Anyone from Wisconsin...

[jdkdorn]

I was wondering how often other Wisconsinites use their DVC. How do you usually get to FL, by air or auto. We just bought have a family of four and airfare can get expensive. We are looking at driving for our first trip home.

Any suggestions and info from other cold Wisconsinites is appreciated

Thanks
Judy

 

[Deb8821]

We are from Waukesha. Single parent with 3 children under 6. We usually go twice a year. One 10-14 day trip in Oct/Nov and then one 4 dayish trip in winter or early spring. We drove once - no thanks! We always fly. Yes its more expensive but I value my time and sanity more! Usually I am flexiable on dates.
I almost always fly Midwest Express - great service and direct flights. I also did Sun Country a few years back - they did offer good service and some great prices before dropping service.
I keep an eye on airfare deals and thats when we go. I spend more in the fall to secure "about" the time period I want. The other trip is always only based on when I come across a great air deal. Once we went over labor day, once a month after our big trip, once the week after presidents week. So it really varies. Once we actually skipped the second trip cause I couldn't find a good enough deal. Another time I found a great deal on a Sunday nite and we left the next tuesday for 4 nights. Usually buy annual passes every other year getting two big trips on each and then skipping 10 months.

I always rent a car - I do emerald aisle at National. Again the convenience is fantastic. One long bad experience with alamo and that did it. I check the rates every weekish or so and watch for any deals. I'm pretty comfortable with the prices I've gotten.

People who don't know me well assume I spend a fortune since I do Disney often - but in reality I dont. My friends know I watch the specials and try and work within that to get the most bang for my buck. Since we do go frequently I don't really spend alot on soveniers. Last trip my boys got haircuts at magic kindgom and they were happy as clams to get long roles of stickers for sitting still!

I have been doing Disney long before I had the children so it was just natural to keep doing it when they came along.

For lodging DVC is just cost effective for us. Accomodations are great and price is right.

I guess I just am flexible and watch the specials but at the same time I am willing to pay for conveniences that make my life easier traveling with children.

 

[SteveS]

My family and I have been going to WDW 1 - 2 times a year for the past 20 years. Driving can be a real pain. Especially if you are going for only a week. In the Spring we go down for 2 weeks and I have driven many times. Lately we have been flying to avoid the hassel. It is more expensive but I enjoy my time better knowing I don't have a 1200 mile drive ahead of me.

 

[tvwalsh]

I thought I was the only person from Franklin WI who wrote in on these boards. If you want to, please pm me.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

We moved to Waukesha in December 2000 and have driven down I65 since then. Prior to 2000 we lived in Michigan and have drive all but one time. It has always taken two days but we try and stay from a week to three each so we find that we need a car at our disposal while we are vacationing and to transport mementoes for the grandkids, fruit for the families and pecans from Georgia. We have a loaded car when we return.

 

[llp479]

I'm 9 miles from the WI/IL border and I went to college in Waukesha - does that count?

We usually fly Midwest from MKE. We're halfway between MKE and ORD so I check flights from both. I've found flights for as low as $158 on United that changed planes at ORD. Same flights originating from ORD was $268 - go figure! We're a family of 5 plus we usually take another adult with us. Flying for $207 RT direct in August on ME from MKE.

Once I've got dates, I started checking flights daily, until I see a good deal. Can't imagine driving to FL with 3 dds right now. Plus, it would take time away from the mouse!

 

[cmehling]

From Hartland, WI
We joined DVC last summer, but frequently traveled to Disney before that. I haven't driven to FL in over 10 years. If you shop, you can find airfares on Midwest in the low $200 range. My flights for October 2003 were $202 - a real bargin for a direct flight.

 

[nelle]

We will be making the trip 3x's within a year(gotta love AP's ). We always fly with three kids ages 7, 3, and 1 the drive would be a nightmare !! We have lately been flying out of MKE on ME last dec we got tickets for $192ea., however for our may trip airtran was the cheapest at $135ea non-stop and in oct we will be flying ME again because we have FF to use. ME is going to be starting new economy flights some time soon to compete with Southwest and other economy airlines which will be nice. The economy flights are to be geared for leasiure flyers so it sounds promising hopefully they can get it up and running .