Driving??!!??

[Disneykidder]

OK, so when I was much younger and single I drove to Disney. It was annoying but luckily we had our game boys(hahaha) with us. Anyway, my family and I always fly. I am not much into the long drive anymore and my 3 kids get antsy.

So, we are contemplating driving eek. We are getting a brand new car this week and are thinking of saving some cash and driving. We were planning on renting a car while there anyway so having our own there will save even more cash.

My question is: Do you have any tips for us? We are in NY so it is about a 21 hour trip. Yes, my DH and I can take turns driving. My youngest isn't a fan of long drives but we were thinking we could start at 7 at night?? What are your tips and thoughts.

 

[G00fyDad]

Depends on your family, some love it and enjoy the time together others are ready to kill each other. Decide which family you are like.

Think about National Lampoon's Vacation and you'll get a very good idea of how our trip would go, minus killing Aunt Edna and Dinky.

 

[wendysue]

We drive from Wisconsin and it's about 21 hours. Movies help pass the time as well as iPods. Make sure you take a charger with you for the car if you have an iPod to take. Take food in the car; you don't want to be stopping every time someone gets hungry!

Make sure you guys get some sleep (especially if you're driving straight through the night) when you're not driving. Driving at night is so much better than daytime. It's quieter in the car with people sleeping/watching movies or whatnot. There's also next to nobody on the road during the wee hours of the morning.

We have driven all but once on our Disney trips, so I'm speaking from experience.

We have only driven once in all of our trips. I like to get there as fast as possible. That being said.....this year we WILL be driving, thanks to the airlines. I used to book whenever the price was under 200 RT, but that seems to be impossible now. I'm worse than any kid, all I think about is "Are we there yet?"
I've decided to start planning now for the drive in September. I think we will stop at some interesting places along the way and stay over a couple nights, so if anyone has any suggestions would appreciate... oh, driving from norther Illinois area. No kids, just hubby and me.

 

[Jessica Meier]

Definitely some awesome food places in an around Nashville. Do you go 65 south? I live in Huntsville, which you may bypass but there is a lot of cool things in our neck of the woods. IM me if you want any cool things!

 

[englanddg]

Just stop at a Steak and Shake and call it a day!

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We've driven twice with our girls over the last couple of years and my parents drove several times when we were kids.

This last trip, we left right around the girls' bed times. They didn't fall asleep as quickly as I would have hoped since they were so excited and they woke up every time we stopped for gas...still they were well behaved. Driving at night also did help with traffic...there was none! BUT many areas wait until the middle of the night to do road work, so we hit a number of active construction areas with lower speed limits...and there were cops EVERYWHERE! So, I'd check into how anything like this might impact your route.

I also strongly agree in the portable DVD players as well as handheld video games and tablets. Snacks and drinks in the car are very helpful.

 

[Zipadeelady]

Haha!

We always drive and it takes 16 hours from Indiana but almost a full DAY driving. That sounds like a lot :O We always book a hotel in Atlanta (about halfway) but we end up driving through usually

We will be driving down later this year and are contemplating driving straight thru. I have a 17 year old who can now help us drive but dont want her driving after it gets dark since she's such a new driver. (not that she can't drive in the dark but dont want her getting sleepy at 2 in the morning while I'm sleeping in the passenger seat) We're from northern Indiana and I was wondering what time you head out and what you do to keep the driver awake in the wee hours of the morning? Thanks for any input!

*This is about a 17 hour drive.

 

[HollyAD]

We drive from MD a few times a year to visit family in FL. We don't mind the 14-16 hours anymore. We normally leave around 2pm and stop for a quick dinner in Emporia which is where we pick up I 95. It's pretty smooth driving after that. We always manage to stop at a Steak and Shake somewhere and there are numerous travel stops with gas and food that are nicer than what I remember years ago. I pack easy snacks for my 4 year old to avoid paying for over priced ones at gas stations. If looking for hotels on the way down Florence is a good stop and Brunswick/ Savannah in GA. We normally drive all night because we experienced a few times when there were many full hotels on major exits and had to stop at a VERY bad Days Inn...But I work night shift and don't mind driving all night.

 

[jazznrachie]

Growing up, my parents always drove everywhere. So we endured the nice long 22 hour drive down there. My dad had 8 weeks of vacation time per year & mom didn't work, so we could stand to be gone for 2 weeks. My husband & I are not given that luxury of a ton of vacation time, so we will always fly...if for no other reason to give us more time in Disney!

 

[coachwnh]

OK, so when I was much younger and single I drove to Disney. It was annoying but luckily we had our game boys(hahaha) with us. Anyway, my family and I always fly. I am not much into the long drive anymore and my 3 kids get antsy.

