The Big Drive

tinkerblonde11

tinkerblonde11

Well-Known Member
My mom is terrified of flying so whenever we go to WDW, we drive... from CT... 24 hours in total. Since we can't drive 24 hours straight we usually try to reach South Carolina or even Georgia, stop in a hotel, and reach Disney for check-in the day after. Haven't done it for 6 years, but prepping for the long haul again in a few weeks. Wish us luck! Anyone else skip the plane and take long drives to the World?
 
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popcenturylover

popcenturylover

Well-Known Member
Usually drive to the World but, last time we flew & it was great getting there in about 2 hours as opposed to 18! This December we are driving again though. :banghead: We're stopping in South Carolina to pick up DD & DGS for his 1st trip to the World!:D
 
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pixiesteno

pixiesteno

Well-Known Member
We have driven from Western NY numerous times and we always drove when I was a kid. The last several trips we have hauled our travel trailer down and we take just over two days to make the drive. Restroom breaks are a bit more involved when you are towing because you have to check both the tow vehicle and the RV wheels, etc. We love to drive between the ipods and books on cd we have plenty of entertainment. Believe it or not we also actually talk! We also love having our own vehicle while at WDW. Our last day we tend to break camp and then decide if we are going to head home or off to a park. Many times we go off to a park and then leave the property around 3 - 4 ish and start our leisurely drive home. I think it makes leaving WDW a little less traumatic than sitting around waiting on DME time because our is always right before noon so there really isn't time to do a park.
I have to confess, I still silently read the SOTB signs along the way ;). We are currently fixing up our new home in Augusta GA so the next WDW trip will be a 6.5 hour drive. So happy about that. That distance puts us what I like to term as the "long weekend getaway" distance!!!!
 
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jsparrowlover99

jsparrowlover99

Well-Known Member
tinkerblonde11 said:
My mom is terrified of flying so whenever we go to WDW, we drive... from CT... 24 hours in total. Since we can't drive 24 hours straight we usually try to reach South Carolina or even Georgia, stop in a hotel, and reach Disney for check-in the day after. Haven't done it for 6 years, but prepping for the long haul again in a few weeks. Wish us luck! Anyone else skip the plane and take long drives to the World?
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That's so funny Tinkerblonde my mom is scared to fly too and I'll also be driving down in a few weeks as well from CT!
 
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Killnme

Killnme

Well-Known Member
If you drive down on I-95 and cut over to I-4 make sure to take 417 in Sanford. It is a toll road that will loop you around Orlando to Disney. The tolls aren't bad and the traffic is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay less then I-4 which can become a parking lot at certain hours of the day.
 
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ShookieJones

ShookieJones

We need time for things to happen.
zurgandfriend said:
I wish you the best of luck, we have not driven to Orlando but have done the drive to Toronto and/or Montreal a few times. Sometimes the trip there is almost as much fun as the destination. Also, as I always say, don't stop at south of the border, enjoy!
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Oh I always stop at South of the Border on my way to FL.
Not to stay overnight. I made that mistake once, but to shop and hang around all that amazingly cheesy kitschy goodness!??!!?? No drive to Florida is the same without a stop at SotB!
 
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zurgandfriend

zurgandfriend

Well-Known Member
ShookieJones said:
Oh I always stop at South of the Border on my way to FL.
Not to stay overnight. I made that mistake once, but to shop and hang around all that amazingly cheesy kitschy goodness!??!!?? No drive to Florida is the same without a stop at SotB!
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To each there own. Several years ago we were in the Raleigh-Durham area; my DS had seen South of the Border on the Travel Channel and begged to go so we drove out to Rte. 95 and south. He pointed out all of the signs on the way and his anticipation built. When we got there boy was it a let-down, the place was filthy and all they sold was the same junk in every store. My DW purchased a refrigerator magnet that broke when they put it in the bag. On the ride back DW insisted we stop and purchase hand sanitizer. It is still the biggest disappointment of his young life.
 
