Drive to Disney World?

[Guatemom2]

Hi Everyone,
How is the drive to Disney? How many hours? We are in Philadelphia, PA. Is parking free at Disney for guests that are staying in the park? WE are staying at AoA. Is it a pain to drive and park?
Would e leave in middle of night?
We will have an 8 & 6 yar old in the car with us.

Sorry for the questions, just never considered driving but some are telling us it's not that bad?

Thanks.

 

[mr_braver23]

We drive every year from Georgia/Tenn line. It's about 9 hrs for us, but we leave afternoon after work drive 4-5 hrs spend the night and drive on in for park opening! Have a great trip. Half the fun is getting there!

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Is this true? I don't think I have heard this before. If this is true, how have I missed this fact?

I hope you haven't been paying to park while staying at a Disney resort. Your parking pass is usually in the welcome package you get when you sign-in. It's the same one you use to park at your resort.

 

[Pocahontas]

I live in Pennsylvania as well, and would never dream of driving to Disney.

 

[zurgandfriend]

I'll give you the same advise I give eveyone driving I-95, don't stop at South of the Border, other that that, enjoy.

 

[LisaBelle]

We live in Cincinnati and have driven to WDW 3 of the 4 trips we've taken. We like to stop when we need to and not feel crazed, so we usually break the drive into 2 days. One long day and then a short 2nd day. We plan pool time or DTD time and a dinner ADR on arrival day, hit the rack early and get up for rope drop at the MK the next morning. The drive back kind of sucks because you don't want to go home, but the drive down is usually fun with all the excitement and anticipation. We love having our car so we can drive to the parks rather than relying on the buses. The buses were fine, but we usually had to stand up on the way back to the hotel and that was hard when we were exhausted from being in the parks all day. Having a car also makes it easier to get to ADRs at other resorts and shop at the outlets.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

We live in northern Wisconsin and have driven. It takes us about 2 days with one overnight stop and some small sightseeing. It is fun to drive as long as traffic isn't too bad. We play trivia and do Mad Libs to help pass the time too.

 

[SagamoreBeach]

I live in Massachusetts and have driven and flown to WDW. I much prefer the drive down. I can't tell you how many hours it takes because every time has been different. I love to take side trips and explore. And many times I arrive at WDW without any reservations and just take a shot that I will get what I want. Only once did this not happen...it was Christmas and AKL was completely booked and had to stay at one of the All Star Resorts. It was actually quite nice. Driving down you get to see so much of this wonderful country that we live in. One year I began the trek down and decided stop in Connecticut. I found a wonderful Greek diner that evening and great breakfast place the next morning. The hotel is an entirely different story.
-T

 

[SagamoreBeach]

I'll give you the same advise I give eveyone driving I-95, don't stop at South of the Border, other that that, enjoy.

NO! South of the Border is one of my favorite stops! It is so tacky.
-T

 

[SuprDav]

Another plus of driving is taking along plenty of bottled water, snacks and Bud Light.

 

[mousehockey37]

Hi Everyone,
How is the drive to Disney? How many hours? We are in Philadelphia, PA. Is parking free at Disney for guests that are staying in the park? WE are staying at AoA. Is it a pain to drive and park?
Would e leave in middle of night?
We will have an 8 & 6 yar old in the car with us.

Sorry for the questions, just never considered driving but some are telling us it's not that bad?

Thanks.

Being you are from Philly, especially with a 6 & 8 year old, it's 2 hours by air from Philly to Orlando. Get a car/van to pick you and drive you to PHI, then have a car service pick you up (depending on who you use, you can make a grocery stop for all your snackage, drink needs) and drop you off at your resort.

It will more than likely save your sanity, especially when you can get up, get on a plane and in 2 hours, you're there. All the estimates people are giving you are relative based on what time of year you are going and what the weather does. Once again, I'll take the price of flying over the price of a rental car (hopefully you wouldn't use your own car for that haul), gas and food getting to and from WDW.

There will be plenty that will disagree with me, but that's ok. I'll enjoy my window seat for 2 hours and be in the park meeting the mouse ever before you hit the state line (for those that disagree with me that is)!!!

Hope this helps. Btw, I live in Central PA, and our last trip, we flew and had family that drove. They left a day and a half ahead of us and they were miserable by the time they got there. We were fresh and ready to have fun, they just wanted to sleep.

 

[SagamoreBeach]

Being you are from Philly, especially with a 6 & 8 year old, it's 2 hours by air from Philly to Orlando. Get a car/van to pick you and drive you to PHI, then have a car service pick you up (depending on who you use, you can make a grocery stop for all your snackage, drink needs) and drop you off at your resort.

Yep...I've never had to travel with small children so I don't know what that is like.
-T

 

[SuprDav]

The road trip is becoming a thing of the past, but they are so fun. You spend more time with your family, see things you can't see from an airplane window, try different eateries along the way and start new traditions. One that we love is to always stop at the Florida Welcome Center and get that free cup of orange juice and a map of Florida. It's also a lot of fun to pass the landmarks and know you're getting closer to your destination. I think people within a drivable distance cheat themselves by not driving and seeing some of this great country.

 

[jlsHouston]

I 10 east and 1000 miles...I have never done it straight thru, I think it would probably be 24 hours of driving with stops if I did. We usually drive 12 hours into PCB, pay for 2 nights beachside and I sleep and rest while everyone does the sand and water thing and then we head into WDW. Takes us about 7 hours of steady driving from PCB. It's always a great road trip with lotsa fun memories.

 

[zurgandfriend]

NO! South of the Border is one of my favorite stops! It is so tacky.
-T

Yes and so dirty, sorry the place just make me skive.

