Quebec Travel Tips: 7 Things To Remember For Your Next Road Trip to Disney
Are you planning on taking a road trip to Disney? Driving to Disney has tons of advantages, and these tips will help you as you hit the road with your fam!
Driving down to Disney World as opposed to flying can make economical sense and might be an option worth considering if you are planning a family trip.
Still, the drive down from Montreal for instance, is about 22 + hours of actual driving, so you need to be prepared to ensure a smooth one. You can find many “obvious” things to think about when planning a long road trip on the internet, like bringing paper maps, car games for the kids and having wipes on hand.
But are you sure you are well prepared for this long journey?
The Best Tips for a Successful Road Trip to Disney World
Here are seven things to know and prepare for before your next magical road trip to Disney World.
Map Out Your Route and Prepare for Tolls
By planning your route, you can anticipate issues that may arise, and prepare for what to expect.
Many states have tolls for their highways, and having to pay them without a transponder can create very long delays and may make your journey much more rigid.
When considering driving down to Orlando, we suggest applying for an E-ZPass transponder. EZ-PASS is good for most highways in the US, and can also be used instead of SunPass, the Florida toll company. The transponder is free and can be shipped to your house in Canada. You can link your account to your credit card, to pay for tolls. When the threshold goes down to below 10$, it automatically replenishes from your credit card to ensure future toll charges. Their customer service is also very good.
To sign-up for E-ZPass, you must sign-up via the State closest to your home.
Some routes will have more tolls than others. For example, depending on where you live, many take Highway 87 to I-95. The tolls are widespread but the route is direct. Through this route, you go through many cities, which means means many amenities on the way down: rest areas, restaurants, motels, gas stations etc. However, you may encounter more traffic. Many choose to drive down Highway 81 (by going through the Thousand Islands) because there are less tolls and less traffic. On the other hand, there are less cities and amenities, and it can be considered a detour for some. Cities and amenities only come every couple of hundred kilometers (maybe even more), and this road can be treacherous during winter months! You also drive a longer stretch into the mountains, which brings us to our second thing to consider…
Take the Weather Into Consideration
If you are leaving in the winter, it’s good to plan ahead and allow for a “buffer” day when possible. You do not want to encounter a snowstorm in the Adirondacks (which can be tricky to drive through), or get stuck in Washington DC during rush hour! The States are not prepared like we are for snow removal, and drivers are just not used to driving in icy conditions.
If you see that the weather calls for a snowstorm on the Eastern Seaboard, leave a day before, or a day after (be sure to keep that in mind when booking your trip and park days). Pack a pair of boots, snow jacket (at least for one person), gloves, a snow brush and a shovel: they may very much come in handy!
Think About Your Vehicle’s Tires
Yes, you might be caught in a snowstorm, but when you arrive to sunny Orlando, the weather could be 30 degrees, sunny and very humid. It’s your choice to think about what tires you want to drive down on: winter or summer? It depends on the weather, the time of year, and the level of comfort of the driver.
In Quebec, snow tires are required from December 1st to March 15th of every year. Should you decide to drive down in your summer tires, you can request a waiver via the SAAQ website, which will give you an exemption from having snow tires on your vehicle for 7 days before your departure date, and seven days after your return (you have to apply for 2 exemptions).
Download the I-Exit APP
I-Exit is a game changer when it comes to road trips. This app will find where you are on the highway, and can show you exactly what businesses are located at each of the upcoming exits on your path.
Need to stop for a crying baby? Tired and need a nap? Gas is running low? I-Exit will tell you where to find a rest stop, a motel and will even tell you how much the gas prices are at each exit! (You can also download the GasBuddy app if the gas prices do not show up.)
Customs: What Can I Bring Through?
If you are planning for a 22 hour road trip, you may be thinking of bringing lots of snacks and meals.
To avoid any bad surprises, (visit) the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website to know what food is allowed, and most importantly, what is not allowed: Prohibited and Restricted Items | U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov)
Will You Be Travelling with Kids?
When crossing the land border into the US, kids under 16 years old can travel with a birth certificate when travelling with a supervising adult that has a valid Passport. That being said, it is always recommended to get children their own passports, to ensure to avoid any additional complications or delay.
Should a child travel with another guardian, or only one of the 2 parents, the absent parent (or parents) need to sign a consent letter to authorize their child to cross international borders. You can find more information at the following website: Recommended consent letter for children travelling abroad – Travel.gc.ca
Bring any additional documents that may support your right to cross the border with your children (copies of Judgment settlement, death certificate, custody agreements etc.).
Pack your medication (and Throw in Some Anti-Nausea Pills)!
Don’t forget to pack your medications when leaving on a long trip, and make sure you have plenty (and a little more) to cover you until your return.
Anti-nausea medication is also a good bet. Kids can be restless and long backseat car trips can give them motion sickness. We have driven down countless times, and not one single time did we do the trip without anyone throwing up at some point.
Anti-nausea medications can prevent these situations, especially if you are prone to motion sickness (plus, it’s not bad to have on hand once you are at Disney also! Some rides can make you dizzy!)
Are you taking a road trip to a Disney park any time soon? What are you most excited about?
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