Driving from Portland & Flight Increases

[ORMom2Four]

Flight prices are making me cringe. The round trip (PDX to LAX) flight we took in May was $174. The same flight is now $287!

Because it will cost our family of six $1722 for airfare alone (and we would need to rent a van or a shuttle to the hotel), we are considering driving. Driving straight through, no hotel stops, will cost us around $500 round trip in gas.

We upgraded our park hoppers to AP's in May, so we would like to get another trip in. We REALLY prefer to fly, especially with 4 kids....but never anticipated spending another $600+ because of airfare price increases

Mapquest estimates the drive will take 15 hours, how realistic does that seem?

Anyone else driving instead of flying because of the fare increases?

 

[Wadeandbasia]

My family is flying on Wednesday (FreqFlyMiles), but I'll be driving.

I've done that drive myself many times, though I am somewhat of an expert. I drive a truck for a living and go over five hundred miles a night.

That said, in a car things go faster than in a truck. I can usually (by myself), make it to LA in just over fourteen hours from Portland (Hillsboro, actually) Oregon.

Having a family with you will likely add several hours. Some tips for driving that I've come up with...

Leave well before dawn. When it gets light out, you tend to get a second wind or something. Also, if you leave very early, others are more likely to sleep while you drive (time flies by that way). It should be noted, as well, that the most dangerous time to drive long distance is right at the crack of dawn. It makes many people very sleepy. If you have already been driving for many hours when this time occurs, you may be less likely to pull over (don't ask me why).

If you have a gps unit, it will help with fuel, food and restroom planning, though I would not purchase one just for the trip.

My car uses premium, and I estimate $5 a gallon for comparisons. Rather than rent a car for sixteen days and pay for a flight, we will use our car, and the fuel will be 2000miles/30mpg*$5 a gallon. 67 gallons. Overall $335.

Even with just me driving, it makes sense (except for time, but for me, that works as well).

I hope that helps,

Wade

 

[kajcwman]

Well, considering that it's right at 1000 miles from Portland to Anaheim (993 miles from my house) 15 hours sounds about right (mapquest says 15 hr 34 min from my house). It can be done in 1 day, but it'll be tough. Especially with 4 kids (I don't know what ages they are either). Still, if you're saving over $1200 in travel costs (plus car rental in Anaheim) that's no small potatoes.

We have no plans to visit DL in the near future. We have driven to DL before, but that was over 2 days. MIL now lives in Medford. Now that drive is "only" 11 hours. I guess we'd have to see what flight prices are when we do decide to take our next trip. Good luck.

 

[travelmel]

Hey, some local flavor on the Dis!

We flew on July 11th but I don't know what the prices were as we had one 1/2 price ticket and one free ticket from miles and such. Even with all those discounts the tickets were STILL $200 each (averaged out w/discounts). We put ALL of groceries, etc onto a credit card w/miles so we can try to get something out of it.

One thing you can do for the future is: Go to expedia and stick in your destinations PDX to ONT (that's the cheapest place to fly into TYPICALLY but it's obviously a little bit more of a drive in the rental) ... I think you can pick up to three destinations PDX to LAS )) or PDX to LAX.. whatever. Then you can put in how low you want to receive alerts about. For instance, we put in that we want alerts if the price drops below $225. So throughout the year it alerts us to that automatically then we can decide if we want to pick up our tickets then. Just a thought

We just got back from PDX TONIGHT in fact... our girls stayed behind for an extra week to visit family in So cal and now they're home

Have a great trip!

 

[avalon451]

Have you been checking on all the airports? you might find better prices out of LGB or ONT. They can change so fast, too.

 

[Mililani Mouser]

i wish i had the option of driving!!

last year i paid $1500 for 5 of us to fly into lax.
this year i am paying $2100 for 4 of us to fly to lax (hubby's company paying for his flight since he's going to a conference).

 

[bumbershoot]

Have you looked into Virgin America? I don't know if they go out of PDX, actually, but even if they only go from SEA, checking into it MIGHT be worth it for you.

Since September, hubby and I are against driving, especially straight through, though we both used to do it (at least to the Bay Area) quite often. Took us 3 days to get up to Seattle on our way up, and we are still not totally sure why it took so long. And why it took us 12 hours from Santa Cruz to Anaheim we will never EVER know.

So try to fly, if only so you don't enter the same mystery vortex we did on the way down!

 

[Brady's Mom]

We have driven and flown, much prefer flying, but with the cost of tickets for 5 people we are driving. Granted, we are not driving quite as far. We drive from Utah and its about 10 hours. But, we have a 4 year old and 6 year old so we are stopping overnight in Las Vegas to break up the trip.

Ticket prices are a little high for us right now, and our car gets great mileage. (close to 40 on the highway)

If my 2 little kids were a few years older, I would drive straight through.

 

[50sjayne]

Well we're driving. but the cost of airfare doesn't have too much to do with it, husband hates flying. I got $74 roundtrip tickets last year- well had them on the computer screen all day from Eugene even--to LAX and he threw a fit (it was a mistake that they actually honored, I talked to a travel agent who is a friend) But that aside, we've made the trip as a family 5-6 times and it generally takes us 15 from Eugene. I think we have pulled over to rest. That sleepiness at daybreak thing--it is so true.
We will probably leave around 4pm to try to be there when the gates open. It's insane I know but its fun to go right in and go back to the room later to check in and sleep for a few hours. I know HOJO will let us have the car there before check in if we ask. If we drive at night it'll be easy to keep to the speed limit, saving on gas and my son can sleep. Husband will probably end up driving most of the way although I think last time I drove about 5 hours of it, he just likes to drive (but he gets tired and sleeps easy) I can always sleep easy in the car too, strange for me. This way we can have all of our food/appliances, utensils and have a car to go do other stuff like be in the audience for 2 & 1/2 men, visit Forest Lawn cemetary etc.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

We have also decided to drive instead of flying as well. It's around 1300 miles to DL from where I live, and even when you factor in fuel, and hotel for 2 nights each way, we will still be saving over $500.00 CDN over flying. It would cost us around $2300.00CDN to fly to lax. Factor in the shuttle bus to DL from LAX, and driving is looking to be the way to go for us. Factor in I can get a cheaper rate for the hotel we want to stay at through booking it directly, than through a travel agent, and there's no second thought about driving. By my figures it's going to take 3 days to get to DL from where I live. The kids are old enough to handle 2 to 3 hrs on the road at a time before stopping for a break. So it makes it more viable to drive. Have a great day!!

