Driving from Portland, OR to WDW?

[rdevine10]

We have driven from CT to Fl several times. It usually takes about 21 hours for our trip (stops included). But we go straight through the night with 2 drivers rotating. Honestly (I am pretty adventurous), I dont know if I would attempt that. I would do DisneyLAND from Oregon. I would drive several hours to an airport if the price was MUCH cheaper.. but 3 days there and 3 days back would be really rough on me and my kids (who are used to traveling!).

 

[DawnM]

When we moved from CA to NC it took 4.5 days of driving. It was exhausting. I can't imagine driving that far and then doing a Disney trip. And then the whole driving back again would just send me over the edge!

 

[PDXDisGuy]

I want to start off by thanking everyone who has chimed in already, and I look forward to other thoughts and opinions.

I posted this message here and on the Transportation board and have gotten some good feedback (even if it's one of people thinking I've gone insane... ).

When I was married to my first wife, it was just the two of us, so flying down and a week or two of a rental car wasn't that much of a concern. Sure, we had to save, but add in five kiddos and boy howdy does the cost to fly skyrocket... Hence my posting on the DISBoards.

The furthest I've ever traveled by car was about 975 miles, way back in 2001 when my ex-wife, myself, and four other friends drove two vehicles down from Oregon to DL. That trip took about 19 hours (Google Maps says it should take about 16, so with stopping for food/gas/potty, everything seems in order with their estimation, if driving non-stop).

As for the suggestions to travel to DLR...well, it just doesn't compare to WDW. All of the children have been to DLR, so it's not really an option (at least at this point in time). WDW is much more appealing, especially to DW and the teens. I've always known that flying would be the way to go, but it's such a sticker shock to DW. I said that I would do my due diligence and do as much investigation into other alternatives as possible, and do it I shall! :

I truly do appreciate all of the friendly information I've been given and I'll come back with more of my own, once we nail things down a little more!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

MapQuest gives three choices. All are between 3,000 and 3,100 miles one way. They vary in time from 45:50 to 47:44. This does not include any time for stopping. So you would have to add time for meals, gassing up the car, sleeping, etc.

Basically with 12 hour days you would be figuring on four full days each way.

And with seven people in the car, all may not arrive alive!nn Especially on the way home. You would really have to figure on two full weeks, and only six days actually in the Parks!

Not a recommended action.

Also, figure at least $600 each way for gasoline alone.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I'd look at different airport to fly from/to. For example, we can fly out of ATL to MCO for much less and it's a 4 hr drive. Or we can fly from here to JAX for much less and it's a 4 hr drive to Orlando from there. Either way, it saves a bundle and is better than driving 12 hrs! Look at diff airports

 

[DOOM1001]

I'd look at different airport to fly from/to. For example, we can fly out of ATL to MCO for much less and it's a 4 hr drive. Or we can fly from here to JAX for much less and it's a 4 hr drive to Orlando from there. Either way, it saves a bundle and is better than driving 12 hrs! Look at diff airports

I agree to look for surrounding airports,I just did a random date search in September and Portland to Orlando gave me $454,I changed to Tampa and got $348,$106 savings per ticket.

 

[Wests4Disney]

I drove from california to Orlando, Florida. It was a U.S. trip, so it encompassed many more states than that, but it was a great trip. We did camp and so the cost was fairly reasonable.

I can't answer the question of how long it will take you, because we spent time in each state as we traveled. We drove about 300-500 miles per day. That was the limit the kids and I could handle.

I can tell you that we have fond memories of that trip and it bonded my 2 kids like no other trip could (you learn to love or hate one another as you sit next to each other for hours on end in the back seat of a pickup truck).

I will edit my post when I get home with the details regarding the cost for gas and mileage. We actually went several years ago when gas was over $3.00 and nearing $4.00/gallon and we questioned if we would cancel the trip due to the gas prices. I can say that in our experience the gas got cheaper as we headed to Florida.

Our trip was 6 weeks long and we covered 30 states in our travels. I can say that I felt so proud and victorious when we arrived in Florida.

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

I'm another Oregonian here, though we have never made the drive from Oregon to Orlando, we have drove to Disneyland several times. That for us is right at 1000 miles. We can usually do this in about 15 hours and that is with only short stops and children the car. So for the near 3000 miles you are looking at at least 45 hours non stop which is very unrealistic. I would give yourself about 4 days with the amount of people you have going (which means more stops), or perhaps save up longer and go once everyone is able to fly.

 

[lukenick1]

If you are real flexible with your dates and are willing to travel to another airport then you may be able to find a good bargain. I would be willing to do a search for good bargains for you if you want to tell me when?

 

[squirrel]

Look into the airline CC. That can save you some $.

I know a lot of people were getting free flights with the Southwest CC sign up. I couldn't partake as I'm Canadian so I did the Alaska Airlines CC. Not as great a deal but the non-stop flight is great along with the companion rate of $99.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I'd look at different airport to fly from/to. For example, we can fly out of ATL to MCO for much less and it's a 4 hr drive. Or we can fly from here to JAX for much less and it's a 4 hr drive to Orlando from there. Either way, it saves a bundle and is better than driving 12 hrs! Look at diff airports

12 hours is a snap - load up on some pulled pork at Stan's in Columbia, TN and you're all set!!!

 

[eeyoregon]

I'm an Oregonian too and NO WAY would I be able to drive to Orlando.

I'm thinking that with gas being over $4.00 a gallon in every state + the fact that you would have to drive a gas guzzler to fit 7 people and luggage + hotels and food both ways + the amount of time it would take to get there and back = FLY!!

 

[Nicolepa]

We fly Seattle to Florida at least once a year. To MCO we've never paid more than $360. We are flying to Ft. Lauderdale Tuesday and paide $316 a ticket (x5).

There is nothing that could make me do that drive, especially with kids. This is coming from someone who's parents made the drive from SEA to Albuquerque every Christmas.

 

[hopemax]

In 2005, I helped my Dad drive from Bellingham, WA to Orlando (moving, my Mom was already there, but my Dad needed someone to help with the cat).

It took us five days. Bellingham, WA - Ontario, OR - Cheyenne, WY - Chillicouthe, MO near Marceline, MO (the one Walt Disney lived in as a child) - Murfreesboro, TN - Orlando, FL

We had a partial day our first day, and we spent a half a day in Marceline visiting Walt's Barn, the elementary school and a few other places. They have a Disney museum that is open in the summer too. Other than that we only stopped for gas, food, bathroom. We'd be on the road by 7 and stop about 5 or 6 PM. It was a long trip, especially the last day. Georgia went on forever.

It would be fun, if the journey was part of the trip, stopping in St Louis, Nashville, Chattanooga, Atlanta could be fun, but we just drove and drove; there was no time. A drive like that with family just trying to get to WDW...be prepared to hear a lot of "are we there yet." Both my Dad and I are used to long drives, since most of my childhood vacations were driving from WA to WI/IL where my parents were originally from, and even I kept wanting to say "are we there yet?"