Do Most of You Fly to WDW?

[1LuckyMom]

I'm from Chicago too. We have never driven down. Lucky for us DH flies often for work, so we can usually count on 1-2 free tickets (5 in the family). Now that we have recently bought DVC I'm toying with the idea of driving. I just have a hard time using almost 2 days to get there. Although it will be nice to bring more stuff down espcially since we will be at our "home". We are flying our next trip (booked before we bought BLT), so I guess I have a while to figure it out.

 

[mooneyda]

I am about 90 miles north of chicago I always flown in fact my brother was the only one to drive down and he can not do right now with a 3 year old . I love getting there in 2 1/2 hours

 

[DeeCee735]

Now that we are DVC members, we will be going to WDW about twice a year.
We have always driven from Chicago to WDW and actually everywhere else we have vacationed because I am afraid to fly.
This last trip really had me rethinking my fear. The cost of gas was outrageous. Then we stopped for the night on the way back. In all it took us two days to drive home while our friends who stayed with us at AKV left at the same time we did and arrived home two and a half hours later.
I only flew once in my life. It wasn't a bad experience but I am still terrified of flying. I was thinking of flying next time because the travel is killing me as I get "older".
Can anyone put my mind at ease about my very unrational fear?
I can take an ambien or a lunesta before I board and sleep like a baby all the way there or I can take Xanax, for which I already have a prescription.
The other problem is, I have no idea how to book a flight, what the current rules for packing are, or anything else regarding an airport and I.D.s etc.
I know I probably sound like I am from the dark ages.
Thanks for the help!

My DH will not fly either. We visited WDW in 96, 98 and again in 2000 and drove for all of the trips. We bought DVC in 2000 and have driven down with every family trip. It's a major problem for my whole family because my DH will only take one week off, so we have to leave VERY early Saturday morning, do a sleep over Saturday night (in FLA), and arrive on Sunday to our DVC resort. Then on the way home, we have to leave Saturday morning and not get home til Sunday. It's a hassle to take at least 3 extra days off from work (for him, he works weekends too), just to get there and back.

That being said.....I go down at least once a year besides the family trip - with a friend and we always fly. I flew last weekend, flight was fine, I flew to and from Vegas in August - that's a 5 hour flight - that was fine. I flew twice last year, and every year before for my girl friend weekend long trip.

So.....now we have two kids in college, they are only home at the same time during the winter/holiday break. Therefore we can only go as a family in January. My daughter is a resident assistant in her college and has to work during the Christmas week and the week after new years (a couple of days each week). So we only have the second week. Both my kids have to go back to campus by the 18th of January - thereby we do not have the time to drive home without it being too much of a "crunch" for the kids. So this time around MY HUSBAND AGREED TO FLY! WOO HOO!
We bought our plane tickets in early September.

I think he has seen me fly there and back comfortably and safely so many times, he's willing to give it a try. It's only a 2 1/2 hour trip. Each time I fly I'm a little more wary of it, but it's a quick trip.

To try and alleviate your fears, remember that once you get on the plane (we usually fly Jetblue), you'll meet the captain and co-pilot, as they are there greeting everyone boarding. You'll see and talk to the flight attendants who are friendly and relaxed. Turn on the tv, plug in your headphones and before you know it, you are landing.

That being said, we are flying out of JFK in January on a 6 a.m. flight. I'm more nervous than I want to show my DH, I don't want to make him more nervous than he already is. but I'm more nervous about flight delays and lousy weather than I am about being in the air.

Remember, control is just an illusion. Try to relax and enjoy the ride!

 

[wulfekamp]

We drove once. My wife who posts on here a lot was five months pregnant It was a horror show. We fly now and its 1 hour 45 min and we are there.

 

[spiceycat]

don't like to fly - especially after the last time - won't be flying again anytime soon.

got a new car might as well use it.

although SW is pretty reasonable to fly and with DME you can get to the resort pretty fast.

timed it before and with getting luggage then getting a rental car - make it to the resort about 15 minutes less than driving it.

dme cut that out - so now it can be 2 hours less.

still really like my own car there.

driving it 9 hours (sometimes less)

flying - 2 hours before, then 2 1/2 hours to fly, then around 2 hours (lately 1 1/2) to get from the airport to the resort.

so 6 1/2 vs 9 - and I prefer 9 hours....

 

[spiceycat]

We are in the same boat.

2 1/2 hours to get to Atlanta
2 hours at the airport
1 1/2 hour flight
1 hour from landing to check-in.

7 hours to fly IF everything goes well or a 10 hour drive.

After years of trying Dh finally got me to fly for our last trip. Because of connections and high fares, it doesn't make sense to fly out of Montgomery. Anyway, we scheduled a 6 am flight out of Atlanta and stayed at an airport hotel the night before. We drove to Atlanta in the late-afternoon, had a good meal, and checked-in to our hotel to try to get some sleep. (I tend to go to bed late so this was a huge problem for me.) After 2 hours sleep, the wake up call came at 3am, (2am central time). We were up and out of the hotel at 3:30 a.m. Yada yada we were checked in at Boardwalk and in Epcot by 11am.

