Driving from NY to WDW ?

[pooh2001]

Airline prices seem to be soaring

Driving from NY to WDW ?

Per mapquest - says 1200 miles one way, 19 hours

Should it take 2 or 3 days to drive ?
10 hours per day seems a bit much.
7-6-6 would be better per AAA driving advice
Then 3 days to drive. Where to stay ?


Would it actually be less expensive foo a family of 4 ?

Gas @ $5 per gallon would cost for our car one way: $300
Wear and tear on the car at 32 cents a mile one way: $384
Hotel for 2 nights - average $200 night one way: $400
Food for 3 days @ $160/day one way: $480
Loss of 1 week at WDW - stay only for 1 week, not 2 weeks: Priceless

So per my calculations round trip would cost us 1 week less time in WDW and $1564

If we fly and it costs us $600 per person ($2400 for our family) round trip on AirTran - we would have 2 weeks in WDW , less wear and tear on our car, more relaxed and awake drivers, safer trip (more car accidents, than plane accidents) and only $836 more.

So I think it maybe better to fly with the higher plane fares than driving.

What do you think ?

 

[nutsforgolf]

It sounds like all of your numbers are a bit high...here were my calculations based out of philly.

It takes us between 15-17 hours to drive, we leave around 6am and drive to dinner. That gets us to the end of GA. then we only have a short 4 hour drive to Disney. The hotels is about $70-$80 for the night. Gas is about $4 per gallon, miles for the trip is about 2,000, at 15 miles per gallon (SUV) total gas cost is about $550...so total cost, not including wear and tear is about...
$700 to $800 for the roundtrip. COMPARED to a roundtrip ticket on Airtran or Southwest at about $220, with airport parking, total cost is $1000. So for $200, we are flying this year. We did drive two years ago when gas was cheaper and we stayed for 2 weeks on and off site, so we needed a car.

Check your numbers again, they seem very high.

 

[Desnik]

Just the thought of driving down again scares me!LOL We use to do it all the time because DH refused to fly. Now he flies and we are spoiled by getting there in 2 and a half hours.

As I was looking at the price for airfare for our Nov. trip I was bummed by the prices. A lot more than what we are use to paying.

When we use to drive:
For us, your math would be off because we would never take 3 days to drive to WDW. What we use to do was load the kids into the car and be on the road by 4am. We would drive straight through stopping only for food, bathroom, and gas. We would arrive by 9pm that night and stay at an All Stars on an AP rate or code rate, never more than $99.(we usually went in Nov) Then continue on with a 9 day stay at a DVC resort.(or deluxe before we became DVC'ers) The gas(when prices were normal) would cost us about $300 roundtrip. The food would only be about $80 each way. We would then have our car with us down there so no need to rent one which saved us money and time.

Now with gas prices it would probably cost a lot more. I would probably "break even" with what it would cost to fly or drive for our family of 4. But, getting there so much quicker is worth the price!

 

[Darcy03231]

Keep in mind it will take more than 19 hours as mapquest doesn't factor in stopping for meals, bathroom breaks or take into account any traffic. My brother and SIL drove from my house. Mapquest said about 21 hours. It took them about 26 hours each way.

 

[MikeB63]

My wife and I drove from CT to WDW every year from 1991-2006. We would drive as long as we could the first day and then finish the trip the next. We would stop between Walterboro, SC and Savannah, GA. Usually we'd start between 6-8:00 AM and stop around 7-8:00 PM on the first leg. Once you get by Richmond, VA, the speed limit increases and the road opens up. The worst part of the trip is the Northern part. Don't forget that gas prices go down in some of the Southern states. Theres an I-95 website which gives restaurant ratings and gas prices if that is the route you would take. Search "I-95 gas prices" and you should find it. It's really not as bad as most people think.

