Driving next trip?

[mkymouse4ever]

How many people are planning on driving to wdw versus flying this time, for any reason?

 

[Pluto4President]

as long as I can afford the luxury, flying!

 

[GEM]

I picked that we would have driven anyway.

We planned our December trip this summer and we have been planning on driving right from the beginning. We are two twenty-somethings with no kids. We always drive to WDW when we can spare the extra time. It's not really about the money, we just actually enjoy the road trip! Wierd, I know. We load up the car with snacks and drinks in the cooler, take all our CDs, pack a pillow, and get on the road. It is about a 18 hour drive for us and we always have lots of fun on the drive. Sometimes we spend one night on the road and sometimes we drive straight through, depending on how much time we have.

 

[mom42860]

We'll be driving, not out of fear but we have rethought the trip because of the attack- DH had driven as a child and liked the adventure.

 

[CapHook]

Driving is good family time. I can drive to from Houston to WDW round trip for $300. That includes staying in motels during the trip.

Where am I going to find airfare for 5 people that is anywhere close to $300? If you know of a deal please let me know!

 

[Chuck S]

I'm flying next month to Vegas. But we'd already planned to drive on our January trip to WDW because a lady traveling with us has an ear problem that prevents her from enjoying air travel.

 

[smarro]

Not so much because we are afraid of flying but for a combination of issues. DH was never wild about flying anyway. For starters, we can't afford to be out the money for plane tickets should anything else happen. We also are not thrilled about the possibility of being stuck in some airport for any reason. Our local airport seems to have cancelled most of its direct flights. By the time we added up the cost and travel time of flying (getting two and from the airport, layovers, paying to leave car or getting someone to drive us, staying in a hotel to catch a 6:30 am flight, etc.) It would be simpler to just drive. We are planning a March trip and the closest airport (without direct flights) is 1 1/2 hours. We could be having a blizzard here and there be no snow at the airport. There is a possibility of changing our minds again, but at this point, we are going to drive it. With all we hear about the airlines changing flights etc. We are just not ready to buy tickets to live on the edge of our seats all the time about what will happen. If we plan to drive, we have until the last minute to decide whether or not to go. We also figure we may be able to snag a hotel deal when we get there if tourism doesn't pick up. We are actually praying the whole economy bounces back though, especially tourism. For now we plan to drive, but we are going to evaluate the whole situation again after Christmas.

 

[tinaluis]

We'd scheduled a driving trip and, on a whim, I made non-refundable air reservations ($512.00 for 4 tix) in August figuring we'd "treat" ourselves. Now, I regret doing so. I've called Hotwire and they steadfastly refuse to allow any changes or refunds. I know it's not a ton of money but I'd sure hate to lose it. Our trip is in the beginning of November so we're going to wait and see how things go.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

I'm glad others are interested in this issue. We were at wdw over the attacks, and did fly home, as we had set up, but would of liked to return home, following the attacks, but were at wdw for over another week. Just thought we had drove before and if anything else happened we could leave if we desired to. I had check about renting a car to drive home and at that time it would of added 300.00 to our car rental because of changing drop of place and time. not to mention the price of the return airfare lost. Think we will plan to drive straight through takes 20+hours from here, and if everything is settled may get air at last minute. MKY

 

[lifer]

we've gone at least once every year together since '91, and 1991 was the last trip by auto; we waited to book airfare for this october trip, & boy, are we glad! it's not so much fear of unknown, but of hassles at airports, extra time & security AND who know what madmen will do 'tween now & next friday?...we swore we'd never drive again, and we lived to eat our words...got a great deal on minivan, though, less than we'd pay in orlando with unlimited mileage thru avis...hope the mattresses at the courtyard are forgiving after drive from jersey

 

[jenny2]

We were supposed to fly out of Boston on September 14th. Obviously, the airport was still closed but even if it were open DH and I decided we'd rather drive. It really wasn't too bad. We left around noon on the 13th and got to PO-FQ around noon on the 14th.

The next time we do it we're going to leave around dinner time. That way we'll be fresh through the night and as we start to get sleepy the sun will be coming up. We'll make it to the hotel around dinner time, and can eat and then sleep right away!

 

[Padre Disney]

we did the same as TINALUIS. We had planned on driving for over a year and a half and then came across a geat deal on tickets. We have never liked flying but thought it would be a nice treat. Have had second thoughts since we bought our non refundable tickets over 2 months ago.
We love driving with our four kids. We drive every summer 21 hours straight through for summer vacations. We are from Iowa and thought it would be nice to avoid the winter driving weather. Now we are hoping for our flights to be cancelled so we can get a refund and drive.

If we end up having to fly we will but it will be the last time we ever fly.

 

[ducklite]

I didn't vote--you don't have "Flying, no reason not to." I'm not "Flying but keeping my options open." My option is to fly. Statistically I'm safer there. And seeing the reactions of pax in the past few days to incidents on board, I'll keep flying.

Anne

 

[robinb]

I'm flying for the next trip in November, but driving the one (6 weeks) after that. Why am I driving? We're going over NYE and air fares are through the roof! Plus, we'd have to rent a car while down there. Instead, we're driving.

 

[horseshowmom]

I didn't vote because we probably wouldn't have driven anyway, but it isn't our first time to drive either. We used to drive at least once to twice a year (15-16 hours).

If my husband goes with us, we'll probably have to drive. DD (14) and I are both comfortable with flying. She has minor concerns about it but would much rather fly than have to drive. DH was never crazy about flying anyway (although he did so without complaining). When I try to bring it up now, he just doesn't discuss it. Sooo, flying is probably out if he goes.

On the other hand, he doesn't want to go anywhere right now; so if they pass the travel credit, and he won't go, she and I will probably fly down sometime between when the bill passes and 12-31-01. Since we would get reimbursed, I'll probably book a nice room at the Contemporary or Wilderness Lodge along with Portofino Bay or Hard Rock and have a great time with just the 2 of us! Of course, we would much rather have him along.

 

[travelcoupons]

The only way I won't be flying is if every airline shut down for good.

 

[Tiger Fan]

We have driven our past three trips and will actuallyl be flying this time. You didn't have that option, but I'm sure we're in the minority . This trip will be shorter than our other two this year and it's not possible to drive. We live about 10 hours away and it would be just too hard to drive. We had planned on flying before 9-11, and haven't changed our plans.

Lisa

 

[Rajah]

We leave in just a couple of days and this trip will be flying. How security is handled and how much of a hassle it is now to fly is going to determine whether we fly next trip or drive. If we drive instead of fly, it will be because of irritation levels, not because of fear.

 

[Wendy]

We normally drive, but are flying this time to save money. We got airfare for 4 roundtrip from Houston for right about $400 a couple of months ago. At those rates, it's cheaper to fly than drive! I'm not changing my plans because of the attacks, because I know that statistically I'm still safer in the air than in a car all those miles.

 

[mkymouse4ever]