KBrylczyk Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Literally, the east coast, haha. I will be moving to Orlando, FL from Howell, NJ in early August to work for Disney as a part of their college internship program (even though I just graduated). My current plan is to take the scenic route on down. Now, I've never made the car trip to Florida. I've flown down many times, and I've driven so far as Myrtle Beach, but south of Myrtle, I'm lost, haha. Right now my trip takes me down the Parkway to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, through Delaware and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (something I haven't been on in about 10 years). I'm looking for help on places to stop along the way. Hopefully one big park (such as BGW, PKD, or SFOG) and any smaller parks along the way. Who here can give me some helpful tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wood Dragon 1988 Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 South of the Border is the absolute best tourist trap ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBrylczyk Posted July 9, 2009 Author Share Posted July 9, 2009 South of the Border is the absolute best tourist trap ever I remember seeing the endless "Pedro" signs on the way to Myrtle Beach. But don't they have a Wild Mouse now? I may just have to stop in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astroworldfan1 Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 ^ It's been SBNO for years. Pedro's Mouse might be in the top list for rare credits. -Tatum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowboard83 Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Right now my trip takes me down the Parkway to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, through Delaware and along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (something I haven't been on in about 10 years). I'm looking for help on places to stop along the way. Hopefully one big park (such as BGW, PKD, or SFOG) and any smaller parks along the way. Wow, Definately do not go to PKD if you are taking the Ches Bay Bridge-Tunnel. You would have to backtrack well over an hour and a half. I would go with BGW because SFoG is pretty far inland from the I-95 corridor, and is over all a better experience IMO. BGW is the most logical choice due to it's location. It takes about 40-50 mins with good traffic to get there from the VA Beach side of the Ches Bay B-T. Just make sure you do not go through any of the tunnels in the Norfolk area during rush hour. You will be required to pass through one tunnel (probably the I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel) to get to BGW. That thing is nationally known for congestion! ALSO remember the toll on the Ches Bay B-T is a national high $12 each way, but they do accept EZ-Pass if you have one from living in NJ. While in VA Beach, (depending on how large of a coaster whore you are ) Motorworld has a kiddie credit, a good collection of go karts, a great mini golf course and Ocean Breeze waterpark next door is a very good waterpark. HOPE THIS HELPS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slicknixon Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Rehoboth Beach, DE has a nice little park on the boardwalk called Funland.. mostly kiddie rides but a really nice haunted house if you're a fan of dark rides. Then, about another hour's drive down coastal highway will take you to Ocean City, MD where you will find Trimper's which is IMO the best small seaside park in the country and it is a must stop. Not to mention, it is rumored to be in it's last season due to increasing property taxes. Trimper's has two well-maintained bill tracy classics; The Haunted House on the boardwalk and The Pirates Cove walkthrough. There's also a classic Funhouse, Aladin's Lamp, a Toboggan coaster, classic flats such as a Matterhorn and Himalaya and an indoor section with all kinds of neat kiddie rides from the 30's-60's era and a 1902 Herchell-Spillman carousel. Also, if you've never been to Ocean City, it's a top notch coastal resort town with tons to do including a 2 1/2 mile boardwalk, over 300 restaurants and plenty of affordable (bayside) lodging. It totally beats any of the jersey seaside resorts IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homeboy23 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 If you take the scenic way then as the poster above said BGE would be the only park on the way without going too far out of the way. If you are not too set on the scenic route and rather go to more parks you can just go down 95. You could hit Six Flags America and Kings Dominion both off 95. KD I would go to if you haven't been there. Six Flags just as a credit run. After that you go down 95 and hit 64 east to BGE. Then you just go back to the scenic route you had planned since there is nothing else going down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netdvn Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Since you're headed straight down to Orlando, I recommend either heading to BGW if you're taking the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel or KD if you're taking 95. If you plan on taking the trunnel, BGW is about 20-30 minutes north of Virginia Beach; however, Hampton Roads traffic pretty much rivals DC so try to avoid rush hours. You can also hit up Go Karts Plus while you're in Williamsburg