drive WI to WDW????

[pixxi]

Anyone drive from WI to WDW? Is that crazy...we have 4 kids 3,8,11,14. It just seems like too much travel time and will it really save us money?

I also am not sure about out vehicles making the long trip so we may be intereted in renting a van too. I have no idea how much we are looking at for the cost.

It seems easier to just fly.

Any input would help.

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

I am in Wisconsin too and have 4 kids ages 5 7 11 and 14. We have thought and thought about driving many times. We would have to go over the summer if we drove just to give us enough time. I know we would have to make a few stops. My kids are good for 8 hours max in the car. Might be able to push it a bit more.
We have never driven. Yet. It is still on our radar. Thinking about driving to DC this summer. That is about 13 hours so that will be a good test.
My biggest worry is the drive home. The drive there you are fresh and excited. The drive back you are tired, tired and more tired and not wanting to go home. So I would think that would make the drive worse.

Sarah

 

[grimley1968]

Anyone drive from WI to WDW? Is that crazy...we have 4 kids 3,8,11,14. It just seems like too much travel time and will it really save us money?

I also am not sure about out vehicles making the long trip so we may be intereted in renting a van too. I have no idea how much we are looking at for the cost.

It seems easier to just fly.

Any input would help.

We almost always drive from southern Kentucky, but then we're about 12 hours from WDW. We will normally stop in Georgia on the drive down, but drive back straight through. It's always MUCH cheaper for us to do this, even with a hotel stay on the drive down, due to not having to buy airfare, but also not having to rent a car. It's really nice to have your own car as an option even if you want Disney to do the driving as much as possible.

Even though it's probably at least a 20 hour drive from WI, I can't imagine how expensive it would be to buy 6 airline tickets for the trip (2 adults + 4 kids). If it were me, I'd budget the extra driving time, find a good stopping point for a night (may I recommend my state ), and drive down.

 

[AaronInWI]

I'm from Wisconsin (an hour north of Milwaukee) and drove this past September for the first time. We're in a different situation than you since it is just my wife and I, so we don't have to worry about kids on the long drive. However, and again this is just me, I LOVED the drive. And I'd never be without a vehicle again in WDW after this last trip.

We drove about 14 hours to Morrow, GA on the first night. Stopped for the night, and drove the last six or so hours the following day. The cost was about a push compared to flying. And that's for two of us. So my guess is you'd come out ahead in that respect. But again, different situations. We were able to take a smaller vehicle, which gave us better gas mileage. If you rent a van, you might only get 12-14 MPH where we averaged closer to 26. We only had to get one hotel room on the way down; you may need two rooms to fit all six of you.

My advice (simply because this is what I did) is to start with the cost factor. There are a few websites (I think AAA is one) where you can enter your type of vehicle and to/from locations, and it'll calculate approximate fuel costs. Then figure ~$100-200/night for hotel on the way down and back (depending on how many rooms you'll need), cost of snacks and meals, and anything else you think you'd spend on the round trip drive. And compare that to the cost of the flight, airport parking, meals at the airport, etc. and see where you come out ahead.

Like I said, it was about even for us. But I was also pretty excited to try driving, so that weighed into my decision. If your costs come out close, then you have to decide how much you really want to drive. For me, I found driving to be a lot less of a hassle than flying. But I also hate the airport security checks, worrying about the 3-1-1 liquid rule, gate changes, delayed/cancelled flights, luggage weight, and so on. I also know a lot of people who think those are minor inconveniences when you can board a plane and arrive at your destination 3 hours later instead of driving for 20+ hours. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

We are from Wisconsin, in the Milwaukee suburbs, and have driven to Disney World and Florida 4 times in the past 2 years with 2 more trips scheduled for this year. Our kids are 7,5 and 3 and to be honest with you we find driving easier than flying. (and I did say easier, not faster - the extra travel time is the big downside)

So for us it is really a matter of Pros and Cons and here is the list we came up with:

