Has anybody driven to Disney from Houston? If so did you break it up into 2 days or drive straight in one day? We usually fly but are thinking about driving this time. We have driven to Keystone Colorado before but broke that up into 2 days due to it being winter and we didn't want to get caught potentially driving in bad weather in the dark. Our kids did fine in that drive a couple years ago and now they are 10 & 12.

We make the drive in two days. It's a 14 plus hour drive (almost a 1k miles). Straight through and you're beat for the next day.
Stop in Spanish Fort, Al/Pensacola, Fl and you'll arrive ready to go and enjoy WDW.

We stay at Marriott's Fairfield Inn and Suites in Spanish Fort (shopping area a couple miles up I-10 and plenty of Restaurants, our favorite, California Dreaming.
In Pensacola, it's the Residence Inn, walk a block to McGuire's for dinner. Also Outback, Landry's and not but a mile to "olde" PCola.
You take I-110 into town to get to Residence Inn. McGuire's has over a million$ on the walls and ceiling left by patrons over the years.

Destin area is about 9 hours or so from Houston. We always overnight here when we drive to WDW.

This is our back road route in Florida, slightly shorter, but saves no time(adds probably 20 minutes), but roads are excellent and not much traffic. I-75 is a PAIN for traffic and DRIVERS! Well worth the reduced stress on all in the auto. We go to Disney 3-4 times a year and we live in East Texas and been season pass holders for 10 plus years.

I-10 from PCola/SpanFt to Defuniak Springs exit onto US 331 to State Road 20. Left on to State Road 20 to Bruce, Ebro, Blountstown, Hosford to Fl 267, right on 267 to Hilliardville, Wakulla Springs, Newport to US 98. Left on to US98 to Perry, right at red light in Perry on US 98 south to Cross City and Chiefland.
Left turn in Chiefland onto Alt.US 27 to Bronson, Williston, to Ocala. At Ocala right turn on into I-75 south for about 26 miles then left onto Florida Turnpike (Wildwood), stay on Turnpike to exit 267A, exit right on to Toll 429 Western Beltway to exit 8 (Western Way) back entry to WDW area. This goes takes you to Buena Vista Drive
Which joins Disney Springs to all connecting roads to resorts and parks.
This route keeps you off I-4 which can be at a complete stand still MANY times during the day (both directions). Also off I-10/I-75 which is cluster of speeding cars and trucks wanting to be in front.

We stayed the night in Biloxi (MS). If the stay over night is during the week, you can get a very nice room at the casinos for cheap.

Did it in one day from DFW!

bufrilla said:

---

This is our back road route in Florida, slightly shorter, but saves no time(adds probably 20 minutes), but roads are excellent and not much traffic. I-75 is a PAIN for traffic and DRIVERS! Well worth the reduced stress on all in the auto. We go to Disney 3-4 times a year and we live in East Texas and been season pass holders for 10 plus years.

I-10 from PCola/SpanFt to Defuniak Springs exit onto US 331 to State Road 20. Left on to State Road 20 to Bruce, Ebro, Blountstown, Hosford to Fl 267, right on 267 to Hilliardville, Wakulla Springs, Newport to US 98. Left on to US98 to Perry, right at red light in Perry on US 98 south to Cross City and Chiefland.
Left turn in Chiefland onto Alt.US 27 to Bronson, Williston, to Ocala. At Ocala right turn on into I-75 south for about 26 miles then left onto Florida Turnpike (Wildwood), stay on Turnpike to exit 267A, exit right on to Toll 429 Western Beltway to exit 8 (Western Way) back entry to WDW area. This goes takes you to Buena Vista Drive
Which joins Disney Springs to all connecting roads to resorts and parks.
This route keeps you off I-4 which can be at a complete stand still MANY times during the day (both directions). Also off I-10/I-75 which is cluster of speeding cars and trucks wanting to be in front.

---

3-4 times a year and live in TX

Totally retired, go somewhere every month, stay a week, and maybe a week travel to and from.
Plus A&M for football and baseball.
Grandkids cost us atleast two trips a year to WDW.(2 families)
Travel to about 20 different MiLB parks during baseball season.
WDW each year for Spring Training.
Hilton Head every year
Colonial Williamsburg every year
New England every other year
Branson several times a year.
And many other places.
Enjoying the times we missed.
Semper Fi

bufrilla said:

---

Totally retired, go somewhere every month, stay a week, and maybe a week travel to and from.
Plus A&M for football and baseball.
Grandkids cost us atleast two trips a year to WDW.(2 families)
Travel to about 20 different MiLB parks during baseball season.
WDW each year for Spring Training.
Hilton Head every year
Colonial Williamsburg every year
New England every other year
Branson several times a year.
And many other places.
Enjoying the times we missed.
Semper Fi

---

We have driven to WDW a couple of times, and we plan to do it again this year. We usually do it in 2 days. The first day we drive as far as we can. Usually, we stop less than 2 hours from Disney. We get to WDW on day 2 early with lots of time to spend at the hotel and even go to the parks. We consider it a waste to pay WDW prices on a day where we would have almost no time to do anything. That is our philosophy in taking the extra day. We just stay in a La Quinta or something similar while on the road.

We have done this several times. I second the recommendation for the Spanish Fort, AL area on the way to Orlando. We have also stayed at the Beaux Rivage in Biloxi on the way back.

I'll second straight thru is a beating that will catch up with you the next day. I've done it and was asleep by 8pm the next day. Plan on 15-16 hours traveling with family. I did it solo in about 13.5 hours from West U to WDW.

We left about 9pm and drove straight through the night while the kids slept. Got to Disney about 3pm. Made plenty of stops along the way. Would definitely do it again. Once we get going we don't like to stop and look forward to another fully day of driving. Would rather just go. If the kids are up for it then so are we.

If you are just looking for a place to sleep, you should definitely shoot to make it to at least Tallahassee.

Sweet Kitten Feet said:

---

We left about 9pm and drove straight through the night while the kids slept. Got to Disney about 3pm. Made plenty of stops along the way. Would definitely do it again. Once we get going we don't like to stop and look forward to another fully day of driving. Would rather just go. If the kids are up for it then so are we.

---

Not sure what to think about this. Assuming you have 2 adults in the vehicle, that's really tough. Not sure I'd trust myself to be driving at 3:00 AM for a long stretch with my kids in the car. Heck, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to sleep with my wife driving in the middle of the night. You almost need someone awake to watch the driver.

We drove straight through in February leaving at 5am with a 3 year old. It went great. Had wife and child fly back though and I drove back solo.

DannyDuberstein said:

---

Sounds like a good chance to recreate this scene

---

How do they know which way we are going?