Magic+ your drive into WDW

[Unomas]

For the first time we will be driving into WDW. In the past we have always flown and used DME. DME does a wonderful job of escorting you into the World. The music and the video that is played always makes me happy because it marks the moment 'here we are.'

Driving over 16 hours from Texas will be a bit more of a challenge. How do you create that magic when you are driving? I have thought about having a music track ready to go when we are driving in - but no idea what would be appropriate.

So what sort of things do you do when driving into the World?

 

[PUSH]

Driving 21 hours from Wisconsin, we just drive. It's magical enough driving under the Walt Disney World sign. The moment you see that sign, followed by those purple signs, it's just a great feeling. And then walking into your resort after that long drive is wonderful.

 

[pixiesteno]

we drive from the northeast so there are certain things that I look for along the route that just amp up the excitement. The southern pines along I95 in VA. The South of the Border Signs throughout NC, spanish moss in SC, the first palm tree just over the bridge as you enter GA. The Welcome to FL sign and welcome center with fresh citrus juice, I4 and time for disney music as we cruise into WDW and under the welcome sign. The "Welcome Home" from CM when checking in. All of these little bits that just prepare you for vacation!

 

[Susan Savia]

We drive from Va, 15 hours. Back in the day my husband would record all the rides, shows etc. I put the music on cassette tapes. We listen to those as well as Sirrus radio. Love the comedy. We divide the trip into two days and we make a pit stop in Daytona Beach to roam around the beach and feel the sunshine. For us, the magic begins when we oull out of the driveway.

 

[DizneyPryncess]

We drive each year from PA, and music is our friend! My husband and I first started driving to Disney when we were around 20 years old and just dating (we're 30 now). Our first drive down, we made music CD's and numbered them. We made one for each hour. We've played them on each trip, and it helps the time pass. It's also funny to hear what we used to listen to 10 years ago!

Now that we have DD, we listen to a lot more Disney music. Last year when we drove, we listened to the 4 Parks, 1 World CD's. When we drove under the Walt Disney World sign, we had the Magic Kingdom Welcome Medley playing. That was a fun way to start the trip, so we'll probably do that again. We've also added the Sofia the First soundtrack to our collection (DD's favorite show.) I'm sure we'll play that for her a number of times. We have various Disney movie soundtracks, and Greatest Hits albums. Those are all good things to play.

Another thing we do is make trivia games for each other. And then when one person is driving, the other one asks the questions. They're usually about ourselves, and our life together. It drives me nuts when DH can't remember stupid things like my favorite color, lol.

Pit stops are nice too. We try to stop at welcome centers, because there's usually picnic tables or nice places for DD to run around & get out some pent up energy. That long drive down is really one of my favorite parts. You can make it magical & fun.

 

[maelstrom]

First and foremost, there's the music. Evolving through time from cassettes to CDs to iPod playlists. I like to start off with a modified playlist of the Official Album of Disneyland and Walt Disney World 1991. This includes MSEP, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, etc and I add in monorail spiels and such. I have several gigabytes of Disney theme park music, so I can play whatever gets us excited.

We drive from New York, and I've been doing this drive with my parents since 1988 (my mom & dad together since 1985, my mom with her nieces & nephews since 1977). We have several areas along the way that signal to us that we're on our way: somewhere in Pennsylvania is a gym with a guy holding a barbell on the roof, the Maryland welcome sign (no more Pennsylvania! longest state ever), the Baltimore-Washington Beltway (95!), Richmond-area (now it feels like vacation), the Winston-Salem cigarette, signs for South of the Border (Quitchabellyachin!), Pedro, Florida Welcome Center (free orange juice!), 4!, finally seeing signs for WDW.

I'm always so amped up for the trip that I have stored up 21 hours worth of Disney stuff to talk about, too.

For us, the drive down is really part of the trip and there's definitely something lost when flying.

 

[bethymouse]

We have always driven. But, this last year ( 2012) it was rather hard on us both. We were so tired. So... we're flying this time for the 1st time!
But, when we get near the NC/SC border of course we begin to count "Pedro" signs. We stop at a Truck Stop w/a lighthouse. It's a nice one, but I can't recall the name @ the moment. We usually pack sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. We have a "quick picnic" @ a rest stop or sometimes we just drive straight through the night only getting gas and to "go". We drive 14 hours ( 7 and 7) and we drive from about 10 PM-12 noon. It's always so exciting when we get to the Florida sign and see the palm trees. We like the bridges, the LPGA fountains, and the signs for Daytona. We know we're almost to I-4 ( I-95 is so long!). When we see Sea World and Universal, then we know we've arrived!

 

[mebucko]

For the first time we will be driving into WDW. In the past we have always flown and used DME. DME does a wonderful job of escorting you into the World. The music and the video that is played always makes me happy because it marks the moment 'here we are.'

Driving over 16 hours from Texas will be a bit more of a challenge. How do you create that magic when you are driving? I have thought about having a music track ready to go when we are driving in - but no idea what would be appropriate.

So what sort of things do you do when driving into the World?

