Do You Drive To Disney?

[Snowysmom]

We drove from Mass for the first time this past summer. We had a great trip! The DVD and video game players really helped. We will definately drive on the next trip, which is unfortunately in 3 years!

 

[shortbun]

We drove last December for the first time. It took way too long
-traffic was intense the day after Christmas! DH said he didn't
mind the drive, I hated it. It took us 18 hours. I did like having
our own vehicle there though and we did save a ton of money.
Next trip is just a weekender so we'll fly.
mimi

 

[Mermaid02]

I wish we could drive (although at these gas prices it could be as expensive as flying! ) But my husband and I can't drive across town without arguing.

 

[phorsenuf]

We always drive! 5 plane tickets would eat up most of my vacation budget. Our last trip was 23 hours. We drive straight thru. My DH and I switch drivers everytime we stop to fill up the gas tank. Thats about every 4 1/2 - 5 hours. We love the trips, to us that's half the fun! We always stop at Shoneys for breakfast (usually in NC/SC border area. Some of the stops have become our little traditions. Wouldn't do it any other way! LOL

 

[skiwee1]

It always costs us more to drive then fly but we still love it. Now with gas prices the way they are it would have been MUCH cheaper to fly! As far as cutting into vacation time driving, it doesn't have to. We always decide up front how long we want to stay at WDW. Then we add the days needed for traveling. So we never go less just because we drive. We have APs and can stay as long as we want really but know our limits. We generally stay at the Poly 10-12 days at a time. We then take an additional 3-4 days traveling. It makes for a great trip. Can't wait to start the next one in less then two weeks!

 

[DSNY FN]

Nancy we drive the I75 all the way down and my dad and I just drove only stopping at service centres for fueal and food one of us would pump the gas while the other was getting the food we also had the electric cooler with us so it made for even less stops. We packed alot of food for the trip so we just ate out of the cooler and it also cut down on the cost. My dad was doing the driving he drives truck so he just didn't stop and let me drive. It was a great trip down very relaxing and so glad to not have to make 20 different stops for the washroom and food etc.

 

[Kristi1357]

We drove down from NH in January. The ride down was straight through (with a 6 mo. old ) - took about 26 hours with a 2 hour rest area nap stop. They way home we did stop overnight though.

I like driving, IF you have the time. I enjoy having our own vehicle while at WDW rather than a rental. And usually driving saves lots of $$$.

 

[Nancy]

DSNY FN...last trip we drove to washington DC and then took 95 all the way down...I think going to DC added time to the trip. We have a Triptick from AAA this time and they have us on 75 for some of the trip. I think we head over to 95 in S Carolina. It does look like a shorter route. I hope so!

i also like to drive. When we were kids we drove to Florida almost every year. My Dad did the trip in 3 days...2 overnight stops. Drving brings back memories for me.

 

[Towncrier]

Some of the stops have become our little traditions.

That's one of the things that makes our annual drive to WDW fun. For several years we stopped at the same motel in Walterboro SC. Now we try to make it a little farther and discovered a favorite place to eat in Hardeeville, The Cripple Crab. We always stop in Marietta OH for breakfast at Burger King. And if we keep on schedule, it's lunch at Chik-Fil-A in Mooresville NC.

Ahhh. Traditions.

 

[Desnik]

We drive every year!! 7 times so far!! We have been going since our honeymoon. DD has been since she was 9mo, DS 8mo! You have to be super organized and a good planner driving with an infant!LOL
DH won't fly. It takes us 18 hours and we love it!!

 

[pygmymom]

This has been a great informative thread! We are driving for the first time after four years of flying. Five airfares out of Minneapolis add way too much money for a surprise budget trip! We did just buy a new roomier vehicle (instead of my Escort wagon) so that should help. I know it's going to be a long way, but we're going to see parts of the country we haven't before, and it's going to save me about $1000 over flying!

Plus, the "Princess", DD 14, can bring a larger selection of things she "can't live without".

 

[shopgirl72]

We drive, stopping for gas, and occasional rest stops! Stop at least every 3 hours for a few minutes! It takes approximately 16 hours straight through!! TV, VCR, and nintendos great inventions, for a car!!

Shopgirl

 

[BarryHom]

I do, since it's only a 4 hour drive for me.

 

[Planogirl]

We've driven twice, once with DH from Houston and once from Dallas with only me driving. It was hard by myself!

We'll be driving again this year and I'm not really looking forward to it. I dislike flying though and can't justify the time and money this time.

We're driving from north of Dallas to St Augustine in two days. Then we'll spend two days to drive back from Orlando to home.

 

[kadaten]

Yep! Too cheap to fly and my son is that kid you always pray won't be on your flight You can thank me later!!

It's 11 hours door to door if we're going by ourselves...only stop for gas and food at the drive-through.

More like 13 with the kids, what with the diaper changes, getting out to stretch their legs, going in to eat (20-month-old doesn't eat meals in the car yet), finding a playground to burn off some energy before nap/sleep time....

Anyone on the verge of inventing a transporter yet? Any chance it'll be done by the time I leave? See my counter!?!


Edited to add: and driving lets me bring things like the refrigerator for our room so we don't have to pay $10/day for one!! Plus a selection of favorite toys for the kids (for down time in the room)....coats just in case it gets cold....and everything else I remember at the last minute!!

 

[C.Ann]

I would like to - but only if I had an extended period of time to do so and didn't have to rush..

Oh - and it would have to be in nice weather (spring or fall) because I would be nervous about getting caught in snow or icy weather in a strange area and I would never go to Disney in the summer because I couldn't deal with the heat and humidity..

 

[Nutsy]

Gee, I wonder how long that would take, if it were possible

 

[barbeml]

I'm surprised that so many are saying flying is cheaper than driving. What are you driving? We drive down from central NJ in my Chevy Cavalier and do it on less than three tanks of gas, or about $63 at today's prices. Add the return trip and that is $126. No way could I get two round-trip air tickets to Orlando plus Mears shuttle transfers for $126.

When we flew, we always stayed at Philly Airport Hilton the night before so that we could get the first flight out next morning, so there was another $200 for the room and a meal, more than we spend for our two nights on the road (one down one back) at Hampton Inn. Plus, we love having wheels of our own at WDW, and driving saves us rental car costs.

Oh well, different strokes...as long as we all get to WDW safely and as often as we possibly can!

 

[Nancy]

I also like the fact that we are not limited to what can come along. We bring our own pillows, the cooler stocked with food and drinks, the girls can bring more stuff then they could if we were on a plane. And I really can't justify paying for 5 airfares...I'd rather have that money to spend while down there.

 

[helenabear]

Originally posted by barbeml
I'm surprised that so many are saying flying is cheaper than driving. What are you driving? We drive down from central NJ in my Chevy Cavalier and do it on less than three tanks of gas, or about $63 at today's prices. Add the return trip and that is $126. No way could I get two round-trip air tickets to Orlando plus Mears shuttle transfers for $126.

I drive a Honda Civic Si and with today's gas prices it would be about $135 r/t. One thing I am not sure you add in is wear and tear on your car (some average it between 2-10 cents a mile and considering I put 8K miles/year on my car, 2K is A LOT in the scheme of things) and I would need to add in a hotel stay as I cannot drive 16 hours straight. Adding this all in, 2 r/t tickets are about the same cost and definitely 1 ticket is far cheaper by a long shot.

You are right, different strokes but if I save money and get there quicker, I will keep on flying