since they have a kiddie credit you could try. You can take Route 58 to get back onto 95 and head south from there. I haven't been to SFA in years so I don't know if its close to 95, but KD is right on the Interstate. Just take the Doswell exit (and be sure to take pics of the construction). After the Myrtle Beach exit, just stay on I-95 and you'll be in Florida in a few hours. Take the I-4 Exit (should be close to the Daytona Beach exit) and you'll head straight into Orlando. South of the Border is worth a one-time stopover if you're headed through South Carolina. It's a bit run down, but an awesome stopping point on the way down. The billboards are the best part of the trip. You could also stop by JR's if you're interested in that kind of stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homeboy23 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Six Flags America is about 3-4 miles from the exit off 95. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slicknixon Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Six Flags America is about 3-4 miles from the exit off 95. SFA is worth it for the credits if you don't mind standing in line surrounded by gang members while they constantly push through you to cut in line. If you only have time to do one thing in MD go with my previous suggestion of Trimper's at Ocean City. There's only 2 credits, but the other rides make it worth it. Sorry, but i cannot suggest that anyone go to SFA unless they are really desperate for the 5 lousy credits there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wild 1 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Six Flags America is not that bad. Well not this year anyway! The gangs have been while not totally cleared out have been reduced, and Wild One is good if you get it on a nice day (On a bad day it can be kinda boring but still fun) Trimpers is also good and I do recommend it, the non coaster rides are fantastic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bebes Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 We had quite a nice time at SFA this June. It was cute and clean and friendly. Read about it in our TR thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slicknixon Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 ^ I have heard that SFA has improved tremendously this year but you guys did go early season and also at park opening. There were times when I was there in mid-summer and the park was jam-packed with city-folk (of the scary DC gang variety) and made the experience very unenjoyable. I specifically remember one instance in which i was standing in a 1-2 hour line for Superman ROS and halfway through the queue, group after group of these city-folk pushed and shoved their way past me. A couple guys physically put their hands on me and pushed me out of the way to get past. There was even security standing at the entrance fully aware of this activity! After leaving the park after that incident, I decided that it's not worth going to SFA ever again. It's a shame because it wasn't really the park's fault (other than the security management) but i just don't feel safe there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBrylczyk Posted July 18, 2009 Author Share Posted July 18, 2009 Thanks for all of the suggestions, guys. I've had a few changes of plans. Number one is that the night of the 8th I'm having a stopover in Charlotte, NC. My Aunt and Uncle live there and are giving me a free place to stay. Its a way for me to break up the trip, haha. I'm not going to be making a trip to any large park, though, such as Carowinds or BGW. Its just not in my budget anymore. I will, however, be making a stop at Trimpers. I've never heard of the place before this thread and it looks like a ton of fun. I'm a huge fan of classic flats, haunted houses, and fun houses, so it looks like I'd be right at home, haha. After my stay overnight in Charlotte I'm making a trip straight through to Daytona, where I have the brand new Holiday Inn booked for the night of the 9th. I figure it'd give me a chance to relax and get a good night's sleep before moving in at Disney on the 10th. That, and I'll be able to watch the sunrise on the beach. Sure, I've seen tons of sunrises here in Jersey over the beach, but I mean, its friggin Daytona beach! hahaha. Move-in time at Disney runs from 9AM - 1PM, and I figure its probably a two-hour drive from Daytona to Disney, correct? Monday morning, going down I-4, and traffic worries I should know about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netdvn Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 ^ IIRC, it took us about an hour to get to Orlando from Daytona and we did manage to get lost as well. I'm not sure about Orlando traffic since I've only gone there once, but it didn't seem too bad. And this was during the holiday season... Too bad you can't stop at Carowinds... EDIT: Don't forget to pick up a few Florida oranges/citrus fruits at the roadside stands on the way down. I absolutely love those... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KBrylczyk Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 Too bad you can't stop at Carowinds... Oh, I've already been there plenty of times. Most recently was about 3 or 4 years ago for Scarowinds. Fun times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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