Drive vs. Fly With Southwest?

[AndyMcV]

Hi Gang

Just curious, why would you ever drive down to WDW taking 2 - 4 days to drive versus paying $600-700 for a family of 4 to fly down with SW?

 

[canucktyke]

I see no other reason to drive, other than taking time to shop and see sights on the way down. Next week my soccer team is playing in a tournament at Disney's World of Sports. Those parents that listened to me got flights for
$34 usd per person each way. The cost is less than a ticket from Toronto to Windsor by bus, and flying means approximately 2 extra days of vacation time in Florida - which to me is the whole point of the trip (sorry to sound so Ontario-centric).

 

[jmtf2004]

Yes I agree, there are very good deals to be had with SW and don't overlook the fact that driving tires you out. You might arrive being a bit worn out if you drive, not to mention that vacationing at WDW can be pretty exhausting too...with SW (not sure how long your drive is to the airport), the flight from Buffalo -> MCO non-stop is only 2 hours!
For us, we would rather spend WDW vacation time at the destination rather than giving up a couple days getting there and back. We would only consider driving if we had two weeks or more to vacation (and that won't be happening any time soon!)
Don't forget to include the cost of accommodations enroute in your calculations when you are comparing flying to driving.

 

[bjensen25]

I would say there is no benefit to drive vs flying unless you love to drive. I don't mind the driving but we have no kids yet either. I think having kids on a drive like that would be an experience in itself and probably not the most pleasant of ones. For myself I would much rather fly and by the sounds of it prices to fly to WDW equal or even beat the cost to drive. I think I just have a hard time finding good priced flights, but I think i'll be keeping an eye out for cheap flights for sure.

 

[debbiet1]

well the reason that we are considering driving to WDW in DECEMBER is only because of the money. Air Canada and West Jet want just under 4000.00 for 2 adults, 15 yr old and a 7 yr old to fly Dec 23-31. Sighhhhhhhhhh I'd love to just fly but 4000.00 is a lot

 

[who's ur daddy?]

well the reason that we are considering driving to WDW in DECEMBER is only because of the money. Air Canada and West Jet want just under 4000.00 for 2 adults, 15 yr old and a 7 yr old to fly Dec 23-31. Sighhhhhhhhhh I'd love to just fly but 4000.00 is a lot

I don't know if Buffalo is reachable for you, but if it is, non-stop flight to Orlando for those days for 4 people would be U.S.$1437.20.

 

[DutchsMommy]

well the reason that we are considering driving to WDW in DECEMBER is only because of the money. Air Canada and West Jet want just under 4000.00 for 2 adults, 15 yr old and a 7 yr old to fly Dec 23-31. Sighhhhhhhhhh I'd love to just fly but 4000.00 is a lot

Hi Debbie - is this because you live too far from a US border to use am American airline? If you are within some reasonable drive you can likely fly for around $1000 (and that is being super generous).

My vote is to fly each and every time. The idea of driving gives me shudders. We generally fly out of BUF or ROC but if you are leery, check out Sunwing.ca as they have quite good prices down to MCO (for Canada anyway) and are non-stop - at least from Pearson.

 

[debbiet1]

We're about an hour northwest of Ottawa on the Quebec side. Syracuse is about 5 hours I think maybe a little less and Buffalo I'm not sure how far.

 

[webworm]

well the reason that we are considering driving to WDW in DECEMBER is only because of the money. Air Canada and West Jet want just under 4000.00 for 2 adults, 15 yr old and a 7 yr old to fly Dec 23-31. Sighhhhhhhhhh I'd love to just fly but 4000.00 is a lot

Little risky especially with the weather driving to Florida that time of year. If you go to www.southwest.com and then Travel Tools and Southwest Shortcut you can get the fares or the entire month. If your schedule is flexible you can get 4 people for $629.20 including taxes from Buffalo and a nonstop flight each way.

Air Itinerary
Trip Date Day Stops Routing Flight Routing Details
Depart Dec 24 Mon N/S BUF-MCO 3773 Depart Buffalo (BUF) at 6:20 PM
Arrive in Orlando (MCO) at 9:00 PM
Return Jan 02 Wed N/S MCO-BUF 322 Depart Orlando (MCO) at 6:50 AM
Arrive in Buffalo (BUF) at 9:25 AM

Pricing
Passenger
Type Trip Routing Type of Fare Base Fare U.S.
Taxes PFC Security
Fee1 Passenger(s) Total
Adult Depart BUF-MCO Internet Special $64.19 $8.21 $3.00 $2.50 4 $311.60
Return MCO-BUF Internet Special $64.19 $8.21 $4.50 $2.50 4 $317.60

Total $128.38 $16.42 $7.50 $5.00 $629.20

 

[Stitch'sCousin]

We're driving because we want to have two and a half days of quality family time in the van with our three kids just like the Griswalds. Actually, we have the time to drive down and want a vehicle when we are there.

 

[rewok]

We're about an hour northwest of Ottawa on the Quebec side. Syracuse is about 5 hours I think maybe a little less and Buffalo I'm not sure how far.

Then you could fly out from Montreal or Burlington maybe? I know many people drive down to Burlington for cheaper prices (around 250$US), there is JetBlue operating from there, and also Delta, Northwest, United. But I got a great price from Montreal on Delta (315$CDN each, with taxes), and sometimes even Air Canada specials can get you a non-stop for 350$, like now for August and September.

For your dates the tickets are about 400$CDN (less if you play a bit with your dates) each from Burlington, and 530$CDN from Montreal. Not too bad, it will run you only 2000$, much better than 4000$! If driving, fuel + 2 nights hotel + food will cost you at least 700$, and I'm not counting the wear/tear on the vehicle (my boyfriend insists to use at least a 0.20$/km for the math, we did the math on our last car when we sold it, and the total cost of ownership was 0.42$/km!!! So no more gas will only cost this... Tires, oil change, brakes, ....)

