[mickeyspal]

We've driven in the past. For us it's a 18 hour drive from Jersey. We always have winged it. We stay at a Hampton Inn in Savannah Georgia right off 95. And on the way home we stay at a Hampton Inn in NC. Never had a problem.

[apayne111982]

Originally Posted by mousemom

Will you be traveling on I-75? If not then what is the main road you will be on?

Yes we will be traveling I75-S.

[apayne111982]

Originally Posted by cowanfamily

We have driven from Memphis every time - we leave around 5pm and get to Disney around 7am. Except for one time, we have gotten a room right away and were able to unpack, shower and change. The time we could not get our room first thing, we could get it at noon or 1, so we checked in, got something to eat, had packed a water park bag with a change of clothes in it and went to the water park. My DH did all the driving, so he found a shady, quiet spot and slept while the kids and I did the slides. When we were able to get our room, DH stayed and napped while I took the kids to the water park. This way, DH didnt really miss a REAL park, and we got to work our way into Disney, making our second day our first day at a major park.

After you are done at the water park, of course, there are locker rooms with showers there, and as long as you leave before closing, not crowd.

This is all assuming you like the water parks! but they are a nice place to relax and if you have little ones, they both have little kid areas where you can watch them play (depending on their ages, of course.)

Love to hear of another Memphis MBer!

Hello Memphian! :) I did not include the waterparks in our package because I can not swim and figured that my children 5 and 6 were too young.....boy was I wrong...I was informed that they have lots for younger kids to do in the waterparks..oh well...we will be going back sooon so maybe next time!
I have tickets for 7 days and we are only going to the 4 major parks so we really do not HAVE to go to a park on the first day but this is our FIRST time at WDW and I don't think we can just relax on our first day(like many have suggested) because we are all so excited. I would wing it but I didnt want to arrive early and not be able to check into our room. Another thing with 12 hours of driving were u guys not tired once u arrived in FL?

[mousemom]

I would say stop somewhere close to the Florida line. Once you hit the Fl. line you only have about 2-3 hrs. to get there.

[zoomaster]

We have a 16 hour drive from Southern Il. we always wing it. leave about 5P.M. and drive straight thru. My wife starts out and I take over when she is tired and drive the rest of the way thru the night and let her take over in the morning so I can catch a quick nap. we get to the resort around 11a.m. and have never really had a problem with getting our room at that time. But we do take a cooler and stop for a breakfest at a rest area in Fl. and let the girls and us streatch our legs. and then when we do get to the resort we just hang out and go from there. But we do have one little ace in the hole my DW sister lives about the right distance for on the way back to stop for a break coming back so we stop and visit for a evening an then drive the rest of the way back from there. my best advice is if you are driving from the north and have atlanta to go thru try your best to do it at night or however you need to so you can avoid as much traffic as possible. But when we go we can't wait to get there so I would not be able to rest in a hotel overnight like that anyway. I would rather catch some ZZZZZZZZ's in the van. and get as far down the road while the kids are asleep. I like what they said above if you think you want to stop call see if rooms are vacant or not if so just wing it cause you might make better or worse time depending on construction and other road conditions.

[brit]

We got stuck one night with no place to stay. That turned into a long night of driving before we found a place. The other time we ended up in a plcae that was not a very nice neighborhood. We don't do that anymore.

[A Goofy Family]

We used to "wing it" but we changed our minds to that a few trips ago when we had to search for a hotel room beginning around 11:30 and finally found one around 3am!!! Of course the hurricane damage to the hotels along IH10 caused part of our problem with damage to the hotels and then displaced people and construction workers taking the majority of the rooms available, plus it was spring break or christmastime I think...so we now know approximately how long we will drive and book a room in advance.

[MickeyEars]

I decided we should have a room on hold just in case, so I called and did so today. If we decide to drive further I'll call and cancel. Thanks for the advice.

[hanwill]

probably a good idea. I was going to say that I would get through ATL, and then there are really no major stops until Valdosta, or Gainesville, FL... It is dead after you get through Macon, ga (about an hour south of (ATL). I would suggest that is a good place to get something to eat- there are a ton of restaurants there. ALso, I would also suggest that you stay on I-75 south going through ATL, and not take the bypass. It is much less traffic than going around town. HAve a safe trip.

[Princessbaby]

Originally Posted by hanwill

probably a good idea. I was going to say that I would get through ATL, and then there are really no major stops until Valdosta, or Gainesville, FL... It is dead after you get through Macon, ga (about an hour south of (ATL). I would suggest that is a good place to get something to eat- there are a ton of restaurants there. ALso, I would also suggest that you stay on I-75 south going through ATL, and not take the bypass. It is much less traffic than going around town. HAve a safe trip.

Valdosta has a lot of hotels it seems. Is it a pretty safe place to stop? Are there a lot of restaurants?
I remember making a comment to my DH about stopping in southern GA next time we drive, but I don't remember the area.
Thanks!

[mousemom]

Originally Posted by Princessbaby

Valdosta has a lot of hotels it seems. Is it a pretty safe place to stop? Are there a lot of restaurants?
I remember making a comment to my DH about stopping in southern GA next time we drive, but I don't remember the area.
Thanks!

It is pretty safe. They actually have a theme park called Wild Adventures that is pretty decent. I think it would be a good stop for anyone traveling down from the north. The drive from Valdosta to Orlando is around 5 hours or so.

[iluvwdw]

We never make a reservation, we just wing it. Mainly because, DH is the one who does most of the driving (if not all). If I made a reservation and he was still wide awake, ready to go...he'd feel like we were wasting "precious driving time" if we had to stop with a reservation.

We've driven 3 times so far and we only stopped ONCE...on the way down. We stopped in South Carolina somewhere.

[mousemom]

Originally Posted by iluvwdw

We never make a reservation, we just wing it. Mainly because, DH is the one who does most of the driving (if not all). If I made a reservation and he was still wide awake, ready to go...he'd feel like we were wasting "precious driving time" if we had to stop with a reservation.

We've driven 3 times so far and we only stopped ONCE...on the way down. We stopped in South Carolina somewhere.

Yikes thats alot of driving.

[iluvwdw]

Originally Posted by mousemom

Yikes thats alot of driving.

It sure is...and DH does it all, THANK GOODNESS!!!

[zoomaster]

Your DH sounds like me When I leave for vacation I am like a mad man ready to runaway from home. I take vacation time very serious mainly because of where and how hard I work. Besides deer hunting in the fall or working in the yard it is my only relaxation time.
I hate to stop unless absolutly necessary because we are tired. Don't get me wrong if I or one of the others need to stop for something I do I am not that possed that I won't stop only for gas. HAHA We have found that staying on I-75 is also the best thru ATL also.