 

[bow0303]

We have driven from southwestern VA and was about a 12 hour drive(ours boys were 7 & 4). I think that would make that about 20 hours give or take 2 hours. For us we drove about 8-9 the first day but we stopped for lunch (2hours) and multiple stops including losing an hour trying to find our hotel in GA. We planned for the a leisurely day and that's what we got. If driving during the week I would suggest leaving early enough to get through Northern VA rush hour traffic as that will really slow you down. I think to accomplish that you would have to leave in the middle of the night. IMO I would try to stay someone where in South Carolina and that would leave you a 6-7 drive to get to the Orlando.

Parking at the parks were free when you stay on property back in 2011 but like someone else said, not sure how it works with the magic bands. We used Disney transportation early in the week but towards the end of the week we drove more and it seemed to be more convenient. It was nice not to have to carry a 4 year old who was sleep all while standing on a bus. On a side not it was surprising the number of grown adults that sat in front of us that didn't offer their seat.

 

[quirkle]

We just drove for Christmas with a 7 and 10 year old from New Haven Ct. here is the discussion on our trip: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/driving-from-ct-changing-plans.877801/

We left at 12:30 AM and got there at 6:30 PM with 1 big and 3 little stops. We only hit traffic in CT (ugh at 12:45 AM) and on I-4.There were 2 drivers and we motored through it. The first full day was a non-park day and we went to the water parks instead and then went full force on the 2nd full day.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

The road trip is becoming a thing of the past, but they are so fun. You spend more time with your family, see things you can't see from an airplane window, try different eateries along the way and start new traditions. One that we love is to always stop at the Florida Welcome Center and get that free cup of orange juice and a map of Florida. It's also a lot of fun to pass the landmarks and know you're getting closer to your destination. I think people within a drivable distance cheat themselves by not driving and seeing some of this great country.

I love stopping at the Florida Welcome Center for that tree OJ, last time we drove the welcome center had closed about 30minutes before we got there! So I stood in the window staring at the orange juice for a moment and wishing. Here is a picture of it all closed up...

 

[smk]

We're in the Poconos and will be driving down at the end of the month. We plan to leave around 7:00am and do 12 or 14 hours the first day, stay in a hotel, and then finish the trip on day two. We know a lot of people who drive straight through, but it isn't practical (or appealing) for us. The travel part can be fun too, if you plan well!

We love to drive to WDW for our vacations! For us it is art of the vacation!

 

[smk]

Parking in the park lots is free for Disney hotel guests and people who have APs.

I'd break that drive into two days, doing the bulk of it the first day, staying in Brunswick or Kingsland, Georgia that night. Brunswick and Kingsland both have tons of motels, fast food places and gas stations very close to the highway. They're ideal for a quick overnight stop. The next day would be just a few hours.

I enjoyed every drive we ever made to WDW very much. There were rough spots, with the kids being annoying or irritating, but overall, it's a great experience and there is a LOT of fun to be had on a road trip, if you want to have fun with it. Some of our best vacation memories happened during the road trip and that's the truth.

I never laughed harder in my life than I did during one of drives. Worried we'd have an accident because I was laughing so hard that it was difficult to keep my eyes open and on the road. Laughed so hard I had to stop and change clothes. Long after I'm dead, my nephews will be saying, "Remember when Yiyi peed her pants and we had to stop in that weird place and the lady with all those cats in her car kept talking to us?"

Drives can be half the fun. They really can. They can also be boring. There can be the occasional fight. It's an adventure well worth having, if you have the time.

Every kid should have one long road trip to remember.

TOTALLY AGREE! Our best times have come from long car trips, we not only have driven to Florida from Indy but have driven to Oregon, CA, CO, Canada all on separate but equally fun vacations. We pack a picnic basket full of chips and snacks, stop at rest stops and have lunch/dinner/snacks. In fact, IF I could escape right this minute and get in my frozen car, I would get the heck out of the frozen Midwest!

 

[Hot Lava]

I hope you haven't been paying to park while staying at a Disney resort. Your parking pass is usually in the welcome package you get when you sign-in. It's the same one you use to park at your resort.

No, I know that you do not have to pay at the resort you are staying (and conversely that you pay through the nose at Universal). But what I took from the comment I read was that if you are staying at a WDW resort, you also get free parking at the parks. That is what I was asking about, as I have never heard that. If that is indeed not true, I would like to know before I take a trip down there and try to park at one of the parks.

Being you are from Philly, especially with a 6 & 8 year old, it's 2 hours by air from Philly to Orlando. Get a car/van to pick you and drive you to PHI, then have a car service pick you up (depending on who you use, you can make a grocery stop for all your snackage, drink needs) and drop you off at your resort.

It will more than likely save your sanity, especially when you can get up, get on a plane and in 2 hours, you're there. All the estimates people are giving you are relative based on what time of year you are going and what the weather does. Once again, I'll take the price of flying over the price of a rental car (hopefully you wouldn't use your own car for that haul), gas and food getting to and from WDW.

There will be plenty that will disagree with me, but that's ok. I'll enjoy my window seat for 2 hours and be in the park meeting the mouse ever before you hit the state line (for those that disagree with me that is)!!!

Hope this helps. Btw, I live in Central PA, and our last trip, we flew and had family that drove. They left a day and a half ahead of us and they were miserable by the time they got there. We were fresh and ready to have fun, they just wanted to sleep.

You must have great luck with flying! I have found it has become a truly awful experience. The nickel and dime charges, the Silkwood scrubdown at security (and not being able to bring hardly any liquids), pulling out my computer and my shoes off, the race for overhead space, the flights crammed with people in too small seats and aisles, the rudeness of fellow passengers and flight crews.... I could go on and on. I used to love to fly (and had to do it a great deal for work), and now it makes me sick to my stomach when I know I have to do it. And heaven forbid you get stuck with a major delay.