Many vacationers arrive at Disney in their own vehicle. It’s hard to beat the slowly rising sense of excitement as you draw closer or the freedom of having your own wheels once you arrive. Driving may also eliminate the concerns you or family members may have with air travel. Additionally, driving might be less expensive than air travel for large families. Be sure to compare the costs of driving versus flying before you decide. On the down side, you may spend long days on the road, which cuts deeply into your time with Mickey.

If you opt to drive, carefully map your course ahead of time. You can do this with a GPS, smartphone, or Waze (a free navigation app). Or you can go old school with an AAA TripTik—a strip map that guides you to and from your destination. TripTiks can be created for free at the http://www.aaa.com web site, and AAA will print and mail them to members. If you’re driving, we heartily recommend Along Interstate-75 (http://www.i75online.com) and/or Drive I-95 (http://www.drivei95.com). I-95 drivers should also visit http://www.i95exitguide.com. Or try a trip routing service, such as http://www.mapquest.com or http://maps.google.com. Tip: Have exact change ready for the unmanned toll booths along the Florida toll roads on your route. Check toll prices at http://www.floridasturnpike.com and http://www.cfxway.com.

If you live more than 500 miles away, spread out your drive over more than one day, allotting one day for every 500 miles. Arriving at Walt Disney World overly road-weary is no way to begin a vacation. If your journey spans more than one day, decide in advance where to stop each night and make reservations accordingly. Check that your air-conditioning is in good working order and your cell phone is charged before heading out (bring a cell phone charger and headset, too). Secure rest areas are available once you hit the Florida border, making it a bit easier to drive at night. Also see our in-depth articles on driving at http://www.passporter.com/articles/driving.asp.