Driving vs flying

[xera12]

We are planning our trip for october 2013, and i am of two minds on if i should drive or fly. We are from CT so we would have to stop overnight both ways. Even so, it would be cheeper to drive, but it is a big chunk of time i feel wasted. Plus, no one in our party has flown post 9/11, so we are anxious about flying... Thoughts?

 

[Reddy]

what about AmTrak??
we thought about it - going from TX we would have to go to Chicago then down to Disney which added another day travel - not worth it
we aren't sure how boys would behave for flying so we have only driven
we got the boys dvd players with headphones & we don't mind going on car rides so not that big of deal for us
if you go interstates they usually have rest stops with bathrooms so that makes a great stop so you don't have to buy something every time you stop
I like packing everything without worring over what size is allow

 

[lisa-upnorth]

I have an amtrak thread on here so I always vote for them BUT have you considered my home state of RI? flights get very cheap some times!! Last week they had May flights for $20!!!!!!!!!!! I am not kidding you! Usually can find $99 or less flights from there

 

[OKW Lover]

We see a few drawbacks in driving, even though we are about to set out on our second drive to WDW in six months.

1. Its safer to fly
2. Some people have limited time. Do you want to spend a couple of days just getting to your vacation?
3. You may not need a car at WDW

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

There is already a very long recent thread on this very subject:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3064260

 

[xera12]

what about AmTrak??
we thought about it - going from TX we would have to go to Chicago then down to Disney which added another day travel - not worth it
we aren't sure how boys would behave for flying so we have only driven
we got the boys dvd players with headphones & we don't mind going on car rides so not that big of deal for us
if you go interstates they usually have rest stops with bathrooms so that makes a great stop so you don't have to buy something every time you stop
I like packing everything without worring over what size is allow

If we take amtrak, we have to get to our resort on our own right? Cab or something?

 

[lisa-upnorth]

cab or rental car. check out my amtrak thread for more info

 

[DizDaD7]

done driving twice and flew the rest....

Driving was a great way to save money....This is what we did:

I worked till 3:30pm on a Wed., got home & my conversion van (HUGE PLUS ) which was already packed , was ready to roll.
We had 6 passengers. 3 adults 3 kids. & the best I could do on airfare for this sorta last minute trip in 2010 was $2400 for all of us. Needless to say it cost us only $550 for gas total (to n from).

Anyway back to the trip. Got on the road at 4:00 pm, & headed down the NJ turnpike I95. Quick stop off for food before heading over into Del. By the time we got into the Washington DC area it was already past rush hour ( which we planned) like 7:30 or so. By the time we hit NC, we stopped & stretched , kids got PJ's on & top off the gas. I proceeded to drive trhough till around 5:30 AM the next morning. I believe we were in GA. ealry breakfast & more gas then proceed thru into FL. Just past Jacksonville I started getting completely exhausted, so my DW took ove for the remainding 2 1/2 hrs. Once we arrived at like 12:30 believe it or not I was ready & pumped for the trip. Not only did we save a ton of money, and technically not lose a day with a stop off, that it made for plenty of extra souveneirs for everyone.

Forgot to add Once that van hits the parking lot at the resort: That's where it stays until we leave to come home. I actually love WDW transportation, & I'd rather not worry about parking and tram cars and stuff.

Now on the way home it's a completely different story. Nothing to look forward too on the drive home, & we leave WDW usually at 12:00 pm so we get homeearly in the morning & then just crash that day & the next...So in essence We are losing days.

For now what I do is crash the air sites online & constantly look for deals , which we have been fortunate enough to get....Obvious pro to flyin is getting there in an instant. even though cost is a lil more, to me it's justified. Throw in ME & WDW transportation to n from the parks & it levels the playing field...Just some food for thought for you.