Drive or fly from Ohio... pros and cons

[taximomfor4]

we are in NE Ohio. We have driven and we have flown. I prefer to drive. First, there are 6 of us. Even well-priced tickets will cost $900 for the family. We dont' stay in hotels on the way at all...but if we did, our minivan ran up less than $300 in gas costs, figure MAYBE $150 for hotels each way. Then, we also pack food for the roadtrip. Total cost $450. Extra oil change, etc $30. Total cost $480. It is about 2100 r/t for us, btw.

Our favorite part of driving: NO WORRYING ABOUT TIME SCHEDULES! We leave when we are ready. Our last day, we always go to a park. Have a nice breakfast. Hit the fave rides again. Meander around, just memorizing the ambience. Then, we leave when we are done. No worryign about getting to the resort to catch DME, to get to the airport by such-n-such time, etc. Last year, we hung around till 11pm before starting to drive home, lol. (Tried to add another night -- couldn't bear to leave, but since we need 2 rooms, they didn't hvae anything for us).

Beth

 

[jenseib]

So it should take an absolute MAXIMUM of 125 gallons of fuel. @ a per gallon cost of $2.35 (again on the high end), that equals maximum possible fuel expense of $294.00. From there most people will factor in 2 overnight stays (one for the trip down, one for the way up) figure $200.00 total tops. So the absolute maximum cost to drive should be $500.00.

You are lucky if you find gas to be high at $2.35. That is a low price here. We've had it at that range lately, but normally it is higher.

 

[Momof-3]

Hey neighbor,

I live in Livonia too!!!! Small world!! 7 mile and Newburgh area! I just kept watching the flight schedule everday. I thought $197 was pretty good! I also signed up for Ding thru Southwest. They just released prices for Orlando for $73 each way! Oh well!


Keep looking...you have time...but honestly flying out of Metro....$208 is still cheap in my book! I also like Northwest alot.

Momof-3:

Where are you from? We live in Livonia and I don't think I could ever manage to be in the car with my family for 20-24 hours. I love them, but...... We are going in November and the cheapest I have found that is on the days that we want is $208 + taxes (NWest). I am sure I will find cheaper closer to it, but can't take the chance.

 

[goofyboyzmom]

Hey neighbor,

I live in Livonia too!!!! Small world!! 7 mile and Newburgh area! I just kept watching the flight schedule everday. I thought $197 was pretty good! I also signed up for Ding thru Southwest. They just released prices for Orlando for $73 each way! Oh well!


Keep looking...you have time...but honestly flying out of Metro....$208 is still cheap in my book! I also like Northwest alot.

We live at Schoolcraft and Inkster! I have 3 boys. My name on other sites is mom of 3!!! What is Ding thru Southwest? I love Northworst because they are direct flights (most of the time). Worth it to pay a little extra for that convenience.

I thought I was the only Disney fanatic around these parts!

 

[Momof-3]

I'm sure you know much more about Disney than me.....but the Dis board is soooo addicting! Log onto Southwest.com and sign up for Ding. It loads onto your computer and gives you specials for the day. Today it actually had Orlando on there. I also checked Travelocity and Orbitz quite a bit for flights....but you are right about Northwest....non-stop is the way to go!

Its hard to drive 24 hours with 3 kids. It is an adventure for sure...not all bad? I actually hate to fly...I get pretty scared...but only for like 2 1/2 hours! I have to keep a brave face for my kids....(thats what I tell myself anyway) My kids are 14, 13 and 8...how about yours?

 

[goofyboyzmom]

I'm sure you know much more about Disney than me.....but the Dis board is soooo addicting! Log onto Southwest.com and sign up for Ding. It loads onto your computer and gives you specials for the day. Today it actually had Orlando on there. I also checked Travelocity and Orbitz quite a bit for flights....but you are right about Northwest....non-stop is the way to go!

Its hard to drive 24 hours with 3 kids. It is an adventure for sure...not all bad? I actually hate to fly...I get pretty scared...but only for like 2 1/2 hours! I have to keep a brave face for my kids....(thats what I tell myself anyway) My kids are 14, 13 and 8...how about yours?

All boys, 16, 14 and 11. Franklin, Emerson and Cooper. Formerly Franklin, Riley, and Adams. When I really need a "fix" I go to the Disney Store at Laurel Park.