So, we are contemplating driving eek. We are getting a brand new car this week and are thinking of saving some cash and driving. We were planning on renting a car while there anyway so having our own there will save even more cash.

My question is: Do you have any tips for us? We are in NY so it is about a 21 hour trip. Yes, my DH and I can take turns driving. My youngest isn't a fan of long drives but we were thinking we could start at 7 at night?? What are your tips and thoughts.

We drove from eastern PA one year on a last minute trip to WDW. We left just before 5 pm on a Sunday night and drove straight through. By 10:10 Monday morning we were at the resort. Our two kids, 8 and 6 at the time were great. The excitement of driving down on a whim was great. They slept most if the night. I'd live to do it again. Coming back we took out time and stayed over. But it was too much of an excitement rush to stop going down. We took their portable DVD players and DSIs and that kept them occupied and happy. Disney music went on around 9, and they went to sleep. Just a few stops for coffee coke and candy to keep me going and the countdown of mile markers was like a game. Good luck and be safe

 

[ImagineerDude]

We will be driving down later this year and are contemplating driving straight thru. I have a 17 year old who can now help us drive but dont want her driving after it gets dark since she's such a new driver. (not that she can't drive in the dark but dont want her getting sleepy at 2 in the morning while I'm sleeping in the passenger seat) We're from northern Indiana and I was wondering what time you head out and what you do to keep the driver awake in the wee hours of the morning? Thanks for any input!

*This is about a 17 hour drive.

We kind of just go with the flow with whatever is going on at the time. I wouldn't suggest her driving through the Atlanta traffic! Try to time it so you aren't going through Atlantic during rush hour and sometimes the Atlanta bypass is busier than just going through the city which is neat. Not much help, but have a good trip!


*To stay awake? Play Sorceror Radio as loud as possible! We have some sort of special cord (drawing a blank on the name) that you can attach your smart phone or iPod to that will play its music through the radio. Download podcasts (they are usually free)if you have one of those devices of Wishes, Fantasmic, parades and attractions they have recorded and play them. The alphabet game is fun too.

 

[DJMoore2011]

We drove when we went in Nov 2011 from Indiana. Even though it's only 18 hours we took it in two days. It allowed for us to stop and do some cave exploring, which is something we enjoy doing. And we also made time to stop at places that were off the beaten path.

When we stopped for the night, around Atlanta, I had a 2nd smaller bag packed so we wouldn't have to dig out all of our luggage just to get to some pj and a few bathroom things we would need. Plus clean tshirt and shorts for the next day. All of that for our family of three went into 1 bag.

We do a lot of road trips so my daughter has her own travel back pack that she fills with stuff she thinks she needs, then I go over it and add or take away (really she didn't need the 24 bear clothes she packed). Also I add in a few surprises of small wrapped gifts, usually along the lines of dollar tree stuff. That I would give to her when I thought she needed a little bit of a boost. She had her portable DVD player, and her movies. We had our laptops that was it. And she was happy. She also had her fave pillow and fave blanket and her fave stuff animals. We started EARLY morning and I let her travel in pj's until right before lunch. When we stopped at a truck stop we took her in and had her change into comfy clothes (sweat pants and big t-shirt) on the first day. Second day again started early but had her change sooner because of arriving at Disney that I refused to let her wear sweat pants to check in (personal pet peeve of mine)

SNACKS are a must we didn't pack many snacks because we budgeted in stopping for small snacks when we stopped for gas or potty breaks. But we did have a cooler that way we could buy more then one drink per person and it would still be cold.

And lastly I want to note that while my daughter is physically 18, she is Special Needs and mentally about 6 years old. It helped to talk about what she wanted to do on the second day.

I say if kids are really young and fist time traveling, driving at night as much as possible is a great thing.


Hope this helps
DJ

 

[StarWarsGirl]

OK, so when I was much younger and single I drove to Disney. It was annoying but luckily we had our game boys(hahaha) with us. Anyway, my family and I always fly. I am not much into the long drive anymore and my 3 kids get antsy.

So, we are contemplating driving eek. We are getting a brand new car this week and are thinking of saving some cash and driving. We were planning on renting a car while there anyway so having our own there will save even more cash.

My question is: Do you have any tips for us? We are in NY so it is about a 21 hour trip. Yes, my DH and I can take turns driving. My youngest isn't a fan of long drives but we were thinking we could start at 7 at night?? What are your tips and thoughts.

How old are your kids?

 

[Disneykidder]

My kids are 2, 4 and 9. We are still up in the air about driving vs. flying but want all the facts just in case.

 

[Hot Lava]

**edit**
The comedy stations on satellite radio are usually good for a couple hundred miles of giggles for us, too.

Love me some O&A and Ron and Fez...but only if the little guy is wearing headphones or I am! Any late driving, I love to listen to Coast-to-Coast (which actually should be called Commercial-to-commercial). I don't believe in pretty much any of it, but I love it and have from the Art Bell days.

