Driving from MA to WDW

[crazypoohbear]

We are going to be driving this year for the 1st time.
We are planning on driving straight through.
We are planning on leaving Metrowest about 7:00PM.
There will be three drivers.
We could use some advice from people who have made this trek before.
What is the best route?
We think leaving at this time we will avoid the traffic in Hartford and NYC and we should be through DC before the morning rush.
Did my sister figure this correctly?
I think we need to stop and eat and walk around, she thinks we should just get the food to go and keep on trucking.
What is your advice from seasoned travellers?
Does the Fast pass work with every toll road all the way down?
What is the speed limit driving down? Is it ever posted more than 65? Less than 65?

Where are the best, most safe places to stop for potty breaks and leg stretching?

The cast of characters will be my sister, my 2 boys, a friend and myself.
The "boys" are almost 16 and 21 so we dont' need to worry about keeping them entertained, give them an ipod, a dvd player, and food and they are fine
and... bonus question, how far out of the way would it be for us to go to Fort Stewart before or after WDW?? Sis, was born there, I was born at Ft. Benning (too far to drive I think, even though it's my birthday!!!)

[c&d]

Looking at the time you're leaving you should miss rush hour traffic. My guesstimate is you should be hitting DC around 3-4am pretty much your last big rush hour city. Yes Fastlane does work all the way down. I don't think it works in FL. Love the Jersey turnpike ones where you can go thru at 55mph

We pretty much go straight down 95.

If we hit Hartford at rush hour instead of going over the Charter Oak bridge and getting off at the exit for 91 we'll stay in the middle lane and follow signs for the airport. I'm trying to visualize it, and I'm pretty sure it's the first right under the overpass will put you back on 91 South (there is a sign there) and it is an exit only for the airport. Avoids that entire back up of everyone getting off at the 91 exit.

We'll take the Merritt in CT and then the Cross County to the Henry Hudson and then over the GW bridge to the Jersey turnpike. On Jersey turnpike we'll do trucks on the way down, because of that wacky merge around exit 6. We've found that slow lane never merges making it move a little faster.

After that we're 95 all the way down.

As far as breaks, we've found the rest areas on the Jersey turnpike to be OK. Other than that we'll pull off into a McDonald's or Burger King for breaks on the way down. We'll look and see what the area looks like before we stop, but most places are just off the highway and they were fine.

When we've gone we've loaded up with food, cold cuts for sandwiches, cheese, crackers, fruits and of course for us, the 1 ton size of Pepperidge Farm goldfish.

The one part that always seems to be the longest is when you're welcomed into FL. If I recall it's another 3 hours to Disney and it just seems to take forever.

[PETE FROM NYC]

My doctors advice is to stop every 2 hours and everyone get out to walk around to avoid blood clots in the legs. If no toilet stop is needed I will do 2-3 laps around the car.
DW and I did the trip from NYC last year,with a 2 day stop in Virginia.
The drive down was about 2 1/2 days of driving without killing myself as the only driver.We had a cooler with drinks and sandwiches.
The trip total was 2700 miles in 23 days.

[DiannaJ]

As a truck driver I am with them stop every 2 hours and let everyone get out and walk around it will get the blood flowing and get some fresh air. I will warn you that the body naturally wants to go to sleep at between 3am until 6am it just can not be helped. I would recommend stopping for those hours and take a nap. This is a very dangerous time for anyone that thinks they can make it through that it's nearly impossible. In the rest areas make sure that you stay in pairs they are very dangerous at night alot of crime happens so just use caution. If you can find a truck stop they would be a much safer bet as there are alot of people moving around all the time and you can get all your food and any necessaties there. Be safe and have a great trip.

