Cost of Driving to DW

[Brandilovesdisney]

Hello! I was wondering what the cost is to drive to Disneyworld from Canada? How much did you pay for gas and hotels (if you stayed in one)? Did you bring food or eat in restaurants the entire time? Did you find it worth it considering the mileage you put on your car? I'm trying to figure out if I will really save any money by driving down.
Thanks so much!!!

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

It depends on a few things. How many stops you want to make? What kind of car you drive. This is what it cost for us. 2 adults 2 kids.
-2 nights on the way down. $100 x 2
-2 nights on the way back $100 x 2
fuel was $550 total. I was driving a full size suv. Suburban getting around 17mpg.
-tolls and bridge cost around $20 complete trip.
-food -8 dinners $200 total
-8 lunches under $100
-breakfast was included with the hotels.
We leave Oakville 430am the first day and we drove to Orangeburg SC 15hrs including breakfast lunch and dinner. We get fuel when we stop for food. The hotel we stayed was Holiday inn express http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-391203-holiday_inn_express_suites_orangebrg-i
The next morning we drove 6 hrs i beleive to Daytona beach and got there early afternoon. This allowed us to stay on the beach sorry dont remember the hotel. The extra night also allowed us to relax before heading into seeing the mouse on check in day early. Like 10am. You can save this cost if your willing to lose most of your first day at disney and pull in mid afternnon. Something we werent willing to do. The extra dasy also allows for mechanical problems traffic problems and weather.
On the way back we pack up and head to one of the water parks then DTD and leave late afternoon and start heading back home with a 5 hr drive. We always try to stay holiday inn express. They seem to have the best contental breakfast. Hot and cold with fruit and pasteries.
We drive because we dont want to be limited to how much we can purchase and how beig the item is. We also like to head out to the coast and do other parks either before or after our disney stay. I went into a bit more detail to explain why we stopped so many times. I hope this helps.

P.S.I know this stuff gets done anyway but oil change and car check up to make sure all is well for a problem free trip.

 

[Polydweller]

As Trevor said, the cost depends on several variables. We took the I79 route in Oct in a mid-size car and I kept a running account. Gas was $300 and tolls $8. However, hotel costs and food were very similar. So budgeting $1200 is not excessive for two nights on the road.

 

[SydandPaige'sMom]

if you're close enough to Buffalo or Detroit, I would look at flying out of those places over driving (unless you enjoy the drive )

For us it was far cheaper to fly then drive.
$90 for overnight park and fly in Detroit (not necessary, but we flew out on Black Friday and weren't sure what the bridge would be like that day).
Our roundtrip flight for 4 people was $727 (non stop flights from Det to Orlando).

 

[Brandilovesdisney]

Thanks so much for all the info.!!
The closest cities for me would be either Syracuse or Plattsburg. How much was your park and stay?
When I calculated the rate for flying out of one of there airports plus the hotel with park and stay and the gas to the hotel and any meals (plus the fact I would need transport on Mears from Disney to Universal at least 1 day) there really wasn't any savings. I guess I need to figure out which mode of transport gives us the most convenience

 

[Tanooki]

Thanks so much for all the info.!!
The closest cities for me would be either Syracuse or Plattsburg. How much was your park and stay?
When I calculated the rate for flying out of one of there airports plus the hotel with park and stay and the gas to the hotel and any meals (plus the fact I would need transport on Mears from Disney to Universal at least 1 day) there really wasn't any savings. I guess I need to figure out which mode of transport gives us the most convenience

Parking is free at Plattsburgh airport

We are getting ready for our 3rd drive in a year and it's definitely cheaper for us! Especially considering the fact that we have 4 kids...

Leaving from Montreal (suburb), we spend about 400$ on gas (Oldsmobile Silhouette 2003), 200$ for hotels on the road (that's back and forth since we only stop for one night each way) and about 80-85$ each way for food (fast food only since we pick up and eat in the car, plus I have children who don't eat that much). Tolls are about 19$ if we use the I-95 all the way and 0$ if we travel through the I-81 and such.
Cheapest flight, from Plattsburgh, was around 1500$ for 6 (RT), which is a great price (we did it twice), but we want to go more than once a year so driving is the way to make it "affordable"

And really, we enjoy the drive. Never thought I'd say that before but it's true.

 

[mommytodarlings]

We have driven twice and flown twice in the last 4 years. We are planning on driving our next trip.

