Driving vs Flying from Toronto

[kristieleeoz]

Has anyone done the math on this? With the cost of fuel, hotels and food...does it make more sense to fly now? We flew last year for just under $1000 from Rochester and are planning for another trip next year. The idea of driving was put on the table...I'd like a road trip but not if its gonna cost more.

Thoughts??

 

[snickerboo]

Dh's colleague at work just went. They have a mini-van and he said it cost about $350-375 to drive but they drove straight thourgh, so add another $100ish for one hotel night.

We got flights on AirTran from Detroit for $600 (family of 4).

What I would suggest is to watch the airlines that offer good discounts, like SW and AirTran and, if you see a good price, lock it in and, if not, you always have the option to drive. That was our plan until AirTran posted the right prices for our flight dates.

 

[kristieleeoz]

yeah...I just wish that the airlines would allow you to book 1 year ahead. I hate waiting for the schedules to go up. I guess I'm too much of a planner!! I like to have all of my confirmation numbers in a row! Honestly.. It tok me a year last time..you'd think I'd have it down pat by now but I just get hung up on the details and what if's.

Thanks for the input. It on our list of what if's!!

 

[trivial]

It depends how many people will be travelling. I posted a similar thread a few months back, but with London being the originating city. The gas prices in that thread would be lower than now, obviously. You can find it here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1670518

They have a mini-van and he said it cost about $350-375 to drive but they drove straight thourgh, so add another $100ish for one hotel night.

That would be $100 each way, so $200. Plus the cost of meals, unless bringing enough food along each way.

 

[crash2000]

another thing to factor in, is the time lost driving, which could be 2 extra park days...

 

[F4disneyfan]

Has anyone done the math on this? With the cost of fuel, hotels and food...does it make more sense to fly now? We flew last year for just under $1000 from Rochester and are planning for another trip next year. The idea of driving was put on the table...I'd like a road trip but not if its gonna cost more.

Thoughts??

Well the hotel can be had for 39 bucks by using www.roomsavers.com I would also invest in an electric cooler that way you bring your own juice boxes and pop etc and some sandwiches and milk. You can also use the cooler for subsequent trips and pic nics etc. It makes much more sence to drive rather than fly no matter how good a deal you get out of teh US and flying from TO isn't even close.

 

[F4disneyfan]

another thing to factor in, is the time lost driving, which could be 2 extra park days...

There really is no days lost the drive is all part of teh trip and one of the best things about it the kids love that drive. So for us it isn't days lost it is an adventure gained.

 

[trivial]

It makes much more sence to drive rather than fly no matter how good a deal you get out of teh US and flying from TO isn't even close.

If you're talking about it making more sense financially, that's not necessarily the case at all. For example, two of us flew out of Buffalo, round-trip, for $350 all-inclusive. It would've cost us nearly that much in gas alone to drive, not taking into account a hotel (even a cheap, ratty one) and meal costs. But even if we had packed some food and were willing to drive straight through, when it costs about as much to fly, it wouldn't have been worth the trouble or the time -- not by a long shot.

That said, if it cost the OP $1000 to fly out of Rochester, I'm guessing they're a family of at least 4. For a family of 4, I believe driving will likely save them money. But I know it's a lot cheaper to fly out of Detroit, for example, so that might not be the case.

Also, while I realize some people enjoy the drive and think of it as part of their trip, we're not those people. My parents drove us down a couple of times when we were kids, and we were bored out of our minds.

 

[snickerboo]

Global news are fearmongers, but they said on the news lat night $1.40 by the end of the summer and maybe $2 by next summer.

Sorry kristielee, I should have looked at your siggy line better. I didn't realize you're planning April '09.

 

[F4disneyfan]

If you're talking about it making more sense financially, that's not necessarily the case at all. For example, two of us flew out of Buffalo, round-trip, for $350 all-inclusive. It would've cost us nearly that much in gas alone to drive, not taking into account a hotel (even a cheap, ratty one) and meal costs. But even if we had packed some food and were willing to drive straight through, when it costs about as much to fly, it wouldn't have been worth the trouble or the time -- not by a long shot.

That said, if it cost the OP $1000 to fly out of Rochester, I'm guessing they're a family of at least 4. For a family of 4, I believe driving will likely save them money. But I know it's a lot cheaper to fly out of Detroit, for example, so that might not be the case.

Also, while I realize some people enjoy the drive and think of it as part of their trip, we're not those people. My parents drove us down a couple of times when we were kids, and we were bored out of our minds.

Wow what are you driving it was a total of 175 US for gas round trip for us on our last drive and when we flew last time even out of Detroit with Spirit it was still 300+ with sales. That was just for 2 of us. We drive an 05 Montana minivan and get over 600K out of half a tank of gas. Hmm our kids have flown and they prefer the drive so much so they asked if we were going drive or fly next time they prefer to go in the car we are also a family of 6. For the boredome IMHO it is all in how you bring the kids up with driving ours have been making long car trips since they were each about 3 weeks old and get used to being in the car early on plus we make it enjoyable for them if the parents get annoyed with the kids on the drive then the kids are going to hate it also.

 

[trivial]

Wow what are you driving it was a total of 175 US for gas round trip for us on our last drive and when we flew last time even out of Detroit with Spirit it was still 300+ with sales. That was just for 2 of us. We drive an 05 Montana minivan and get over 600K out of half a tank of gas.

Where were you driving from? The estimate that I did was based on a family member's minivan, based on gasoline prices at the time and that minivan's mileage. They would've been driving from London.

