DVCers do you drive or fly?

[buzz5985]

I didn't vote since our family does both. If we have a short trip planned to WDW - less than 7 days - we fly. But if we have a longer trip planned - we drive. The longer trips tend to have multiple destinations involved. An example would be our long trip in the summer of 2008 - Washington DC, WDW, HHI, visit Sister in VA then home. Our recent 2009 5 day trip to WDW - flew. No plans for this year (yet), but 2011 planning on VB, WDW and HHI - so that will be a driving vacation.

So it depends on what plans we have. But our family does enjoy the drive We have fun. I grew up with driving vacations - I want my DS to have the same experiences.

 

[JasonDVC]

We fly because airfare is reasonable and there are planty of non-stops out of Providence. One day, when the kids are older, we would like to drive and make stops in DC and HHI along the way. Make it a slow 2 week vacation. We'll see.

 

[corpcomp]

We only have enough time for a five day visit. My wife is an NICU nurse and cannot get off more than that at any one time. So driving from CT would take 2 days down and 2 days back (1200 miles each way) and leave us no time for vacation. We fly on JetBlue and my DS 14 can watch TV the whole way down.

We do drive to our vacation house in the OBX as that is only 500 miles (soon to be 440 when the new OBX bridge is finished)

I also really like landing at MCO, so much cleaner than JFK / LGA. You really feel like you are on vacation landing there. Downside is when we fly back and land in NY, we really know we are no longer on vacation.

 

[colonialtinker]

We drive although 1 of us looks for any excuse possible to fly. For a change in May we are going to take the auto train, first train ride for all of us. The drives take 13 - 14 hours depending on stops.

 

[liznboys]

We live an 8-8.5 hour drive away, so driving is for us.

 

[Granny]

We also live almost exactly 1,000 miles from Orlando and drive every time. It is 17 hours including the time change and we do it in one day. With the four of us, flying would cost many hundreds of dollars more and we'd end up renting a car when we are there since we always go off-site for some dining and to visit Sea World, etc.

As others have mentioned, it makes packing really easy since we are not cramped for luggage space and we save on not needing an Owners Locker.

 

[twinklebug]

Single mom/only driver here, I'd need to break up the trip into at least 2 days each way & that means more time which I don't have.
So, We always fly, for 3 people it's about the same price as driving rt from Boston/Providence to Orlando. Some day I will drive and have a leisurely last day at Disney & no pressure to catch a flight. Maybe this summer. It'd be nice to be able to buy and bring home a mickey balloon too.

 

[DopeyDave]

We almost always fly from Pennsylvania. Once in awhile we'll drive, just to remind us why we fly!!

I actually drove it once, by myself, without a map!! Most people ask, "Didn't you get lost?" I say "No, it's only two roads... I-95 and I-4!"

 

[TagsMissy]

we come from the west coast of Canada so we definitely fly! I don't want to imagine that drive!

 

[Meriweather]

I voted fly since your post said to the "World"
Way to far to drive from WA....and will also be when we make the final move to AZ.

We also fly to DLR from WA, but will try the drive from AZ

 

[Uncleromulus]

Fly. BUt ONLY because it gets us to WDW in 2 hours instead of 17.
Otherwise I HATE everything about flying, the airport , the security, etc etc.
It's a gigantic pain. But it's FAST.

 

[Redbunny]

We have flown and are planning on flying in December. It would only be about 26 hours to drive, but that long in the care with my wonderful girls asking every 5 minutes if we are there yet is definitely not worth the savings. The 1 1/2 hour drive to the Dallas airport is long enough in a car with them and slow driving husband

 

[Toonpies]

I'd love to drive, but the Atlantic gets in the way. So it's 2 flights there and 2 flights back.

 

[JenSop]

Even though we drove last year, my vote was to fly! I hated the drive from PA. (My trip report link at the bottom of my post tells all about it. It was terrible!) Most trips we've always flown.

 

[kristenrice]

I can't vote....we do both.

When we go in the summer and can get flights for $150 R/T, we fly.

When we go over Easter and airfare is $500 R/T, we drive.

I definitely prefer to fly, but it is also fun to take a few days and drive through places we don't normally get to see.

If I *had* to vote, I would say "fly", but it is based solely on cost. If I can save $500 or more by driving, we'll drive.

 

[pinnocchiosdad]

We take SWA from Islip Long Island. One day we would like to drive and stop at HHI or VB.

 

[dianeschlicht]

It's about a 30 hour drive, so of course we fly.

 

[z28wiz]

We are leaving from NEPA PA, and our twin boys will be about 2 weeks shy of their 3 yr bday. We are planning to leave at night around bed time for them and maybe drive for two hours then stop get gas and so on, then hopefully they sleep through. We are staying at Hilton Head the following night to break up the trip then head to WDW in the am. We shall see. We always flew before they were born, but we think it may be to much on a plane that young.

 

[lilosurf11]

I've flown to WDW only twice I believe. All the other times, we have driven. I like flying because it's convenient and I get there quicker. But I do like driving because it's fun to spend time with my family and watch movies and look at the scenery.

 

[Princess&CowboyMommy]

We're about 1100 miles from Disney (we live near Austin, TX), but we always drive. We're about 18 1/2-19 hours away, but we save a ton by driving instead of paying for plane tickets for 4 people. Plus, I'm one of those who is afraid of flying (too many very scary flights in my 20s).

That being said - my kids probably know the geography of the south along I-10 better than any of the kids in their class, lol! We talk about state capitals, traditions of major towns - all kinds of stuff - on the road. In down time, the kids watch a movie or play their game boys. We also get to meet all kinds of great new folks and try new hotels/restaurants along the way. (Although my kids are absolutely insisting to go back to the Drury in Lafayette because they loved the manager there so much ).

Once we get there - we obviously have our car - which is a huge plus for grocery store runs, going to play mini-golf, going to DTD, getting to Ohana for dinner (yum!), etc.

Ya, I know it takes longer to get to Disney - a lot longer. But, I'm with the people that I love most in the world and I love just spending time alone with them. For me, the drive there and less so back, is part of focussing 100% on family time

(And yes - my 5 year-old does spend a lot of the trip asking if "we're there yet," but he also starts asking about a month after we get back when we're going again - so I hear it for 10-11 months before we even get on the road I've learned to tune it out )