Driving versus Flying (Example-NC)

[kctwinmommy]

I had to do all this math stuff too, to figure out if I wanted to fly or drive to NC. My mom, my 4 1/2 year old twins, and myself are going from Chicago to NC at the end of April. We figured 2 days of driving there and 2 days back, all the gas, hotel for overnight there and back, wear and tear on my own (brand new) car, food/snacks, and just the whole 12-14 hours in the car with a couple of 4 year olds.

To drive it would be about $250-300 in gas, $200 for the hotel there and back, $100 or so for food/snacks, and the other little things. So that was about $600-700.

However, flying gets us there in 2 hours, and we got airfare for $537 and a rental car (exact same car I drive at home) for $250. And my mom will pay for some of the rental car.

So yes, we could save a little bit by driving, but my time and sanity is worth more than that little bit!!

 

[Mickey527]

I used to love to drive with my boys down to FL from Ct. We left at around 9 pm and they slept most of the way, I had my cassettes (no CD's yet) and would sing along while they slept. I worked nights so I did without sleep alot and the drive didn't bother me.
After the boys got older I did the drive alone quite a few times and still enjoyed it, my quiet time alone, although I did get the flu one trip and has to stop in NC and sleep for two days (an added expense I didn't think about until I needed it)
I haven't driven in years but am thinking about a trip in May and driving alone again. I don't see the SW prices that I used to and renting a car is an additional $200 so it would be easier for me to bring my car with me. I need a car because I like to go to the Outlets, come and go to the parks as I please, and visit my sister in Clearwater.
If I lived in NC and had a 9 hour drive I would be in WDW at least once a month.

 

[Phibbles]

I prefer to fly. But driving is okay. So we switch it up from trip to trip.

When we fly, we take a shorter trip to compensate for the extra money spent on airline tickets.

When we drive, we stay longer since we saved a few bucks by driving.

Either way, as long as I am at WDW I am happy.

 

[smphbear]

We live outside of New Orleans. Last summer, we left at 2 a.m. We were shopping in Downtown Disney by 2 p.m. That was with gas stops, potty breaks, and a breakfast bar. Gas both ways and in town for the week still cost me under $300.

Even with high gas prices, we are driving this summer. 4 of us on Southwest out of N.O. is over $1000. We would also need to rent a car to get to and from our condo.

For us, driving is a tremendous savings (even with parking and wear and tear). The kids are great riders, and my husband and I enjoy the time to have discussions on many topics in a relaxed manner.

It boils down to what is best for you, your family, and your area.

 

[Chkysbak]

It boils down to what is best for you, your family, and your area.

I couldn't have put it any better way than that

 

[Lintasare]

For us it's flying all the way. We live in NM and according to Google Maps it's about 1800 miles from my zipcode to WDW.

So you figure I have a 15 gallon tank and I get about 25 MPG on the highway so it's 5 tanks of gas to get to Disney. At 3.15 a gallon that is abotu $240 in gas one way. I can fly roundtrip on SW for the cost of gas. Plus I don't have to worry about 2 and a half days worth of food, snacks and hotel.

Of course this year my dad cashed in his miles on American so I am flying for $10, the fee for one ticket.

And how does Google maps get a driving time of 1 day and 3 hours? It would take a day just to get to the DFW area. Unless they mean driving straight through and not stopping.

 

[kfeuer]

However, if you are about four-eight hours away, driving is not only likely to be cheaper - its nearly as fast. By the time you commute to the airport, leave plenty of time to get through security, get to the gate, wait for the plane, wait for the delay (which isn't uncommon), fly (the short part of the trip), land, taxi, disembark, get your luggage - a short flight is four + hours of time. There isn't really anything other than a flight that takes half a day or so anyway.

You're absolutely right. We live about 7.5 hours drive from WDW, and flying would save us a couple hours at best. However, it would cost alot more, especially considering airport parking and needing a rental car when we got there (we stay offsite).

We really don't mind the drive. We leave in the morning, drive a couple hours and stop at Cracker Barrel for breakfast (which is also a cool place to get some candy for the trip). We all get a little antsy the last couple hours because we're anxious to be there, but it's nothing we can't handle. When we get close to where we're staying we stop at Walmart to get food and some cheap souvies for the kids.

We've been so often that all these things have become little mini traditions that the kids look forward to.

I always use credit card rewards for gas, so our trip costs are pretty minimal. Plus, being able to bring food/water from home that I got on sale helps us save.

 

[sorul82?]

We drive sometimes, fly others. In May we are flying; got a Ding for $41.

Oh....and GO TARHEELS!!! (do know that I will be cheering for State today )

 

[HM]

We do both. We're also in NC. For week or longer family trips, we have been driving the last couple times. It is cheaper and we have the use of the car to do things other than Disney if we want. For long weekends, or when I take one of my kids on a mom/child trip, we fly because of the time constraints and me being the only adult.

Back in the early 2000s we were able to get flights for under $100 each from RDU, then it was a no brainer....fly. Now that the flights are twice as much most of the time (cheapest I've found it $159), it takes more thinking it out.