 

[GranddadTom]

You're about 300 miles further away than we are. We either do the whole trip in one shot - 12 1/2 hours including short stops - or if we leave in the afternoon, we go as far as Brunswick, GA and then have 3 1/2 hour drive on the second day. Most of the trip from Virginia on south is over 70 mph, sometimes closer to 80. That's not speeding - it's just keeping up with traffic. On occasion we do fly but it's not really 2 1/2 hours to fly - it's more like 6 hours assuming everything with the airline goes perfect. You have to consider driving to the airport, getting there in time to get through security, waiting for you bags to come off the place, getting from the airport to WDW. As airline prices creep up more than the price of gasoline does, the value of the "saved" hours changes. We never used to be able to afford to fly (with 4 kids), then airfare really came down and flying was affordable (and we got to liking the convenience of flying) but now it looks like we're getting back to not being able to afford flying. Oh well, that's life.

 

[Wendy5055]

My wife and I drove from CT to WDW every year from 1991-2006. We would drive as long as we could the first day and then finish the trip the next. We would stop between Walterboro, SC and Savannah, GA. Usually we'd start between 6-8:00 AM and stop around 7-8:00 PM on the first leg. Once you get by Richmond, VA, the speed limit increases and the road opens up. The worst part of the trip is the Northern part. Don't forget that gas prices go down in some of the Southern states. Theres an I-95 website which gives restaurant ratings and gas prices if that is the route you would take. Search "I-95 gas prices" and you should find it. It's really not as bad as most people think.

Approximately how long did it take for you to drive from CT?

 

[Desnik]

I just found some websites that will calculate how much gas and the roundtrip cost it would be for road trips. I thought it was so cool. It even lets you put in your make and model of car. If we took DH's car(2008 Honda Accord) it would cost $304 roundtrip!(probably a tiny bit more because it only let me plug in NYC as my starting point, we are about an hour 15 mins from the city)

Just do a search for gas calculators.

I was looking into it because I waited to buy our airfare to WDW for our trip in Nov. and it is up to $1200. The cost of driving is much less!

 

[Mickey527]

I just drove back from WDW to Bridgeport, CT two days ago. I drove alone and didn't stop at any hotels. If there are two of you I would think you could make it in about 18 hours, but plan for the day you arrive to be a wash, let the kids swim or watch the Disney channel while you sleep.
I flew in and rented a mini van because I brought some things from my sister's house in Clearwater to mine.
the mini van rental was cheap, $17 a day since it was a one way and they need cars brought from FL. It was a Dodge Grand Caravan with stow and go seating. I didn't check the year but I guess it was a 2008. I had 20 gallon size bags of Clearwater Beach sand for arts and crafts this summer, a 52" floor model tv and tons of other things so the weight was probably equivelent to 5-6 adults.
The tank was full when I got it in Tampa. I drove back to WDW and stayed one night there and did a few shopping excursions: Prime Outlets and Walmart.
I had to fill it in GA, but the tank wouldn't let me put in more than $40.
I then had to fill it again in NC. That cost me $75.
I filled it again in DE but only put in 1/2 tank since I wanted to return the car empty and after figuring milage to home I figured that would be enough. That cost me $37.
I paid $3.67 a gallon from National for an empty tank. Gas here in Ct is $4.33 now. So that cost me $75.
I left WDW at 2 pm on the 29th. I stopped in for gas and saw a few trucks and a camper pulled over in the Walmart parking lot so I decided that looked like a great place to stop. I took a 2 1/2 hour nap, then drove to DE where the traffic was terrible at 7 am so I took another 2 1/2 hour nap for a total of 5 hours sleep time.
I arrived back home to my house at 1 pm on the 30th.
So I am guessing $75 original
I put in $152
National will fill for $75.
total gas $302.00

I went to bed when I got home and slept till 5 pm, made dinner, emptied the van and the suitcases, watched my taped Lost finale, then slept all night.

 

[MikeB63]

Wendy, Mickey527 is right on the mark. From Savannah it's about another 4-5 hrs so 18 total drive hours would do it. I find it's about the same as driving to Chicago from CT which is about 18 hrs.

