Fly or drive??

[kstorms27]

My wife and I have ran the numbers and figured out that if we drove (from Michigan) we could save between $200-250 over flying, RT, to WDW. The trade off is that it would be 2 days there and 2 days back as well as 2 nights in a hotel. If we were to spend the extra money it would be 2.5 hrs and were there. Oh, did I mention our DD is only 3? Somebody help! Tell me what you would do. We have never flown either so that adds to the confusion.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

I would fly.

 

[Tara]

$250 savings total to shorten your Disney time by 4 days???? This is a non-starter IMO. Fly.

Tips for first time fliers:
https://www.google.com/webhp?source....r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1600&bih=743


And of course this board can be a big help.

 

[emksmama]

Where in Michigan? If you have to drive several hours to get to an airport for a direct flight, why bother. If your DD is a good car rider then drive. DH and I have always driven...3 trips from central IN to southern FL, and we only stopped for the night the first two times. The girls were really little, 13 mos and 2 the first time, 2 & 3 the second. Last year we drove 22 hrs, they were 7 & 8 and did just fine!

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

Fly!!!!!

 

[kstorms27]

$250 savings total to shorten your Disney time by 4 days????

It wouldn't really shorten our trip, we would just leave a day early to get there the same day our vacation starts. I'm really looking more at the aspect of a 21hr drive over 2 days, or a 2.5hr flight!

 

[stasijane]

I always drive but if it involved making my days at Disney longer then I would fly!

 

[kstorms27]

Where in Michigan? If you have to drive several hours to get to an airport for a direct flight, why bother. If your DD is a good car rider then drive. DH and I have always driven...3 trips from central IN to southern FL, and we only stopped for the night the first two times. The girls were really little, 13 mos and 2 the first time, 2 & 3 the second. Last year we drove 22 hrs, they were 7 & 8 and did just fine!

We live about 45 minutes from Grand Rapids and they do have a direct flight to MCO with AirTran. That's the only way I would fly. Last year we went for our daughters 3rd birthday and did the drive down in 2 days but on the way home we drove straight thorough and my daughter was so miserable sitting in the car seat that I vowed that I would never do that to her again, at least until she was older, out of her car seat, and could move around.

 

[kstorms27]

I always drive but if it involved making my days at Disney longer then I would fly!

We are still getting there the same day and leaving the same day. It's all about getting there and getting home.

 

[kerplop]

We drove 16 hours last year, with no kids and I still wouldn't do it again. Flyyyyy.

 

[momjeeps]

I'm usually voting for drive. But that is not a huge cost savings IMO. I would fly. We have 6 ok our family and the savings are much bigger to drive. So we will drive 16 hours straight through. We visit family twice a year that are 24 hours one way. So this will be a piece of cake.

 

[Tara]

21 hours versus 2.5 hours...FLY

 

[kstorms27]

21 hours versus 2.5 hours...FLY

Now you sound more like my wife! LOL!!

 

[gtpoohbear]

Another vote for FLY!!! You will be exhausted after two days on the road, not how you want to start your vacation. Plus, the end of the vacation is sad enough without having the second half of the driving monster looming over you. Especially for that little in savings. If it was going to cost you an extra $1000 it might be different, but to me a few hundred $$$ wouldn't be worth it.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I've flown twice and driven once as an adult. It's a 16 hour drive for us and we broke it into 2 days.

I felt more "in control" when we were driving. Also, flying makes me a little nervous (I have a fear of heights).

I'm really divided, I can see pros and cons to both. However, I don't have kids (yet). I think if I had a kid, I'd fly, unless my kid really liked riding in the car.

 

[MinnieLee]

21 hours versus 2.5 hours...FLY

Definitely, definitely agree!!!! Not even worth thinking about!

 

[monica9]

Im going through this same thing. We have a 4 year old who doesnt mind the car at all. We live in Ct. We would start driving around her bed time and hopefully she sleeps through the night as we drive. It would take about 20 hours. Or we were thinking of driving 5 hours to virginia and taking the auto train. But not sure if we can sleep in the auto train. I HATE to fly but it would only be 2 1/2 hr flight. But like my husband said, its a whole 6 hour process total from driving to the airport, getting the couple hours early and then landing and getting on magical express. So its really a 6 hr vs. 20 hr drive.

What do you all think?

 

[Tara]

Im going through this same thing. We have a 4 year old who doesnt mind the car at all. We live in Ct. We would start driving around her bed time and hopefully she sleeps through the night as we drive. It would take about 20 hours. Or we were thinking of driving 5 hours to virginia and taking the auto train. But not sure if we can sleep in the auto train. I HATE to fly but it would only be 2 1/2 hr flight. But like my husband said, its a whole 6 hour process total from driving to the airport, getting the couple hours early and then landing and getting on magical express. So its really a 6 hr vs. 20 hr drive.

What do you all think?

I think...fly.

 

[DznyCrzy11]

Fly!!! That is such a LONG drive!! The drive down may be "ok" but will you want to drive the entire way back?? When I was younger we use to drive 10 hrs to WDW and going down Was not too bad but coming back was difficult! I could never imagine driving there now days!

 

[Mcert01]

Lots of dependencies. How long will you be at Disney? Anything less than a full week and I say Fly.

Cost would be the other consideration, but barring a big delta the value in a6 hour trip versus 20 is pretty high,

We have done both. However, we have only seven when staying at Fort Wilderness in our RV. It is a 20 hour drive for us as well.