Driving from W.Michigan, Am I crazy?

[momhmmx2]

Anyone out there in Western Michigan have experience driving to WDW? Just trying to weigh my options as to whether or not I want to do this. So please give me the good and the BAD parts about driving.

I can get tix on Airtran for about $200 per person RT. We will probably rent a car while at disney this time (we NEVER have in our 10+ visits) but we want to go see the H.P. addition at Universal 1-2 days out of our stay. Plus a trip to the store or two will make renting a car a good thing.

So, what do you think? We would be traveling this winter.

 

[dzorn]

How many people?

For us yep crazy easier to fly with my crew of 4. I'd rather have those days in Disney then on the road.

YMMV

Denise in MI (10 minutes from DTW)

 

[momhmmx2]

There are 4 of us..2 adults and 2 kids..DS age 10 and DD age 13...

 

[Riviera510]

If you're crazy I must be crazier. We'll be driving to Disney in November with 3 kids (7, 5, and 5).

Airfare was $200RT per person plus luggage fees plus we would also need to rent a car as we are going to Sea World one day and driving to the ocean another.

 

[bear_mom]

I'm with Denise on this one. There is sometime about a 2 hour flight vs. a 20 car ride. Especially in the winter.

Emily

 

[klovesdisney]

We leave for Disney in 2 weeks and are flying for the first time. Drove with 3 kids the past 2 trips to Disney. We drove from Ontario, Canada so a little further. We drove straight through...yes 24 hrs straight! The kids slept for a good 10 hours of the trip. Then we made stops to stretch frequently during the day. If you have the extra few days to spare for traveling then go for it. I have to tell you I'm looking forward to no driving and spending those extra days in the parks. Either way you'll make it a magical trip!

 

[GEB@okw]

2400 miles round trip at 0.50 a mile is $1200 And it's impossible to drive a car for less than 0.50 a mile, just ask the IRS. You can fly for a lot less, even with six people....

 

[cheyandrew7]

We are driving down from ohio to disney next year with 3 kids DD5 DS3 DS1 it's much cheaper to drive then fly for us plus my hubby is scaried about the plane ride so he demands we drive which with 2 of us driving we will make it down there with in 20 hours not bad

 

[cdrn1]

We are driving down from ohio to disney next year with 3 kids DD5 DS3 DS1 it's much cheaper to drive then fly for us plus my hubby is scaried about the plane ride so he demands we drive which with 2 of us driving we will make it down there with in 20 hours not bad

Boy are you brave.
My DD is a carseat tech. She has kids roughly the same ages and she straps them in so tight I worry they will get pressure sores! LOL! No way would we drive. So much nicer to be there in 2 hours.
But you know what's right for you, and I do have fond memories of driving down with my own kids, and as a kid myself. We always left around 5 pm and the kids would fall asleep in Tennesee and wake up in Georgia.
We would all be sooo excited to get there and have that sense of adventure, and then all the way home think, "never again!" and be exhausted.
But we always did it again.

 

[Goofy Mouse]

We've driven to Disney at least 15 times from southern Michigan. This will be our first time flying. It's really just a part of the vacation to us. We've driven in all kinds of weather from blizzards to hurricanes. But hey, IT'S DISNEY!! The kids have never complained, they've always taken activities to occupy themselves. There's something about searching out that first palm tree that's just so exciting, it just keeps your excitement building. Decided to try flying this time, but it has always been cheaper for us to drive and it affords us the flexibility to hit the outlet malls and the beaches on the way home. We like to drive along the coast and check out beaches on our way home.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Crazy yes. Especially since you are traveling in the winter.
The cost of gas, not to mention the added time spent in the car are not worth driving.
You may have to deal with travel delays because of bad weather. Remember most states south of KY don't have snow removal equipment so they simply shut down the city when the get as little as 2 inches of snow. You are also added many many miles to your car.
I would look into SWA ding and sign up for it. In fact SWA just had $25 coupons offer which we just used last week and with one coupon we saved $50 total on our trip. Plus SWA allows up to 2 pieces of checked luggage per passenger for free. Airtran also has good deals out of Detroit.

 

[rojo]

Crazy yes!!! I'd much rather be there in 2 hrs than 21 hrs and exhausted! Have you tried spirits $9 dollar club. We just went 3 weeks ago family of 6 are total cost for us was $604!!! Its definitely worth looking into!

 

[maxiesmom]

I would have to go with yes, you are crazy! There is no way I would try and drive south in the winter from Michigan, the weather can be fine in one place and horrible in another. I have had it where it has been snowing like crazy by my house, and my sister who lives 10 miles away has sunny weather.

Not to mention I would rather be in Florida in 3 hours instead of 2 days.

 

[Julylady]

Our last driving trip from Grand Rapids to Orlando was about 15 years ago. Two trips in a row we had to drive through horrible conditions. Once was snow, the other a thunderstorm with hail.

When we returned home after the last driving trip I announced to the family that that was the last time I was ever driving to Florida. If we couldn't afford to fly we weren't going.

I am a woman of my word....

 

[2DisPrincesses]

Don't think you're crazy at all- we drove from around the Lansing area in June. We drove straight through (DH and I alternating).

This was our 3rd time to drive it, but the first time with the girls. They did really well. In fact, DD(5) is a little disappointed that we are flying next month.

I think the drive could be fun, especially with your kids being older!

 

[#1SonofMIannie]

Flying is the only way to go........if you can justify the costs. As a family we have done the straight through driving from Northern Michigan. Going down was not a problem and generally arrived without any meltdowns. Coming back always seems to take two days however. Cannot gather enough energy to "sprint" back. Next trip which is slated for the end of Feb, I am laying down the big $$$ to fly in order to avoid the questionable weather that sits between here and there. 2-1/2 hours in the air versus 24-1/2 hours in the car is worth the price if snow or ice could be a factor.

 

[HHSTigerFan]

Crazy yes!!! I'd much rather be there in 2 hrs than 21 hrs and exhausted! Have you tried spirits $9 dollar club. We just went 3 weeks ago family of 6 are total cost for us was $604!!! Its definitely worth looking into!

So you can really make it from your front door to the front desk at your resort in 2 hours? WOW!!