 

[aloha_lilo]

I prefer to drive because:
1. I overpack. I'm still trying to figure out how to pack the kitchen sink!
2. We pack a cooler full of food which contains dinner for the first night (usually something simple like taco salad nachos) and breakfast for the next couple of days (juice, bacon, cream cheese for bagels, and eggs).
3. We pack another cooler with drinks and sandwiches and make it a point to have a picnic at one of the rest stops on the way down and back.
4. It's about a 8 hour drive each way, and part of the fun is listening to radio stations that we dont get back home.
5. If we should we get to Kissimmee before our villa/apartment is ready, we just hop back in the car and head to Walmart to pick up the ponchos we always forget!

 

[Chkysbak]

Oh....and GO TARHEELS!!! (do know that I will be cheering for State today )

I knew you would see the light... GO PACK

 

[sorul82?]

I knew you would see the light... GO PACK

Temporary insanity?

 

[ricktib]

We enjoy driving, for all the reasons the other posters have mentioned (and we can fly for free!). When you go through TSA screening everyday , its nice not to once in a while. And the cost of airport parking alone would cover over half of our gasoline (400 mi. each way). Plus I'm a bit of a control freak anyway and like getting myself to the parks.

And to the OP, you can probably take out the meal/snack figures since you're eating either way, and (nowadays) paying for it either way.

 

[kimluvswdw]

We live 800 miles fom WDW and drive everytime. I don't care what it would cost to drive, I hate to fly.

 

[JoanneNC]

Another ++ for driving - flexible for last minute change of plans.
take the trip we just returned from.
We drove to Jacksonville FL the first day - and woke up and drove the remaining 2 hrs or so to WDW and had a nice 11am start at the parks after pre-check in
Well- we were supposed to drive home Sat- but decided to extend a day and enjoy a free day at Sea World (thanks for thinking of the Military) and drove to Jacksonville again that night and drove home the next day. I never would/could have done that restricted by a plane schedule

 

[mom2prettyprincess]

We will be going to WDW in 2009 and are looking at all the aspects of driving vs. flying. We live in Iowa and mapquest says it will take 21 hours. If we fly we will be renting a car when we get there as we want to do some other things for the time we are there. Any opinions It will be 3 adult women & a 5yr old. This is my 5yr olds birthday present. We will be going in October. Please help.

 

[mkpoohgirl]

I am from NC also and planning a trip in January 09. I, too, live about 1.5 hrs from RDU and plan on flying SW. GSO rates are too high. I estimate that I can fly out of RDU for about $650.00 or less if I get a DING for the 4 of us. My in-laws will drive us to the airport and pick us back up. My girls (age 9 and 5) can barely make it to the next city in our area without asking, "Are we there yet?"
I really enjoyed your breakdown of costs. That was very helpful. Don't think of yourself as anal......I prefer to call it "attentive to detail."

 

[jane01jp]

We live in Charlotte, NC and always fly. We also rent a car when we arrive. My vacation time is limited. We generally fly out on a 5:00 p.m. flight on a Wednesday afternoon and are in the Magic Kingdom for a couple of hours before it closes (depending on time of year). We usually return on Tuesday evening.

This way, I can miss only 4 days of work and get 5 full days plus one to two partial day in the parks.

We spend more flying than driving, but time and money are not fungible commodities.

We are annual passholders and go 2-3 times per year.

I don't plan on ever driving to WDW again.

 

[SweetMeg]

Another NCarolinian here! I made the pilgrimage 3x last year, and even though it makes for a looong day, I much prefer driving.

The first time was in March, I went with 2 roomates for Spring Break. We were able to split the driving times, with the first 2 driving most of the way and me taking over when we hit Florida. It worked out really well for us and we had no problems getting there or back.

The second time was in May, I went with DBF for a week after I graduated from college. This was a tougher drive because there were only 2 of us to split up duties. Its like other posters have said, the drive down was fine because of the excitement, but the drive back was more of a struggle. Still not that bad, and that is what we are planning on doing next time. (We are also planning on not killing ourselves with back to back to back to back park hopping from open to close).

The 3rd time was in December. DBF was in Orlando for a conference and I flew down to meet him when it was over. We did 2 days in Disney and then flew home. The ME was wonderful, I got off the plane and right onto a bus. However, my first night there we went to go eat at Beaches & Cream (staying at the Pop) and I couldn't believe that it took us almost and hour to get there and back! I was thinking..."Is this how people spend their vacations? Waiting for a bus???" Needless to say, not for me! Next time we go, we will absolutely be driving. If we have to fly I will rent a car when we get there.

Of course, DBF and I are both early 20s, no kids to speak of, so this gives us lots more flexibility in taking out time to drive down. No "are we there yets" except maybe from me, because once we hit 1-4 the suspense is almost too much!

To each his own, I suppose.

 

[tor]

Hardly seems like the hassle of flying is worth the 3 hours and 15 min savings. There is also the option of driving one way Budget has rates as low as $5/day if you pick the car up in florida and drop it off elsewhere and in the winter they usually have the one way deal the other way