We are planning a trip later this year to drive from Houston to Disney World. Between the two families going, we have 3 toddlers and 4 adults that will alternate driving. Anyone else have experience with trying to drive this straight through the night? Google maps is saying 14 hours without stopping, which I know is not possible and it will likely be 18+ hours with stops.

Looking for any info/help in trying to see if this is even feasible or if we should really just make 2 full days out of the trip.

We drive from B/CS. I would not drive straight in the middle of the night it's too dangerous plus stopping in BFE for restroom breaks will wake up all the kids, bad bad idea. We stop in Tallahassee which takes 12 hours then 3.5-4 more to WDW, take the 439 (maybe its called 429) toll road off the Florida Turnpike instead of 4 in Orlando.
I haul ass and 14 hours is not realistic from Houston.

Doesn't SWA fly from Houston to Orlando, direct???

Family of 5 killed on trip to Disney World after teen driver falls asleep

It's not worth it to drive overnight. Drowsy driving is the same as drunk driving.

Plus, by stopping in Tallahassee or close by, you can make it to the parks early enough to have essentially a full day and you will be well rested

I've driven it several times. We always stop about half way between Pensacola and Tallahassee. The next day you can make the property between 1 and 2. Early enough that you realistically won't be able to get in your rooms if you are staying on property.

Driving straight through leaves you exhausted for the first day.

Makes sense. Was looking at rooms in Marianna, FL, which might be where you are talking about. Seems like it would then be a 5-6 hour drive to Disney the next day.

The more I look at this, the more it is tempting just to eat a little bit of extra cash to fly.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and advice. Keep it coming if you have previous experience or thoughts!

As a kid we did this drive and stopped in Gainsville, dad and I drove around the UF campus that evening and got to walk around Florida Field (good ole days before stadiums were locked down).

We've had a slightly different approach on our trips over the years as we try to maximize our vacation time at Disney and have as many days as possible. We usually left Houston as soon as my husband got off work (picking him up on our way out of town) and drove about 5 hours- usually stopping around Covington, Louisiana. That would leave about 630 miles for the next day. With stops for gas, meals, time change, and to let kids stretch their legs, we usually made it to Disney around 7pm. We'd check in, eat, maybe swim, and try to get bed at a decent hour so we could start fresh for rope drop the next morning. When we leave Disney, we usually stay at a park our last day until 6 or so and then drive to Tallahassee. The next day we drive all the way home. We go about every 3 years and like to stay as long as we can so we can mix late nights, early mornings, and afternoon breaks in (especially in the summer) and still have plenty of time at the parks. That's our reasoning for our drives. I don't think we could do the all nighter- too tiring.

It's about 17 hours Houston to/from Orlando. A few years ago we left WDW around 7:00AM to drive back to Texas, with the intention of stopping somewhere near New Orleans for the night. Getting close to NO we decided to push on through and made it home in Houston around 11:00PM (picked up an hour with the time change).

We did it straight last week and left on Sunday at 3 AM and headed back on Saturday at 3 AM. Took us about 15 hrs each way. Made two stops on each way and were in and out on the stops. Hit a little traffic on the way back in Mobile but others wise clear sailing. Think it helps traveling on the weekend.

I've driven Orlando to Marshall in one day (16 hours). It's a beating. I highly recommend stopping in Destin for a day on the beach. I believe when we go to Disney next year we are just going to fly.

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Doesn't SWA fly from Houston to Orlando, direct???

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for free?

We drove Destin to Tampa last week, and there is a ton of construction on I-75 between Gainesville and Tampa both north and south. We drove Wed/Thurs, so it wasn't too bad, but I could see on a busy weekend having some pretty significant delays. Just FYI.

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we have 3 toddlers and 4 adults that will alternate driving

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I would be nervous about letting the toddlers drive, especially at night.

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we have 3 toddlers and 4 adults that will alternate driving

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I would be nervous about letting the toddlers drive, especially at night.

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I have to admit this made me laugh. Well done.

We ended up finding some really cheap flights on southwest. When I was originally looking, flights were $200+ per ticket, each way. We ended up finding flights for $89 each, and I was able to cover a few of them on miles, so flying ended up being WAY cheaper than driving for us.

There is very little once you pass Tallahassee until you get closer to Orlando. By that I mean almost nothing.
We stopped in Destin and it was two good days travel.

But everyone else has said that. This is something else we learned...

If you're staying on-property, plan one day in the middle and stay at the property. There is plenty to do to entertain the kids and rest before heading back out to the parks. We had four park days and should have added one day in the middle to hit the pool, paddle boat, etc.

Just did this last week.

2 adults, 2 kids (5 and 2yrs), 1 car.

left Houston around Noon. drove until just before Mobile, AL. Did the rest the next day.
Did just about the exact opposite coming back.

I had planned to keep on driving through the night, but quickly changed my mind after 1 refill of gas, Dinner stop, bathroom breaks, stuck behind at least 3 car accidents, etc.

We took I-10, passing around New Orleans on I-12, then south on 75 after Tallahassee.

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As a kid we did this drive and stopped in Gainsville, dad and I drove around the UF campus that evening and got to walk around Florida Field (good ole days before stadiums were locked down).

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You can still jog in the Florida stadium (Ben Hill Griffin)...they keep it open to the public.

My family has driven to WDW several times from the Austin area. It's brutal. I really don't think I'll ever do it again. If I do, we will stop in Tallahassee or Gainesville.

Two years ago, we flew SW and it was great. Doing so saved us two days of travel (one on each end). That's time we value.

We take a bit of a different approach. We leave around 3:30 am (I get up at 5 normally so not that big of a difference ) grab breakfast in Lafayette, eat lunch at the Alabama and have dinner and spend the night in Lake City. Then eat breakfast at the hotel and head to wdw the next day

Any hotels you guys like/dislike around Tallahassee or Lake City?

We drive from East Texas (Carthage) 3-4 times a year (WDW season pass holder for 10 plusyears)
Spring Flower Festival, Fall Wine Festival, Osborne Lights(now gone), Baseball Spring Training
I 20 to Jackson/Pearl, Mississippi
US 49 to Hattiesburg, Mississippi
US 98 to Mobile, Alabama
I 10 Exit 229 just past Tallahassee, Florida (want to by pass 1 75 rat race as much as possible)
US 19 to Perry, Florida
US 98 to Chiefland, Florida
US 27 Alt to Ocala, Florida (19/'98/27 are excellent divided 4 lane, limited traffic, less miles, less toxic
travel stress)
I 75 to Florida Turnpike (about 25 miles)
Florida Turnpike to exit 267A for Toll 429 (entry into WDW through west entry)
Toll 429 to exit 8 and Western Way to Buena Vista Blvd (middle of WDW)
Taking 429 keeps you off I 4 which can be at a crawl anytime

We make it a two day drive. Stay in Spanish Fort just across bay from Mobile or in Pensacola.
Spanish Fort (Courtyard/Fairfield Inn & Suites and others) Pensacola most off I 10)
If you push on toward Tallahassee, we have stayed in Marianna several times at Fairfield Inn.
Tallahassee wide choice, just check FSU schedule, as events there skyrocket the price.