Driving versus flying

[dudedisney]

It's our first trip to DisneyWorld and we're having a problem deciding whether to drive or fly. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Flying means it cost us about $1,100 plus finding a way from WDW to Universal. Also, we would have to drive 2 hrs either way to catch a plane.

Driving means less cost (except for gas!) and easier packing but 14 hour trip both ways.

The other family members who've been before and are going this time will not consider driving at all so it's up to us.

Comments/suggestions either way?

I should add we have two kids 11 & 6.

 

[powellrj]

we have done both, and now we only fly. BUT, we also have limited vacation time, so the extra time we spend driving really cuts into our trip time. DH can only take a week at a time for his vacation, so driving really cuts into that time. If you have more than a week, and a larger vehicle (we took a ford taraus), driving wouldn't be bad. Less than a week or a smaller car, fly.

 

[cranbiz]

I drive frequently and in fact am doing it again in 2 weeks.

14 hours is not bad, hopefully you will not be driving with 1 driver. Plan on frequent stops and bring munchies and entertainment material for the kids and you should be fine.

Have your car serviced before leaving to help eliminate any problems on the road.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We've driven once (DH and I, no kids), and we've flown once (DH, me, both kids ages 4 and 2)...and even though I didn't like it, I prefer to fly. 2 hour drive to the airport, 2 hour flight, a little drive via a car service, and we're there, versus a 14-hour drive (at least) with one stop for the night going both ways. BUT, this year, it's either drive or don't go, so we're driving and making the best of it. We will have 2 drivers and plan to stop for the night in Brunswick, GA then go to Daytona and spend a day there as well before going to Orlando. If we flew, the Daytona thing would not be an option for us.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We always drive. It's 14 hours from home to WDW. We usually leave after work/school and drive about 7 hours. Then about 7 more hours the next day - plus we lose an hour because of time zone changes. We flew once and it took nearly as long because of transfers, late planes, cancelled flights, etc. There are three of us - two drivers - and it's all interstate. Sometimes we bring another person along and they help with the drive.

 

[ktink]

We're going to drive this year. We flew last year only because we were able to buy our tickets from a really good friend that had a credit w/ SW so it helped both of us out, she sold us 4 round trip tickets for $300. Couldn't pass that up. But this year we decided to save the extra $ and drive down. We've driven to Port Canaveral twice and it only took us about 10 1/2 hours and it wasn't that bad of a drive.

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

We have driven a few times and flown a few times. For us it is a 24-26 hour trip each way driving. If money isn't an object I elect to fly, but if I am watching those vacation dollars and want extra to spend I won't hesitate to drive...if my drive was only 14 hours I would be headed that way a whole lot more often.

 

[chasbos]

We have done both and flying is the only way to go from now on! We are a family of 6 and the girls do travel well, but the convenience of leaving BUffalo at 7:00 a.m. and being at our hotel before 11 a.m cannot be beat!

 

[Disneyjosh229]

IMO...

If you have time to drive, take your time and drive..

but if you are on "vacation time" and have a set amount of time you want to use, you cant beat hopping on a plane and being there in 2 hrs!!