Decided to drive to WDW

[smorkovsky]

Because it will save us about $1000 versus flying. Who can argue with that, even on a trip with three kids that will take 17 hours? It's $1000!! I just can't make any argument that justifies that much money.

 

[ssawka]

Because it will save us about $1000 versus flying. Who can argue with that, even on a trip with three kids that will take 17 hours? It's $1000!! I just can't make any argument that justifies that much money.

That's taking into account all the driving costs? Gas, tolls, wear-n-tear, etc.?

If you really want to see the price difference, try http://www.befrugal.com/tools/fly-or-drive-calculator/.

 

[dpswift]

We have driven 21 hours on several occasions with kids. Our kids ride well and when you consider the cost of airfare over school breaks it was drive or not go. Lately we have been driving strait through to Orlando but have stopped halfway when coming back from the west coast which is a little farther.

We bring sandwitches to eat for dinner which is our first meal then the kids fall asleep.

For big families flying is not always an option.

 

[pigletto]

We've considered it as well. I think the major factors that deter us at this point are the size of our vehicle (small) and time. However once we buy a much larger vehicle (soon) it will be back on the table again. It's getting more and more expensive to fly. The drive would take us about 22 hours. Our neighbours do it all the time. Do they love it? No. But to be honest.. I can barely tolerate flying anyway. It would just have to be a longish vacation so I didn't feel I was cutting into my trip too much. Maybe 11 or 12 days?
I say do it once and see what you think. For $1000 dollars I would. My vacation account isn't getting any bigger and I'd rather spend an extra thousand to cover the resort I want and eating where I want than on airfare at this point.

 

[Chelley00]

We always drive to WDW and it's 17 hours for us too. It's much cheaper, even figuring in gas, maintenance, hotel, food etc. My kids are great travelers and we drove to 13 hours to South Carolina and 4 weeks later 15 to Texas this summer without a problem.

You just have to decide, would you rather spend $1,000 extra flying or spend $1,000 on something else (staying longer, special event, upgraded meal plan etc) Everyone has different priorities and you have to figure out yours.

 

[TinkPirateMom]

We drove from NJ to WDW last year with our 2 kids (teenager and a toddler). I was super nervous but everything worked out great and now we plan on doing the drive again in 2014.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Wanna say it was 19-20 hours for us (split over 2 days). Wouldn't even consider flying to be honest.

 

[stsomewhere]

We always drive. 18 hours.

 

[rock_doctor]

It is an 18hr run for us and we do it twice a year. Do it once and see how you make out. If you are a person who can relax when driving then you probably will have fun. Go for it. Join AAA or add towing to your auto insurance.

Have you looked into the autotrain? It is super expensive but you get your car when there and get to watch the country side crank by...

 

[Nana2Callie]

We drive 17 hours and just consider it part of our trip - it is a huge savings for us when we all go. Last year only 3 went and the cost would have been about the same, but we still chose to drive - it has become part of our WDW experience.

 

[smorkovsky]

See? You guys are all probably driving further than us, and we drive 7 hours just to stay a weekend at my parents. 17 hours for a week at Disney ought not to be horrible! My kids are good travelers. And we will definitely spend the night once on the way there and on the way back. Even with two hotel stays....$1000!! We are thinking of staying somewhere great in Pensecola on the way there and getting our first ever look at sugar sand beaches

 

[bradisgoofy]

For many years we drove 22 plus hours ( over two days ) to Florida to visit my parents for two weeks. Now that the kids are grown and married and my parents are gone, we want every minute of WDW time we can get. Flying gets us almost 4 extra days at WDW and makes the airfare well worth the cost. Plus we now go twice a year.

 

[minniebeth]

We fly in the winter because of time constraints and weather, but we usually do one summer trip and usually drive. It's 18 hours for us. Very long, but it is worth the savings. We try to break it up with an overnight, but not always. We use points for hotels, pack all our meals, drinks and snacks. We definitely save money doing it this way. Lots of family bonding!

 

[Pembo]

Usually drive with 3 kids. Part of the fun of WDW is the drive imho. Can't say I like the drive home however.

 

[smorkovsky]

Wanna say it was 19-20 hours for us (split over 2 days). Wouldn't even consider flying to be honest.

This blows my mind, and makes me more confident! West Texans (born and raised) think if you are leaving Texas you need to be on an airplane...unless you are going to Mexico, then you can drive

 

[luvmy3]

Because it will save us about $1000 versus flying. Who can argue with that, even on a trip with three kids that will take 17 hours? It's $1000!! I just can't make any argument that justifies that much money.

Me, I could argue with that. Saving my sanity is worth spending $1000

Obviously we are all different and if you can do that long of a car ride and save that kind of money, its great.

 

[smorkovsky]

My sanity is valuable, but not to the tune of $1000.

 

[ICF]

We've driven down 4 times from Indianapolis and it's just a little less than your 17 hours.

The trips are usually fun and we take 2 days to drive down, arriving @ our condo/townhouse usually around 2/3pm on the 2nd day.

 

[DocWes]

We decided to fly this year, it will cost us more but are thoughts were this:

Our drive is 22 hours...if we drive straight through the first two days are a blur..we would be so exhausted, that it would take away from the fun. Plus I would have needed to use at least 2 more vacation days.

 

[crisi]

Its 24 hours for us to drive, and vacation time is a valuable commodity in our house. Thats two days of vacation time - worth far more than $1000.