Pros

• Schedule is what we make it - no fixed times, no flight time changes or cancellations.
• No baggage fees - with 3 kids plus 2 adults they can add up, with the van, if it fits it goes
• For us driving is far less expensive, even with the mileage and extra hotel night each trip. Based on actual costs from our last trip round trip travel expense for fuel, extra hotel night, and extra meals was just under $700 for the 5 of us. Airfare from Milwaukee will typically range from $200-$350 each so $1000 minimum, typically closer to $1500
• No need for a rental car - for our first 7 trips to Disney we relied on Disney transportation, we never had an objection to it, but having a car is much easier than relying solely on Disney transportation

Cons

• Time, time, time - the drive from Milwaukee to Disney World takes 2 full days (about 21 hours drive time) - compared to flying this is a full extra day each direction
• Weather - this is not a major concern for us as we travel at Spring Break and in the Summer, but for Winter trips driving may not be a great idea. Wisconsin knows how to deal with snow and our roads stay good - southern states.... not so much

Other (because some things are just not Pro or Con)

• Your mental well being - could be a pro or con all depending on you. For me I enjoy driving and find it less stressful than flying with my family - I fly often for work and enjoy it, but find air travel with my family to be incredibly stressful and tiring.
• Your vehicle - Not all vehicles are ideal for a 2000+ mile round trip, you may need to rent something larger, or may not have access to something you would be comfortable in for 20 hours over 2 days. Any argument on cost quickly breaks down when you add in the cost of a large vehicle rental for the trip

 

[OKW Lover]

That's a long drive. Do you really want to spend all that time getting to/from your vacation or would you rather spend that time actually on your vacation?

 

[DakotaRose]

 

[AaronInWI]

That's a long drive. Do you really want to spend all that time getting to/from your vacation or would you rather spend that time actually on your vacation?

And I will counter that argument with this -- would you consider the drive part of your vacation? I did. I liked seeing how the landscape changes as you headed south. The drive through the mountains in Georgia is beautiful. I enjoyed seeing Chicago, Louisville, Nashville, and Atlanta from the highway. I thought it was fun stopping at various rest areas, especially the Florida welcome center with their fresh squeezed OJ. I looked at the drive as an adventure, with the opportunity to explore this great country of ours instead of just flying over everything. But, I had dedicated two weeks to the vacation and took my time going down and back home. You might not be able to take such a relaxed approach to the drive.

 

[WIDisneyFan]

And I will counter that argument with this -- would you consider the drive part of your vacation? I did. I liked seeing how the landscape changes as you headed south. The drive through the mountains in Georgia is beautiful. I enjoyed seeing Chicago, Louisville, Nashville, and Atlanta from the highway. I thought it was fun stopping at various rest areas, especially the Florida welcome center with their fresh squeezed OJ. I looked at the drive as an adventure, with the opportunity to explore this great country of ours instead of just flying over everything. But, I had dedicated two weeks to the vacation and took my time going down and back home. You might not be able to take such a relaxed approach to the drive.

Not sure why but the OJ at the welcome center is amazing!

 

[likeadream]

Growing up my family drove down to Disney from Wisconsin every summer. Now as an adult I fly, but I think once I have a family of my own I will drive again.
There are so many memories from the drive (probably more than actually being at Disney!). I loved driving through the mountains and seeing our country. Yes, the 24 hours of being in the car got to be long at times, but it was so worth it!

 

[SaraJayne]

I also live in WI (half hour south of Green Bay, 2 hours north of Milwaukee) and while I would consider driving if it was just my Mom and I, I would not consider driving with the kids or DH.

DH and the kids can't take the extra four days off work/school the travel time would include, so we have always flown. I'd much rather be there in 2 and a half hours vs 2 and a half days.

If it was just my Mom and I, I would consider driving. She is retired and I am a SAHM, so we have no work obligations waiting for us when we return.

 

[maxiesmom]

We used to drive from Michigan to Florida when I was a child. As an adult, I wouldn't do it unless the drive was part of the trip. No driving driving driving trying to get to Florida and then driving driving driving back. That is miserable!

