Driving to the World From the Northeast

DisJosh

DisJosh

Well-Known Member
It's time to start putting together a plan of attack for WDW 2014! The big game changer this year is making the decision to drive instead of fly. With the aid of my Prius there is MUCH money to be saved by undertaking such an endeavor. I, however have minimal experience with long road trips. I know my girlfriend and I can hack it by driving in shifts but is it as doable as I am telling myself? Most of what I read seems to suggest it is not all that bad.

Are any of you experienced with the same or similar drive? Any suggestions, secrets or horror stories? Bare in mind we plan to do it in one shot, no overnight stop.

Educate me! :)
 
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Todd L

Todd L

Well-Known Member
I did it once as a Kid and Once as an adult..(DRIVER)

I took i-95 from New York all the way. Of course there are better routes but I was a Little nervous to stray too far off I95. This was before Cell phones and Gps devices were everywhere and being that i had my wife and 3 year old daughter with me I thought it better to be safe.

If I were going to drive with all the technology I have now I think Id take two weeks and be in less of a rush and see the sights a little.

I recall being REALLY burned out when we arrived at Wdw and It took me a good solid day to get it together Only to have to turn around and drive back a few days later Have one day off and go back to work.
 
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Poofiesdream

Poofiesdream

Well-Known Member
We drove from CT to WPB FL in one shot. Ride wasn't bad but when we got there we were so tired we didn't do anything for 2 days. Would have been better to do an over night stop and arrive fresh even with two drivers.
 
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Master Yoda

Master Yoda

Pro Star Wars geek.
Premium Member
Depending on the length of the trip, you might want to reconsider the "drive straight through plan". Not only is tired driving not the safest thing to do, you are going to be completely burned out when you arrive. Find a decent place around the 2/3 mark or so to stop and grab some food and sleep.
 
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ajrwdwgirl

ajrwdwgirl

Premium Member
We have driven from Wisconsin and it is about a 2 day trip, we tried to do some quick stops along the way to see some stuff and a one night stop. It was fun we had Mad Libs and trivia cards, and satellite radio to keep us entertained. We also did a driving trip out to Anaheim this summer and again we stopped along the way and had a great time. Road trips can be a great memory!
 
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J

jim1051

Active Member
We do it all the time from suburban Phila. Sometimes just my wife and I, sometimes as many as 9 in a rented full size van. This includes grandkids for 2 to 12 years. With all the portable entertainment, it has not been an issue. Longest trip was on Sat. before easter, 2005 with lots of construction on I95, it took us 18.5 hours . Mostly its in the 15 to 16 hours and it is 1000 miles. his past May it was 14.5 hours.

We always leave early enough to get past DC before they wake up. That means leaving at 3 AM for us.
We stop around 6 for a full breakfast, then it's fuel, boduly function and fast food lunch breaks only.

Late dinner on arrival at the world. We have stayed off site that first nite sometimes to avoid waiting a night at resort but lately we have splurged and stayed right on property even that first night.
 
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pixiesteno

pixiesteno

Well-Known Member
We have driven from western NY many times. It is about 1200 miles from our current home to WDW. We make a point of stopping every couple of hours to use the restroom, stretch the legs(very important when traveling in a Prius). It is usually about two days, depending on traffic and when we have left home. I usually drive the majority of the trip. You say you are from the Northeast, which can cover a lot of area. Try to avoid going through major cities, Baltimore, Washington, etc. How much of that you can avoid depends on where you are starting from. We leave from home and head down Route 15 through PA to Route 81 South to Route 66 East to Routes 17/39 coming out on Route 95 in Fredericksburg VA. From there be sure to pick up Rt 295 around Richmond/Petersburg Va, and straight sailing on I95 to I 4 west in Daytona to WDW. Just our route that we are familiar with and know where to stop and where not to stop.
We like having our own wheels at WDW to use if we want and our last day we just pick a park and stay until we feel ready to go, usually around 3 - 4 pm and than we just take a leisurely drive home. No airports, no lost luggage, no flight delays, no flight bouncing, no unruly kids, no paying for parking at the airport for the duration of your trip, etc.... Whatever you decide, have a joyous trip.
 
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luv

luv

Well-Known Member
I like to stop at the bottom of Georgia, in Kingsland. It is right at the Florida border. We start early so that we can get there around dinner time. We always got food from wherever anyone wanted it, which usually meant several stops at several places...and we always had Dairy Queen, too.

One time - the best time - we decided to break the trip up into three days. Picked the kids up from school and got on the road for six hours. Did eight hours on Day Two and the last few the next morning. It was extra time and money, but the easiest drive we ever had. Less fighting and whining in the back seat! "He put his FINGER on MY SIDE!" Argh.

If we rise before dawn, which thanks to me we almost always did, we can be well rested and make a rope drop! :) if not, we still arrive easily by lunch time.

