[alilmagical32]

It depends on what time of year. If its like peak summer vacation time or a holiday, I make a ressie. If not, I wing it. I do take the AAA book with me where you can see what hotels are at what exits and call a half hour or hour ahead based on how tired I am!

[iluvwdw]

Originally Posted by 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.

EXACTLY!!!!! If I had a room booked in North Carolina and he felt he had 5 or 6 more hours in him (or more!), he would be REALLY aggravated with me. Usually, my DH just needs an hour catnap and then we stop for some coffee or Mountain Dew for him and he's ready to go!

[Princessbaby]

Originally Posted by mousemom

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.

Thank you! 5 hours!? Mapquest must be all wrong because it said 3 1/2 from Valdosta. 5 still isn't bad though!

[Princessbaby]

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.

I hear ya! We have driven 3 times also (from northern Indiana) and we will stop and snooze at a rest stop for a couple hours and then my DH wants to hit the road again! I told him no more- it makes me cranky and I don't like starting my vacation like that. So, he is on board for stopping in GA and getting a room. I'll believe it when I see it though- we'll get to the area and he'll say- "I'm good, let's just keep going!"

[mousemom]

Originally Posted by Princessbaby

Thank you! 5 hours!? Mapquest must be all wrong because it said 3 1/2 from Valdosta. 5 still isn't bad though!

I am going on an estimation here. I know it takes us about 4-41/2 hrs. from here in Tallahassee,Fl. It takes me roughly 1-1 1/2 hrs to hit I-75. From there it will be about 3 hrs. or so depending on my speed. I do go a bit faster (75-78) so i may get there a little more quicker. But yeah, Mapquest may be right. I thought it may be a littlle longer but 3 1/2 hrs. is good.

[Princessbaby]

Originally Posted by mousemom

I am going on an estimation here. I know it takes us about 4-41/2 hrs. from here in Tallahassee,Fl. It takes me roughly 1-1 1/2 hrs to hit I-75. From there it will be about 3 hrs. or so depending on my speed. I do go a bit faster (75-78) so i may get there a little more quicker. But yeah, Mapquest may be right. I thought it may be a littlle longer but 3 1/2 hrs. is good.

When I am heading to Disney I do have a tendency to speed-just a little!

[hanwill]

Valdosta is practically at the state line (or very close). It is very safe, and it is a small southern country town (not that that is a bad thing- just a description). There are a lot of places built up around the interstate, and probably because there is nothing north or south of it for a while (nothing big anyway). If you are stopping in south GA, this is the place. Here or Macon.

For timing sake, I live about 40 minutes north of downtown Atlanta... It takes us about 7-7.5 hours going to WDW. We stop once for a meal (fast food), and then for gas. i think that Valdosta is a little more than halfway for us. I think of the trip in chunks... Like we made it to Macon, and that only took an hour, then we are in Valdosta, Gainesville, Fla, The turnpike, etc. Oh yeah, and we always get out at the Florida rest stops. Gotta stretch our legs. We have made it in 7-8 hours for the past 6 years. I think that mapquest was close on the time...

[rlcarmichael]

Lots of places to stay along 95 so we wing it. Last time we drove...which is the LAST time I will drive...we made such good time that we ended up going all of the way in and checked in a day early at our resort. That cost some $$$$ as did the speeding ticket.

[hanwill]

speeding tickets are not part of the vacation budget... Extra hotel might be able to be worked into the budget- speeding tickets are souvenir money.

[mabutler]

We made the trip from Memphis in February and drove through Birmingham and stopped in Valdosta, GA. There are nice hotels right on the expressway and lots of choices for dinner (I recommend the Country Buffet right next to the Cracker Barrel!). We stayed at the Comfort Suites and had a jacuzzi suite for the night. Nice way to relax after a day on the road. Our kids (DD-8 and DS-5) thought they had their own private pool. The breakfast buffet on your way out will make a nice start to your second day. It's included in the room rate too. There were a lot of new hotels at that exit. Good choices.

[MickeyEars]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Instead of shooting down I-75, we've decided to go through, Ohio, West Virginia, the Carolina's (stopping in Charlotte NC for the evening), clip to eastern side of Georgia at Savannah and enter FL at Jacksonville then head across to Sarasota on Saturday. I can't wait to get out of Michigan, it's been snowing on and off since Sunday evening and it's in the 30's again. I've had enough of the winter weather...It is spring now, right?!?!?

[Princessbaby]

Originally Posted by hanwill

Valdosta is practically at the state line (or very close). It is very safe, and it is a small southern country town (not that that is a bad thing- just a description). There are a lot of places built up around the interstate, and probably because there is nothing north or south of it for a while (nothing big anyway). If you are stopping in south GA, this is the place. Here or Macon.

For timing sake, I live about 40 minutes north of downtown Atlanta... It takes us about 7-7.5 hours going to WDW. We stop once for a meal (fast food), and then for gas. i think that Valdosta is a little more than halfway for us. I think of the trip in chunks... Like we made it to Macon, and that only took an hour, then we are in Valdosta, Gainesville, Fla, The turnpike, etc. Oh yeah, and we always get out at the Florida rest stops. Gotta stretch our legs. We have made it in 7-8 hours for the past 6 years. I think that mapquest was close on the time...

Thank you for the info! It helps to think in "chunks"-we do that too!
At least if we stop in Valdosta for the night we'll be rested for an afternoon in the parks!

[lscjamouse]

Make reservations In fact make a few. Make 1 for every couple of hours when you think you might stop. Cancel them in advance as you get near and if you feel ok to drive on.
We didnt reserve one year and by the time we were ready to stop NO HOTELS
Drove for 4 more hours before we found one What was the name of tha hotel
Oh yeah BATES MOTEL. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH worst place ever.

[lscjamouse]

We have travelled both and they both are fine. Difference we found is ther is a lot more places along I 75 for food and fuel and lodging.

For what its worth.

We leave Burlington Ontario in the morning and are headed I75 DD wants to hit american girl store near Atlanta. Thats where we are stopping for the night.

Cya in Disney.

Cheers