Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have done auto train 4 times - all with good sales and always taking the train south. I had significant delays twice - so if I was planning on Disney, I would either plan to take the train back OR add an extra day. I have never done the room - just got regular coach seats. I went with little kids on 2 trips, they did fine with tablets and packing dinner and snacks and taking a travel pillow and blanket. kids Travel for half price. groups often get discounts on tickets. If you can rotate the drive with 3 people and you can sleep in the car, that might be a comparable choice. the drive is long but easy.

I don't think there is any need to sleep in the car. OP hasn't said exactly where they are driving from, but I did a google maps search and Reston, Columbia, Washington DC--all less than 13 hours drive.

Said someone who hasn’t done this drive. It will be 15 hours, but PP is crazy to suggest sleeping in the car. Get a hotel, which will cost less than $500.

Said someone who has no idea who they are talking to.

I've done it many times, with kids much younger than OPs too.
The actual driving time is less than 13 hours from anywhere in the DMV. Of course, they can choose to make it a little longer than that by taking quick stops, or make it much longer than that by taking longer stops. That's up to them.

When pp mentioned sleeping in the car, I didn't think she meant over night. I think she meant that while one adult is driving, the other adults can be sleeping (sitting up in their seat.) I just don't think that's necessary. Most adults are awake at least 16 hours per day on a typical day (if they sleep 8 hours.)

Anyone who gets to Disney in under 14 hours is driving like a bat out of hell and is wearing diapers. Just because someone has done it before doesn't mean it's safe.

We've done that drive at least twice per year for more than a decade. (Family in Florida) Can't tell you how many times we've seen awful accidents on I-95. Including one where my DH risked his own life to cut the driver out of a car that flew by us and then crashed horrifically. Or a minivan landing on its top, spinning around and down the embankment, with suitcases and kids toys were flying all around.

Not a way to spend a vacation, is it? My suggestion: Make the journey part of the vacation. Find a fun/interesting stop to spend the night and get to your destination safely.

We refer to it as driving "The Beast" for good reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have done auto train 4 times - all with good sales and always taking the train south. I had significant delays twice - so if I was planning on Disney, I would either plan to take the train back OR add an extra day. I have never done the room - just got regular coach seats. I went with little kids on 2 trips, they did fine with tablets and packing dinner and snacks and taking a travel pillow and blanket. kids Travel for half price. groups often get discounts on tickets. If you can rotate the drive with 3 people and you can sleep in the car, that might be a comparable choice. the drive is long but easy.

I don't think there is any need to sleep in the car. OP hasn't said exactly where they are driving from, but I did a google maps search and Reston, Columbia, Washington DC--all less than 13 hours drive.

Said someone who hasn’t done this drive. It will be 15 hours, but PP is crazy to suggest sleeping in the car. Get a hotel, which will cost less than $500.

Said someone who has no idea who they are talking to.

I've done it many times, with kids much younger than OPs too.
The actual driving time is less than 13 hours from anywhere in the DMV. Of course, they can choose to make it a little longer than that by taking quick stops, or make it much longer than that by taking longer stops. That's up to them.

When pp mentioned sleeping in the car, I didn't think she meant over night. I think she meant that while one adult is driving, the other adults can be sleeping (sitting up in their seat.) I just don't think that's necessary. Most adults are awake at least 16 hours per day on a typical day (if they sleep 8 hours.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have done auto train 4 times - all with good sales and always taking the train south. I had significant delays twice - so if I was planning on Disney, I would either plan to take the train back OR add an extra day. I have never done the room - just got regular coach seats. I went with little kids on 2 trips, they did fine with tablets and packing dinner and snacks and taking a travel pillow and blanket. kids Travel for half price. groups often get discounts on tickets. If you can rotate the drive with 3 people and you can sleep in the car, that might be a comparable choice. the drive is long but easy.

I don't think there is any need to sleep in the car. OP hasn't said exactly where they are driving from, but I did a google maps search and Reston, Columbia, Washington DC--all less than 13 hours drive.

Said someone who hasn’t done this drive. It will be 15 hours, but PP is crazy to suggest sleeping in the car. Get a hotel, which will cost less than $500.

Anonymous wrote:Airfare to Orlando is ridiculous for spring break from any of our three DC area airports. There are 7 of us traveling (3 adults, 3 tweens and 1 elem-age kid) and it's like $6k for all of us to fly. We are considering driving (all of us in 1 minivan) but it's a LOT of driving and we'd probably break it up with a night at a hotel. The autotrain would be about $2600 for everyone, but we'd be in seats as all the family rooms are booked already. I can't imagine anyone will get anything remotely resembling decent sleep on the train overnight, but it sounds appealing given the price is right and there's no dealing with I-95 traffic and kids getting restless on the road. Is it worth it for the savings, or will we be miserable on the overnight train and wish we'd just paid for the comfort of flying?

No, the drive is no big deal.

I'd definitely drive. We did did this drive the week of New Year's, and did it both ways in one shot with 2 adults (drivers) and 4 kids (including 2 adult-size teenagers) in a minivan.

It took us 15+ hours each way, b/c we stopped a few times but mainly b/c on the way down, we hit HORRIBLE traffic in South Carolina...hours of delays. On the way back, we were driving through the winter storm and two of my kids starting throwing up so we had to stop several times.