One time, I drove straight through, which was stupid and dangerous. It didn't save time, because I needed to sleep when I arrived. It didn't save money, because I needed a room to sleep in when I arrived. I was sooooo tired and arriving wasn't fun at all. I was just waiting for a bed to sleep in. If they'd said, "We have a bed for you in the Satan Suite in Hell," I'd have said, "Okay, thank you." It was horrible.

I'd much rather stop overnight than arrive totally worn out, all spent and needing a break. But different strokes. :)
 
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zurgandfriend

zurgandfriend

Well-Known Member
I don't drive to WDW from Boston; however I have driven I-95 up and down the eastern seaboard many times. The only advise I can give is the same I give to everyone who asks, go through NYC as fast as possible, stop at JR's in North Carolina and don't stop at South of the Border, and if you do bring handy-wipes.
 
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DiSnEyF@n

DiSnEyF@n

Well-Known Member
We always drive when we go. The last few times we would leave (from NJ) at 8pm and drive straight through the night and get to the hotel around 11-12. We also stop at the food store in FL as well as the liquor store. It saves us even more money on food and alcohol during our stay. The first day we get there we do NOT do the parks. We swim, walk around the lagoon that surrounds the Boardwalk, Yacht and Beach Club and the Swan and Dolphin (we stay at the Dolphin). You can also explore other hotels that day or go to DTD. That way we get to bed early that night and are up and ready to hit the parks the next day!

The drive is super easy... It's pretty much a straight shot passed Virginia. Very easy drive.

Good Luck! :)
 
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mguimond1990

mguimond1990

Well-Known Member
The last couple times I have gone I have flown. But I will never forgot the memories created when my mom took me when I was in middle school and we drove down. I'm all for driving again. We went from Maine to Florida. Some of the things I remember( besides the cool memories) is 1) the awful NYC traffic and 2) stopping in SC (which seems to be a popular stop from the posts above). I recommend it
 
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Disvillain63

Disvillain63

Well-Known Member
We live in Georgia and have split the trip into 2 days...for 7 hours... We picked the kids up from school and drove to Jekyll Island. They enjoyed the beach and a Georgia-shaped pool, some seafood at a local restaurant. The next morning we headed to Disney.

Another time, we split it into 2 days, to get away from snow. It started snowing while the kids were at school, as soon as they closed the schools and announced that they would be closed the next day (a day before we were planning to leave...plus the south closes schools for a fourth of an inch), I went ahead and finished the packing. As soon as DH got home from work, we left...as his job wouldn't work the next day, since he was a package delivery man at the time. We got ourselves below the snow line (Savannah) and stopped for the night. We finished the next morning. Since we were a day early and there was no room at ASMu, the CM booked us a room at POR (bayou) for the ASMu price we were paying.
 
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tare

tare

Well-Known Member
We've driven from wi several times while growing up. It can be fast paced or a site seeing pace. Sometimes fun sometimes not. Have a safe drive and great trip!!!!
 
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Nemo14

Nemo14

Well-Known Member
DisJosh said:
It's time to start putting together a plan of attack for WDW 2014! The big game changer this year is making the decision to drive instead of fly. With the aid of my Prius there is MUCH money to be saved by undertaking such an endeavor. I, however have minimal experience with long road trips. I know my girlfriend and I can hack it by driving in shifts but is it as doable as I am telling myself? Most of what I read seems to suggest it is not all that bad.

Are any of you experienced with the same or similar drive? Any suggestions, secrets or horror stories? Bare in mind we plan to do it in one shot, no overnight stop.

Educate me! :)
Click to expand...

We've driven straight through from RI, but with only 2 drivers, I really wouldn't recommend it. We always have one person awake with the driver to help keep them awake. Once you get past Washington, the road gets pretty boring if you're doing 95 all the way. By the way, from RI we strongly recommend taking 84 to 81, to 40S to 26, to 95. It's a little further, distance-wise, but traffic is much better, fewer tolls, and you make much better time that way. It's a much prettier drive too, which doesn't matter much at night I suppose.
 
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Clamman73

Clamman73

Well-Known Member
DisJosh said:
It's time to start putting together a plan of attack for WDW 2014! The big game changer this year is making the decision to drive instead of fly.
Click to expand...

Where in northeast? If I was to go nonstop from Long Island to Orlando, it's about 18hrs on a Sunday. It also depends on time of year too because having daylight certainly helps...
 
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DisJosh

DisJosh

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thank you all for your experiences! I guess I should mention we're leaving from Rhode Island. Estimated time is 18 hours. We're staying for 8 days and I am a seasoned WDW vacationer. So one day mostly sacrificed is not a big deal. Also, our WDW routine involves heading back to the hotel every day around 2 for a 2 to 3 hour nap. We don't subject ourselves to full exhausting days at the parks. I could never imagine doing WDW that way! Upon arrival we're planning to check in, eat and if luck is on our side get our room a bit early so we can crash. Followed potentially by Illuminations and a drink and then back to the hotel for bed.

All in all I am not too concerned with being too tired to enjoy the vacation! :)
 
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