Drive vs. Fly...is there a mileage line?

[Sea-Donkey]

Just curious, if amoung WDW vacationers, what the magic mileage # is for whether you choose to drive vs. fly down. I've been 13 times and driven everytime (though drove myself only the last 2). I'm 700 miles away (~11 hour drive). We can make it in a day, but it's easy to leave one afternoon, stay the night on the road and make it in plenty early to hit a few resorts or Downtown Disney. Our last trip a month ago, we did just that on the way down but made the entire trip home in one day and didn't leave Disney until noon...made it home just before midnight.

I did the math, and it looks to me like flying is only the better economical choice if you are well over 1000 miles away... though I saw vehicles at our resort (Port Orleans Riverside) from way North & Canada. I guess you also have to figure in kids and any site-seeing you can take out on the way down...
Just curious what everyone else uses to determine the drive or fly decision...

 

[MushyMushy]

For me, it's about 1,000 miles one way. I might even choose to drive farther if time isn't a consideration.

I'm scared of flying.

 

[seashoreCM]

500 miles time wise.

Consider that you need ground transportation to go (usually while not pointing towards your destination) to the airport and you need to get to the airport early and you need ground transportation at your destination.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[MidgeD79]

We live about 1100 miles away. My decision to drive or fly is based on time, who is going, and cost. I flew for a 3 day solo trip in Dec. This summer we are driving. There will be 7 of us on the way down and 3 on the way back. The other 4 will be flying back. I work for the schools, so i have all the time in the world during the summer. To bad I didn't have all the money to go with it.

 

[clkelley]

For us it's 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other. Sometimes we fly, sometimes we drive. We only fly if we can get a direct flight at good times. (For us that is after work on our arrival night, and after 7pm on our departure day).

We used to have a great little Delta commuter flight that left from our home airport and back home from Disney at great times, but now those times have moved more to the middle of the day, and with no competition rarely have discounted fares. Currently SW does have a flight out of Nashville that meets our needs. If they ever discontinue that late night flight, then I guess we'll keep driving.

We are at that 700 mile range also. We also leave after work in the evening and get South of Atlanta and stop somewhere for the night, then get down to Disney by about 1pm.

On our return, we also stop for the night. After checking out of our Disney resort we stay as late as possible, then drive up to Ocala and spend the night there, then get on the road about 9 - 10 the next morning and get home at a decent hour.

Like you when we stay at WDW that last night and try and drive it in one day, we tend to procrastinate and get out of Disney way too late, like 12 - 2 pm and it makes for getting home midnite - 2am.

 

[G's mommy]

For us, it depends on cost and if we are traveling to other destinations outside of Orlando. We drove down in November since we were traveling on to Tampa after our stay at WDW. In February, we flew and will fly again in May. It's only a 7 hour drive for us, but we've been able to get some great fares on Spirit and with ME, we can justify it and save the miles on our car and usually one night hotel by taking an early a.m. flight and instead of driving in the evening before. We fly when we can and drive when it makes more sense.

 

[Robert P]

A great question.

As others have already said, lots of factors to consider, and even different factors for different preferences or personalities:
Cost of flight, other FL travel plans, length of visit, direct flight vs. connections, amount of stuff to take, frequency of visits, number in your party, and for us, even the time of day we'll be driving come into play.

I did a rough analysis back a few months ago, and that put the 'toss-up' mileage falling somewhere between 850 and 1000 miles. We're just over 600 miles out, and when driving we lose about 7 hours of park time, round trip (versus airport, transpo, and flight time). Compare that time lost to cost of gas and minimum car upkeep (forget about any IRS standard mileage rate), and divide the savings by the 7 hours (in this case), and we feel we 'make' that per hour by choosing to drive.

Everybody has their own magic number though. In a pinch, we would probably drive even if the distance was beyond the 1000 miles number. We don't mind it, and actually like using the car for DTD and AK visits. On the contrary, I would wager that my in-laws wouldn't drive if it was any more than 250 miles, because they don't usually like to drive very far.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

I was originally planning on driving from NC, but the thought of a 12 hour car ride with three young children (2, 4 & 6) was motivating enough that I decided to check out airfares. We were lucky enough to find tickets to fly on SW for a little over $800 for six of us. (I estimated that driving would cost at least $300.)

We are staying off-site, so I also will have to rent a minivan which is going to cost $350. For my family, it was worth the money to fly. We decided to stay off-site this time, which more than paid for our flights and rental car (vs. staying in a deluxe or even renting two rooms in a value).

 

[Whitegloves]

We are about 1100 miles away. For years we mostly drove but for the last trip and the upcoming one , we are flying. There are six of us, with 4 who can take turns driving but I have found as we (DH & Myself) get older, I prefer flying, getting there quick. I would much rather spend all that driving time in the parks. The flight is appx. 2 1/2 hrs. compared to at least an 18 hr. drive. My oldest DS isn't happy about flying, he says the drive is part of the vacation experience. DS & DH are both talking about one day riding their bikes down , I will be flying then for sure! Now when they make teleportation a reality, , I'll be first in line!
Smiles, Diane =0)