Do you fly or drive?

[Caskbill]

We drive the 950 miles from our home. Reasons are simple:

1. Retired, so time is not an issue.

2. When we go, we'll stay in Florida for anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks before we come home. (Not all at DVC though )

3. From home in south-central Indiana, we stop for the night a little more than halfway there (that's in Macon GA) and get a good nights sleep and a nice breakfast in the morning. This then gets us to DVC right about 4:00 pm check-in time.

4. Just the 2 of us. Kids are grown and out of the house.

5. By driving we automatically have a car. No rental car required. Plus no airfare.

6. I still have quite a few FF miles left over from when I was working. We save those for longer trips. (Just got back from 26 days in Hawaii )

7. On the return trip home we'll take our time and see things along the way. We've taken as little as 2-days to get back, and as much as 10-days stopping and seeing things on the way. Places like HH (more Disney), Atlanta, Gatlingburg, etc. (Always make the trip down directly though, can't wait to get to Disney... )

 

[FriendsOfEeyore]

For our first trip home in Feb 2004, we are going to drive. It is myself, my dw, and our ds (will be 23 mo at that time). I have a business meeting in Nashville on Saturday the 7th, and we are planning on checking into BCV on Sunday (for 7 nights). I have not worked out all the details, but I think that we should be able to do it. Besides, the firm will reimburse for the mileage to Nashville and back (which is about 1/2 way).

I think that my estimate showed that it will take about 30 hours of drive time, including stops, but broken into two segments of about 900 miles and 700 miles.

My dw does not enjoy flying much (and we are both are larger size). We have usually used my frequent flyer miles to upgrade to first class, but with my son the last time we got some nasty looks.

I think that it will be a great experience to try once and see if we like it.

Edward

 

[Lesley]

I don't think we'd even consider flying now...because the drive is only 6-7 hours and it would cost us an arm and a leg for 4 plane tickets! (5 after next March!)

But we moved from Pennsylvania in May....where the drive took us anywhere from 17-20 hours (depending on the kids' temperaments and traffic). We had decided we liked driving overnight best....the kids slept through most of it, I'm a night owl and can handle the late/early shift of driving, and there's no bad traffic. We considered flying....but the airline tickets always seemed to come out a few hundred dollars more than the drive (even with hotel stops...) and we like having our own car. If we didn't have to watch our budget at all, sure we would have flown and rented a car...but we really could not have afforded to do that as often as we wanted to go. My dh had some flexibility with his work....so he'd take a few extra days off from building up hours in advance. And with our car we were free to extend our stay if we chose to.... But part of the reason we love living further south is that we have cut down the length of the drive. Driving home was really the worst part....and my dh would threaten to drive back to WDW the whole time!

At this point we figure with the amount of time it takes to check in at the airport and wait for your flight (nevermind the hour drive to Charlotte in order to do this)....its not worth paying more to fly. Especially from SC, there's not that much of a time difference if we figure out how long it would take to go from our front door to the valet parking at BWV.

 

[bethsg]

We live in Forest Hill, MD and we always fly for a variety of reasons. It's probably a 15-16 hour drive, and I think it's unsafe to drive it in one straight shot. Usually both dh and I are tired before a vacation from pushing so hard at work, and around the house to get stuff done before we start off our vacation we are a bit tired. So, I started doing the math. We are talking about $250 - -$300 in gas. We have 4 children so for the most part you are talking 2 hotel rooms, on the drive down and back. They are teen agers and sleeping on the floor and sharing one bathroom isn't an option. So you are talking about $250 for 2 hotel rooms, for 2 nights driving down and back. Then you have to think about the cost of eating out, at least 2 meals each day of driving. I can hold out and usually get Southwest Flights for $140 pp from BWI, and then get TIffany Town car. I don't want to spend my vacation driving, I drive 70 miles RT to work each day.

 

[slp87]

We fly. There are 3 of us, but due to the conflict of my DH's and my work schedules, spring break (March) is the only available time we can both be off for an extended time. I'm not sure how long the drive would take, but I'm sure it would take at least 2 days each way off our trip.