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ShookieJones

ShookieJones

We need time for things to happen.
zurgandfriend said:
To each there own. Several years ago we were in the Raleigh-Durham area; my DS had seen South of the Border on the Travel Channel and begged to go so we drove out to Rte. 95 and south. He pointed out all of the signs on the way and his anticipation built. When we got there boy was it a let-down, the place was filthy and all they sold was the same junk in every store. My DW purchased a refrigerator magnet that broke when they put it in the bag. On the ride back DW insisted we stop and purchase hand sanitizer. It is still the biggest disappointment of his young life.
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Yeah that sux. If you're going there expecting some kind of regular awesomeness you're in for a MAJOR let down.
It was always a little kitschy, but back when I was a kid the rooms and over all service was actually pretty good and we had some nice times there as a family - I can remember my dad letting off smoke bombs and lady fingers outside our room. I can only imagine how happy that made the people in the other rooms. Now the place is pretty run down, but I still love the incredible kitschy-ness oh and the fireworks! :)
 
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BiggerTigger

BiggerTigger

Well-Known Member
We drive a majority of the time from Norther New York. We leave in the middle of the night to avoid a lot of traffic. It's a peaceful ride and gives us a lot of time to talk, read, play, and enjoy each other's company. There are some great threads about traveling....things to do, places to see, food to enjoy. Take a gander for suggestions.
 
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smk

smk

Well-Known Member
TinkerbellKate said:
We always drove when I was a kid. It was about 18 hours from our house to Mickeys. We'd stop just north of Atlanta and wake up early the next day to finish the drive. There is something magical about driving under that Disney sign that immediately takes me back to being an excited 13 year old on her first trip to Disney!
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Our trip down last year we actually had a little fight over whether my husband should disobey the sign that said something about not pulling over on the road off western way, under the sign. He was driving and I wanted a good picture, he slowed down slightly and I got a shot thru the dirty bug kill on the window. We were literally the only car in sight, he just would not disobey the sign! This year, I plan on being behind the wheel and pulling over for a second to snap a good shot! He will have a cow, but I want that shot!
 
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zero creativity

zero creativity

Active Member
We started driving 2 trips ago. I live just south of DC and as a warning they are building more lanes and have been shutting down the interstate pretty frequently recently and traffic has been horrible. The kind where you can't leave and 20 minute drives become 3 hr drives. If you are in VA you can dial 511 from your phone to find out about traffic.
 
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quirkle

quirkle

Well-Known Member
We are driving from Southern CT in December - starting in the afternoon of one day to make it there for the next. I plan on taking the overnight shift since I can stay awake. I can't stop - totally not in our plan. We will stop to pee and get me coffee but I am more about getting there. I am nervous though!!
 
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JohnD

JohnD

Well-Known Member
gostone23 said:
So, anyone have any recommendations for interesting sights/places to stop and take a break along I-10 in Florida?

Thanks

-robert
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Along I-10? The only places to stop and take a break are probably the rest areas. However, there is the Tallahassee Auto Museum at I-10 and US-90 (Exit 209 A/B). It has one of the batmobiles from the Batman TV show. Otherwise, I-10 is a long, boorrrrring drive.
 
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SMS55

SMS55

Well-Known Member
I read all these long drives you guys do and I am so glad I live in Florida. I was born and raised about 3.5 hours away (suburbs of Miami) so I can go more often than most. As a matter of fact I live about a mile off the Turnpike and I see the signs saying "North Orlando" and "South Key West" all the time. I keep looking at it now, knowing that soon.
 
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Minnie Sue

Minnie Sue

Active Member
We're driving from OK (about 23 hours if we drove straight through). However, we're going during Christmas time with a long holiday break, so we're road tripping. Family stop in TN, lunch with friends in Mobile, stopping in Ft. Walton Beach to see where my husband spent his childhood and then on to POFQ. The drive back has stops to visit friends in Savannah and then a night in Little Rock (maybe see the Pres. Clinton library since we're there anyway)? We usually hate to drive (we've flown to Dallas, a three-hour drive, before) but since we're breaking this one up over the holidays it feels more fun and less like drudgery.
 
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