Driving to WDW - Pros and Cons

[Beezle2]

My Dh and I drove down in December and it wasn't bad at all. We left around 11 am and took 3 hour shifts of driving. We were at Universal by 8 am!

We decided to drive because we were in FL for 2 weeks, moving from Universal to Disney and we need to hit the grocery store while we were there to get food for the DVC part of the stay. It made sense to have our car instead of flying and then having to rent a vehicle.

The drive back was again no problem, switching frequently was the key to keeping us fresh. Total price $345 in gas. We will do it again this December.

 

[mgroshans]

We've always driven. We leave to do it again in 26 days. It takes us almost 17hours exactly- straight thru. DH does all the driving. We leave around 5:00 pm. We don't want to pay an arm and a leg for 4 airline tickets and don't have to worry about what we take!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Don't forget to bring an E-Z pass for the tolls.

Does that work in Florida, now? I didn't think ours (from Virginia) worked there.

 

[dbs1228]

E-Z pass does not work in Florida but does most of the way down. You would need a Sun Pass in Fla. I have always wanted to drive down but there is no way DH would go for it! Maybe someday when we have no time frame and can make it an adventure.

 

[bookwormde]

We drive down whenever we cannot get reasonable airfares out of PHL.

It is not that bad, I drive it straight through leaving at 7-8pm so the kids sleep until we are in SC. We are at the resort by 10-12am.

Last ime we rented a car in November for $80 for the drove down and flew back.

Now my wife would much rather fly, but tolarates the drivng since it saves so many $

 

[ajf1007]

Thanks again for everyone's feedback. You all gave me lots to think about! It looks like we've decided to give it a try! Unless something drastically happens with flight prices (which I'll still watch) we're gonna do it! I figure I have to atleast try it and why not do while the flights are little pricey. Plus, I'm really excited about the independence it is making me feel, this will be our first trip with getting an Owners Locker and having the space to bring my stuff to fill it!

I won't lie though, I'm a bit nervous about being couped up with my Mom for that long but she's a big "driver" - her and my Dad just drove to Kansas over Christmas - so I atleast know she'll do her part of the driving and she's happy to do it!

Now, my brother and sister-in-law won't be able to drive from Kansas, so I'm thinking about how the ME would work for them at the airport, if we don't pick them up of course. I actually enjoy the ME and my nieces may love the movie and the excitement but I might not be able to wait knowing they're there!! Since they're names are on the reservation do I have to make the reservation or can they?

 

[ajf1007]

We drive down whenever we cannot get reasonable airfares out of PHL.

It is not that bad, I drive it straight through leaving at 7-8pm so the kids sleep until we are in SC. We are at the resort by 10-12am.

Last ime we rented a car in November for $80 for the drove down and flew back.

Now my wife would much rather fly, but tolarates the drivng since it saves so many $

I was actually surprised at the yucky flights available on Southwest, maybe it's too early in the year for September flights and they'll add more? I don't like connecting flights, especially when it really is only a 2 1/2 hour flight and the earliest direct flight they had, got in to Orlando at 4:30 pm. I don't want to get there that late! I don't mind getting up and to the airport in the wee early morning because I still feel like I have a full day on arrival. If I took the connecting flight that leaves early, by the time you add up the travel time, you'd be 1/2 way there if you drove! And probably just as tired and cranky with all of the "traveling commotion" of the connecting flights.

 

[melissapealo]

Thanks again for everyone's feedback. You all gave me lots to think about! It looks like we've decided to give it a try! Unless something drastically happens with flight prices (which I'll still watch) we're gonna do it! I figure I have to atleast try it and why not do while the flights are little pricey. Plus, I'm really excited about the independence it is making me feel, this will be our first trip with getting an Owners Locker and having the space to bring my stuff to fill it!

I won't lie though, I'm a bit nervous about being couped up with my Mom for that long but she's a big "driver" - her and my Dad just drove to Kansas over Christmas - so I atleast know she'll do her part of the driving and she's happy to do it!

Now, my brother and sister-in-law won't be able to drive from Kansas, so I'm thinking about how the ME would work for them at the airport, if we don't pick them up of course. I actually enjoy the ME and my nieces may love the movie and the excitement but I might not be able to wait knowing they're there!! Since they're names are on the reservation do I have to make the reservation or can they?

