Driving to WDW from NE Ohio

[MagicPrincess]

DH and I are debating whether or not to drive or fly. We would stop for one night on the way down...once on the way back (maybe a little detour to Savannah)

I have heard it's about a 16 hour trip. Not too worried with the kids, they will be 8 and 4 and travel great! thank goodness!!!

Can anyone recommend a good stopping place on the way down? I would prefer to drive a little further that first day, and have a shorter trip the second.
Thanks so much!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Why drive when you could fly!! Airtran out of Akron has great fares $79 each way. There is a new airline in Toledo- Jet America- and I booked a fare for $9.00 each way YES $9.00 each way for a total of $98 for two people.

Why waste 16 hours each way of your vacation. Think 32 hours of your vacation will be spent trapped in a car! That is one whole day of your vacation wasted in just getting too and from Disney. Not to mention the wear and tear you are putting on your vehicle. What if the car breaks down on the way there? Now you have an added expense to your trip not to mention you would have to wait for repairs to be made which could take a day or two. After driving for 16 hours whoever does the most driving will certainly need a rest.

 

[MagicPrincess]

We're definitely not ruling out flying exactly because of that- why waste those 32 hours in the car, and put all that wear and tear on our car (which has enough wear and tear on it already!).

We would either fly out of Cleveland or Akron/Canton.
If we go to Disney July 2010, when should I start looking for deals on flights, and what is the best way to go about doing that? Is there a good site that you would recommend? (Travelocity, etc...???)

Thanks!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Travelocity and Expedia are good places to start. What I usually do and look at one of those sites to get an idea or which airline has the best price then I go to that airlines site to see what their price is.

If you are going in July 2010 is too early to book now. A lot of the cheaper airlines- Airtran, Southwest - don't have their July 2010 flights posted yet. I would not start looking until the first of the year.
I would definately consider Airtran out of Akron. For the past year their flights have been right around $79. That is what they are currently and that is what they were when we took our Trip back in Feb 2009. It is a small airport and makes the whole airport experienc much less stressful.

 

[MagicPrincess]

Thanks for all the info! I'm sure you'll be seeing alot of me on the DIS boards as I plan our trip!
Thanks again!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

What part of Ohio are you in? I am just west of Westlake

 

[MagicPrincess]

What part of Ohio are you in? I am just west of Westlake

We're in Barberton- right outside of Akron!

 

[Kaler131]

When we drive from Columbus, Ohio we stop in Hilton Head and spend the night on the way down and in Charlotte on the way home.

 

[jbdisneymom13]

We've made a few trips from NW Ohio to Disney in the last five years. When taking 75, we stop just north of Atlanta. When driving 77 to 95 we stop around Brunswick, GA. Both make for easy trips to Orlando the next day. We just drove it the last time Christmas of 08 and on the way home my DH decided he was ready to be back so we drove straight through and from door to door including many a bathroom stop we made it in 17 hours (and survived!) This Aug we're flying because of time constraints but will not be afraid to drive it again in the future. Our DD 12 and DS 6 love stopping at each state's welcome center and collecting travel info. They are wishing we are driving this summer instead of flying! Have fun planning

 

[MagicPrincess]

Our DD 12 and DS 6 love stopping at each state's welcome center and collecting travel info. They are wishing we are driving this summer instead of flying! Have fun planning

Now this is one reason why we might drive...DH has plenty of vacation time, and I remember driving to disney as a child, the trip was like an adventure! Stopping in each state's welcome center was half the fun- and you knew you were that much closer to WDW!!!

Plus we would love to stop in Savannah, haven't been there since our honeymoon...And Paula Deen is calling our name!