DVCers do you drive or fly?

[WDWFERN]

Just wondering how many of you choose to drive vs. fly to the world. Prior to DVC our family of 4 always flew as we are about 1,000 miles away and don't mind not having a car there. Now that we are new members and anticipate yearly trips, I am considering if in the long run it makes more sense for us to start driving despite the long distance to save on years of airfare. Thanks for the input!

 

[christa112]

I honestly have no idea how many miles MA to WDW is but it is way too many in my opinion. I would never drive 2 days to get to WDW. My time and sanity is worth every penny that I spend to fly.

 

[TisBit]

We generally fly, but last year we drove because we were going with some friends that have a large family and flying just wasn't worth it. It takes us about a day and half to drive...could do it in one very long day, but not really worth it in my opinion.

 

[bwvBound]

I voted Fly as related to WDW ... but of course, we drive to DL.

 

[backyardponder]

The cost of driving from the Chicago area is usually much higher than flying. Gas for 2,400 miles, 2 nights hotel (one night each way), meals on the road, wear and tear on the car all add up.

Of course, flying has expenses too...getting to the airport and parking (unless someone drives us), renting a car occasionally at WDW, luggage charges if I'm not flying SW.

 

[Crystal_27]

We are lucky enough to live "only" 8 hours from Disney, so we drive. Although we don't usually drive while we are at the parks (we utilize Disney's transportation), it is a nice option to have the car available if we need it. Also, we live about an hour from the airport, so in the amount of time it takes to drive to the airport, wait through security, take the flight, and get on ME to our resort, we've already got half the drive tackled.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

We almost always fly. Only exception will be later this month. Can't find decent airfare so we are going to drive it in 1 and 1/2 days. It will be a very long 1st day so we are leaving on Friday instead of our normal Saturday. I'm not really looking foward to the driving part but we already have our airline tickets for our September trip.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

The cost of driving from the Chicago area is usually much higher than flying. Gas for 2,400 miles, 2 nights hotel (one night each way), meals on the road, wear and tear on the car all add up.

Of course, flying has expenses too...getting to the airport and parking (unless someone drives us), renting a car occasionally at WDW, luggage charges if I'm not flying SW.

For us, it's the opposite, As a family of 4 to purchase airline tickets and pay someone to watch our dogs far out weights what we pay to drive and leave the pooches with relatives in FL. Then again, we drive straight through and pack several meals, so there is no hotel cost and we're only buying one meal each way.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We always drive. We flew one time and our plane was six hours late leaving our hometown. Then we missed the connecting flight. I think we ultimately were about 8 hours late arriving. Our local airport is a lot more expensive than larger ones. And we are at least three hours from a larger airport. So we might as well drive the distance. It takes us about 14 hours to drive.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think we're around 16-18 hours away. We'll drive when we have 4 or more weeks to spend. That's about 2 years away. For now, we fly.
Bobbi

 

[bluslag]

We have done both and we are coming from Michigan. Last year we drove and had so much fun. We are driving again this year and I just love the fact that I can put all I want in the car. I usually have everything I need when we drive. We bring water, groc, beach towels, more than one luggage, strollers, and anything else I want. This year and last my husband and I drive down for a week alone and then the kids join us for a week. We usually take everything they need too. Last year they flew but this year they are driving because they have to buy tickets for there little ones. Can't wait hope we have great weather. Looks like it has been cold all winter!!

 

[katmittens]

We always drive, which is about an 18-20 hour drive depending on traffic, weather, etc. I have it down on how to pack, what to pack, etc. I think I would not know what to do if I flew. I could never pack for it. We have been driving for about 20 years and we make about 2-3 trips per year. Our kids still come with us ages 25 and 22 and don't mind the drive. They never were a problem, when they were younger, they took, games, coloring books, then went to video games and movies and homework when we went during the school year. Now they are adults so they read or sleep or listen to music and still watch movies. Some of our best times have been on the road. We have had so many laughs We have always had a mini van so it has been great. We are on our 5th mini van in 20 years. Next year I am due for a new car and I am thinking of not getting a van, since kids may not be going with us all the time, and when they do they may have to fly due to jobs.
I guess it depends on your family and your finances. I don't like to fly so I guess we never started.

 

[kdepot]

I voted Fly as driving 2 days each way vrs cheap flights from Providence RI on SWA

 

[Checkers]

We usually fly but we have driven a few times. My DH has stated that he will never drive to WDW again but I really don't mind the drive down, it's the drive back that kills me!

 

[rentayenta]

I can't vote because we do both. We drive to California and we fly to Florida.

 

[jarestel]

As a change of pace from the whole airport/flying stuff, we drove down and back 2 weeks ago. I don't see any reason to do it again, at least not from NH. The cost savings was minimal, less than $300 vs. buying 4 airline tickets, and it takes way too much time. Though it did also save us another $300 by not having to rent a car in Florida.

Still, the monetary savings compared to the time required to drive (2 days down, 2 days back) just doesn't seem like a good trade-off to me. So, back to flying it is for us from now on.

 

[jimmar6419]

We drive from Texas each time. We really have it figured out now. We do it in one day and that is half the fun. Well, maybe not half the fun, but we love it. We have an ongoing scavenger hunt. We bring a unlabeled map of the US. The team that gets the most license plates gets a Yoohoo drink.

 

[5forDiz]

We've been driving since 1994 growing from a family of 4 to 5 ( and sometimes we take another family member or 2 along ). We need to have a car in Florida because DH has many family members who live in Daytona & Palm Beach area and we visit them in addition to WDW. Our kids have always been fine with the drive even when they were very young and we always treated the drive to/from as part of the vacation experience. If we fly we have to rent a car & we'd stay couple extra nights in Florida then so staying in hotels for drive to/from isn't really an extra expense to us and we don't count meals to be part of a driving expense because we have to eat meals each day anyhow whether we are on the road or not.

Usually we try to stay overnight(or longer) on HHI either at DVC resort or one of the oceanfront resorts and that works really well for us & it's something we all look forward too as much as WDW. Sometimes when we drive home we even will stop overnight in Washington DC after HHI to see some sights and make the vacation last a bit longer.

 

[FOXFIELDZOO]

WITH ALL 8 OF US, IT WOULD COST AN ARM AND A LEG TO FLY, SO 18 HOURS OF DRIVING IS WORTH IT.

 

[Starr W.]

Our rule of thumb,

will drive to vaction location if we can get there in 8 hrs or less.

Over that we fly and if the flight is over 5-6 hours, we're up in business/1st class.