I'm glad you've decided to drive. While I don't enjoy it many others do and you'll never know if you enjoy driving unless you try it. It's nice that you have 3 people to share the driving and from the sounds of it no children to keep entertained. Have a great trip.

i gotta say you guys are wimps...

ive driven down from both upstate NY, and Indiana several times.. its not as horrible as all that..

u give yourself enough time, you dont rush, take your time.. enjoy your time toether, stop as much or as little as you want.. pull over to a hotel to sleep... not that horrible..

i find it very relaxing..no stress of leaving at a certain time... no size limits.. no extra fees.. no secruity.. i find it great!

ive have both flown to and from and driven to and from disney and indiana and disney and NY.. i prefer driving.. we found a nice little place last year.. it was a fun side trip

Just because others don't like driving doesn't make anyone a wimp. Many people have only a limited amount of time off from work/school so there are time constraints. If I spend an entire day driving straight through to Disney then I'm exhausted upon arrival. If we stop to sleep then there are now 2 days of travel instead of 1. Between getting there and back this equals to driving straight through, 2 travel days and 4 days if we stop. To me it's not worth it and we lose precious vacation time. If we take a week off work then we have a total of 9 days off and with driving that time is reduced drastically. I'd much rather fly and be there in under 3 hours. That equals much more family and Disney time.

Some people prefer to drive which is great if you like it and have the time. Others prefer flying and that's their choice. It doesn't make anyone a wimp or make any method of travel better than the other.

 

[nickspace]

Flying is part of the fun so we like to fly. If we were closer, say 12 hours our less, driving would be fine but that is not that is not the case.

 

[photobob]

We are much closer(550 miles) but you asked for pros and cons:

Pro: Cheaper, you can take much more stuff with you. We take cases of bottled water, sodas, beer, light meals to be prepared, snacks, sandwich stuff etc..so travel cost is not the only savings when you drive! I also enjoy the drive down, the anticipation, seeing WDW signs when i hit the Fla. turnpike and Oh the glorious moment when you drive under the welcome sign on to WDW property!

Con: driving can be a pain, even when you only have 8-9 hours of it!! The distance may be same coming back but it sure doesn't feel like it!!! I always tell my wife it takes longer because we are driving north so we are going uphill!

 

[jstarcze]

We ended up going Route 81 to Route 26 to I-95, no tolls just more curves and hills and it took a little longer.

Actually Rte 81 to Rte 77 to Rte 26 to I-95 would be faster. You're going about an hour farther west than you need to and having to deal with the mountains from the tri-cities Tennesee to south of Asheville.

Rte 77 is about an hour west of Roanoke (exit 82 I believe) and it takes you through Charlotte, NC and then to Columbia, SC where you meet up with I-26. This way has less curves and hills and is shorter.

 

[jstarcze]

Don't forget to bring an E-Z pass for the tolls.

Please note that while E-Z Pass works for tolls to, I think, Va. it doesn't work in Florida.

 

[granmanh603]

I was actually surprised at the yucky flights available on Southwest, maybe it's too early in the year for September flights and they'll add more? I don't like connecting flights, especially when it really is only a 2 1/2 hour flight and the earliest direct flight they had, got in to Orlando at 4:30 pm. I don't want to get there that late! I don't mind getting up and to the airport in the wee early morning because I still feel like I have a full day on arrival. If I took the connecting flight that leaves early, by the time you add up the travel time, you'd be 1/2 way there if you drove! And probably just as tired and cranky with all of the "traveling commotion" of the connecting flights.

wow I thought that the same way about the SW flights, I have flown down 2 X a year for the last 12 years and this years schedule stinks... I am not paying for stop overs or flights at 6 AM or late at night...don't know what is up with them. really dissapointed.

 

[supersuperwendy]

I'm happy to see this thread. With our tax return about to be deposited it's time to price flights. Well I can't believe the costs. It would be a lot for the 6 of us. My husband had the idea of renting a mini van and driving down for the road trip aspect and cost savings then flying back to save time. I found a great deal for a van for $224 which would have to be dropped off at the Hilton in Downtown Disney and flights back to Philly for $102 each. I'm guessing with gas and tolls the 6 of us could travel to WDW and back for less then a $1000. Plus we would need to pay for a transfer back to our house from PHL. But..I would prefer not to drive straight through so we would need the cost of a hotel stay also. I'm just not sure what to do.