I ran the numbers again, from London, but using your 05 Montana. Using the average 05 Montana highway mileage and the average cost of gas in the U.S. as of one month ago, the round-trip cost of gasoline comes to US$342. Unless you live significantly closer to Walt Disney World than London, are you sure you didn't pay US$175 each way?

For the OP: I ran the numbers from Toronto as well, using current gas prices. Assuming 24.5 MPG on the highway, the current cost would be around US$380.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Where were you driving from? The estimate that I did was based on a family member's minivan, based on gasoline prices at the time and that minivan's mileage. They would've been driving from London.

I ran the numbers again, from London, but using your 05 Montana. Using the average 05 Montana highway mileage and the average cost of gas in the U.S. as of one month ago, the round-trip cost of gasoline comes to US$342. Unless you live significantly closer to Walt Disney World than London, are you sure you didn't pay US$175 each way?

For the OP: I ran the numbers from Toronto as well, using current gas prices. Assuming 24.5 MPG on the highway, the current cost would be around US$380.

Our total cost from London to WDW and home we still have the receipts was just over 225 and that included our hotel stay on the way down. I am pretty sure I posted all our gas costs on a thread in here not this particular thread but another about driving and it had all stops and all fillups listed. Not to mention the van was averaging over 30MPG on the highway we only drive 105KPH we find this speed gives us the absolute best fuel mileage with our van. The van also starts the trip from London with a full tank of gas and a small top up just in case in West Lorne at the Petro/McDonald's on the 401.

Ok here is the list with stations and total of fill at each station.

On the way down
Beaverdam Ohio 24.00
Exit 141 in Tenn 28.00
Resaca GA 23.00
Valdosta GA 26.00
Quality Inn Valdosta 39.00 (roomsavers)

On the way home
Cordele GA 27.00
Athens TN 26.00
Dry Ridge KY 27.00

No hotel on the way home

Total for drive and hotel
$220.00 US

 

[OatsZoo]

Wow what are you driving it was a total of 175 US for gas round trip for us on our last drive and when we flew last time even out of Detroit with Spirit it was still 300+ with sales. That was just for 2 of us. We drive an 05 Montana minivan and get over 600K out of half a tank of gas. Hmm our kids have flown and they prefer the drive so much so they asked if we were going drive or fly next time they prefer to go in the car we are also a family of 6. For the boredome IMHO it is all in how you bring the kids up with driving ours have been making long car trips since they were each about 3 weeks old and get used to being in the car early on plus we make it enjoyable for them if the parents get annoyed with the kids on the drive then the kids are going to hate it also.

There is no way you could be getting 600km out of half a tank of gas in an 05 Montana. We also have a Montana and I get 780-840km per full tank. We also have the extended version so we have a larger gas tank. That baby costs over $100 to fill at the current $1.20/L.

My neighbours just got back with a new Pontiac Torrent and they spend well over $450 in gas and a hotel and food for the round trip. Our flight is only $482 for the two of us and we can spend all 8 days of our vacation in WDW, first flight into Orlando at 10am and last out at 7:55pm. If we were to drive we would only get 5 or so days in the park. I would rather spend my time in WDW than in my Montana, but that is just me.

 

[F4disneyfan]

There is no way you could be getting 600km out of half a tank of gas in an 05 Montana. We also have a Montana and I get 780-840km per full tank. We also have the extended version so we have a larger gas tank. That baby costs over $100 to fill at the current $1.20/L.

My neighbours just got back with a new Pontiac Torrent and they spend well over $450 in gas and a hotel and food for the round trip. Our flight is only $482 for the two of us and we can spend all 8 days of our vacation in WDW, first flight into Orlando at 10am and last out at 7:55pm. If we were to drive we would only get 5 or so days in the park. I would rather spend my time in WDW than in my Montana, but that is just me.

Well dispute it all you want but I know how far I travel on a half tank and when we fill it up and we get 600+K out of that half tank as I said we only travel 105 KPH and that is where we get the best mileage and ours is also an extended length with a 97litre tank. In the city our mileage is considerably lower mind you but on the highway we get over 30MPG easily. We just set the cruise and go.

 

[digskat]

we have driven the last 4 years, and even with soaring gas costs, have found it cheaper for the 4 of us to drive. We have done the pros/cons, several times, and keep driving.

Based on our 2008 Montana (33MPG hwy) and current fuel prices (as per gas buddy).

Gas $270
Acc $130 (one night pre-booked @ Country Inn and Suites- AAA ea. way)
Meals $100 (one supper, one lunch since cooler provides snacks & hotel b- fast. 2 meals return)
Tolls $10
Total $510


Flying
Gas $25
Acc $85 (park and fly)
Meals $50
Toll $4
Flight $886 inc. tx (Detroit to Orlando on Airtran)
Total $1050

Driving Pros
have own vehicle (luxury)
can take cooler and unlimitted baggage, etc
freedom to offsite shop/explore
love the extra time with kids (always get nice hotel with indoor pool)

Cons
takes additional 1.5 days
return drive can be taxing

 

[maryrego]

We have done both

If theres 2 people you have a better chance of Cheap Flights

We usually drive straight through 18-22 hours depending on Traffic. We Stop Every 4 hours to use the facilities and Streatch I pack a lunch.

We leave @ 4am and Arrive between 10pm-Midnight

Gas Has always been between $180-300
We have Rented a van on two occassions $200 one time and $300 another
times we drove our own car

When we have stopped we have found hotels $40-90

There was 5 of us last time and we spent $550.00

When we went for our WDW Wedding we took our Honda civic Gas cost around $180and we got 750km not to shabby even with one night at hotel we came to $250.