Driving vs. Flying from Houston

[texmama4]

Hi, new here and looking for feedback on a trip we're planning 06/2014 with four kids who will be 10, 9, 7, and 5. Our first family trip to WDW...and I've never been either!

We're debating 3 options:

* Driving from Houston, and tent camping (this involves acquiring camp gear, which we don't have yet).

* Driving from Houston, and renting a "fully-loaded" pop-up.

* Flying Southwest Airlines from Houston (they have pretty good deals), and renting a pop-up.

We've never taken our kiddos on a long road trip, and additionally I've never personally made the drive from Houston to Orlando. Is there anything interesting too see/visit? I guess I'm wondering...would it be a nightmare in a minivan with four young kids? We'd stay a night going and coming, but hotel expense is a non-issue because of hubby's travel points from work, so that isn't influencing us.

Also I'm debating whether it's worth the $400 or so expense of renting a pop-up when that could be invested in camping gear we can keep. On the other hand, it is a lot less initial expense than accumulating needed gear. Then too, I'm thinking it may not be worth driving at all if we aren't even taking our own gear.

Thoughts from folks who have done one or all of these things? Thanks in advance!!

 

[LadyBeBop]

Assuming you're driving, a trip shouldn't be too bad. A portable DVD player (or one to fit into your minivan) is a necessity. Bring some videos from home, or rent from Redbox. You can also bring along travel games. Age-appropriate audio books may be good. However, what's interesting to the ten-year old might be too boring for the five-year old and vice versa.

Regarding tent camping. If you decided on it, I'd do a trial run before setting out to WDW. Maybe a weekend at a state park. Or near the beach at Galveston. Make sure you know how to set the tent up; how to use the camp stove, etc.

Also, when buying your tent, make sure all six of y'all can lay down in it comfortably. The label on the tent's packaging may say sleeps six. But my DH, DGD and I had problems sleeping in a tent that's supposed to sleeps six. I'd look at tents that sleep between 8-12 persons. They're more pricier, but will allow more room. And don't forget air mattresses. The ground is hard.

Good luck.

 

[bama_ed]

Texmama4,

to the DIS Camping Board

If you're not tent campers at home I wouldn't recommend doing it for the first time at the Fort in the summertime. I know you could acquire the gear and maybe camp around Houston before you go but summer tent camping at the Fort requires preparation. For comfortable sleeping at night most summer tenters bring a portable air conditioner for the tent (that's an expense). yes, some do without it but are you used to tenting in heat and humidity? And if you geared up to tent camp, would you honestly ever use it again? Would you be prepared in a tent for the daily rain shower?

The rental popup option is what I would recommend. You could either buy the Dining Plan to make mealtimes easy (your kids are still young so most would only pay the child rate) or you could even use wegoshop or gardengrocer to deliver groceries to the popup (be forewarned popups have small fridges (I have one).

If you flew you could take Magical Express to get between the Orlando airport and the Fort and they will handle your luggage. Your mobility would be somewhat limited but there are always the bus system or you can even rent a one-day car rental if you want to go further off-site.

If you drove it's a two day-one night trip as you said. Although your kids skew toward the younger ages, if you drove I would recommend stopping in New Orleans and visiting the city particularly the WWII museum (when you are travelling will be the 70th anniversary of D-Day - WOW!) and you can also ride the trollies, listen to the street bands, etc (we were in New Orleans this past spring break). Maybe the other stop (one city on the way to the Fort, one on the way back) would be the Pensacola Naval Air Station in P-cola. Free admission thanks to your tax dollars (they have an Imax for an upcharge). But neat old planes, new planes, indoors.

Driving also gives you the ability to bring more stuff from home but I would recommend the popup over tenting. I think with all the walking you will do in a WDW vacation that the kids (and you) will benefit from an air-conditioned interior to take power naps in the afternoons.

Just my two cents since you asked.

Good luck!

Bama Ed

 

[texmama4]

Ah yes I forgot about the WWII museum! I already follow it on facebook, definitely want to visit some day...my grandfather was a WWII vet and my grandmother visited there for one of their reunions.

Thanks for the responses. We as a family have not been tent campers...although I've camped before...hubby took backpacking trips with his parents growing up...and figure the climate in FL is probably very similar to what we're used to. Our kids are 2 boys/2 girls, the boys are in scouts and already about to acquire their own tent for a trip to Galveston. So I figured we would do a big tent for ourselves and the girls, the boys in their own tent right next to it and a canopy connecting.

I don't know though, the a/c in the pop-up does sound pretty good! Thanks again!

 

[bsjs0708]

Our second trip with our family of 6 was with our pop-up late in May. I honestly would NOT recommend tenting for the first time in June if your family hasn't been experienced tent campers... bama_ed kinda nailed it on the head...I would definately look into the pop-up with an air conditioner...I LOVE the Fort and the drive is not too bad if you have the dvd player and plan for plenty of rest stops.. y