Driving to WDW or have you changed your mind

[umaangel00]

The availability should be going up soon. There isn't a shortage of gas but the media is making it seem like there is. THere is really no need to panic about it because gas stations can get more gas but just right now, the media is portraying it as they can't and everyone is running to get it now.

 

[GoofyDad869]

Actually, in some pockets availability *is* a concern. I used to work for a major petroleum retailer (meaning: truck stops) headquartered here in Knoxville (where I-40 & I-75 join). I have friends who still work there and their petroleum buyers for that company have had a very, very stressful week. At one time earlier this week the local terminals had about a day & a half of historic Labor Day weekend demand (usually the terminals have anywhere from 4-7 days). For anything short of a panic situation it should be enough supply to meet needs.

The I-75/95 corridors in south Georgia / Florida are very well provisioned compared to national use. The only markets that regularly exceed the I-75/95 corridor for supply-side availability are I-5/10/20 (L.A. / San Diego) and I-95 (D.C. / Baltimore / Philly / Trenton / New York / Boston).

I'm not saying it is an issue, but more of a back-of-the-mind concern.

 

[dizneegirl]

We're supposed to leave in a week... with just 2 of us, I can't decide if we should drive or fly...

No way I'm cancelling, though!

 

[angel's momma]

We leave 9/23. Leaving from our closest airport, driving is still cheaper even with the rising gas prices, and it's not a non-stop flight. For a non-stop flight, we'd have to drive 3 hrs to the airport & then it's just slightly cheaper than what I've increased our gas budget to. We'll be driving.

 

[tjmouse]

Hello to a fellow Newnanite--Hope you can get gas and have a wonderful trip!!

Just wanted to add that my Grandfather lives in Newnan and we'll probably be visiting him on our way home after our December trip (driving)! It's a small, small world!!

 

[Eeyore2142]

We are now flying. I am too concerned about availability to drive anymore. There are only 2 of us, so at the cost, driving would have cost just as much.

I am worried about less souviner room now. Guess I will have to ship.

 

[ANTSS2001]

At this point, I would rather fly, but with a small amount of uncertainty existing in regards to the supply of jet fuel, I hesitate to make the change in plans. I hate not knowing what the right answer is. Gabby hates to fly, she is just certain that she will die in a plane crash. She is so wigged out about it that she has to be medicated if she flies. If we fly, it also robs her of a day and a half of time with her family. The plus side would be that we could spend an extra day at Disney and still come out cheaper than our current plans. I don't know!!!! Maggie

I am in brewing the same dillema... I have never been on a plane since 94 and it's a 16 hour drive from us if we leave at dawn. I was brain storming ( better than Katrina ) and with a rental car and air fare it will only cost us ( party of 2) around $600 with shorter travel time. I know I should see that this is a better opportunity but I am just not certain...

 

[threeboysmom]

There are 5 of us, so we are still driving. There is no way, even with the gas prices going up, that flying would be cheaper than us driving. We'd have to get tickets for $100 or less round trip and that's not going to happen over Thanksgiving break! So driving it is no matter how high the gas prices climb...

 

[ANTSS2001]

We're supposed to leave in a week... with just 2 of us, I can't decide if we should drive or fly...

No way I'm cancelling, though!

 

[dismom9761]

Talk about a small world.I am leaving Monday morning from Newnan.

 

[dismom9761]

Indigoxtreme,

Small world. I met someone else on the board from Newnan today, and talking with others in my predictament. I only need to fill up on the way down and once on the way back - but will the disney buses be running? Been looking forward to the Disney magic (first vacation in over a year due to finishing lawschool and the bar exam) - and my daughters first trip. Everything ok in Gainsville?

Disney buses are going.Though someone said there is noone on them.

 

[kizmac]

With a family of 8, it is still more economical to drive. I checked airline rates yesterday and could get SWA for around $818 R/T for all of us, but I still wouldn't want to be at the mercy of Disney Transportation all week so by time you add the rental, it just makes more sense to drive. So I pray gas prices stablize a bit by the end of Sept. so my gas guzzling Conversion van doesn't break the souviner budget, totally.
Glad we have the free dining to look forward too.