 

[goofyboyzmom]

Momof-3,

What school are your kids at? (this got cut off from my previous message for some reason).

 

[mom22boys]

Hi Buckeyes! We are just west of Cleveland and DH would never drive to WDW. We can find tickets under $200/person out of Cleveland or Canton Akron and it is well worth every penny for our family. We do not want to waste any energy driving to WDW. We want to save it all for when we are actually there. I am so excited that Southwest now has direct flights out of Cleveland. I am hoping that really hopes keep our prices low!

The one thing I wanted to add is if you decide to drive, be very careful at what time you hit the Atlanta area. I had a friend who got stuck in a 5 hour traffic jam in Atlanta. Ugh!!! My DH would have been miserable.

Good luck deciding!

 

[taximomfor4]

Hi Buckeyes! We are just west of Cleveland and DH would never drive to WDW. We can find tickets under $200/person out of Cleveland or Canton Akron and it is well worth every penny for our family. We do not want to waste any energy driving to WDW. We want to save it all for when we are actually there. I am so excited that Southwest now has direct flights out of Cleveland. I am hoping that really hopes keep our prices low!

The one thing I wanted to add is if you decide to drive, be very careful at what time you hit the Atlanta area. I had a friend who got stuck in a 5 hour traffic jam in Atlanta. Ugh!!! My DH would have been miserable.

Good luck deciding!

Very, very good point about timing when you hit cities.

We have done 2 driving strategies: (1) Leave in the afternoon and drive all night, arriving in the morning ......(2) Leave at like 4am, driving all day. We liked it either way, although driving at night my eyes dry out. I stopped here and there and rested my eyes, too. I felt it was safer to drive leaving at 4am. That time, we stayed at a Comfort Suites, checking in around 11pm or so...and left for our WDW resort early in the morning. Next time, will probably do a value resort stay for the late checkin, instead, and let THEM move our bags!!

I think if we had a smaller family, flying vs. driving would probably be a less clear-cut decision. But with 6 people, even at $170pp Southwest cheap ticket pricing, it is a budget-breaker for us.

See, we all helped you lots, didn't we!!

Beth

 

[Momof-3]

My kids go to Stevenson, Holmes, and St. Edith. We used to live in Redford at Beech and Plymouth...so not so far away! We have 1 boy (14) and 2 girls.


To the OP....Have we helped you at all? Have you made a decision?

 

[goofyboyzmom]

My kids go to Stevenson, Holmes, and St. Edith. We used to live in Redford at Beech and Plymouth...so not so far away! We have 1 boy (14) and 2 girls.


To the OP....Have we helped you at all? Have you made a decision?

Momof-3:

Are you driving this time? Are you going in June to avoid missing school? I just don't think that we could deal with the heat. We haven't had a problem taking the kids out of school yet (we usually go every year around Thanksgiving).

Is your son involved in Livonia sports?

 

[Unregistered]

HI! There are sure a lot of Buckeyes here! We are flying over spring break. AS a child we drove from NE Ohio to Florida several times -- memories yes --good and bad! My Dh and DDs are all anxious about flying--but it's a nobrainer for me. My youngest gets carsick and just thinking about the drive home gets my stomach churning. Sometimes you have to pay to maintain your sanity.
Have fun. RHonda

 

[duffy]

For us, it's foolish to drive because it wastes vacation days! My husband and I would both have to take off an extra 3 or 4 days from work to drive from Pa. down to Fl. That's too much precious time that could be spent at the parks. I want to make every minute count! Time spent travelling to WDW is time I could have spent there instead. Not to mention, we'd lose the money we're NOT making by having to take those travelling days off.

 

[KStarfish82]

I have been down to Florida every year in my 24 years of existence (maybe even twice during some years). And we have only flown once. Never again. I am not a fan of flying, but I really like to drive down.

I live on Long Island, NY and it takes approx 20 - 21 hours to reach Orlando and we drive straight through. Personally, I love stopping to get something to eat, and as corny as this sounds, at the rest areas. And be sure to pack puzzle books, and even a portable DVD or labtop.

Since the price of gas went up, it does cost a little more, but still is far cheaper than flying a family of five, especially if it is peak season.

Word of advice, if you decide to drive, be sure to avoid the DC area during rush hour. It is brutal. Good luck!