Are our travel plans financially logical??

[2disneyboys]

Listen to your instincts and ignore the "drive all night advice"



Having lost a friend to "I can drive through the night" syndrome I think it's just kind of that folks encourage others to do it. (Friend died, her child has long term medical issues because DH dosed off and lost control... all to save a few hours.... ) And I am sure they said "well it won't happen to us, we can do it" I know they had done it before... so don't assume you are "immune"

DH & I do tend to drive all night for trips less than 15 hours ( I think the most we have driven straight through was 24 hours and that was a last min emergency and its just what we had to do at the time), HOWEVER I very much agree w/ this statement. If you don't think it's something your family can do SAFELY then do not do it. The cost of a hotel room is just not worth it. The very first time my sister & her family drove from Norfolk Va to Orlando FL, they got a hotel room near Jacksonville FL. That gave them a long day the first day (like 9-10 hours or so?) and then the next day they only had a few more hours and she really enjoyed going that route.

Ultimately, you know what is safe for your family. if nothing else, have about $100 set aside and if you feel it's getting to much, then stop somewhere if you feel you need to. (a reservation will get you a cheaper room usually, but rarely can you not find SOMETHING clean & safe in the $100 bracket just about anywhere between Va & Florida.)

I would not do the side trip to your dads - w/ the extra gas & time, you won't save anything over the cost of jsut getting a basic hotel room somewhere on your route. Plus I'd bet your dad would like more time w/ your family (and vice versa) than just getting there late and leaving early the next morning.

 

[Jenny-momof3]

Since you're only paying for 2 of you to fly...I would definitely fly! Gas is big $$ right now. Add in food ( even fast food adds up! ) and a hotel if you're not driving through...you'll break even with flying!

We have to pay for 5 to fly so we drive 15 hours each way. We drive it straight through with dh and I taking turns driving/sleeping. We never have any problems doing this...but we're used to doing it and the kids do just fine. We only stop to get gas/bathroom/and shove something quick in our mouths!

 

[BabyFu18]

I'd suggest leaving as early as you can (without it being dark if you don't like to travel before sunrise) and trying to drive it all in one day.

If you left early in the morning say 4am, you'd be able to watch the sunrise as you drive and by the time you stop for breakfast you've already gotten almost half the drive under your belt. If you were on the road and felt like you had to stop, I'm sure you'd be able to find an inexpensive hotel to stop at if you needed it.

Either way, I certainly wouldn't go out of your way to stay at your Dad's house overnight as it is way to far out of your way.

 

[ajh88]

I'll agree with the majority here...we have about a 19 hour drive (crazy, I know) since we moved a couple of years ago. Previously, it was 14 hours. When it was "only" 14 hours, we would get up super early - 3 am or so - and hit the road. As a PP said, by the time it was breakfast, we were 3 states into our trip! We would drive a long first day and short second day...so 10-12 hours on day 1 and 2-4 hours on day 2. I would think you could try to split it up like that...shoot for 8-10 hours day one leaving you 2-4 hours on day 2.

Have fun!

 

[kirstenb1]

We're west of Richmond. We've flown and we've driven. It's a hard call with a one year old.

On the one hand, when we drive, we always stop near Brunswick Georgia. Then the next day is only 4-5 hrs. I like the fact that I can pack tons of diapers, wipes, toys, baby snacks etc in the car. I won't do the whole drive in one shot. I don't sleep well in the car, and with a young child, dh and I would be walking zombies the entire next day at WDW.

We've flown with small children too. We got very badly burned twice in one year with 7+ hour delays at the airport, so no more flying for us. Nothing like trying to entertain small children for hours, while praying a flight opens up.

One thing is clear to me, though. I'd never add 4 hrs to any trip to avoid hotel $$. WDW is far away enough already.

 

[arthur06]

I would not add 4.5 hours to the trip for a "free" night.

The cost of gas and the "value" of my time, would outweigh the cost for one night in a hotel.

For us, the 12 hour drive is doable. We have driven the 24 hours to Orlando (straight thru). We like to leave very early in the morning.

 

[mb_uh]

First- I would not add 4.5 hours just for a free room. We are planning on drive straight through and spending our hotel money in Orlando so we have a full nights rest before we start Disney. (16 hour drive).

But unless you are far from a major airline I would think if you tried really hard flying would cost the same I mean for our 16 hours drive I am thinking that gas will be at least $500 not including food/hotels. We have 3 kids and the airport is 3.5 hours away so we would still have to drive and get a room at least one leg driving is a lot cheaper. For you the baby is free.

GL

 

[soonerfan2008]

We made 3 trips to WDW, driving from Williamsburg. Only once did we stop on the drive, and it was really kind of silly. The drive is not bad at all, and we typically leave around 4 am. We arrive in Orlando in plenty of time for a relaxing dinner, baths and bed!

Our first trip, we had a 3 year old and a 1 year old. One we had a 3.5 and 1.5 year old. The last we had an 8 year old, 4 year old and 2 year old. Easy. Bring some car toys, a dvd player and plan some stops to stretch legs along the way--Cracker Barrel is our favorite road trip stop.

 

[Marionnette]

Personally, you could not pay me to drive to Florida from where I live (Philly). And there is no way that I would try to do it in a single day with a toddler that doesn't nap or do car rides well. But if my husband suggested that we drive 4.5 hours out of our way so that we could get free lodging with a relative, I would tell him to get his head examined because it must surely be full of rocks!

Aside from the wasted gas, that's a lot of you time spent taking a side trip. Time spent in a moving vehicle with a little one who may or may not cooperate.

Have you considered taking the train as an alternative? I'm pretty sure that the little one would be free. You might be able to snag a good discount fare for you adults. The bonus would be that the baby could move around a lot more on the train, so he might not be as fussy. he would be able to snuggle up with you, rather than be strapped into a car seat when he's tired. And neither of you would have to deal with the fatigue from driving.

Just a thought.

 

[roxannex]

Jet blue and airtran are 84 each way from Richmond right now if you fly Tuesday or Wednesday. You might need a rental car if youre staying off site, but I can't imagine you will spend that much less on gas driving both ways. I think I would fly with only 2 tickets.

 

[chris31997]

Pack your car the night before and when baby wakes up leave and drive straight thru. Figure 12 hours from 7 am is 7 pm I would not drive 4.5 hours out of the way for a free night lodging, waste of gas.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since you hate driving, to me, I think you should lower your standards as to what a good deal is. With a baby that doesn't like the car and two parents who don't like driving...well I just can't imagine hopping in the car for more than just a few hours.

I liked the suggestion of the train. Could even look into the autotrain if you're nearish the station where it leaves from.

Since you guys hate driving I *definitely* can't agree with the suggestions that you guys drive through the night. It works for some, but can't imagine it working well for you guys.