Driving your own car

[tiff211]

Question for those of you who drive long distances to WDW? Do you rent a car/minvan/SUV or take your own? I want to take our SUV instead of renting. With 3 DD's (13, 4, 2), we definitely need something bigger than a compact but Minivans and SUVs are around $300 + for 10 days. Then once you add the gas. I vote to take ours, DH wants to rent a full size. I know I will here the girls fighting the whole trip if dd (13) is in between the two car seats. I won't be able to deal with that for 20 hours!!!!

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I bought a Grand Caravan this year in anticipation of driving to Florida this summer - now with gas prices rising, it may be cheaper to fly anyway!

 

[sleepyone]

We took our own Chevy Equinox (small SUV) last trip and logged 985 miles to WDW. I had all 3 kids in back row together; 2 in car seats beside each other and dd by the window. We brought movies and a DVD player that has the monitors that strap onto the headrests; this was a huge help. We made frequent stops along the way to let the kids eat and run around at rest stops. I also had mini flashlights (for night) and those markers that only work on the special paper. I used magnet sheets to print out paper dolls and clothes and kept them in a rectangular cake tin for the girls. I also printed maps so my oldest could see "how much farther" on her own. The kids each brought their own very small pillows and each a small blanket/throw. I had lots of other games and activities ready just in case but, these were the biggest hits. The kids never fussed! I hope they're just as good this time around.

 

[Stitch Inside]

We rented a Suburban last year, and plan on doing it again this year. I get a great rate through my company. I look at it as being cheaper than flying the whole family down, and not putting more miles on our well used mini-van.

 

[robyn323]

To keep from adding the miles on our car we rented a full size car thru alamo and got a pretty good rate for the 8 days we'll have it. Also we have been buying 25.00 gas cards every week so we won't have the extra gas money to come up with all at once too. 64 days to go!

 

[oogieboogie]

We drove from OH to FL (16 hr trip) in two legs. Each day for 8 hours in a minivan. We took plenty of DVDs and toys. The first leg we drove at night so the kids were asleep by the time we got into the hotel. Then we woke up bright and early (about 4/5am) and drove another 8 hours to FL. That way half the trip the kids are asleep and only awake for the last 4 hours of the trip.

Plenty of stops along the way helps too.

 

[oogieboogie]

We drove from OH to FL (16 hr trip) in two legs. Each day for 8 hours in a minivan. We took plenty of DVDs and toys. The first leg we drove at night so the kids were asleep by the time we got into the hotel. Then we woke up bright and early (about 4/5am) and drove another 8 hours to FL. That way half the trip the kids are asleep and only awake for the last 4 hours of the trip.

Plenty of stops along the way helps too. DH would buy gas cards too beforehand so the gas money would be set aside already. We budgeted gas money based on fuel milage and current prices + 3% increase just in case.

 

[Sheaboys]

I have looked into renting to drive down. The prices to rent the vehicle weren't so bad, it was the cents per mile after the free miles were used up. I researched several different companies in Massachusetts (Western), most had 1200-1400 free miles after that is was between 26cents and 35cents a mile after that. Well it takes about 1282 in miles just to get down. So the price to just drive back in miles, plus gas was like flying, but in 4 days... Nowhere have I seen unlimited miles. Has anyone? Except if renting from an airport and they state in the fine print, not to be driven into the state of Florida. So how does anyone save on driving? Am I looking in all the wrong places? BTW, we did get Southwest for $118 roundtrip to Tampa in April. But we are looking at Disney World in November and the prices to fly around the holidays is always very expensive. Thanks

 

[tiff211]

I have looked into renting to drive down. The prices to rent the vehicle weren't so bad, it was the cents per mile after the free miles were used up. I researched several different companies in Massachusetts (Western), most had 1200-1400 free miles after that is was between 26cents and 35cents a mile after that. Well it takes about 1282 in miles just to get down. So the price to just drive back in miles, plus gas was like flying, but in 4 days... Nowhere have I seen unlimited miles. Has anyone? Except if renting from an airport and they state in the fine print, not to be driven into the state of Florida. So how does anyone save on driving? Am I looking in all the wrong places? BTW, we did get Southwest for $118 roundtrip to Tampa in April. But we are looking at Disney World in November and the prices to fly around the holidays is always very expensive. Thanks

I am driving from RI. Alamo has unlimited mileage and says you can drive anywhere in the US.

 

[Desnik]

We drive every year and always take our own car. For the past 3 trips we have aken our Camry with our 2 kids ages 2 and 7. We have a DVD player with tv's in each headrest so they each have a screen. We even have one in the front of the car for the passenger. I can't tell you how much it helps all of us!!LOL We find our car to be roomy and has great trunk space. We keep a space between the kids so DD can put her gameboy, and other things she brings with us there. I like having our own car for lots of reasons. In June we will be driving to Vero and my sister will be along. She is 13 and my DD annoys her sometimes so it should be an interesting drive We will be taking our Camry and not our SUV because the Camry gets great gas mileage.

 

[SnowWhite]

We have always driven to Florida (with the exception of 2000) and we are from Canada!! We have a fullsize car and estimate gas to be 250 dollars for the whole trip which isn't too bad. This is our first time however driving with DD8 and DS2....should prove interesting!!! We love having our car at Disney because we love the shopping outside of Disney as well and it is more convenient to be able to come and go as we please.

