anyone driven from Illinois, ALONE?

[FINFAN]

Just toying with the idea, if it were a summer trip I would be more agreeable, but it will be Dec 15th-ish....I think I am nuts...but would love to hear if anyone else has been insane enough to do it. DH and DS would fly down 2 days later, DS has finals so they can't leave sooner, and I need to get DD from Sarasota and be checked in by the 17th ....we have driven before, just not by myself.

 

[Vijoge]

Frankly, I wouldn't even consider it during the summer. I hate driving all the way to Florida even with DH so no way am I going to do it alone. Not trying to tell you waht to do, just MHO.

 

[Emmabean2000]

Drove back from Orlando in January on my own. If you enjoy some alone time, it is not all that bad. Great chance to catch up on books on cd, stopping when you want to stop, eating what you want to eat...

 

[JB2K]

Just toying with the idea, if it were a summer trip I would be more agreeable, but it will be Dec 15th-ish....I think I am nuts...but would love to hear if anyone else has been insane enough to do it. DH and DS would fly down 2 days later, DS has finals so they can't leave sooner, and I need to get DD from Sarasota and be checked in by the 17th ....we have driven before, just not by myself.

Yes, I did it alone back in 1998 -- left Southern IL in the early evening and arrived in the WDW area around 2 p.m. EDT, the next day (with a couple of long food/gas stops in-between).

It can be done -- my advice is get plenty of rest before your trip and stop as often as you feel like doing so.

Also, make sure you have either funds or a SunPass (toll tag) for the tollways leading to Orlando (I-Pass is not accepted in FL).

 

[FINFAN]

thnkas all, I am not sure of this at all , mostly due to the weather back here, could be iffy.Also, not sure that DH and DS would remember to have all in order if they are the last to leave...I would have to have most of their stuff with me, lol, and they would just have to get to their flight. I may be heading straight to Sarasota to get DD, but more than likely check into resort first then head to Sarasota, not sure if I can do that without everyone present, so this may all be for naught anyway.

 

[Puget Peach]

Just toying with the idea, if it were a summer trip I would be more agreeable, but it will be Dec 15th-ish....I think I am nuts...but would love to hear if anyone else has been insane enough to do it. DH and DS would fly down 2 days later, DS has finals so they can't leave sooner, and I need to get DD from Sarasota and be checked in by the 17th ....we have driven before, just not by myself.

While I have car traveled extensively between Florida and Indianapolis in all seasons, if I had the choice I would fly into Tampa and pick up DD in a rental car. What might be an easy 2-3 day drive in good weather can easily stretch into a 4 or 5 day trip IF you get waylaid part way due to ice storms, and they are very common that time of year in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Northern Alabama/Georgia. There are usually some good fares from Midway, and I found car rental rates at that time of year to be GREAT in Florida.

IF you decide to drive, allow extra time. If a storm is approaching, either leave early to get ahead of it, or be prepared to spend a day en route until the roads clear. I drove alone from Indianapolis to Seattle Thanksgiving week last year (3 nights on the road) and had glorious weather the entire trip! Good luck and have a great time! I LOVE that time of year at Disney World!!!

 

[Traveliz]

My husband did last summer - I was all ready there -- Chloe and I drove down in her car for school. Mark had to take his annual official's clinic so he left when it was over, stopped over night and then drove in the next day. It was August though. I wouldn't do it in December unless I had days I could play with if need be,

Why don't you fly to Orlando, drive to Sarasota, and drive back. That way you will have the car rental from just the one spot. Or you could see about about flying into the Sarasota area (not sure about the airport situation there) and then do a one way rental to Orlando - I just know those are often more expensive.

Then all fly home.

Good luck - I know with a daughter in school there you sometimes have to think outside the box to accomplish what you want. I am getting more creative with my solutions these days.

Checking in without everyone present is really the least of your problems - once you start in with your story (if they even ask about the others) of you are checking in now, then running to pick up daughter, then husband and son coming in on flight -- they will be tired of listening and will move on to processing your credit card.