If we are going for more than a week, we drive, it seems to make it more worthwhile for us. We are a family of 6 (4 kids) so driving is def. cheaper than flying (even from Detroit or Buffalo).

Both times we drove straight through, dh & switch drivers about every 4 hrs or so. We drive I75 and the kids don't mind it, they have lots to do.

We usually stop somewhere for a breakfast, then just have snacks that we bring all day and then stop for dinner.

I think gas cost us around $350 for our van and meals $200-250 roundtrip.

We are considering a stop on our August trip, but not completely sure yet.

 

[sjsjbrook]

This thread might help answer some questions as well

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2635030

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

This might help you. If you fly you might end up doing all them safety scans at the airport or pat downs. Drive you dont. You can also bring back as many things as you want as long as it fits in your car. Just make sure you declare them at the border. Oh and when your down there and you have driven you can take your car to the parks from your resort. Saves tons of time and you wont end up packed on the 4th bus like a sardine. The only park that is about the same time frame is Magic Kingdom. Between waiting for the bus loading the bus sometimes a few buses later because there are so many people in line. Ah we just prefer to drive. We keep cold water and juice on ice in a cooler while in the parks. When we leave we have a nice refreshing drink listening to music in the nice a/c of our own truck. Oh and if you have small kids you dont have to break down that stroller. PITA been there done that and hated it. We took the bus once and never again. But thats our choice. you need to make yours. Some people refuse to drive once there and i think thats great too.

 

[nepean]

Just drove down December 26-Jan11 for our 17th time. We drive a 2009 Sante Fe and had one 22 and one 19 year old. We drove straight through both ways. We left at 8:15 am and arrived in St. Augustine around 11:00 am. We spent $525. on gas round trip and driving in the Orlando area for shopping etc. We stayed off site and also went to Universal. We have a plug in cooler and take subs, sandwiches and drinks. I find that if I eat small amounts often I don't get as tired. It keeps the sugar levels more even.

We drive because it is less expensive. Four flights out of Ottawa are ridiculous and going around Christmas time even Syracuse was reasonably expensive. We would rent a car and that would also be costly at that time of year. Plus, I really like to buy anything I want within reason and be able to take it home. We use the shrinking plastic bags (not the ones that need a vaccuum) and the large suitcase must weight 75 or more pounds.

We have stopped on several trips due to bad weather/roads but usually try to get to Weldon NC which is just at the Virginia border. The Days Inn there is very clean, has a good breakfast and inexpensive. The franchise owner is very involved and operates a good motel.

We also have a roof rack and have had to use it coming home.(shopping)

We drive 81-66-17-95-4. I also enjoy the drive. Not coming home so much but definately going down.

Linda

 

[Disney-Chick]

I am from Nova Scotia and we drive it every year. Minus the first year. We ended up spending $2500 for 3 of us to fly. Long story because we didn't originally book for that price.

We just did the drive in Dec/Jan and we spent $600 both ways on gas. We drive a 2008 Jeep Patriot. My daughter flew this time with my family but other than that she always drives with us.

We love the freedom we have of driving. And one year we took longer and stopped in NY & Washington. My next stop I want to visit the Cake Boss in Jersey!!! Maybe our Dec trip.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We've also done the drive a few times. We are in Oakville and leave home around 3am and drive until approx 9pm...that gets us roughly to Savannah, GA. We pack our breakfast and lunch plus all snacks and drinks. We only stop for a fastfood dinner. On our second day since we drove longer the day before we can sleep in if we want to then have breakfast and still be at WDW for lunch.

Cost wise it's about $550-$575 including....
1 night hotel each direction (approx $80 X2)
dinner each direction (approx $30 X2)
gas
tolls (approx $10)
We drive a Chev Venture and we are mom, dad, 20yo DD and 11yo DD. It is more cost effective if you have at least 4 people in the car.

The year that gas was $4.10/gallon it cost us over $700.

We actually prefer to fly. I guess we are lucky that we live within 90 minutes of BUF and travel at times that we are able to get cheap flights. Last year the 4 of us flew non-stop for $575. At that price it makes no sense in terms of time and abuse to my van to drive. This year we will be flying as it's only 3 of us going and for sure we will be able to get airfare for at the most the cost of a road trip.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

Coffee every 1 hour for me .... and a pee break .... I know, I slow the family down!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Coffee every 1 hour for me .... and a pee break .... I know, I slow the family down!

