Disney with my little brothers..

[Kaitlyn]

I'm 19 years old and I have 2 younger brothers who are dying to go Disney World. With two busy parents, I'm considering driving down there from NY this summer to rid them of the responsibility (But I'll be honest, I'm pretty excited for Disney myself.) I also want to maybe make a few more stops (Colonial Williamsburg, The Everglades, Washington D.C., etc) along the way. I need some advice on a few things. Firstly, my father and I are currently looking to get me a new car, and I'm keeping the trip in mind. What's a good road trip car? Also, I need some tips on keeping us within a budget. We definitely plan on camping and packing bag lunches and all that, but some more advice would be appreciated. I need to find some way to save enough of our money for those expensive park tickets. And what other things should I consider taking my brothers to see? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!

[froman]

If you or the kids are in to fishing, you should stop at the Bass Pro Shop in Norfolk,Virginia.

[AZBuck]

Welcome aboard the RoadTrip America Forums!

OK, the first thing you have to realize is how far the Everglades are off your route. Including a side trip there would increase your one-way driving distance from just over 2750 miles to well over 4000 miles, adding at least two more days (and the attendant expense) to your trip. Washington, DC is within reason, but even Williamsburg is starting to get a little iffy. With Washington in the picture, you can relatively easily include Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Grand Canyon. An alternative, more northern route would include Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, a stretch along the old Oregon Trail, a spectacular drive through the Colorado Rockies on I-70, and Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks. It would help especially if your brothers were old enough to help navigate, rather than being so young that they require a non-stop baby sitter.

As for what kind of car, get whatever you're comfortable driving. Even a mid-sized sedan should be more than adequate for 3 people on a trip of this duration. There are quite a few hints for saving money here and some other hints along with general budget considerations here. Where you should be taking your brothers is really up to them. Get them involved in the planning. Get a map out, mark your general route out and back and start having a look at what's along their that appeals to you.

AZBuck

[Midwest Michael]

I think Buck wrote as if you are heading to Disneyland in California, but If I've read correctly, I think you would actually be going to Disneyworld Orlando?

[Kaitlyn]

Haha, yep. I'm driving from New York to Florida, not New York to California.

[AZBuck]

Yeah, I'm currently in the process of planning a trip to take my grandsons to Disneyland, so I have that on my brain. In your case, then, the Everglades is in play. Now since you've listed one historical site and one natural setting, let's see what else there is of those types of attractions along the way. You could probably make the drive from New York City (or are you somewhere else?) to Orlando in two days, But to that you'll have to add any time you take to visit places, like Washington and Williamsburg. Other options include Jamestown and Yorktown (both are near Williamsburg), Charleston, SC (take the ferry from Patriots Point out to Fort Sumter), and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. You can see some on the way down and some on the way back. While in Florida, it would still be too long a drive (600 miles round trip) to get to the Everglades and back in a day from Orlando, but the Kennedy Space Center is a very easy day trip

AZBuck

[Kaitlyn]

Thanks! I definitely think I'm going to drive that extra 600 miles for the Everglades. I hear it's worth it. And I think they'd like to go to the Space Center as well.

Anyone else have some advice for me?

[TravelingAg]

You may have already thought about some of these things, but I thought I would throw in my two cents anyway.

First, GOOD LUCK! You are a brave soul to make this trip with your young brothers. But it sounds like a fun trip. You should have a lot of fun.

Second, what are your plans for lodging while you are the parks? I know you will want to say on a budget, and that usually means staying off the property. If that is what you want to do then I would consider one of the extended stay types of hotels - the ones with kitchens in them. You may find that being able to cook in is more affordable than a cheeper hotel and eating out all the time. And I'm sure there are campgrounds in the area as well - I know you mentioned that.

I would also do some research on the many lodging choices that are on the property. Most are expensive, but they try to make more affordable options available as well. There is a sports themed hotel that is a bit like a Motel 6. And that may be in your price range. There is also a campground on the property, but I think that fills up fast. If you are interested in that, then you should book it as soon as you can. People who stay on the property can use the free busses to get to and from the parks. Or you can drive to each park and skip the parking fees. That may turn out to be better for your budget.

Third, how old are your brothers? You may consider a day at Universal Studios if they are old enough. It is usually easy to find coupons that give great discounts for their two parks. And there are more "exciting" rides to choose from - meaning roller coasters, etc. And don't forget that Disney also has water parks - that may be a nice change of pace as well.

[PNW Judy]

I think it's great you want to do this for and with your brothers. If you have a responsible friend who can pay her own way, I suggest you consider taking a friend along to help out. (If it's OK with your parents, that is.) Just a thought. It will make it easier to keep an eye on your younger brothers and deal with other things, too.

We stayed at the All-Star Sports within Disneyworld when we were there. I thought it was wonderful....definitely not Motel 6-like at all. Cute decor. Nice amenities. And inexpensive eating options as well in a nice big food court-like area. We compared the price of staying there to staying in an off-site hotel and commuting to the parks each day. We found that once you paid for parking, we weren't saving much at all. And if you stay in Disneyworld itself, you can enter selected parks before everybody else. This allows you a chance to get on the most popular rides before the biggest crowds get there. If you can budget it in, it's well worth it to stay in the park, imho.

I agree that Universal is worth a visit, too. They have some awesome rides!

[TravelingAg]

Sorry about that. I wasnt trying to make it sound like the All Star Resort was a bad place at all. I guess comparing it to a Motel 6 was my way of saying that it was more basic accomidations than some of the luxury hotels on the property and therefore more affordable. I know many people who overlook the option of staying on the property because they think it is all too expensive and I wanted you to know there are affordable options as well. I have never stayed there myself, but I know several people who have and they all liked it.

And I agree that it would be a good idea to have a friend come along as well. An extra set of eyes is always nice to help keep an eye on your brothers and it would also mean that you wouldn't have to do all the driving yourself.