 

[bababear_50]

IMHO

Driving is for the young at heart,lol

flying is for the mature --"I've done that with a car full of kids -------and ------ -never again."

Hugs Mel

 

[SandraC]

I haven't driven to Florida since I was 12 years old, flying works for us....saying that....I do see the "romance" of a road trip. S

 

[ForeverDance]

We drove last year and we are driving again this year. We drive for 2 reasons:

1. Convienience - we like to be able to arrive at a time we choose and leave at a time we choose. We also want to make a stop off in Cocoa Beach and Kennedy this trip which we wouldn't do if we didn't have a car.
2. DH HATES flying and loves to drive

We actually drive straight through though. 24hrs in the car and then off to have fun. Yes, it can be draining, but we just plan on being lazy our first day.

 

[binky1]

debbiet1, we are in Ottawa and travelling the same dates (Dec.22 - Jan. 5). we also had the drive vs. fly debate. after figuring out the $$ - we would have to rent a van, we decided to fly. we are travelling out of Syracuse and the price is $1400 Cdn (roughly) for the 4 of us (2 adults and 2DDs). we get in late on Saturday night but that's okay...i'm going to check out Southwest as well. good luck in your searching - I'm sure you'll find something!!

 

[F4disneyfan]

Hi Gang

Just curious, why would you ever drive down to WDW taking 2 - 4 days to drive versus paying $600-700 for a family of 4 to fly down with SW?

We love the drive regardless what the price is with Southwest or Spirit etc. We never take more than a full day to drive we stop for a night in Valdosta GA and arrive by noon the next day. We leave at 7 PM the night before so our drive down including stop is only a day and a half our drive home is done straight through. Even with the hotel stop on the way down it only costs us just over 275 US. When leaving in the evening the traffic on the I75 is minimal at best usually it is barren highway not many other cars. We arrive in GA at about 6:30 or 7 AM and then go from there, we take an electric cooler so we don't have to buy meals during the drive either which also cuts down on costs.

 

[webworm]

You can save a lot by leaving on the 24th of December rather than the 22nd. United Airlines is $119.80 one way including taxes and JetBlue is $119 one way on the Jan 5th return or $256US return including taxes.

You could check out Southwest from Albany as well which is about 5hrs from Ottawa though.


Total price: USD 119.80 View price breakdown
View fare rules
Mon, Dec 24, 2007 - SYR to MCO
United 8041
Operated by: United Express/trans States Depart: SYR 07:25 PM
Arrive: IAD 08:40 PM Non-stop
1h 15m
Embraer 145
296 miles traveled Fare basis code:
LA7UN
Booking class: L
Economy
500 Award miles
No Meal Service N/A
Select seats

Flight details
--% On-time
296 miles traveled
[No Meal Service]
Economy
500 Award miles
Availability
<<< connecting to >>>

United 1569
Operated by: United For Ted Depart: IAD 09:45 PM
Arrive: MCO 11:54 PM Non-stop
2h 9m
Airbus A320
758 miles traveled Fare basis code:
LA7UN
Booking class: L
Economy
758 Award miles
No Meal Service


Adult Fare $119.00 USD

JetBlue

Sat, 05 Jan 08
Flight 822
Flight 72 10:35 AM Depart Orlando, FL (MCO)
1:05 PM
3:15 PM Connect New York, NY (JFK)
4:30 PM Arrive Syracuse, NY (SYR)


Airfare / Adult $ 110.70 USD
Taxes / Adult ( details) $ 26.60 USD
Subtotal / $ 137.30 USD
X 1 Adult $ 137.30 USD

 

[digskat]

for the wear and tear argument, as per VMR, which puts a value on used cars, the cost per KM on a used car is approx $0.03. The difference between a vehicle with 7000km and 30000km is less than $900.

To echo F4Disney, the cost of gas is less than $300, with a little preparation, a hotel is less than $80, with b-fast included. Take some small snacks, and you are paying for 1-2 meals. Extra bonus, is you have your own vehicle, to come and go as you please, and to bring back as much souveners as you wish.

 

[debbiet1]

we're already booked at POP for the 23-31 so I'd hate to lose a day by just going on the 24th. Our biggest worry isnt the driving its the weather we'll be driving in.. ie:snow/freezing rain. If we could be lucky enough to have no snow nor rain during the drive.. we'll be sailing lol
Binky what resort are you going to be going to?

 

[F4disneyfan]

for the wear and tear argument, as per VMR, which puts a value on used cars, the cost per KM on a used car is approx $0.03. The difference between a vehicle with 7000km and 30000km is less than $900.

To echo F4Disney, the cost of gas is less than $300, with a little preparation, a hotel is less than $80, with b-fast included. Take some small snacks, and you are paying for 1-2 meals. Extra bonus, is you have your own vehicle, to come and go as you please, and to bring back as much souveners as you wish.

Exactly Digs we stop in Valdosta and stay at the Fairfield inn and usually get the room for 49 bucks this past Dec we stayed at the comfort inn for 35.00 and it also had free b fast. We love getting to Valdosta usually arriving around 3 or 4 in the afternoon and if the pool at the hotel is open letting the kids have a swim then making some dinner or even just going to the Applebees that is right next to the hotels. This gives the kids a night to unwind and relax after the drive to that point and we get to sleep in a bed (not that the wife and I really care honestly) then everyone one is perfectly rested for the Short drive to the World the next morning. We also have our great tradition of stopping at the Florida welcome centre for our OJ and the customary Disney propaganda and any new maps for around the area and for the Merritt Island area as we always take a day trip out there to see the birds and alligators etc.