The good - we didn't have that sore feeling that we have when we drive. We were sleepy, but not tired. It really did make a better trip.

The bad - I kept wondering...isn't this same as driving to Tallahassee and then getting up at 3:30 in the morning and driving to Disney? What's the difference? Why can I get dh to leave at 3:30 for a flight but not for a drive? Flying still seems so impractical to me.

For our next trip I want to either...take an evening flight out of Birmingham and get to my hotel between 9pm and midnight OR drive to Tallahassee and get up at 3:30 and drive the rest of the way down.

you could also try this way - that I am doing next time

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Bir...30&2y=US&2l=28.339202&2g=-81.57091&2v=ADDRESS

you would miss the first hour or so - just get on 280 - or just get on I85 and follow the directions.

 

[mel&me]

We have always driven from Chicago to WDW and actually everywhere else we have vacationed because I am afraid to fly.

I have never cared much for flying. Drove only once to FL. Live in Buffalo NY area. I will never drive that far again unless I am taking a couple days to do so.

This last trip really had me rethinking my fear. The cost of gas was outrageous.

We just came back a couple weeks ago. Round trip direct tickets were $158 ea. less that cost of gas.

Then we stopped for the night on the way back. In all it took us two days to drive home

I would Rather spend my time at Disney instead of driving. 2 1/2 hr flight each way or 20 hrs straight driving. then you need a half day to recover then same going home. lose at a minimum 2 to 3 days of vacation time.

I can take an ambien or a lunesta before I board and sleep like a baby all the way there or I can take Xanax, for which I already have a prescription.

I don't take anything but stay up late, End up sleeping the entire trip.
I have become more comfortable with flying but still don't care much for it.

The other problem is, I have no idea how to book a flight, what the current rules for packing are, or anything else regarding an airport and I.D.s etc. I know I probably sound like I am from the dark ages.
Thanks for the help!

Booking is easy, many online sites or book directly from airline. As for packing.
There is a good packing list that you can get online. I had found it thru one of the threads on the Dis

 

[TheTazDev]

I"m pretty sure if we lived 10 hours or closer to WDW we'd drive. But for people who live 20 hours away and require a 2 days drive (kids can't handle straight through---turns them into monsters... ), flying works so much better.

I guess I guage the "cost" or "savings" a little differently than alot of people. I see all the miles put on my car and wear and tear as a "cost" to me. I see the extra vacation days wasted on the highway as an extra "cost" to me as well.

One year we drove, we ran into car troubles. Our van, at that time, was only 5-6 years old with less than 70K miles on it. We serviced it regularily. About half way through the drive the "check engine" light comes on. Then the AC stops working (I will add it is mid August). Make it to Orlando....van running a little rough. We lost 2-3 days with me running around to Auto Zones and calling mechanics. I was able to get the AC working a little bit better by buying ac coolant at a Orlando Auto Zone. The engine light still stayed on and the van still ran a tad rough. We had to cancel visiting with relatives in FL because we were afraid to push the van. Very disappointing to us all. So the "cost" of driving that year was very "costly" to us. The stress of not even knowing if we'd make it the 1,000 miles back home (we did thankfully), the lost hours of running around......

So anyway......driving may cost less than flying at first glance, but some people like me, take into account the cost of lost vacation days (I work hard to earn these and would prefer to spend them in the parks, not on the road) and the 2,000+ extra miles put on our car as not much of a value. And we have gotten stuck in traffic congestion that caused us to lose a couple hours as well.

So it's all relative.........there's definitely pros and cons to both sides......and someone who lives in the south (like say SC/GA etc) might see driving from a totally different perspective of someone living in NY or MA etc.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

you could also try this way - that I am doing next time

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Bir...30&2y=US&2l=28.339202&2g=-81.57091&2v=ADDRESS

you would miss the first hour or so - just get on 280 - or just get on I85 and follow the directions.

Thanks Spicey!

I've thought about the Ga. route on several occassions, but am still not convinced its better for us from Montgomery. My sis who lives north of Birmingham took the 280 route in July and decided to come back on I10-231. We could also turn at Dothan and go into Georgia.

We kind of go that way when we go to Savannah/Hilton Head.

 

[spiceycat]

Thanks Spicey!

I've thought about the Ga. route on several occassions, but am still not convinced its better for us from Montgomery. My sis who lives north of Birmingham took the 280 route in July and decided to come back on I10-231. We could also turn at Dothan and go into Georgia.

