Driving or Flying

[lnuss1988]

I am planning our trip for Sept 2015. At first my husband didn't want fly, and we just got confirmation from my MIL and FIL that they ARE going!

He then told me he wants to fly now instead of drive!

Any thoughts or either one? It doesn't matter to me, I've flown to WDW before. My DH, DD and MIL have never flown.

I know we still have some time, but I would like to watch airfare prices this year to see when cheaper rates come out and so on.

My only concern is the price of flying! It makes me cringe just thinking of the price for the 3 of us round trip!

 

[rwdavis2]

I've made the drive from Pittsburgh to WDW and would not do it again.

I don't think there is any way to reliably time buying tickets for the best price. The best way to protect yourself is to buy from Southwest since you can rebook for no fee if the price goes down and you keep the difference as credit in your FF account.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Look at it this way... It will take you about 15-17 hours to drive to WDW plus you will more than likely have to stay over night along the way, both sides of the trip. That is 30-34 vacation hours you will be spending in a vehicle. Nearly a week worth of work hours spent in a car. Along with 4 days of travel.

SWA has good flight prices and the 1st 2 bags for each passenger are free.

I would fly .

 

[lnuss1988]

The three times I've been there, we flew the first time and drove the other times. It really wasn't bad driving. We left a day early and still had the whole week for our vacation. I would rather leave home a day early and drive and save $1,000 dollars.

I guess I answered my own post. Either way it doesn't matter to me, I will get our 7 days in WDW no matter which way we go!

 

[Donna M]

It might come down to how your in-laws would handle that long of a drive. The older I get the more miserable long drives become. Price could also become a factor. Since you have a while til your trip you can keep an eye on the prices and see how the in-laws are doing, unless they aren't even going to be in the car with you.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Look at it this way... It will take you about 15-17 hours to drive to WDW plus you will more than likely have to stay over night along the way, both sides of the trip. That is 30-34 vacation hours you will be spending in a vehicle. Nearly a week worth of work hours spent in a car. Along with 4 days of travel.

SWA has good flight prices and the 1st 2 bags for each passenger are free.

I would fly .

Be realistic. You lose 1.5 days each way to drive or .5 days each way to fly. It's a difference of 2 day, not "nearly a week". Only OP can decide if the money saved is more important than the time, but the more people you involve, the more financial sense it makes to drive.

 

[lnuss1988]

I have us arriving on a Saturday and leaving the following Saturday. I didn't plan on doing anything the Saturday we leave, so if we drive it won't be a problem. If we fly it will just be a bonus to have some of that day depending on what time our flight is. If we drive we will arrive Friday evening, I will just pay for that extra night and then we will have all day Saturday. When we drive, we drive straight threw. Leave around 1am and arrive around 10pm.

My MIL and DH wan to drive, they have never flown before and my FIL doesn't care. They drive to SC to the beach every year so driving isn't an issue for the inlaws.

 

[dvczerfs]

Be realistic. You lose 1.5 days each way to drive or .5 days each way to fly. It's a difference of 2 day, not "nearly a week". Only OP can decide if the money saved is more important than the time, but the more people you involve, the more financial sense it makes to drive.

my dd just flew home Saturday. I drive the trip in 15 hours, door to door. it took her 10 hours door to door flying. 2 1/2 hour flight, no delays. and I can pack anything I want in my suit case.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Be realistic. You lose 1.5 days each way to drive or .5 days each way to fly. It's a difference of 2 day, not "nearly a week". Only OP can decide if the money saved is more important than the time, but the more people you involve, the more financial sense it makes to drive.

I am realistic 30 hours (15 hours driving each way -not factoring in the over night stays in the hotel both ways), of a 40 hour work week is almost a full work week spent in just traveling. Flying will be 2 hours at the airport , 3 hours in the air, 1 1/2 hours to get to the resort = 6 1/2 hours. not a half day to travel by air.

 

[lnuss1988]

If I drive I can pack whatever I want, not have to worry about lugging the stroller at the airport, buy whatever souvenirs I want, pack breakfast foods and water, and not have to pay for a grocery service to do it for me.

I guess I knew the answer to my question before I posted. Driving is all I know. We drive everywhere when we go on trips. Flying is never really brought up.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I am realistic 30 hours (15 hours driving each way -not factoring in the over night stays in the hotel both ways), of a 40 hour work week is almost a full work week spent in just traveling. Flying will be 2 hours at the airport , 3 hours in the air, 1 1/2 hours to get to the resort = 6 1/2 hours. not a half day to travel by air.

If you're comparing the 30 hours to 40 work hours, then you have to do the same with the 6.5 - which within the context of a work day is 81% of a day. That's more than half

Or, look at it this way. If it takes 6.5 hours to fly, the person who left in their car at the same time is now 8.5 hours from reaching the destination to which you just arrived. I think we can all agree 8.5 hours is roughly ONE work day. So again, you lose 1 day at each end for a total of 2.

Edit: you also forgot to factor travel time TO the airport in your equation. Obviously, that number is different for everyone, but even if you live right up the street, figure 1/2 an hour minimum to get parked, catch a shuttle, and fiddle with your bags.