Growing up my family of 4 lived in the Houston area. We drove our first couple of trips, but then started flying. As my DB and I got older we all decided we wanted to drive one more time. I was about 14 and he was 12. By the time we arrived in Orlando, we were all ready to harm each other!! We are a very tall family and just weren't made for auto travel any longer!! We look back now and laugh at how awful it was.

 

[poohj80]

We usually drive the 10 hours - we have it down to a science. We'll leave after work and make it about half way and find a room for the night. The next day, we always arrive in time to check in and have lunch at the Brown Derby. We used to fly more times than not, but with all the added hassles of getting to the airport early and going through all the security measures, it's just so much easier to drive now. The only thing that may make us change our mind is if airfares drop to the point that it makes no sense to drive.

We also have a portable DVD player and XM radio which REALLY helps the time go by even for us adults.

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

We always drive. We're in Annapolis, MD and it takes us around 14 hours. We leave around 5pm and drive straight through. There are 5 of us and the cost of 5 airline tickets would really put a dent in our vacation budget. I budget around $175 for gas and that's high, we don't usually spend that much. We have a caravan, so everybody has enough room.

Before we started driving straight through, we would stay in Savannah at a Hampton Inn. Even that way it was still cheaper than flying.

And it's nice to have a car when you're there. Especially for those trips to DTD. I would hate to get on the bus with all those bags.

 

[SimplyMagical]

We always fly. We are about 22 to 24 hours from WDW. Although there are five of us traveling, we always try and get direct flights - Southwest from Albany - at their lowest fares - not always easy. Just got $200 roundtrip pp for President's week in February. We don't like long drives (just took my dd to visit Cornell University yesterday, only three hours each way, and the kids were complaining about that!!) - and it would mean more time off of work for both of us. Nothing like spending the day in Magic Kingdom and sleeping in your own bed that night!!

 

[WDWDaisy]

We ,DW & DD drive, and before DD we were back into the driveing mode. It is about 20 to 23 hours depending on the number of stops for bathroom breaks. We have found leaving right after work on Friday by 6PM we get to WDW around 4 - 5 the next day. This is with around a 2 hour nap in a rest stop in TN or GA. This works out great when you are going for 2 weeks. Having the car to get stuff from Publix is nice and the prices are a little cheeper then the stores at WDW. Plus all the stuff you need to bring with a little one would be hard to get to the airport with only 2 people, opps me, carrying, someone has to carry the DD.

 

[SOBDOSNV]

Not much choice for us. 2800 miles, we fly. We'd spend our vacation driving, get there, go woo-hoo, and turn around and go home.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We're in the Philly area. Our party of 6 finds it much cheaper to drive. We have a conversion van with TV and all, so that helps. It's a 16 hour drive and we "add on" our drive times to our vacation time----it doesn't take away from it. Flying would cost the 6 of us about $1200 (plus the cost of a rental car---$300+). We need a car down there, not just for Sea World and Uni (have a teen and Uni is a must), but also to visit all of my relatives that live within 80 miles of WDW. Gas cost us $260 this last trip. So.....$1500 vs approx $300 enables us to go "home" more often. Occassionaly we fly but only if there is an awesome airfare deal. Got $700 for 5 of us in Oct '99 which I thought was terrific with Spirit air. We've gotten used to driving and don't really mind it. Sure, I'd prefer to fly, but it's just too expensive when you have a larger family.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

We are driving for the first time when we leave in November. We decided to give driving a try, because with a family of 5, and it is very difficult to find non-stop flights for under $200, the cost to fly is now at $1000 or more. Plus, I am always one who like to get into Dsiney during the early part of the day, store our luggage, and head right off to the parks. Boston has done away with early morning non-stop flights to Orlando. I think the earliest you can get a non-stop leaves Boston around 11am. that is the time I am usually arriving!

I want to give driving a try. I am actually looking forward to it. If it goes well, then we will drive all the time as a family, unless we can get free airline tickets...LOL. But, the driving saves in so many other ways besides the airfare. We on't need to pay to get transportation to and from the airport, we won't need to rent a car, or pay for transportation off of Disney property, and we can LEAVE when we want. We won't have to check-out at 6am because we have an 11AM flight booked to go home.

I hear that from Mass. a good drive will take around 22 hours. I am hoping so! That will put us in Orlando around 11 am Saturday 11/22.