 

[Evil Queen]

I am only 3 hours away and take my car. I love the freedom, of my own car.

But as for the point of driving long distances, I always take my own (after taking it in for maint. and feeling safe it will make it) to Tenn. at least once a year-900 miles.

We normally use the bus system at the World, but it is great knowing I have the freedom to come and go into town, etc when needed.

I think driving is an awesome way to go, but I just love "road trips"!!!

 

[weluvpluto]

We drive from WI every summer in our minivan. My DH will not take Disney busses, because of a really bad experience we had on our first trip.

We love the freedom to come and go and to go off-site to eat.

 

[Chris]

I have looked into renting to drive down. The prices to rent the vehicle weren't so bad, it was the cents per mile after the free miles were used up. I researched several different companies in Massachusetts (Western), most had 1200-1400 free miles after that is was between 26cents and 35cents a mile after that. Well it takes about 1282 in miles just to get down. So the price to just drive back in miles, plus gas was like flying, but in 4 days... Nowhere have I seen unlimited miles. Has anyone? Except if renting from an airport and they state in the fine print, not to be driven into the state of Florida. So how does anyone save on driving? Am I looking in all the wrong places? BTW, we did get Southwest for $118 roundtrip to Tampa in April. But we are looking at Disney World in November and the prices to fly around the holidays is always very expensive. Thanks

When we drove to VA a few years ago, before we bought our 12 passanger, we rented one from Alamo. They had unlimited mileage. Might want to check them out.

 

[Chris]

Question for those of you who drive long distances to WDW? Do you rent a car/minvan/SUV or take your own? I want to take our SUV instead of renting. With 3 DD's (13, 4, 2), we definitely need something bigger than a compact but Minivans and SUVs are around $300 + for 10 days. Then once you add the gas. I vote to take ours, DH wants to rent a full size. I know I will here the girls fighting the whole trip if dd (13) is in between the two car seats. I won't be able to deal with that for 20 hours!!!!

We are driving our own van. We have a Dodge Ram 2500 12 passanger~which will still not seem big enough on this ride I"m sure!!
The gas use may be more then the plane ride but we don't want to fly!

 

[rt2dz]

We drive. I just like the freedom of knowing I have a car and the fact that the baby is so young and has health issues which requires a lot of extra equipment (expensive, delicate & wouldn't want to check). Last Sept. we drove my suv (Explorer). This time though, we'll be taking my husband's car. I'm a little nervous about this since very soon we'll be buying a full size SUV to accomadate #3 coming in Sept. However, my husband's is a small SUV (forrester) that's a company car. They cover all maintance and gas (even for personal use). So, gas prices being what they are, we'll risk it.

The biggest hint about any long distant driving is take frequent breaks. Get out whenever anyone is antsy and stretch, run around. You have to love IL reststops b/c they are all very clean and have parks!! I wish other states were that good. But don't eat in the car either. Go in to the fast food restruant or splurge and go to full service.

Buy, borrow, or rent a DVD player. Bring quiet games (our 4 yr. old loves the magna doodle). Use a cookie sheet as a tray for coloring. Have books. Small (new) toys--think dollar store.

 

[tmatthews]

We are driving and leaving in just 16 hours!!!!!!!! YIKES! We were in the market for a new car and knowing we would be driving to Disney bought a Yukon Xl....a seat for everyone...makes my life so much easier. ( lighter wallet with these gas prices though! ) Plan on driving through the night tomorrow night! HERE WE COME!

 

[momofmikey]

For the last two trips, we've rented a minivan. We don't own one - we have a Honda Accord, which is fine for everyday travel, but not for a large trip like that. We bought a DVD player for the car, but it doesn't fit between the front seats of our car. We rent a minivan mainly for that reason, plus it's so much roomier for the boys and carseats. We paid $500 last November, unlimited mileage, and spent about $250 for gas and tolls. Cheaper to fly but I'm not a fan.

 

[gabbygrennell]

WE drive....
that is part of the fun...
of course for us, it only takes 12 hrs... so by the time we would arrive at the airport early, finally board, have a layover, reboard, finally arrive fl, get our stuff get a rental car( which for us is a must staying offsite) we figure we would be looking at the same amount of time, and we must have a car down there... so it is cheaper for us to drive

We did look into renting a mini van before buying our new one last trip, and you need to make sure you get unlimited mileage, and specifically ask if you are allowed to leave the state with it...
Some companies do not allow you to take the car across state lines, when i asked "well how would you ever know if we took it across the state lines?" I was told that there is some type of "gps" type deal and the car will actually lock down and you wont be going anywhere...
I dunno if this is actually true or not, but that is what they told me. Anyone else know?

Someone else mentioned that it seemed the rentals at airports were the ones saying no out of state driving... we found this true also!
good luck!

 

[msudawgs30]

We opted to rent a minivan because DH and I have a DD (5) and we asked my DB, DSIL and my DN (4) to go with us. We are a very close knit family and we wanted to ride together, stay together (so we got a 2BR villa at OKW), and tour the parks together.

It wasn't that we wanted to save on mileage just wanted to be together .