Even with all of that, it was totally doable. Kids slept and played on tablets/phones. DH and I switched driving about every 3 or so hours.

I did look into the auto-train but I've only read pretty bad things about the train delays and it was just as expensive as flying (which was going to cost us $4,000+) so we drove.

My 80 year old parents did the auto train. They booked a cabin. It had a fold down top bunk, which of course they could not access. They did not sleep because they shared the bottom. They also realized there were next to the whistle which blew at every train intersection, or about every 10-30 minutes. Yes, all night long.

It was an overall miserable experience because it took so long. I am working on getting them to just make their peace with flying and renting a car.

Anonymous wrote:I have done auto train 4 times - all with good sales and always taking the train south. I had significant delays twice - so if I was planning on Disney, I would either plan to take the train back OR add an extra day. I have never done the room - just got regular coach seats. I went with little kids on 2 trips, they did fine with tablets and packing dinner and snacks and taking a travel pillow and blanket. kids Travel for half price. groups often get discounts on tickets. If you can rotate the drive with 3 people and you can sleep in the car, that might be a comparable choice. the drive is long but easy.

I don't think there is any need to sleep in the car. OP hasn't said exactly where they are driving from, but I did a google maps search and Reston, Columbia, Washington DC--all less than 13 hours drive.

We did it twice, once when our kids were in early elementary and once when they were tweens. We booked the room both times.

It was GREAT when they were little -- they were so excited, sleeping made the trip feel fast, and the food was pretty good!

The second time, the food wasn't as good and the kids were old enough to be annoyed.

That said, it was still a fun adventure, and we're happy we did it.

Anonymous wrote:I have done auto train 4 times - all with good sales and always taking the train south. I had significant delays twice - so if I was planning on Disney, I would either plan to take the train back OR add an extra day. I have never done the room - just got regular coach seats. I went with little kids on 2 trips, they did fine with tablets and packing dinner and snacks and taking a travel pillow and blanket. kids Travel for half price. groups often get discounts on tickets. If you can rotate the drive with 3 people and you can sleep in the car, that might be a comparable choice. the drive is long but easy.

The auto train going north in the spring is much more expensive than going south (snowbird effect), and for the same reason, fares going south in the fall is more expensive.

We've taken the auto train 2x, both times going south for spring break. It's a fun way to travel for my family, and the train ride itself is an attraction. However, as pps have mentioned, there can be delays as Amtrak does not own the rails and has to give priority to freight. Our first time, the train coming back from FL was delayed and was still offloading at Lorton when passengers going south started arriving, creating a gridlock. So as we drove into Lorton and tried to turn into the Amtrak station, there was a long line of cars sitting at the light with no where to go, and that line got really long down the road. It was stressful at the time b/c we didn't know what's going on and whether we'd miss our boarding time. Once we go into the station, everything moved quickly. Mealtime was chaotic due to the delay, but the food itself was good. Our second time everything went smoothly, and we enjoyed our dining experience.

Pack ipads, snacks, pillows, eye masks, and earplugs.

Does anyone else have a cool Airbnb or area to recommend as a stopover with kids?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:if you want to stop somewhere, I think Fayetteville NC is about half way and still on 95 - in doing the drive multiple times, I find stopping somewhere kind of pain because if you want to go somewhere fun, it is more expensive, and takes you off 95 - and often you don't have too many extra days for that. I would either drive straight there or auto train.

I think you mean Florence, SC that's halfway between DC and Orlando

I think its better to drive more the first day so you have less to drive the second day.

Anonymous wrote:if you want to stop somewhere, I think Fayetteville NC is about half way and still on 95 - in doing the drive multiple times, I find stopping somewhere kind of pain because if you want to go somewhere fun, it is more expensive, and takes you off 95 - and often you don't have too many extra days for that. I would either drive straight there or auto train.

I think you mean Florence, SC that's halfway between DC and Orlando

Anonymous wrote:I would just drive. Your kids are all old enough to behave for one day. Pack a cooler filled with things to make sandwiches and fresh fruit/vegetables. Leave before dawn, drive a couple hours, then stop at something quick for breakfast--like fast food or Sheetz (Sheetz is good because you can also get gas.) Drive a few more hours and stop at a rest area and do a picnic lunch with the food you brought. Drive some more, stopping as needed for restroom/gas breaks. Try to choose healthy snacks (best to pack come of your own),hydrate with water, and walk for a minute or two at each stop. Depending on exactly where you started from, you should arrive in Orlando in time for a late dinner.

This plan makes the most sense especially since there are 3 drivers. It’s what 14 hrs max? split it up into 3-4 hr shifts with breaks. leave at 6am and get there before midnight (depending on how long you break for.)

on the way home I’d break it up and stay in a hotel because you’re all going to be exhausted.

Hope you aren't planning to visit the theme parks. This is the second busiest time of the entire year, second only to Christmas/New Years. It is not for the faint of heart, or those who don't have a solid plan and know exactly what they are doing. And that isn't you.

Just drive. You have 3 adults and a minivan.

And for next time, you don't book spring break airfare in January. Try the previous summer.