Booked a vehicle to drive to WDW in OCT!!

[jncvh]

I just booked a vehicle to drive to WDW in October through Costco.com. The rental was through Alamo out of the Buffalo airport and is a Ford Explorer for $362 tax in with unlimited miles for 11 days. I live in Barrie, On and will drive from my house to BUF and pick up the Ford. I have rented the Explorer before and found that it did have plenty of room. The gas mileage is a little higher but with the $$ that I save on the rental it will more than compensate for the difference.

If anyone is interested in checking prices go to Costco.com, click on travel section, rental cars. There is also a extra $20-$30 coupon with some rentals. You can also check Avis, Budget, and Hertz.

I didn't have to give any credit card number just my information to make the reservation. I have done this in the past and worked just fine. So if I find a better deal or decide not to drive I can cancel up to 49 hours in advance.

 

[satman1962]

ouch, that's a long drive! Do you take you time or go for broke? We're a family of six and I think the drive down would kill me. Good tip though.

 

[jncvh]

I use to go straight through back in my younger days. But, now I usually leave around 7:00 pm and drive till noon the next day. This allows my wife and the kids to sleep for most of the trip. I usually end up in southern Georgia or South Carolina depending on which way I take. I get a hotel for the night and have a long sleep. Leave around 8/9:00 am and arrive at WDW just after noon. The whole trip takes about 24 hours and now that my baby is over two years of age I have to pay for an extra airline ticket and with a family of five that can get expensive. I did a cost comparison of driving versus flying and I save around $700 USD driving with my family size.

 

[hockey mom]

Since you are already at the Buffalo airport I would fly.

With a SW "Ding rate" it cost my family of 5 $465 US to fly roundtrip out of Buffalo. In this instance you would save money by flying.

 

[seashoreCM]

Double check to be sure there are no geographical restrictions preventing you from taking the car all the way to Florida.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[jncvh]

If I can get a Ding I will fly as long as the airfare and car rental aren't too expensive. I really haven't seen to many BUF to MCO flight Dings lately but will still keep watching as I can always cancel my reservaiton. SW did just release late Oct dates so heres hoping. I did check the rate and it is unlimited miles with no restrictions as long as I don't enter Canada or Mexico.

 

[digskat]

We have driven the last two years and actually enjoy the 22hr drive. We just can not justify the $700 extra to fly. DH loves to drive and hates to fly, so it makes sense. We just bought a 1999 Ford Explorer with very low KM's, and we love it. It is hard to decide which vechicle to take either the Escape or the Explorer...we likely will take the Escape as it is leased and has all the extra's Ford offers ie roadside assistance etc. I think you got a decent price though for your rental. We have driven through the night (way to exhausting)..left at 4am and stopped in GA. This year we are taking two nights to drive down,leaving @noon the Friday and driving to Dry Ridge KY and then getting up the next am and driving until Valdosta GA, we should be at POFQ by mid morning. Take care Kathy