You must be related to my DH...not every hour but about every 2. We threaten him with a package of Depends and he does a little better.

 

[rodeo65]

Another option you could consider (I say this because we are considering this for the next trip) is the Auto Train out of Lorton, VA to Sanford, FL which is about 45 minutes to an hour outside of Orlando. I like the idea of loading our van with whatever we need (we stay in a villa so like to bring various supplies from home) and driving for about 9 or 10 hours, loading it onto the train and then having a relaxing train ride with the ability to get up and stretch and walk around whenever we want. Also to arrive (I assume) fairly relaxed, while also saving the wear and tear on the van.

I priced it and for our family of four return tickets were $902.30 with AAA rate. That is for coach seats plus the van...meals are included. I thought I'd price it for a regular sized vehicle (I calculated the van as oversize) and strangely it was going to be $959.30 with the same discounts.

I've been looking into it as a good option because I have not been able to convert Mr. Disney McScrooge in the three trips we've taken. He actually thinks that he's been there and seen it all. So, I think rather than me doing the entire drive alone with the kids this is a good option. I can do a 10 hr run myself with little trouble. Dropping DH takes the cost to $768.20. I have to price both ways since as soon as I book he'll decide he can't let me do it all alone - he'll come and "help" me with his "What - into the parks AGAIN?" attitude. I haven't been able to convince him that he doesn't have to drag himself to the parks every time we go if he would rather relax by the pool.

DH - can't live with him, can't go to Disney without him.

 

[Ken_Breadbox]

A 2003 Toyota Echo got us from Waterloo to WDW and back for less than $250 in gas. We also stayed at Drury Inns--great value there, since supper as well as breakfast is included in the cost of the room. (You also get three free alcoholic drinks, all the popcorn and pop you can handle, and free long distance to Canada. The beds aren't to our liking, but that's a minor quibble.
If you have more than one driver, of course, you can just power right through. I've even heard of solo drivers doing it, though I wouldn't recommend that...there's a reason truckers are required to be off the road ten hours out of every 24. Then again, if you like carbonated cough syrup, there's always Red Bull...

 

[peigirl]

Disney Chick - We are planning on stopping into Carlos Bakery too to see if we can catch a glimpse of the Cake Boss or some of his staff! We hope to be there December 17th

Paula

 

[Disney-Chick]

Disney Chick - We are planning on stopping into Carlos Bakery too to see if we can catch a glimpse of the Cake Boss or some of his staff! We hope to be there December 17th

Paula

We go in Dec. as well and I hope DH puts it in our plans to stop by. I watched the show last night so I mentioned it then. It was so busy at the shop that you have to take numbers. I want to go and buy a lobster tail!!! Or anything. I would love to meet Buddy.

 

[JustTJ]

I'm from Ottawa, and we've driven down for our last two trips. Our most recent one, this past fall, I remember each time we filled the van cost us exactly $63 USD (pretty much from empty). Now of course we had a full tank of gas when we left home, and here, it cost us just over $100.00 CAD to fill. We drive a Full Size Ford Freestar Van. In the US, we filled up 3 times there and 3 times back. We stopped for an overnight once each way, and it only cost us around $70.00 each time for the hotel. We used the Room Saver Coupons in the Coupon book you can get at the welcome centres of each state you enter. Food, we packed healthy snacks and bought fruit once we were on the U.S side of the border. For meals, we stopped only for dinner and did fast food.
We travelled as a family of 4 this last trip, and the one the previous fall we took our older two teens as well, so were a family of 6 for that one. In those cases, driving, even considering the mileage on the van, was more economical for us, when we compared it to flight tickets that would be about $600.00 per person Return.

This fall however, I'm taking my youngest child with me on a MOMMY AND ME Trip. I can't and won't drive that distance myself. I have looked at flying out of Syracuse, but so far flight tickets for there plus lodging, and food for the night before, brings me within $100.00 of getting two plane tickets out of Ottawa return. So for the conveince, I think I'll be flying out of Ottawa. I am watching Allegiant though, waiting for their Sept dates to open, and see if they have some amazing deals for my dates. I'd even looked into taking the train from Syracuse, and that will cost as much as flying out of Ottawa.

 

[TagsMissy]

Do you really want to know how much it would cost from BC... Canada is a vast country....