A way to shorten the drive from CT?

[sheryl0521]

Has anyone ever done this?

Instead of driving from CT to WDW in February, my DH had this idea.

Drive from CT to Norfolk, VA and fly round trip from there?

This way, we have an 8-10 hour drive day 1 (doable) and then take a 2-hour flight to be in WDW by noon on day 2.
Then coming home catching an early flight to be in VA at 10 AM and then driving home to be in our own beds for the night.

Anyone ever try something like this? We were able to get great flights (times and prices) so we are quite excited about this new adventure.

Please share your thoughts.

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

We're flying CT-WDW a month after you, March '05. We would never consider driving in the Winter -- too risky for snow, plus even without snow, we have young children and a husband with limited time off.

Our flight departs @ 7:15 AM, is a direct non-stop, scheduled to arrive in Orlando @ 10:20 AM. It's $79+tax.

Like your idea of having an adventure by driving to VA, but it just isn't better for us. Good luck and have a super vacation!!

 

[safetymom]

Wouldn't you save a lot of time by just flying from your home airport? I don't think there is a lot of cost savings by driving and flying is there from your area?

Also I would worry about the weather if I was driving.

 

[ducklite]

I agree with Safetymom--The flight from BDL is only about 45 minutes longer than the flight from Norfolk, and there isn't any tye of noticable cost savings.

If you're intent on driving part of the way, I'd go to BWI where you do'nt need to fight though DC traffic and have a huge number of carriers to choose from.

Keep in mind that lfights in and out of Norfolk will be limited, and if yours is cancelled there aren't as many options to get you rescheduled.

Anne

 

[OKW Lover]

Sorry, this doesn't make much sense to me. It sounds like two "wasted" days driving to VA when you could have just flown from CT. The flight from BDL is only about an hour longer than from VA and you'd have two full days at WDW. Have you compared the cost of flights (and airport parking) for both scenarios?

 

[sheryl0521]

Since we are limited to President's week vacation, the cheapest flight out of BDL ws $360, times 4 (2 children and hubby) is $1440. We found a flight out of Norfolk for $176, times 4 is $704, much cheaper!!!
OKW Lover - The savings will go towards one extra night at WDW and parking at the airport.

We have done the drive from CT to WDW and although long, 18-20 hours, we can handle it. Also being from CT we know how to drive in snow.

I miss the days of vacationing off the school calendar, but it will return again someday!
PolyHereWeCome - enjoy it while you can, your young children will lock you into the school vacation calendar before you know it.

ducklite - I didn't realize the limited amount of flights out of Norfolk - if ours gets cancelled, I guess we would just drive through.

Thanks for your input,
Sheryl

 

[Lewisc]

You may be able to drive in snow but it won't help you if the roads are closed. I'd think between NY, CT and MA you should be able to find reasonable airfare. I'd look into flying into Tampa as an alternative.

 

[Windjammer]

Sheryl

It doesn't make alot of sense to me and I'll do almost anything to save a buck.

Basically you are driving 8-10 hours (although it seems it would probably be more) to save on airfare. Moreover, Norfolk is probably a detour of at least a few hours, even if you take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. There must be other closer airports where you can save an equivalent amount such as Hartford, Philadelphia, BWI, etc. where Southwest flies out of, or maybe JFK with Jet Blue or even Atlantic City with Spirit Air.

Also, if you fly the last part of the trip you would still have to pay for transportation in Florida.

My suggestion would be to look at other closer airports for discount flights or perhaps look into the auto train where you drive to Lorton VA, ( just south of Washington D.C.) and take the train from there. The train leaves at 4:00 p.m. and arrives at 8:00 a.m. the next morning. In that case you will have your car with you and won't have to rent one or pay for airport transportation. You will also save on one night in a hotel and the cost of a dinner and a breakfast.

Hope this helps

Steve

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

In sheryl0521's defense, now that I better understand where she's coming from:

Looks like all of us in CT have the same Feb. break, and from everything I've been hearing from friends of mine, the lower fares were very hard to come by (you're right, sheryl0521, I do feel fortunate to be able to take my twins out of school -- they're only in 2nd grade and it's only 3 missed school days as part is Good Friday & Conf. Days --plus it's my 40th birthday on 3/23).

Assume the reason why she was able to get better fares out of VA was they don't have Feb. break, so SW didn't limit the lower fares.

It all comes down to a cost-benefit analysis, and it sounds like for your family, the $$ savings outweighs the logistical costs

 

[pumpkinboy]

And don't forget about Providence! There are frequently good travel deals out of PVD. Of course you have SouthWest in BDL too. But PVD might be a whole lot easier than driving to VA then flying.

Good luck!

 

[sheryl0521]

Thanks Poly - My older DS is 11 and he is the one that can't miss too much school. He just missed 2 days for our recent Columbus Day trip and I had to get that OK'ed by the principal! I can't imagine what we would have to go through for a full week.

We drove during President’s week in 2002, when the big storm arrived during President's weekend - we left early and missed it by a few hours. Phew!
We don't mind the drive - we have a nice big Yukon that everyone can stretch out in with DVD & Nintendo entertainment- and the original plan was to drive the entire ride. So when hubby surprised me with the plan to ONLY drive to VA and then fly - I was ecstatic!!

I know it isn't the best way to get to FL - but in order to take advantage of our DVC membership, we can't fly every time. So we fly when it is cheaper, October, and drive when it's expensive, February.

I do appreciate everyone's input, and I have started to look to other airports - but it seems to be the same all around.

Everyone wants to get out of the North East in February!!!

 

[frazzled one]

I'd suggest you be prepared for a tough commute around Norfolk, in addition to the concerns raised by the other posters here. Try to avoid it around rush hour (which begins right at 6 AM), since the traffic over the bridge is pretty awful. It's a pretty good haul from 95 to Norfolk. If you'd still like to drive part way, have you checked out the Richmond airport? It's a bit more on your way.

I love driving to WDW, btw! Have a great trip -

fraz

 

[PlutoPony]

Have you checked SW out of Baltimore? Don't believe MD schools are off in February, and it would save you >5 hours AND the painful drive around DC! The Norfolk area isn't fun to drive around either, and if you have trouble getting out of the airport because of weather somewhere you have many more options out of BWI.....it's a nice airport, right off I-95 and easy to get to.

Good luck!

 

[metivier]

I agree with the other posters that suggested Richmond and BWI airports. You may be able to drive in the snow -- but how about an ice storm??? That's what Norfolk gets VERY often.