Hi Unomas!
Know I'm probably dating myself, but there used to be an AM radio station as you enter WDW by car (I forget the frequency), as some places do for traffic reports, etc. The narrator was Jack Warner, one of the original voices for the monorail - the one that gives the Spanish, "Please stand back from the doors....."
As an aside he was the "soda jerk" in the original "Ozzie and Harriet" TV show.
The station gave the park hours, special events, etc.
Sort of like a mini DME without the pictures!
Its special no matter how you arrive!
Have a great time!
Cheers,
Bill

 

[mebucko]

For the first time we will be driving into WDW. In the past we have always flown and used DME. DME does a wonderful job of escorting you into the World. The music and the video that is played always makes me happy because it marks the moment 'here we are.'

Driving over 16 hours from Texas will be a bit more of a challenge. How do you create that magic when you are driving? I have thought about having a music track ready to go when we are driving in - but no idea what would be appropriate.

So what sort of things do you do when driving into the World?

Hi again,
I forgot - keeping track of all the South of the Border signs, trying to spot the first palm tree, the huge "street lights', as you were leaving Interstate 4 driving on to Disney property, and WDW quizes with the kids about the parks, rides, and past trips.
It was a fun drive down, and a not-so-fun drive back to reality!
Cheers,
Bill

 

[Zipadeelady]

Disney Music and Disney Movies are a must on our road trips. We love to drive it helps build the anticipation. One thing I do is have a bag of "gifts" that are wrapped and after so many hours or miles they get another gift. It is inexpensive items such as a Disney coloring book or a simple craft to do from the local dollar store. This gives the kids something to look forward to and something new to keep them occupied for the next hour or so.

We are 17 hours away and stop after 12-13 hours. This year were thinking of driving through the night...

 

[HouCuseChickie]

We've driven from TX for our last couple of trips. We stick to Disney movies for the bulk of the drive and then switch to music shortly before hitting the Maingate...we usually go with the MK Welcome Medley. I have it timed out (if my ipod cooperates) so that the words "step inside" are playing just was we pass under the Maingate.

 

[Unomas]

I got the MK medley yesterday. Definite possibility for it to play as we enter WDW. It's a little cheesy, but you forget all that when you're there.

 

[Disvillain63]

Are you traveling with kids? We had a Disney box that had a variety of Disney-themed activities, games, and other items...Disney-themed playing cards, coloring books and crayons, etc... Last October, I went online and created a Disney binder for our GS who was 7 at the time. It had wordsearches, Disney trivia for kids and adults, travel bingo. I got most of the ideas online and adapted where I needed; pinterest was a huge help.

 

[SMS55]

The magic will be there. We've always drive, although a little shorter than your drive, but it will be there. I've gone to Disney dozens of times and the magic is there. There comes a point on your drive where you realize it's not drive around town or something, you're going to Disney World. When we are about halfway there (it's a 3.5 hour drive for us) we start playing Disney music and such. Don't worry, the kids will be excited, no one will nap and you'll here plenty of "are we there yet" and "why is Disney so far?"

 

[JIMINYCR]

We will be driving for the first time too. I'm already planning to have a selection of Disney CD's within reach of my finger tips so on my trip down I will be immersed in Disney songs the entire way. We have several Disney trivia books that I can occasionally throw out the answers to questions and dazzle my wife with my Disney knowledge. I'm going to come up with some sort of Disney miles countdown so I can click off every 100 miles or so as we travel nearer and nearer to our WDW resort. And lastly, I'm going to see if I can get my GPS to learn how to talk in various character voices.

 

[Unomas]

We don't have kids yet. Just us big kids.

 

[Figgy1]

To me driving down is part of the magic and a tradition. Driving has become more magical with my children as we listen to Disney music and the nondriving adult gets to watch Disney movies with them. Driving also saves us enough to add at least another day to our trip. The ride home is rough but I usually have a Disney book of some type to read and I can watch the videos we took while there so it's not all bad! But I do cry when I hit I-4.

 

[DisDadWoz]

The ride down is usually exciting so the 17+ hours go by pretty quick. Disney movies for the kiddos in the back keep them excited as well. We noticed on this last trip that if we put in the WDW Parks 2 cd set as soon as we hit the turnpike it will take us just about to the entrance of the resort so that worked out great for the last part of the trip. Getting off the turnpike and being able to see some of the taller buildings on property really gets the excitement going and knowing we've arrived.

 

[JIMINYCR]

To me driving down is part of the magic and a tradition. Driving has become more magical with my children as we listen to Disney music and the nondriving adult gets to watch Disney movies with them. Driving also saves us enough to add at least another day to our trip. The ride home is rough but I usually have a Disney book of some type to read and I can watch the videos we took while there so it's not all bad! But I do cry when I hit I-4.

Glad it's the non driving adults watching the Disney films. My son just bought a car that has a display screen where the radio should be, hes showing me all the features it has. One is to play movies when the car is in park. BUT he tells me his friend has one and that it can be rigged to play while in drive. My God, now well have not only texting accidents but driver movie viewing accidents.

 

[jencor]

We drive down every year from the Baltimore area, about 14 1/2 hours. Like everyone else, I have hours of Disney music. Start with it and put it in again as we get closer to Disney. Also we take along trivia cards from games. Use the Disney trivia and just use the cards and ask each other the questions. Just got Disney trivia 2 at a second hand store for $2 and got trivia pursuit cards TV edition that has old shows in it. It really helps let time pass and there is excitement the whole trip down. Now coming back is a different story, but talking about the trip is a huge help. Enjoy the ride and having your car there IMO is a nice advantage.