 

[Beka'sMom]

where is a good hotel to stopover on the way from ny to fl, leaving less time the 2nd day... leaving on a friday am and want to stay 3-4 hrs from disney so trip is not too long on day of arrival.

 

[mskayjay]

When are you traveling? your prices that you are quoting for airfare seem very high to me. We are flying direct on JetBlue this time but normally go through their hub at JFK. Out tickets were $198 round trip (+taxes and fees). You should be able to do much better than $600 each.

 

[strmtroopr96]

When are you traveling? your prices that you are quoting for airfare seem very high to me. We are flying direct on JetBlue this time but normally go through their hub at JFK. Out tickets were $198 round trip (+taxes and fees). You should be able to do much better than $600 each.

We also paid $198 per person but are flying Southwest out of Albany (9/13-9/21).

 

[mskayjay]

We also paid $198 per person but are flying Southwest out of Albany (9/13-9/21).

Out of Albany? Isn't Syracuse more convenient for you? Great prices though, huh? I was shocked and I just bought ours about 2 weeks ago so it wasn't like "buy 3 years in advance and lock in prices". I love JB! And the non-stop direct is perfect for me because I hate flying so we will be there in like 2 1/2-3/4 hours! yeah!!!!!!

 

[cinnderly]

I don't understand how everyone is getting these great prices for airlines. I read what you two said about JetBlue, so I went there to check out flights for us. For me and my son, roundtrip it would cost $728! And that was is we came in the night before we're supposed to check in, and fly out the day after we check out. Which means we'd need to also pay for accomodations near the airport for those two nights, so another $200-ish. If we fly out at a time that would be more convenient would cost about $250+ more!

Craziness. That's why I'm driving instead. You guys are lucky to have gotten such great deals.

 

[cogero]

Try getting the off hour flights. I paid 119 each way from LGA on Jet Blue.

 

[cinnderly]

Yes, $728 roundtrip is what we got for "off" hours.

 

[strmtroopr96]

Out of Albany? Isn't Syracuse more convenient for you? Great prices though, huh? I was shocked and I just bought ours about 2 weeks ago so it wasn't like "buy 3 years in advance and lock in prices". I love JB! And the non-stop direct is perfect for me because I hate flying so we will be there in like 2 1/2-3/4 hours! yeah!!!!!!

Actually, Albany isn't much further from us than Syracuse. We are right in the middle of the 2, with Albany being maybe 15 minutes longer to get to. BUT the prices out of Syracuse are much higher (nothing for under $200 pp), even for Jet Blue. We haven't flown out of Syracuse since 2003 because of the higher prices.

In 2004, we found really good prices on Airtran so drove the 2+ hours each way to Rochester and then have flown Southwest each trip since May 2005 and have yet to pay over $200 per person. Prices out of Syracuse are WAY higher than $200 per person.

Plus it is small and easy to navigate and the parking is cheap and right next to the airport.

 

[strmtroopr96]

Yes, $728 roundtrip is what we got for "off" hours.

Just wanted to say hi...my parents both grew up in the Rockland area but we moved Upstate when I was younger. Still have some family down there though and visit once in awhile.

 

[mskayjay]

I don't understand how everyone is getting these great prices for airlines. I read what you two said about JetBlue, so I went there to check out flights for us. For me and my son, roundtrip it would cost $728! And that was is we came in the night before we're supposed to check in, and fly out the day after we check out. Which means we'd need to also pay for accomodations near the airport for those two nights, so another $200-ish. If we fly out at a time that would be more convenient would cost about $250+ more!

Craziness. That's why I'm driving instead. You guys are lucky to have gotten such great deals.

When are you going? I'm going down on 8/28 and home on 9/5. Just booked 2 weeks ago. If you give me exact dates I'd be happy to poke around for you and see what I can come up with.