC are you located? We'll be driving down on the 17th of December. We drive every trip. I just thought if you could give me some information on how many miles you want to drive each day and what your budget is for hotels along the way- I could maybe help you out with some research.

At least it would give you alternatives....

 

[mommaU4]

For those of you driving to WDW do any of you decorate your car? Maybe with flags or something, or write on the windows sayings like "Disneyworld or bust". Ugh. Hopefully it's something more clever than that!! But you get what I mean.

 

[jdonat]

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.

Yeah... What we've been seeing are airfares over $250-300 r/t from Chicago
and then add on the rental car (we need one for at least a while because we
see my mom and dad in Palm Coast), it becomes pretty expensive. I know
that gas is ridiculous, but airfares are as crazy this year. I'ts about 18-20
hours from Chicago to FL, but we only figured that we're gonna lose only about a day of vacation either way, as travelling now takes about a day
from Chicago to FL even given 2 1/2 hour flight time. The time we need to
add on the front end of the airport trip is as long as the flight itself!
I figured that it's going to take about 4 tanks of gas each way, which is
pretty close to what you're seeing on the AAA Mileage calculator...
Well, we've got a new van with a 6 DVD changer and reclining seats in
the back..

John

 

[mickyzzzzz05]

The first time we went to WDW we flew (just my DH and myself). Ever since then we have driven. From our home it is 26 hours and when we were younger we would sometimes drive it in one shot - that had the advantage of the children sleeping for part of the trip. He and I would take turns sleeping and driving.

Now we head to Florida for part of the winter and when we go to WDW it is a 6 hr drive - piece of cake!

My children (21, 24 and 25 years old) have wonderful memories of driving down to Florida. We went every other year and it was a great bonding experience with the normal fighting and family disagreements thrown in.

When my husband and I head to Florida every November I look forward to the 20 hour drive (which we do in two days). It is a great opportunity to really talk without any interuptions. I treasure it!

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

We are driving down on the 15th of Dec. Its about an 9 hour drive from where we are at, so straight through is not that bad. We plan on leaving at 5am so we can get checked into POP a and get ready for MVMCP that night, wow I'll be tired

 

[Diabolicdesire]

For those of you driving to WDW do any of you decorate your car? Maybe with flags or something, or write on the windows sayings like "Disneyworld or bust". Ugh. Hopefully it's something more clever than that!! But you get what I mean.

I was thinking about getting some of those paints for the windows of the car and writing disney bound on them and other little decorations but It will only be me and dd and I started to think what if some psycho sees it and follows us. We'd be such an easy target. Might just being paranoid but there are some crazy people out there.

 

[mommaU4]

I was thinking about getting some of those paints for the windows of the car and writing disney bound on them and other little decorations but It will only be me and dd and I started to think what if some psycho sees it and follows us. We'd be such an easy target. Might just being paranoid but there are some crazy people out there.

Hmmm...I hadn't thought of that. I guess I'd be nervous too if it was just me and my kids. I'm not sure what we'll do either.

 

[james15]

I LOVE ROADTRIPS!!! Of coarse we don't have any kids either

We are leaving MO after I get off work on 12/15 and spending the night in Memphis. I do all the daytime driving on roadtrips cuz I get board just riding and my DH takes over when it starts to get dark. It's a 22+ hour drive according to Mapquest so we will probably spend a second night on the road. Either way we plan to arrive at my brother's in Seffner on the 17th, get a good night sleep then off to POP first thing on the 18th (about 45 min drive). We hope to be checked in and at AK before lunch.

Hey juligan i live in republic just 8 miles from springfield.We drive it atleast once a year 17-18 hrs is what it takes.i have tryed all the differnt ways the best way is us 60 out of springfield all the way to paduca ky.i-24 all the way to i-75 south to the fla turnpike witch at that time your 48 miles away.the worst part is springfield to paduca.we use to stay in atlanta but we usually got in atlanta 5pm get checked in get a bite to eat and getting the kids setteled down enough to go to bed usually around 12 am.the 7 hrs extra on the road where usually almost to orlando.

 

[MACUSER]

We are driving from colorado 2 1/2 day drive for us leave thur about noon stop in independence MO then stay the night in atlanta , then hit disney world about 1pm on sat .. Last trip april 05 kids bought the car paint and wrote all over wdw or bust and mickey ears got a lot of looks and honks on the way down ... We have gone 2 time for christmas and have been lucky with weather no snow . not sure how long it would take if we hit snow...

 

[mommaU4]

We are driving from colorado 2 1/2 day drive for us leave thur about noon stop in independence MO then stay the night in atlanta , then hit disney world about 1pm on sat .. Last trip april 05 kids bought the car paint and wrote all over wdw or bust and mickey ears got a lot of looks and honks on the way down ... We have gone 2 time for christmas and have been lucky with weather no snow . not sure how long it would take if we hit snow...

Okay 2 things:
1. Where do you buy the car paint you mentioned?
2. Finally someone who has a longer drive than we do!!! Thank-you! I was beginning to feel like a freak for driving so far.

Oops...I lied. One more thing. For those of you with a long drive what sort of car maintenance do you do for your car before you go? Or do some of you use a rental car to save wear and tear on your own? Please help, I need advice on this!