Fly or Drive? Opinions please?

[Ginny Favers]

I will let you know after our trip in August. We've always flown down from the Allentown area, but this time, we figured our kids are old enough that we can drive. We're going to take two days to drive down and two days to drive back, stopping on the way for a few things my husband wants to see. Truthfully, I am nervous about it. My one DD6 gets a little carsick sometimes.

 

[atwmommy]

Have you looked into the autotrain? Our family of 5 with the car is going round trip for $1000. We needed the car, so it was a huge cost savings for us!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

BWI is generally great to MCO, our problem is that we are not very flexible in our departure/return times, driving prices up over the lowest fares.

I know the feeling, We are on tight schedules too sometimes. More so now that our kids are in high school & middle school.
You have to do what works for your family.

 

[Wendy5055]

I had contemplated driving for our July trip. However, after fuel, tolls, overnight in a hotel (both ways), meals and snacks...$200 round trip per person was too good to pass up!

 

[disneysteve]

We drive from Cherry Hill every year. It is so much more convenient than flying. We've been doing it for the past 17 years. I say drive.

 

[quentina]

Just got back from WDW last week. Will be going again in late August. Taking my teenage great-niece & nephew before school starts. I'll be covering the cost for most of the trip (kids are saving their own spending money).

Right now airfare prices from Philly are crazy. Looking at some websites, I estimated the cost for 3 airfares and a rental car w/gas & tolls to be about $1200. According to mapquest, if I drove it would take about 16.5 hours each way and cost approx. $300 in gas ($150 each way). I'm allowing an extra $100 for additional gas and tolls and $200 for an overnight room and stopping for meals down and back. So, that would be about $600 if I drive, saving about $600 from the current costs.

It's been about 15 years since I've driven to FLA. I actually like long distance driving though and would actually consider driving straight through coming home. Going down I would stay overnight somewhere, so as not be exhausted upon arrival. I realize "time is money" and getting there in 2 1/2 hours is nicer than a 16 hour drive, but I keep thinking that additional $600 could pay for a big portion of the trip. I think the drive could be part of the experience fo the trip (haven't been to "South of the Border" in years!

Of course I'll keep checking airfares and if I can book the airfare for anything close to the drive costs, I will do that. But if they don't come down, driving could be the choice this year. Just wanted to get others opinions if they think the drive is worth it.

Thanks!

Did you check Allegiant out of Allentown? Direct into Sanford so, you do need to rent car/take cab but...normally around 69-89$ each way. Nice planes!

 

[kam1011]

I love to drive! We live on the shore in Ocean County and we leave around 4pm and get in around 10:30/11am. The kids sleep in the car and we take turns sleeping when we're not driving. Couple of movies and ipods and we're good to go! We make a long breakfast stop at a McDonalds or Chick Fil A with a playplace for the kids for maybe 45 minutes, just to let the kids run around and we change our clothes, which refreshes us for the rest of the trip. It also saves us on the cost of a rental car while still having the convenience of a vehicle in Florida.

I don't drive to be cheap, it's just a bonus. We drive for the convenience of coming, going, stopping, etc. whenever we want. Our last flight to Disney was about four years ago and we were delayed like six hours, landed at like 11pm with two way overtired kids...not my idea of a good time.

 

[tlh0726]

We've driven from the gettysburg pa area quite a few times. We've found leaving around 2 am and driving straight through to disney and then for the return trip hit the parks and leave disney around 4pm ish. Drive till 10 /11 pm stop at a hotel for the night then get up and finish the drive home works best.

 

[psimon]

We drive from Cherry Hill every year. It is so much more convenient than flying. We've been doing it for the past 17 years. I say drive.

Same here (from Cherry Hill!). Been doing the drive all the way since We enjoy the drive and get to WDW at rope drop and hit the parks. Leave about 4PM.

Where in Cherry Hill?

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[disneysteve]

I don't drive to be cheap, it's just a bonus. We drive for the convenience of coming, going, stopping, etc. whenever we want. Our last flight to Disney was about four years ago and we were delayed like six hours, landed at like 11pm with two way overtired kids...not my idea of a good time.