Liz

 

[FINFAN]

sigh...I need AirTran to extend their dates past 12/16 ...they are the only nonstop into Sarasota from Midway, I guess I could book my flight for the 16th, but I hate to do it before I know what DH and DS will be paying. I did reserve a car a few weeks ago, like $75 from Sarastoa(SRQ) for the day. SRQ is 2 (if that) miles from DD's school and the greatest airport, I love flying in/out of there, SO stress-free. I could crash at DD'd apartment and she and I can head out early a.m. for Orlando....then DH and DS can take ME. I guess Iwill be on the fence until airfare comes out. By me driving there is was going to save about $550...as we would all drive home together. I imagine the airfare back home on the 26 or 27 of December will be painful.

 

[Traveliz]

sigh...I need AirTran to extend their dates past 12/16 ...they are the only nonstop into Sarasota from Midway, I guess I could book my flight for the 16th, but I hate to do it before I know what DH and DS will be paying. I did reserve a car a few weeks ago, like $75 from Sarastoa(SRQ) for the day. SRQ is 2 (if that) miles from DD's school and the greatest airport, I love flying in/out of there, SO stress-free. I could crash at DD'd apartment and she and I can head out early a.m. for Orlando....then DH and DS can take ME. I guess Iwill be on the fence until airfare comes out. By me driving there is was going to save about $550...as we would all drive home together. I imagine the airfare back home on the 26 or 27 of December will be painful.

I remember last year there were pockets of times that the Airtran fares the days after Christmas were not bad so hopefully you will get lucky. Is your daughter coming home then too or will she be staying in FL -- meaning do you have to fiddle with getting her back to Sarasota?

Liz

 

[FINFAN]

I remember last year there were pockets of times that the Airtran fares the days after Christmas were not bad so hopefully you will get lucky. Is your daughter coming home then too or will she be staying in FL -- meaning do you have to fiddle with getting her back to Sarasota?

Liz

yeah, Planned on DD coming back to Il w/us after the WDW trip, ( Not mandoatory, but not sure about her bing alone in the apt for 2 weeks after our trip, and we'd have to get her from Orlando to Sarasota anyway, meaning another rental car day)I think we will have to get her back to Sarasota by Jan 10th...so add that into the mix. Driving would REALLY help with costs, I guess we are nuts as I think about it, so much jockeying around...so many unknows. DS being switched to a new HS so unsure of early finals policy, weather, airfare prices ( with gas climbing) getting DD....well, we will keep looking into things. We are lucky to be able to entertain the thought of a trip at all. Thanks for the tip on the dates for AT...I will keep my fingers crossed!

 

[wdwgypsy]

sigh...I need AirTran to extend their dates past 12/16 ...they are the only nonstop into Sarasota from Midway, I guess I could book my flight for the 16th, but I hate to do it before I know what DH and DS will be paying. I did reserve a car a few weeks ago, like $75 from Sarastoa(SRQ) for the day. SRQ is 2 (if that) miles from DD's school and the greatest airport, I love flying in/out of there, SO stress-free. I could crash at DD'd apartment and she and I can head out early a.m. for Orlando....then DH and DS can take ME. I guess Iwill be on the fence until airfare comes out. By me driving there is was going to save about $550...as we would all drive home together. I imagine the airfare back home on the 26 or 27 of December will be painful.

Try the rental discount codes on Mousesavers to get a lower rate on your rental car.

After you subtract gas, food, and hotel room enroute are you really saving $550?

Maybe think about a one way rental home.
Some places charge a one way fee others don't. I have good luck with Budget on one way rentals and low cost using the codes from Mousesavers. Dollar has good deals on local rentals using codes as well

 

[FINFAN]

yeah, I am really saving the 550 because not only does it negate airfare for 1 going and 4 returning, it also alleviates the 1 day rental car when getting DD from Sarasota. I did look into one way rentals, cheapest I could get was over $600, at least right now. I imagine Christmas week it will be even worse. Chicago is a tough market for airfare/rental cars coming and going.