For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (III)

[Jakesmom504]

First time driver from South Jersey...and a little nervous! We leave in 2 weeks, will be arriving on the 14th. Originally we had planned to stop overnight somewhere but now DH is saying he thinks he might want to drive straight through! I cannot stand traffic even more than I hate to fly so for all you fellow South Jerseans what would be the best time to leave? I would like to make it to Disney by about lunch time or shortly after. Also for those of you who did drive straight through...is it worth it?? I really want to do MK the day we arrive but MVMCP is that night so the park closes at 7. We have ADR's at Ohana's for dinner that night when we leave the park. Me...I'm sure I will be on pure adrenaline but since DH will probably be doing most of the driving I don't want to kill the first day for him!

[patclairesmom]

We'll be leaving in less than 12 hours for our 2nd trip this year. We are leaving monmouth county nj at 6 am and stopping overnight in Santee SC then continuing on until we get to our hotel in Kissimmee.

[artesian]

Originally Posted by Jakesmom504

First time driver from South Jersey...and a little nervous! We leave in 2 weeks, will be arriving on the 14th. Originally we had planned to stop overnight somewhere but now DH is saying he thinks he might want to drive straight through! I cannot stand traffic even more than I hate to fly so for all you fellow South Jerseans what would be the best time to leave? I would like to make it to Disney by about lunch time or shortly after. Also for those of you who did drive straight through...is it worth it?? I really want to do MK the day we arrive but MVMCP is that night so the park closes at 7. We have ADR's at Ohana's for dinner that night when we leave the park. Me...I'm sure I will be on pure adrenaline but since DH will probably be doing most of the driving I don't want to kill the first day for him!

depends on how you drive. we around 7pm and can be there by lunchtime the next day. that's minimal stops for gas only and maybe a bite to eat. the reason we pick that time is i don't want to hit DC before 10. So far this has worked very well for us on 4 trips now

[MulanMom]

We're planning on driving straight through to WDW but not planning to do a lot our first night/afternoon there. We'll stay off property for the first night, visit DTD and take care of tickets/TiW so that when we check in to the Poly the following day, we're all set to go.

We make a yearly trek to NC for summer beach trips and leave about 5-6pm at night to miss DC traffic just like PP. It's amazing how heavy traffic can be on 95 around DC even late at night...but at least it's moving. The further south we go the emptier i95 gets.

Have a great trip!

[Shir Kahn]

Originally Posted by MulanMom

We're planning on driving straight through to WDW but not planning to do a lot our first night/afternoon there. We'll stay off property for the first night, visit DTD and take care of tickets/TiW so that when we check in to the Poly the following day, we're all set to go.

We make a yearly trek to NC for summer beach trips and leave about 5-6pm at night to miss DC traffic just like PP. It's amazing how heavy traffic can be on 95 around DC even late at night...but at least it's moving. The further south we go the emptier i95 gets.

Have a great trip!

I wish we could drive straight through to WDW but it's a 32 hour drive for us and the longest I've done in one stretch was 25 hours straight, so I don't think that's going to happen!

[BC1836]

Originally Posted by Jakesmom504

First time driver from South Jersey...and a little nervous! We leave in 2 weeks, will be arriving on the 14th. Originally we had planned to stop overnight somewhere but now DH is saying he thinks he might want to drive straight through! I cannot stand traffic even more than I hate to fly so for all you fellow South Jerseans what would be the best time to leave? I would like to make it to Disney by about lunch time or shortly after. Also for those of you who did drive straight through...is it worth it?? I really want to do MK the day we arrive but MVMCP is that night so the park closes at 7. We have ADR's at Ohana's for dinner that night when we leave the park. Me...I'm sure I will be on pure adrenaline but since DH will probably be doing most of the driving I don't want to kill the first day for him!

Give yourselves an 18-hour block of time to complete your drive. That time includes driving and periodic stopping (gas, bathroom, food -- if you're not bringing any with you). We have done the straight through drive many times, but we end our drive at a nearby WDW hotel for the night (less expensive that arriving at WDW just to sleep for the first night). That allows us to drive the ten minutes to our WDW hotel the next morning, relaxed and ready for a full day. If you do a straight-through drive and expect to be fully alert once you arrive, you'll be surprised when your inner zombie takes over.