But agree that satellite radio is a Godsend for long car trips. No constantly trying to find a new station, listening to some music you hate. It is the greatest!

 

[piazza]

I live in New York and have made the 19 hour drive down five times (twice in one year once) until this year, we flew for the first time. What we learned is WE LOVE DRIVING TO WDW! We stay at Disneys Hilton Head Island Resort on the way down and drive straight through on the way back. For us it just adds to the whole adventure of the WDW trip.......We all (7 of us) LOVE the car ride down....less love for the car ride back but we will never fly to WDW AGAIN!

 

[sbkline]

If you decide to stop at a hotel, my suggestion would be not to stop at the midway mark. I like to drive from early morning to 10 PM or so and be within a few hours of WDW when we stop. We just got back from our trip, and this time around, we left Sunday afternoon from Central Illinois and drove about 5 hours or so, stopping in Clarksville, TN. The next morning, we left Clarksville around 7 AM and made it to Gainesville, FL around 9 PM or so. Next morning, all we had to do was leave Gainseville and drive a few hours to get to WDW and we got there around 10 AM. I prefer to do it that way and have almost the entire day on Disney property, as opposed to getting there late in the afternoon or evening, and only having a few hours until bedtime.

 

[gooftroop5]

My kids are 2, 4 and 9. We are still up in the air about driving vs. flying but want all the facts just in case.

First trip.....we flew. Every trip after that we have driven, which has been 4 trips. We are getting ready for our 5th driving trip at the end of May. Our kids are now 9, 5, and 2. We have driven with kids as young as 4 months old. Those trips took the longest and we use to stop overnight. However now we drive straight through. It takes about 18 hours door to door with stops for food, gas, and potty breaks. Here are some tips that I've learned over our trips.

- We use to start in the morning and drive all day. Not anymore! The trip goes so much faster when we start around 5pm and drive through the night. We get there around lunch the next day. The kids sleep and it definitely reduces the number of stops.

- Have the kids pack a backpack of "Stuff" to do in the car. My kids typically take notebooks/coloring books/crayons, books, handheld games, stuffed animals, travel games, etc. Sometimes I get creative and have Mickey send them a box of stuff to take with them.

- Pack their PJs, blanket, and pillow to keep them comfy during the trip.

- Make all-in-one stops. We stop for gas, potty breaks, and food all at the same time. If we stop everyone must "try to go". This gets everyone out of the car to stretch and get out some energy.

- Pack snacks/drinks for the trip.

- Take movies to pass the time. We always take Disney movies of course.

- If you drive through the night have your significant other sleep while you are driving and then switch after a few hours.


I absolutely love the drive overnight. We hit Atlanta in the wee-hours and there is no traffic! We also love driving so that we have our car with us and can drive to the parks. We also call the shots as to when we leave and head home because we don't have to "catch a flight". Let me know if you have specific questions. I'd be happy to answer them.

 

[Hot Lava]

We use to start in the morning and drive all day. Not anymore! The trip goes so much faster when we start around 5pm and drive through the night. We get there around lunch the next day. The kids sleep and it definitely reduces the number of stops.

How do you keep from getting too tired driving overnight? This seems like a good option in theory, but I worry about one or both of us getting too tired to drive. Especially if leaving after a full day with my son or at work.

 

[Todd L]

OK, so when I was much younger and single I drove to Disney. It was annoying but luckily we had our game boys(hahaha) with us. Anyway, my family and I always fly. I am not much into the long drive anymore and my 3 kids get antsy.

So, we are contemplating driving eek. We are getting a brand new car this week and are thinking of saving some cash and driving. We were planning on renting a car while there anyway so having our own there will save even more cash.

My question is: Do you have any tips for us? We are in NY so it is about a 21 hour trip. Yes, my DH and I can take turns driving. My youngest isn't a fan of long drives but we were thinking we could start at 7 at night?? What are your tips and thoughts.

Im from New York. We drove once 15 years ago and I still feel car sick....

I find that by the time we pay for Gas, food and a room for the night we are not saving enough to make it worth the time we lost on our Vacation.


On a one week vacation id lose 3 days in the car....Just not worth it to me.

I also Remember being really fried for the first two days of the trip and then I started stressing about the drive back.

 

[Nemo14]

How do you keep from getting too tired driving overnight? This seems like a good option in theory, but I worry about one or both of us getting too tired to drive. Especially if leaving after a full day with my son or at work.

This has always been a concern for me. My husband does the night driving because he's pretty much a night owl, but I would stay awake as long as I could just to keep conversing with him to keep him alert. Frankly, if you are too tired to drive, get off the road before you kill someone.