 

[Merilyn]

We drove for years and it is a long drive. We made the mistake of flying one time and ever since we fly. It is so expensive now to fly all the group down, we have decided to drive again next year. We may not fill that way the closer the trips gets, but that is the plan for now. We haven't told anyone yet, though. We will make the trip in 1 day going and 2 days coming back. We hate to leave so early on the day of check out. Boy, I hate that drive back!!!

 

[DiznEeyore]

We're in Detroit, so it's roughly 21 hours to WDW. Since '98, we've driven 3x, flown 6x.

We actually didn't even consider driving 'til our trip that started 2 days after 9/11 -- couldn't get a flight out of Metro, so we drove our little Saturn down. When we came home, we immediately bought a conversion van and drove that down 3 months later (a huge improvement, LOL!). We drove one more time, the following May.

For last October's trip, we got great airfare and we all decided that flying WAY beat driving, so we're flying again in a week.

I do have to say that if driving was the only reasonably priced way to get to WDW, we'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

Originally from Michigan and four kids we drove. Now since we have moved to Wisconsin and our kids are on their own, we still take the 1200 mile trip by car and now the kids fly…. how else can you bring all those gifts for the grandkids and the two or three bushels of oranges back? Besides my wife hates to fly and she has always prevailed in that mater over our 40 years we’ve been married.

 

[DVCPAT]

Originally posted by KelNottAt
I'm curious to find out what the other long-distance members' travel habits are. How do you decide whether to fly or drive? Is it based on the size of your party? Ages of the kids? (Ours are DS11 and DD9.) Budget? Frequency of trips? Distance?

Hi neighbor, were located in Bel-air and our kids are 8 and 11. We drive down once/twice a year for a few reasons. We usually stay two weeks and visit family so it easier on our budget to drive.

Our trip starts at 11:00 PM and I’ll drive through the night. Driving through the night is not for everyone but I don’t mind it at all. The kids sleep and I make better time with less traffic. We usually pull into WDW around 3:00 PM and usually have to wait till 4:00 PM to check in.

We visited HH for the first time and it was great. HH gives us time at the beach and also located approx. midway to home (seriously thinking about an HH add-on). I see us continuing to drive until my body tells me otherwise.

 

[cheyita]

We drive from northern Illinois, mostly because I've developed a fear of flying. I still will fly when absolutely necessary (like the trip we're taking to the middle of Mexico in December). But if driving is feasible, I prefer to drive. Besides, I enjoy road trips. I like to see America - stopping at cool little places along the way. I wouldn't necessarily say it's tons cheaper, because getting a hotel room on the way down and again on the way back, plus the cost of gas all adds up. But it's a bit cheaper.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I wouldn't necessarily say it's tons cheaper, because getting a hotel room on the way down and again on the way back, plus the cost of gas all adds up. But it's a bit cheaper.

I forgot to add the hotel room cost down and back. We usually stay for about $60/night in south CA going down and in N CA on the return home. So, the $120 for hotel rooms + $260 gas is still cheaper than the air fare and car rental route by $1100 per vacation trip ! Oh....we also pack our own breakfast and lunch in the van to save on the food budget driving down and back.

 

[wilderness01]

We fly. We have driven as well before buy flying for us is now the way to go!

 

[Disney Doll]

As a kid, we drove to Florida a few times. My parents were good about making the drive part of the trip, and they didn't rush it, so it was actually fun. We'd leave early in the morning to get through NYC before rush hour, and drive for about 8 hours a day, stopping along the way to look at stuff or whatever. We'd stay in a motel for 2 nights(the pace we went at made it a 3 day drive)and have fun swimming in the pool etc. It was a 2 week vacation though, so you had 6 days to spend on the drive, because you'd still have 8 days left for the vacation.

Now we fly, as DH and I both work, so time is of the essence. We have no kids, so it's just the 2 of us and I can usually find a dceent airfare out of either NYC or Hatdford, and can usually find a non-stop flight too.

When we both retire, and time is not an issue, I'd have no problem driving. My DH says I am like a dog...I like to sit in the car with my head hanging out the window and drive!!!!!! But like some of the previous posters have indicated...when you have the time and can mosey along at your own pace and do what you want, driving is nice!