[Ed]

You didn't mention when you're traveling, but I just made the drive from the Baltimore area to the Orlando area last night/this morning, and can tip you off on a few potential delays on southbound I-95~~

Yesterday (early afternoon), it took me over 45 minutes to get from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge (I-495) to the I-95 exit in upper Virginia due to road construction;

Later in the afternoon, construction was slowing things to a crawl just north of Richmond;

This morning, around 1 am, I-95 narrows to one lane through roughly the lower third of the state in Georgia;

And around 5am, in the Daytona Beach area S/B I-95 was slowed appreciably by construction.

I'm not sure about other states, but in both Georgia and Florida you can dial 511 from a cell or landline phone for the latest traffic info. The call is free, although standard cell phone minutes may apply. Florida's Statewide 511 is fully bilingual, offering users the option to receive information in English or Spanish.

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

Ed, we aren't going until Aug so I don't know if those delays will be pertinent. But thanks for the heads up!

[JenniferS.]

We've never driven, but are really considering driving next nov. 2011. The only thing is that we have 4 kids. Ages will be 3, 5, 7 and 7. We figured that we would leave around 8 pm at night so that the kids can sleep for a good part of the night. I am a little nervous about keeping them entertained/sitting for so long at their ages though. Not sure it will be a good idea.

[CanadianWDWFan]

I wish I could help you more but we don't get on the I-95 until South Carolina. Another thing you might want to do is go to the DOT websites for all the states that you are passing through. They will have a listings on them giving you the active construction zones and possible detours.

If you have AAA get a Triptik and AAA will mark on the maps all the construction areas to watch out for. If detours are needed they will then show you ways around.

DVDs and other things are great for keeping the kids entertained. Our youngest has been driving down since he was 6 months and it has never been an issue for us.

[crazypoohbear]

Thanks everyone, keep them coming
If you dont' get on 95 until South Carolina, what route do you travel before that?
My kids want to stop at South of the border because they have heard so much about it. How cheezy is it really there?
I have heard the southern cops have tons of speed traps, is this true?

[coloradowendyl]

SC has a ton of speed traps and South of the Border takes cheesy to a whole new level.

And I hope that the "DisneyMobile" will be sporting a "Disney or Bust Bumpsticker" and a sign that says "Honk..it's my birthday"!

Maybe a well placed email to your travelling companion lol

Wendy

[SBETigg]

You're really earning the crazy in Crazypoohbear. But hey, it will be fun once.

We drove to WDW from Chicopee, MA when I was a kid. We thought South of the Border was a can't-miss. We begged to stop. When we got there, so disappointing! It's a glorified rest stop with fireworks sales. Really a let down. Unless it has changed all that much in 30 years (wow, 30 years, yes, it could have changed- LOL). Your kids probably won't believe you if you say it's not worth it. I wouldn't have, when I was a kid.

Speed traps, oh yeah. My grandma was driving us through GA. A cop pulled us over. He made us follow him to a police station way off the beaten path to "take care of this matter now. That's how we do things." So we were intimidated into following. (well, the adults were, I was a clueless kid). They took my grandparents into the station and wouldn't let them leave without paying a $300 fine. This was the 80s! It was highway robbery. No judge, no paperwork. Just an order to pay it in cash or be detained. My grandmother was not exactly a speed demon. She couldn't have been going over 65 (with a 55 speed limit). It's still one of those big family stories here. "Remember when Grandma got pulled over in GA...).

[crazypoohbear]

Wendy, don't worry, I'll have the minivan decked out completely! We should fit right in with the cheesyness of south of the border! We might even make the place look classier!
I thought I had heard horror stories about the georgia police and the "yankee" speed traps.
But... seeing how my sister and I were both born in Georgia maybe we will be cut a break
I have a bit of a lead foot at times so I'll have to make sure to take it easy down there.
My youngest son wants to stop in DC and Philly for a cheese steak! but he doesn't want to give up any time in Disney to make all these side trips.
The only place I really want to stop is a place in Edgewood Maryland that I remember from the year we lived there. It's a sub shop called Wilts, Best meatball subs I've had.