Hi Sandra:
My tips are about the same as others, snacks and drinks in car, pillow and blanket for kids, mediations in handy carry bag (I use an insulated lunch bag). I used to collect stickers, sticker books, and other small surprises to make surprize bags, and give to the children at intermittent stops. Mine are grown now. Also keep bags for carsickness.
We go to bed early, leave at 3 or 4 and drive to supper. I usually figure out how far we will go and book a motel that provides a continental breakfast ex. hampton inns, country inn and suites, fairfield, for a quick bite to eat and get driving.
I also book two motels with a 6 oclock hold about 1 and1/2 hours apart. If I know which one we will use later on in the day we call at one of the rest stops and put our credit card on it. I have to do this as there are three of us that get severe migraine headaches.
Theres nothing worse than being in a car with a bad migraine, oh I guess out in a motor boat with the water swishing around is worse. LOL
(That happened to my son when he was 13 with hubby and fishing buddies inhis first fishing derby in port elgin and it took half an hour to get to where the fish were, so he was stuck out there sick and very green, that was his last fishing derby)
From Hamilton Beckley West Virginia is about 8 hours away, driving thru New York, Pennsylvania, etc. We usually go about 13 or 14 hours, but that is a push.
Next morning eat and be on our way by 7 or 8, sometimes sooner depends how tired we are, if we drove 14 hours the day before than it is about 8 more hours to wdw resorts. About 22 to 23 hours from Hamilton to wdw.
For safety when we stop to use bathrooms we ALWAYS use the rest centres that are at the beginning of each state, as they are welcome centres with people working in them. We always go in the washrooms in groups. Or use the wendy's or mcDonalds restaurants off the highway and buy a small snack. Also we use the triptik from CAA and maps from them for the trip.
The first time was fun trying to spot the first palm tree, it was in georgia beside what we call an evergreen tree. (kinda neat a palm tree and xmas tree)
We have not been down for 5 years, but to make the drive a little shorter stop in ormond beach our second night and head to wdw the next day at noon.
We will be staying in the animal kingdom lodge for a couple of days and then to the dolphin which are both new to me. I don't know when I will ever get back with this darn exchange rate, so I will buy less at xmas because of this trip. Which is fine for everyone.
You know I always think of the drive down like in the movie The Wizard of OZ everything is black and white then in the munchkin land it is green with flowers, trees, to me that is what it is like driving down in the spring, when we have brown lawns and no leaves on the trees here, and we get into south carolina etc, with trees and grass and flowers, kind of magical I guess.
Sorry this is so long, hope you have a fab vacation whatevery you choose. Bye for now,
Deb.
Ruth