 

[pluto2417]

Do you prebook your hotel or just pull over when you find somewhere? Do you have somewhere you prefer? I was think that I'd stop around Savannah.

We prebook.

 

[Kidanifan08]

Now, my brother and sister-in-law won't be able to drive from Kansas, so I'm thinking about how the ME would work for them at the airport, if we don't pick them up of course. I actually enjoy the ME and my nieces may love the movie and the excitement but I might not be able to wait knowing they're there!! Since they're names are on the reservation do I have to make the reservation or can they?

You will need to set up ME for them. Since you are probably the lead name on the reservation, the ME travel documents will be sent to you 4-6 weeks before you travel and you will have to get their stuff to them.

We have driven to FL from central Indiana, and although I don't love it, it is not horrible. It's amazing how quickly we get through KY and TN, but GA is forever! The only thing worse than GA is Atlantarotfl2! The most deceiving part of the trip is when we hit the Florida State line and think we are there, only to have to drive another 2-3 hours. When we drive, we usually stop somewhere south of Atlanta.

My biggest problem with driving is that I hate giving up 2-3 vacation days to spend in the car. Luckily, there are only 3 of us and airfare is not a horrendous cost, overall. Lately, I have found the best prices on Southwest and Airtran as soon as they release the flight for booking. Unfortunately, we do not have other discount airlines from IND and I am not willing to drive to CVG or ORD.

 

[bbn1122]

We have driven down 3 times in 2 years from Northern Ocean County NJ...

We head out abu 530am and stop between Savannah and Brunswick, GA for the night. It takes about 12-13 hours. Then up the next morning nice and refreshed and on to WDW or one trip DCL. It gets you to WDW easily around 12 noon the next day.

We have driven straight thru on the way home, all times with just 2 drivers.

It has saved us thousands....5 people for Easter in 2010 was going to be $3200 and the other times over $2200. I have not found a cheap airfare since I did Spirit in 2008 for less than $200 per person in August and 2006 JetBlue out of Neward for just about $1000 for 5.

That is one of the reason we are not going to Aulani this year....airfare....I found it for $4100 with tax and fees, and that was a bargain. Add in food and fun....and I figured at least $10, 0000 and we own DVC!!!!

So, driving to Florida or this year Hilton Head Island is the way we have to go for now....

 

[KathyK]

We usually drive from Northern NJ. We usually leave in the morning and spend the night in NC. Then we get an early start and get to WDW mid-afternoon on the second day. As a family of 4, we always say that we'll fly if we can do it for less than $1000 including taxes and fees. Driving costs us around $800 round trip (including gas, tolls, lodging, and meals).

Last year, we were leaving WDW at the same time that Hurricane Irene was approaching the northeast. If we had flown, we would have had our flight cancelled and would have been looking at staying a few extra days in FL. But since we drove, we were able to take a more western route and avoid ost of the storm. We only had trouble with flooded roads and such when we got within an hour of our home. Of course, we came home to days of no electricity, but we were glad to be home and find our house in OK condition. If we were in FL, we would have been wondering how it fared.

 

[hilltopper72]

A few months ago we priced going Amtrak from Raleigh to Orlando, only 65 mile drive to Raleigh station from our house and the round trip was about $ 120.00 each. I believe you catch the train @ 8:30 PM and get to Orlando @ 9:45 AM the next day. Wife and I don't go until Oct this year bit I thought that was much better then $600 for two tickets + another 50 or 100 for bags. pricing may change frequently, but if you live on the east coast I think that might be a great deal.
charlie

 

[disneymagic316]

We've been driving from NYC to Fla. for years ( and several times a year). We make it feel like part of the vacation. We stop for a quick lunch at a fast food restaurant, then stop at a motel around 8pm. We check in and have a dinner out and then go back to the hotel and relax. We can walk to the restaurant. We have a continental breakfast at the hotel ( free). We feel refreshed the next morning to start out again. We have our favorite hotels off I-95 that we stay at and the staff know us now which is nice.

We've also done the autotrain which I really enjoyed but it can get expensive.