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!
I think doing it one shot is a bit much! My Dad used to drive us all down from Upstate NY in our old van. Dad loved to drive, but the trip was about 20 hours. We'd leave early in the morning on a Saturday, with our breakfasts packed in the car. We'd stop briefly for lunch and dinner, and get out to "stretch our legs." Dad would drive until late at night -- typically 14-16 hours into the journey. Then we would park at a rest area or campground (nowadays you can park overnight at any Walmart) and sleep for 6 hours or so. Dad would be up and driving again around 6am (stopping at the first place he could to get a BIG cup of coffee!), and we'd be arriving at Disney World after lunchtime on Sunday, rumpled but happy.
I think it's doable for you -- but I would beg you to consider stopping somewhere for a few hours to sleep (even in the car) along the way. Driving through the night, when you're tired after a full day of driving and your partner is asleep, is just plain dangerous. A friend of my parents died a few years ago when her husband fell asleep during his overnight shift on a long road trip and hit a tree, so it's a particularly sensitive topic for me.
My advice for the trip would be:
(1) bring lots of books on tape or other reading material (especially funny things) to entertain you. My family laughed its way through the entire east coast while listening to Bill Cosby's "Fatherhood" on tape, and having Mom read us her favorite Garrison Keillor stories.
(2) if you don't have GPS, keep a good stock of maps handy. You never know when your route will be derailed by construction.
(3) pack plenty of food and beverages for the road -- especially caffeinated drinks, if you're going to do this in one shot.
(4) have your car tuned up and looked over by a trusted mechanic before you go.
(5) if you've been driving all night, don't try to hit any parks on your arrival day. For us, it usually took a full 24 hours before Dad snapped out of "zombie mode."
(6) After crossing the state line into Florida, stop at the Welcome Center and get a free glass of fresh orange juice.
(7) If you can, time things so you're driving past/through/around Washington D.C. at night.