We kind of go that way when we go to Savannah/Hilton Head.

well for years went 231 (especially with mother - the extra restrooms were a must) - but won't be going anymore (nursing home) and I ready to try something new.

going in the middle of night like to leave around 11pm - lots of the traffic lights are off by the time we get to several of the places - so that helps too.

try going I 20 to I285 to I75 in Atlanta once - boy I drive over there to visit my brother - but sometimes forget how much traffic that place has - especially further down I75 when it goes to only 3 lanes on each side. it is just too much traffic for me to enjoy. those two small towns when it goes to 2 lanes on each side - is just dangerous.

although remember - Ala now gives our tickets like GA use too.

 

[M-I-C-K-E-Y]

Now that we are DVC members, we will be going to WDW about twice a year.
We have always driven from Chicago to WDW and actually everywhere else we have vacationed because I am afraid to fly.
This last trip really had me rethinking my fear. The cost of gas was outrageous. Then we stopped for the night on the way back. In all it took us two days to drive home while our friends who stayed with us at AKV left at the same time we did and arrived home two and a half hours later.
I only flew once in my life. It wasn't a bad experience but I am still terrified of flying. I was thinking of flying next time because the travel is killing me as I get "older".
Can anyone put my mind at ease about my very unrational fear?
I can take an ambien or a lunesta before I board and sleep like a baby all the way there or I can take Xanax, for which I already have a prescription.
The other problem is, I have no idea how to book a flight, what the current rules for packing are, or anything else regarding an airport and I.D.s etc.
I know I probably sound like I am from the dark ages.
Thanks for the help!

We also live in the Chicago area and have regularly flown Southwest Airlines. They have great deals out of Midway (check TU-TH) and quite often the attendants make it a fun flight (on our last return flight one of the attendants sang a custom version of "When You Wish Upon A Star," based on or returning home to Chicago).

As for the fear of flying, I cannot help with that, other than saying that it does fade over time (in many instances) like many other things. I find it less stressful as the years pass...

 

[aDVCguy]

Flying there...absolutley!

Walking takes too long!

 

[photobob]

We are 550 miles away and always drive. Our personal record is 8 hours and 15 minutes with minimal stopping and eating drive through on the road.

 

[richard871261]

Flying is no problem. After all, flying is the safest way to go statistically. Have you read the statistics on the number of car crashes out there on the roads? Also, the airlines are offering some great fares if you know how to shop. I love to fly Southwest because they have a big operation at MCO (Orlando Intl.), and there are no hidden fees for bags, beverages, etc. like other airlines.

n.b. the best time to shop for an airfare is during Tuesday-Thursday between 10AM and 4PM eastern time (I have found). The airlines lower their fares during this time period to catch the more price-sensitive travelers.

 

[musical2]

We are from Maryland. We started out flying down the first few times. Then we drove down twice. The past few times we have taken the Auto Train down. When we go next August, we are going to take the Auto Train again. My DDs like it, and we get to have our minivan with us and can pack it with everything we need for a 2 week trip.

 

[Tumblwd501]

Another fellow Chicago-area Disney lover here! There's already been a lot of good advice given by the PPs in this thread, so need to re-hash that! But I will also add that if you do check fares online at "catch-all" travel websites like Expedia or Travelocity, you should know that airlines like Jetblue or Southwest are not going to be included on those websites. So you need to check those particular airline's websites individually. If you don't really feel comfortable using the web to pick a good flight for yourself, then I would suggest calling up or visiting a local Travel Agency to help you.

FWIW, we also generally fly out of Midway and use Southwest when going to Orlando because they're generally cheaper. Although, for our upcoming trip in February, it looks like AirTran might be cheaper than SW by a $100.

 

[Chellymouse]

We live in NE Ohio and I've NEVER driven to Fla. Put me on a plane any day! If you have xanax, take it about 40 minutes before take off. If you know it makes you drowsy, take a half!

 

[taurus8012]

I'd rather fly then drive...its safer, faster and my time is too valuable to waste in a car for 20+ hours. If the drive is more then 4 hours, I fly it.

Do you fly out of Syracuse is more cheaper to drive to another airport

 

[figment795]

DH and I have no choice but to fly to Orlando. We live in Oregon and enjoy WDW. Disneyland is a 13 hr drive from our house and a 7 hr flight from Portland to Orlando.

 

[bonrea]

I guess for a while we are blessed. We have grandpa’ in Daytona and cousins in New Smyrna Beach. We drive from Charlotte, NC leaving out around 7:00pm on the Friday before we are to be in The World. We always book Sunday through Thursday nights. We uses less points and we have just as much fun. We arrive at grandpa’s house around 1:30am with our usual stops; one for gas, one for supper, one for potty at the Florida visitor center. It is an 8+ hour drive but DW and DD have figured it out; it takes 4 Disney movies to get to grandpa’s house with a nap mixed in it is faster. Then we get up early on Sunday morning and take the 76 mile trip to The World from Daytona and spend the day at DTD.

I used to do cross country driving so it is no bother for me to drive the whole trip. Thank you Disney Transportation! I don't have to drive while at The World.

When the DD leaves the nest we will fly.