Has anyone ever flown without their family?

mster425 · Jul 4, 2015

So, working out travel for the next trip to the World from PA-

DD REALLY wants to fly on an airplane for her bday and for her and I to fly it'd be as low as $150-$175 total, one way.

DH would drive down with DS (about 15 hrs). That way we wouldn't have to pay for their tickets OR rent a car, carseats, and strollers when we get there, we could bring groceries, and we'd all drive home at the end. DS is not great in the car (he is 2) but better than DD. DH drives long distances for work frequently.

Has anyone ever done this? How'd it go?

ETA: I guess the other option is to fly with both by myself while DH drives :shudder:

jdb in AZ · Jul 4, 2015

Has DH driven long distances with DS alone without you there to entertain DS while dad is busy driving?

mster425 · Jul 4, 2015

maybe 3 hrs, nothing like 15. that will be the tough part, for sure

maxiesmom · Jul 4, 2015

I wouldn't do a long drive with only 1 adult and 1 child. As noted above, it would be very hard for the 1 adult to keep the 1 child happy and focus on driving. You can't exactly buckle a 2 year old in and expect them to occupy themselves for any length of time.

mster425 · Jul 4, 2015

maxiesmom said:
I wouldn't do a long drive with only 1 adult and 1 child. As noted above, it would be very hard for the 1 adult to keep the 1 child happy and focus on driving. You can't exactly buckle a 2 year old in and expect them to occupy themselves for any length of time.

You're right. We should probably all fly and just rely on WDW buses. I'm spoiled from our last trip where we had a rental car, but I'll get over it.

Disneyfanatic108 · Jul 4, 2015

If you want DH sane for the vacation, I would suggest NOT doing this. :tongue:

mster425 · Jul 4, 2015

Disneyfanatic108 said:
If you want DH sane for the vacation, I would suggest NOT doing this.

Well.... better him than me??

Disneyfanatic108 · Jul 4, 2015

That's one way to look at it

tjmw2727 · Jul 4, 2015

Well we have often flown separately as my DH and or older DD sometimes had commitments.

On a few occasions my younger DD and I few while older DD and DH drove and met us a few days into the trip, then we all drove back together. My DD was 13/14 so plenty old enough to entertain herself and keep DH company.

I wouldn't dream of driving 15 hours alone with a toddler -

If you really want to fly I would fly everyone down, use DME and the resort bus system for the first few days of your stay. If you really miss having a car car you could rent onsite and return to the airport.

Otherwise I would just wait for another time to take DD on her first plane trip.

katibosch · Jul 4, 2015

I've driven 17 hours in 2 days with DD who had just turned 8. She did amazing, but driving is high-anxiety for me and I much prefer flying given the choice. Honestly, I'd just spring for the extra money for the plane tickets for everyone, but if the money is tight enough that you can't afford that, then I understand.

js · Jul 4, 2015

If you ds was older then I would say go for it but as another poster said you can't just put a seat belt on a two year old and expect an uneventful 15 hour trip. Diapers will need to be changed, maybe he throws up, he can't eat himself etc.

Maybe do the flight another time.

mster425 · Jul 4, 2015

katibosch said:
I've driven 17 hours in 2 days with DD who had just turned 8. She did amazing, but driving is high-anxiety for me and I much prefer flying given the choice. Honestly, I'd just spring for the extra money for the plane tickets for everyone, but if the money is tight enough that you can't afford that, then I understand.

It's more like, everything seems a little easier if we have our own car. Two convertible carseats, 2 strollers, groceries... but like I said, spoiled from renting a car last trip. If we all fly AND rent a car it's $1000 more than just driving, in addition to schlepping carseats etc...I think I'm just having travel anxiety and need to have all of us fly and use Disney transportation.

bumbershoot · Jul 4, 2015

I don't see where you say how old your kids are.

What about if you plan for a mom/daughter trip in the future and you can fly then?

For DH and DS, you would REALLY want to have them stay at a hotel halfway through the trip. Safer for everyone that way. So that increases the expense.

Depending on how far out you're looking, rental cars stand a strong chance of going WAY down in price.

mster425 · Jul 4, 2015

bumbershoot said:
I don't see where you say how old your kids are.

What about if you plan for a mom/daughter trip in the future and you can fly then?

For DH and DS, you would REALLY want to have them stay at a hotel halfway through the trip. Safer for everyone that way. So that increases the expense.

Depending on how far out you're looking, rental cars stand a strong chance of going WAY down in price.

They'll be 5 and 2 (DS). That's good to hear about the rental car. $500 for a week with a standard?? Pass.

PRomano · Jul 4, 2015

Can he drive overnight when ds is sleeping? We drove from Mass once, but we had 3 adults and 3 kids.

mster425 · Jul 4, 2015

OK so I just learned about this magic that is Southwest Rapid Rewards 50,000 bonus. We're totally flying.

maxiesmom · Jul 5, 2015

I don't think you need a car seat for your 5 year old on the airplane. Leave that one home, one less thing to have to deal with in the airport. I would honestly leave one of the strollers behind too. If it is in your budget, maybe leave them both behind and rent one in Orlando. Use a service to deliver your groceries. I've used Garden Grocer a few times, but there is also We Go Shop and Amazon, just to name a few. Pare way down what you are hauling through the airport.

Pembo · Jul 5, 2015

Keep watch on these boards for a car deal. We've never paid more than $250/wk for a van rental in Orlando. You just have to really work for it and try many different codes.

jskacoc · Jul 5, 2015

Aren't 2 year olds free as a lap child?

I like Spirit out of Atlantic City but you have to watch the extra fees. It's a 'quick' flight and cheap so I deal with the seat space issue. Pack alot into the 1 free personal item. I've even packed diapers, etc into the bag the stroller came with. Some people love Spirit or hate them.

You could ship a box of food/clothes to your resort ahead of time.

I've bought the inflatable 'bubble bum' booster seat from Target for my 4 yr old for travel. It works well.

I am all for flying and I'm a penny pincher lol. I can't imagine that ride with my kids.

mster425 · Jul 6, 2015

jskacoc said:
Aren't 2 year olds free as a lap child?

I like Spirit out of Atlantic City but you have to watch the extra fees. It's a 'quick' flight and cheap so I deal with the seat space issue. Pack alot into the 1 free personal item. I've even packed diapers, etc into the bag the stroller came with. Some people love Spirit or hate them.

You could ship a box of food/clothes to your resort ahead of time.

I've bought the inflatable 'bubble bum' booster seat from Target for my 4 yr old for travel. It works well.

I am all for flying and I'm a penny pincher lol. I can't imagine that ride with my kids.

I think we are cheap, lol. I always accuse my DH of that (with love, of course) but he's rubbing off on me!

I think we should have enough points from SW with the 50,000 bonus to just cover the flights for the 4 of us, thank you jeebus.

And I'm chuckling at DS as a lap baby... this trip is right before he's 3 so that he is free at DW (ok, ok we're definitely thrifty) but he is huge and will not have any of that.

So, to pacify our tightwadded-ness- flights w/ miles, bum booster (thanks for that tip, I thought that as for older kids for some reason), 1 carseat, 1 or 2 umbrella strollers. Keeping an eye out for a rental car code.

Has anyone ever flown without their family?

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