We did an 11 night trip in 2018 and drove down - added 2 days each direction for driving ( and 1 overnight hotel each way ) so the whole trip was 13 nights long.
We live 1200 miles away.
We are also from the same area and we do it a bit different, a bit slower. We driver making it to Chattanoogta a area the first day. We then make it to Ocala. We leave Ocala at about 8am and are in our first park at WDW my 9:30ish. We then stay Sat-Thursday leaving on Fridday morning and making it back to Chattanooga. This is sometime a hugh challenge as we try to get through Atlanta area in under 3 hrs!!