No matter what your driving plans are, be safe.

All the best.

[Jakesmom504]

Originally Posted by BC1836

Give yourselves an 18-hour block of time to complete your drive. That time includes driving and periodic stopping (gas, bathroom, food -- if you're not bringing any with you). We have done the straight through drive many times, but we end our drive at a nearby WDW hotel for the night (less expensive that arriving at WDW just to sleep for the first night). That allows us to drive the ten minutes to our WDW hotel the next morning, relaxed and ready for a full day. If you do a straight-through drive and expect to be fully alert once you arrive, you'll be surprised when your inner zombie takes over.

No matter what your driving plans are, be safe.

All the best.

Thanks! I've been hearing it's about 17 or 18 hours so that's pretty much what I planned on. We always drive down to OBX which isn't so bad but this year we were stuck in major traffic and it ended up taking 12-13 hours! We were tired but still able to manage. I'm a nurse and unfortunately have pulled many a 24+ hours of no sleep. It's horrible but wouldn't be the first time. DH on the other hand, I'm not so sure. He wants to drive straight through to save on the hotel cost for a night but I'm thinking we might be better off stopping. I guess we'll see as it gets closer!

[patclairesmom]

We made great time driving today. What a difference in traffic compared to going over Easter week. We left our home at 6am and picked up my son's friend. Got on the parkway about 6:17. Stopped right before the turnpike on 195 (Great Adventures exit) and had a quick breakfast at McDonald's. Despite those 2 setbacks we made it to Santee at @ 5:15pm.

[BC1836]

Originally Posted by patclairesmom

We made great time driving today. What a difference in traffic compared to going over Easter week. We left our home at 6am and picked up my son's friend. Got on the parkway about 6:17. Stopped right before the turnpike on 195 (Great Adventures exit) and had a quick breakfast at McDonald's. Despite those 2 setbacks we made it to Santee at @ 5:15pm.

Excellent progress! Now then...finish your drive!

All the best.

[goofyfigment]

Driving from NE PA in 20 days. Cant wait. Im just nervous because ive never made the drive in the winter

[BC1836]

Originally Posted by goofyfigment

Driving from NE PA in 20 days. Cant wait. Im just nervous because ive never made the drive in the winter

Your major concern should be just getting out of the PA-DE-MD area and over the Potomac River. But winter is winter. Six inches of snow in your town may not be as dangerous than a slick of black ice in southern VA.

Just be careful: check the weather constantly.

All the best.

[goofyfigment]

Thanks. We usually go 81-66-17-15-95 so fingers crossed there is no snow.

[goofyfigment]

Another question. Do you usually book a road hotel in advance or just stop when you get tired

[BC1836]

Originally Posted by goofyfigment

Another question. Do you usually book a road hotel in advance or just stop when you get tired

The last few years we have booked in advance. Earlier trips were booked on the road but it was risky since we sometimes couldn't find a convenient place to stay overnight prior to our WDW arrival.

Now we book a reservation that has a late cancellation time, just in case our progress is slowed or in case we make better time and go much further on the drive.

The key thing: make all your arrangements (departure time, expected rest stops and reservations) in advance so the only thing you have to worry about is the drive itself.

All the best.

[WellingtonR]

Originally Posted by BC1836

The last few years we have booked in advance. Earlier trips were booked on the road but it was risky since we sometimes couldn't find a convenient place to stay overnight prior to our WDW arrival.

Now we book a reservation that has a late cancellation time, just in case our progress is slowed or in case we make better time and go much further on the drive.

The key thing: make all your arrangements (departure time, expected rest stops and reservations) in advance so the only thing you have to worry about is the drive itself.

All the best.

We just made the roundtrip from CT and we didn't book any hotels. I'm glad we didn't because the first day down and back we got farther than expected. Today for our second day coming back, i81 through Virginia was packed with semis and people driving slow in the passing lane. I was getting pretty frustrated!!!