If you can do a leisurely trip, then that is different. Stopping to take in some sights along the way, having fun as you go. But if that is not the plan, if you would drive just to get there, then no way. My sanity is well worth the money spent on airline tickets.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

We drove from MN to WDW once before we had kids.

It took 2 days.
My husband thought it was nice to drive but he liked stopping places - once at Metropolis, IL to see the Superman Statue, on the way home stopped to see some big ball of twine. It made me think of Chevy Chase Vacation Movies.

I hated it. I'm all about the destination - not experiencing stuff along the way so driving drives me insane!

Even driving the 8 hours from GA to WDW bugs me - put me on a plane and get me there already.

 

[maxiesmom]

It took 2 days.
My husband thought it was nice to drive but he liked stopping places - once at Metropolis, IL to see the Superman Statue, on the way home stopped to see some big ball of twine. It made me think of Chevy Chase Vacation Movies.

One of the best movies ever, but not one I would like to re-enact in real life. You poor thing!!!

 

[tlenzendorf]

Driven several times from WI to Florida. We rented a van for 9 days this summer for around $375 I believe, gas was $400 to Panama City beach and back. Would be a bit more to Orlando. The girls were 12 and 8 and did just fine straight thru, we did mostly over night driving. Left at 6:00pm and arrived around noon. We are thinking about driving to Florida twice next summer!

 

[eisforpants]

We are driving from Missouri in 9 days! We can't wait, but for us the drive is part of the vacation. I went to roadsideamerica dot com and found a bunch of things to stop and look at on the down and back so that'll be fun.

 

[peemagg]

We are doing this trip from Michigan for the first time soon. We are driving as far Knoxville the first day and then driving the rest of it the second day. On our way home it will take us about 4 days to do since we are meandering up to Savannah Georgia, Asheville Nc, and Lexington Ky, before the final push for home.

We are taking our Fusion on this trip and estimate about $200 for gas for round trip. If we were to take our Conversion van, we would cost us closer to $300 for one way. Just wanted to give you an idea of what it would cost us for the 2 vehicles.

 

[maxiesmom]

We are doing this trip from Michigan for the first time soon. We are driving as far Knoxville the first day and then driving the rest of it the second day. On our way home it will take us about 4 days to do since we are meandering up to Savannah Georgia, Asheville Nc, and Lexington Ky, before the final push for home.

We are taking our Fusion on this trip and estimate about $200 for gas for round trip. If we were to take our Conversion van, we would cost us closer to $300 for one way. Just wanted to give you an idea of what it would cost us for the 2 vehicles.

Can I ask what the year your car is? When I put in a 2012 Fusion into AAA's fuel cost estimator the least amount that comes back is $370 round trip. I'm hoping if that is not the right year, that other years come back way cheaper. I hope you are not way underestimating what your fuel costs will be.

Oh, I also put the starting point as Grand Rapids, as that is fairly south in Michigan. Not sure where you are starting out from.

 

[peemagg]

Our car is a 2010 and I looked into AAA's cost estimator too, and got a different result from what our car is actually getting for mileage. Our car on long hauls is getting close to 40mpg. We are starting from between Detroit and Lansing.

I also did neglect to say that the cost was just going down and back and not on the meandering trip we have decided on. It will cost us a bit more with the route we are taking now, but not what AAA thinks.

Our Fusion is also a 4 cylinder and I couldn't find the exact model on AAA for estimating the fuel cost.

 

[Poohbug]

I drove it last summer. Me and three kids.

Even stopping at a hotel at night, we still saved money by not flying. If you have two drivers and drop the hotel stays, you will save a lot of money. Plus we saved by staying offsite(Bonnet Creek) since we had the car.

However, I was prepared for the drive. My sister hates driving or riding long distances, it makes her sick. She will never drive to Florida again, if she can't afford the flight, she is not going.

For some people, flying is worth any extra costs. You just have to decide if you are one of those people or not.