 

[Dalton5]

Leaving Sept. 11...Still driving..even with the price increase it is still the most economical for our family of 5....

 

[deacondarlin]

We leave the 16th, just DH and I. We had planned on driving, but I found airfare for $130 r/t from Charlotte...with gas prices, it would be about $50 more for us to fly than drive...3 hours of travel as opposed to 10 is a better deal to me.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

If gas prices go up to $5 a gallon it will cost us $600 round trip in gas Flying would cost us no more than $400 round trip. I am super scared to fly. I just hope that there is enough gas to get us there and back! We were debating all day long whether to fly or drive and I just can't bring myself to say 'ill be brave and fly' I can't!!!!
Leaving October 2nd for the WL...

 

[jdonat]

We've got a bit more than 3 months till we're due to go down to WDW and
my parents... i figured that gas is gonna cost me about $500.00 in gas to
get from Chicago to FL. We're gonna have to add 2 days worth of hotel rooms
and some food there, but it looks like it still may cost less than flying, given
the cost of airfare from ORD and MDW to the FL airports. We're going to
keep a good eye on gas costs for the next couple of months.
Rental car costs are pretty high, too...
Part of our problem is the goofy school schedule for our DD's -they get off
on 12/23, so's we have to travel either on 12/24 or 12/26 -and both days
right now are expensive so we'll keep an eye on them.
Well, we've got a 2005 Dodge minivan witha 6 disk DVD changer -so's this
baby is a real long distance hauler... It's about 20-24 hrs solid driving from
Chicago to FL, so we'll have 2 days of good driving, but we now have 3!
drivers -my oldest DD is 17 and a good driver.

Let's hope that things settle down a bit... I'm worried that some folks that
are 'on the edge' about affording a trip to WDW won't be able to go. This is
really sad... especially if this is a 'once in a lifetime' trip for a family..


John

 

[tinaluis]

Even before Katrina hit, we were on the fence about driving vs. flying. When SW released their dates a few weeks ago, we were able to get 5 round-trip tickets from MDW to MCO for $577. We were also able to get a mid-size car through Thrifty for $244 for two weeks so our grand total is $821 and we'll be there in 3 hours instead of 22-24 hours of driving with hotel stops there and back. Generally speaking, we spend about $500-$600 in gas, hotels and food there and back. Out total would probably be about $75-$100 higher this trip with the higher gas prices so I'm glad we decided to fly. Have a great trip!

 

[poohpcgirl]

We are going in October. We are still planning to Drive. We would have to get some really cheap tickets to fly. That and my Dad will not let us all be on a plane together. Like OhioTony
There will be six of us in the van
Six of us
Six of us
Hopefully, since my godson just got his PSP... and I just bought DS a pocket Vsmile to take... AND.. we have a TV with DVD we are bringing along, we should be okay. If we can keep my Dad from talking us to death on the way down. We are splitting the drive into 2 days, so it should ease up on some of the stress.

 

[jdonat]

Even before Katrina hit, we were on the fence about driving vs. flying. When SW released their dates a few weeks ago, we were able to get 5 round-trip tickets from MDW to MCO for $577. We were also able to get a mid-size car through Thrifty for $244 for two weeks so our grand total is $821 and we'll be there in 3 hours instead of 22-24 hours of driving with hotel stops there and back. Generally speaking, we spend about $500-$600 in gas, hotels and food there and back. Out total would probably be about $75-$100 higher this trip with the higher gas prices so I'm glad we decided to fly. Have a great trip!

Hmmm... sounds like it's time to hit the SWA website and see what I can
fiind! thanks for the info.

john

 

[eeyore81]

We were driving but found plane tickets for $49 each way. My niece (7) has never been on a plane before and really wanted to fly. So everything together changed our mind from driving to flying.