It's starting to hit me now that I will be strapped in a rental mini van with DH-38 and his Tom Tom and loaded ipod (classic rock/metal fan) dd 12 her ipod..Jonas Brothers fan...ds 22 months and his dvd and wiggles,doodlepop dvds.I am loaded with dollar toys for him and ibuprofin for me..Orthopedist just informed me long car rides are the worst with my disc problems :( lol...we will SURVIVE! Its for the MOUSE!!!! 11 days and counting...:D

Let's see

1. Southern Sate
2. Belt Parkway
3. Verazzano Bridge
4. Staten Island Expressway
5. Gothels Bridge
6. Jersey Turnpike
7. Delaware Turnpike
8. I-95 through Maryland
9. I-495 (Capital Beltway, east side of DC)
10. I-95 in Virginia - Go two Exits, get off at Lorton by 1:30
11. Board AutoTrain
12. Depart Lorton 4:00; dinner, movie, sleep, breakfast
13. Arrive Sanford, FL and retrieve van before 10:00
14. SR-46 West about 6 miles
15. I-4 West about 40 miles
16. Exit at WDW

We have often done the 14 to 18 hour drive.

We do it in one day.
Get up early enough to leave by 5am and get there anywhere from 7pm to 11pm.

My advice, when you have to stop, walk as long as you can and bring a small blankie for your legs.

My 2 cents... the more driving you do (at night) with the kids asleep, the better. Besides, the less you have to hear the Doodlebops, the better. (For our son, it was hours worth of Blues Clues...)

And with the GPS, it should be pretty much an uneventful drive from a navigation perspective.

We left around midnight and with a breakfast and lunch stop (plus gas and bathroom breaks) we got there are 7:30. That was when I was 20 and my sister was 15.

We did it when I was young and the biggest thing was my parents always forced us to go to the bathroom at stops. We never had a choice. It worked because we didn't stop every hour to use the restroom.

Last week, a section of I-95 in Philadelphia was closed, because of structural concerns. I'm not sure if it involved both the northbound and southbound lanes, but, as I understand it, an overpass was involved. My brother texted us about it, and my husband called a friend, who is a consulting engineer with PennDot, so we knew to take an alternate route home from the airport Friday night. I don't normally drive through that area, so I haven't kept up with it, but I suggest that you contact AAA or a traffic website to get the most up-to-date information on getting through Philadelphia, and recommended alternate routes. If it looks like it is going to be a mess, you can take the PA turnpike west to Plymouth Meeting, and take 476 south (which everyone locally calls the Blue Route, although you won't see that on any signs), which will connect you with 95, south of the city. It's a longer drive, but, usually faster.

Ok, I just checked last week's news, and they did reopen that section, after crews put up emergency supports to a severely cracked pillar holding up the highway. Use your own judgment on this one, but I'm glad we rarely drive that way.

I don't know if the closure of 95 in Philly will affect her. 95 splits in Jersey with part of it going towards PA and the other continuing South. As long as she stays going South I don't believe this will be a problem. But I am horrible with directions so I could be totally off.

Let's see

1. Southern Sate
2. Belt Parkway
3. Verazzano Bridge
4. Staten Island Expressway
5. Gothels Bridge
6. Jersey Turnpike
7. Delaware Turnpike
8. I-95 through Maryland
9. I-495 (Capital Beltway, east side of DC)
10. I-95 in Virginia - Go two Exits, get off at Lorton by 1:30
11. Board AutoTrain
12. Depart Lorton 4:00; dinner, movie, sleep, breakfast
13. Arrive Sanford, FL and retrieve van before 10:00
14. SR-46 West about 6 miles
15. I-4 West about 40 miles
16. Exit at WDW

close...LIE,Midtown Tunnel to Lincoln Tunnel-NJTpke-I95-all the way...

My 2 cents... the more driving you do (at night) with the kids asleep, the better. Besides, the less you have to hear the Doodlebops, the better. (For our son, it was hours worth of Blues Clues...)

And with the GPS, it should be pretty much an uneventful drive from a navigation perspective.

Blue is his favorite as well..how could I forget a dvd?? now its time for so long......:p

Let's see

1. Southern Sate
2. Belt Parkway
3. Verazzano Bridge
4. Staten Island Expressway
5. Gothels Bridge
6. Jersey Turnpike
7. Delaware Turnpike
8. I-95 through Maryland
9. I-495 (Capital Beltway, east side of DC)
10. I-95 in Virginia - Go two Exits, get off at Lorton by 1:30
11. Board AutoTrain
12. Depart Lorton 4:00; dinner, movie, sleep, breakfast
13. Arrive Sanford, FL and retrieve van before 10:00
14. SR-46 West about 6 miles
15. I-4 West about 40 miles
16. Exit at WDW


Re: item # 7. It's Del-A Where? and we don't have a turnpike:)
My grandmother did the autotrain a lot, always with good results. One of these days we will try it, too.
It's about a 14 +/- hours from the Eastern Shore of MD to WDW.

I 95 is open and the repairs, while temporary, are sufficient to withstand the traffic on that section. my DH travels it several times a day and no problems. The repair was extra support beams with cross girders. Six 32,000 lb trucks were sent across the section several times and no movement at all before it opened. Hope this helps calm any concerns. I second the opinions of leaving early, did the straight through drive several years ago with my kids and it is a LONG ride when they are all awake.

My daughter just came back from Orlando this morning. Orlando to Northern Maryland. Her friend's Dad said they were tied up in construction traffic several times. I don't know where but they were driving all night and the trip ended up taking them 22 hours.

If you are a AAA member download the Triptik. It tells you where all the construction is happening.

I have drove 6 out of 7 times for our WDW trips. I've got to admit the flight was much easier but I think you just do what you can to get there. Our drive was 15 hours and it wasn't that bad even with Ralph and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse CD's. Luckly this summer we will fly again but our trip were planning next Spring were going to drive. Have a great trip!

See you soon...................:D

Ahh have fun!

Have fun Kathy!!

My DH & I will be doing the drive ourselves in 66 days!!

We are in NE PA so it's around the same drive time as you. We leave in the late afternoon, drive all night, and get to WDW the next morning. Usually the kids are with us and the more we drive at night, the better. :)

Have a safe trip!!!

Have fun Kathy!!

My DH & I will be doing the drive ourselves in 66 days!!

We are in NE PA so it's around the same drive time as you. We leave in the late afternoon, drive all night, and get to WDW the next morning. Usually the kids are with us and the more we drive at night, the better. :)

Have a safe trip!!!

Thanks...Ill write all about it on the 15th!:D

It took us 17.5 each way! Drove straight through home and ds was wonderful! Hardly:p felt the drive YEAH!!!!! PS-I do know all lyrics to Doodlebops,higglytown and the Wiggles now lol

Don't forget all those "South of the Border" billboards! I think the first one is over several hundred miles away from the actual exit. I used to always want to go there when I was a kid; seems cheesy now.

I love long drives; always have. Enjoy the scenery, enjoy the time with your family, and watch out for the other cars! Arrive at WDW safely, yes?

Don't forget all those "South of the Border" billboards! I think the first one is over several hundred miles away from the actual exit. I used to always want to go there when I was a kid; seems cheesy now.

I love long drives; always have. Enjoy the scenery, enjoy the time with your family, and watch out for the other cars! Arrive at WDW safely, yes?

we sure did..we actually went to see Granny in Clearwater 1st and did Seaworld ( not as good as I remember) the drive was relaxing..