Trish

 

[splash5]

Since we just decided to make an impromptu trip on Aug. 10-15, airfare is almost $300 pp from Portland, or Seattle. We live in Longview, WA. It looks like we will be driving the 17 hours to get there. I will keep checking airfare - but I think hubby wants it to be a road trip this time. We will probably stop in a hotel on the way, but it still saves us around $300 or so. We have done this trip straight through, but it is not the preferred way to do it. It is myself, DH and DS 14. (we haven't even told DS we are going - we will wait until the day before or the morning of.) I feel so sneaky!!!!

 

[dalepool]

Would it not be perfect if People could car pool down I-5 and back. Let the families who have a member that is afraid to fly travel via Cars, trucks, Motorhome, or camper. Share the fuel cost and enjoy the drive. Ok that is in a perfect world. Prices for flights via Portland to Sna have only jumped 25-30 dollars in last two months. There is a summer special on alaskaair.com from seattle to lax,ontario,burbank and SNA. I was thinking last day to use was Oct 31.

 

[dalepool]

Since we just decided to make an impromptu trip on Aug. 10-15, airfare is almost $300 pp from Portland, or Seattle. We live in Longview, WA. It looks like we will be driving the 17 hours to get there. I will keep checking airfare - but I think hubby wants it to be a road trip this time. We will probably stop in a hotel on the way, but it still saves us around $300 or so. We have done this trip straight through, but it is not the preferred way to do it. It is myself, DH and DS 14. (we haven't even told DS we are going - we will wait until the day before or the morning of.) I feel so sneaky!!!!

Hi there I saw Longview WA and thought gosh did I say where I lived in my post---- Nope--- we both live in same town. I am going in Oct for the Halloween party at DCA .

 

[jcatron243]

I've driven straight through before. Before the kids, it took us about 18 hours to get there (I am on the WA coast). when we went with the kids, 11 months and 3 1/2 it took about 20 hours all together. We had a DVD player games, bubbles, crayons, Plenty for them to do to keep them entertained. I entertained them, hubby drove. We stopped several times for leg stretching time and potty breaks. Only thing is the trip home is a bit tough, because we were so worn out from our fun days. Hubby was ok until we hit longview. Just be prepared with snacks and plenty of water, and stop if you need to.

 

[godalejunior]

Hi there I saw Longview WA and thought gosh did I say where I lived in my post---- Nope--- we both live in same town. I am going in Oct for the Halloween party at DCA .

Longview-ite here too. We booked through Alaska for a December and January trip. We got both at $250 pp, which is about "average" for out of PDX. I actually booked at a slightly higher rate and then saw the "Hot Deals" come through for about a week only and then had them credit me the difference.

 

[reynmagsmom]

we r in kelso(Howdy Neighbors!!!!!!) I am so suprised they r others close to me who share my obsess....uh love for disney!!! we always stop in santa nella bout a 12 hour trip from here then another 4 to 5 hours depending on traffic to DLR, been doing this since my kids were little...they r 16 and 17 now ....the drive isnt all that bad as it is straight down I5 all the way, a bit boring at times but not bad..... I drive a dodge minivan and i think we spent like $400ish in april total for gas down and back so for us driving always outweighs flying as it means more money for other goodies at the parks......

Have a great time all of u who are going, Im trying to talk hubby into another trip in nov or dec for xmas....we will see how it goes

 

[nun69]

we are driving from northern WA today but we will have a stop over in Portland and be staying witht he inlaws for the night and then up early to drive tomorrow...but we are staying over in Frisco and then goign to Legoland for 2 days....we drove this last year and we spent about $400 in gas and I suspect we will spend about $500 this year...so I will keep you posted...we take our time and ususally give oursleves 2 days to get there and do Goofy's Kitchen the 1st night and then just walk around DTD and get a good night's rest and then start bright and early the next morning...

 

[rosiep]

I didn't realize we had so many Oregonians. I live in SE Portland. Up until recently my DD lived in L.A and I was flying back and forth rather often...but You're right, the airfares have increased and I am looking for every which way to save money. I'd like to go in January for my 25th wedding anniversary. I have 1 free seat on United (which I hate) or possibly a $50 companion ticket on Alaskan...I'm leaning towards Alaskan even if it's a bit more.

 

[splash5]

Hello to fellow Washingtonians and also those of you in the Kelso, Longview area. I agree, it is nice to know that someone with your same fondness for Disney lives near. We may have to form a support group.

We looked into flights and the best that I could find was for $246 pp. We were hoping the Virgin Atlantic or Alaska was doing the $79 or $99 each way, but no such luck. If anyone has any strategies for finding a cheap flight with about 13 days to go- let me know.

 

[IASWAM]

We are driving down from OR, but we are stopping in Sacramento for one night to visit relatives. We figure it's about 10 hours from where we live to Sacramento, then 6 hours from there to DL (give or take). We could do it in a day, but I'm Glad to take the break in between. BTW this will be the first time we have drove down, so I hope it's not too bad.

P.S. 11 days and counting!!!