This is something that I'm often trying to explain to people. Yes, driving is cheap. It has saved us thousands of dollars over the years. But driving is also far more convenient and enjoyable. People say, "It only takes 2 hours to fly there." No it doesn't. On a good day, it takes 6-7 hours when you count travel time to and from the airports, checking in 2 hrs before your flight, actual flying time, baggage claim, and getting your rental car. And that's if your flight is on time, which it almost never is. Get delayed a couple of hours and you're up to 8-9 hrs vs 16-17 for driving.

When we drive, we're able to pack a bunch of stuff that we couldn't otherwise pack like food for the house, snacks for the park, full-size bottles of toiletries, stuff that wouldn't get through security or things we wouldn't want to check but don't have room to carry on.

For us, the drive is part of the vacation. There are places along the way that we look forward to stopping. Pecan logs, free orange juice, etc. We'll stick to driving.

 

[psimon]

This is something that I'm often trying to explain to people. Yes, driving is cheap. It has saved us thousands of dollars over the years. But driving is also far more convenient and enjoyable. People say, "It only takes 2 hours to fly there." No it doesn't. On a good day, it takes 6-7 hours when you count travel time to and from the airports, checking in 2 hrs before your flight, actual flying time, baggage claim, and getting your rental car. And that's if your flight is on time, which it almost never is. Get delayed a couple of hours and you're up to 8-9 hrs vs 16-17 for driving.

When we drive, we're able to pack a bunch of stuff that we couldn't otherwise pack like food for the house, snacks for the park, full-size bottles of toiletries, stuff that wouldn't get through security or things we wouldn't want to check but don't have room to carry on.

For us, the drive is part of the vacation. There are places along the way that we look forward to stopping. Pecan logs, free orange juice, etc. We'll stick to driving.

Exactly!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Burnedout]

This is something that I'm often trying to explain to people. Yes, driving is cheap. It has saved us thousands of dollars over the years. But driving is also far more convenient and enjoyable. People say, "It only takes 2 hours to fly there." No it doesn't. On a good day, it takes 6-7 hours when you count travel time to and from the airports, checking in 2 hrs before your flight, actual flying time, baggage claim, and getting your rental car. And that's if your flight is on time, which it almost never is. Get delayed a couple of hours and you're up to 8-9 hrs vs 16-17 for driving.

When we drive, we're able to pack a bunch of stuff that we couldn't otherwise pack like food for the house, snacks for the park, full-size bottles of toiletries, stuff that wouldn't get through security or things we wouldn't want to check but don't have room to carry on.

For us, the drive is part of the vacation. There are places along the way that we look forward to stopping. Pecan logs, free orange juice, etc. We'll stick to driving.

I totally agree. We live the drive and always stop at st Augustine on the way. We visit the Castillo and enjoy be old Florida stuff. Then we have our car, our stuff, and can run out if we need anything.

We have had too many medical issues and the ability to run out to Walgreens is a treasure!

 

[nunzia]

I haven't read this whole thread but have you looked into the train? We take the train all the time and enjoy it very much and find it economical. Plus kids ride 1/2 price.

 

[psimon]

I haven't read this whole thread but have you looked into the train? We take the train all the time and enjoy it very much and find it economical. Plus kids ride 1/2 price.

Oh my gosh.... don't do the train!

We tried it coming back one year. Took far longer than driving. Had to be in Santee at 2pm. Left at 4. Didn't get to Virginia till 11AM. Took another 3 hours to NJ plus waiting to get the car back.

Cost lots $$$

People didn't just sleep in their seats. Kids were on the floor. Diapers were being changed anywhere the parents felt like it consequently the train wasn't smelling of roses and lilacs!

I did it as an experience for the kids. They still remember it and get on me when they can for doing it (so does the wife)!

Have I discouraged you yet?

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[disneysteve]

Oh my gosh.... don't do the train!

We tried it coming back one year. Took far longer than driving. Had to be in Santee at 2pm. Left at 4. Didn't get to Virginia till 11AM. Took another 3 hours to NJ plus waiting to get the car back.

Cost lots $$$

We haven't done it so I can't comment on the actual experience but I have looked into it. It does cost a lot more than driving and takes a lot longer as well. That just doesn't seem to be a worthwhile alternative.

 

[disneylover1980]

before I moved to FL we would always drive. No worries on baggage weight,how much we buy at the parks to take home, just more comfy all around. We have a mini van though. No rental to worry about..etc etc. Hope you have a wonderful trip!