Fly or drive?

[jjarman]

Here is my dilemma. I have been saving for our March, 2005 trip for about 9 months. This trip is just me and DS14. We are booked at Pop Century and we are both so excited. It is his second trip and our first without DH who has no interest in going to WDW again. Go figure. Anyway, I have budgeted for us to drive which is about 11 hours. I may split it up on the way down or back or both. I won’t decide that until the last minute. Well...I may end up with more money than I figured which is a good thing. Here is my dilemma. Should I fly which I can probably do for about $500 for round trip tickets and which includes a towncar service or should I take that extra money and maybe move up to a moderate resort or have more character meals (haven’t really budgeted except for Liberty Tree Tavern) or spend extra on souvenirs, Cirque, Disney Quest? I know if we fly it will be so much better and much less tiring than driving but then I think I could use that money elsewhere. What would you guys do?

 

[Kaybee]

I would fly! It would be so much easier on you and your DS. You won't be tired from fighting the traffic. You can be down there sooner and at the parks faster. You can stay longer, because you don't have that I have to drive 11 hrs back home, hanging over your head. Traffic delays with construction are always terrible. It is not fun to drive anywhere lately with all the road construction.
I would chose to fly. Watch for codes to come out at the last minute for hotel changes if you want. But hands down it would be easier on you and your son if you flew.

 

[chyam]

Perhaps it is me.........but I have gotten to the point where I don't like to drive long distances anymore, they are just to tiring. If I were you I would fly, it essentially gives you almost 2 more days down here. since you won't have the 11 hours up and back. Keep an eye on airfares, I just booked for Denver in Feb. for 138.00 there is no way possible I could drive it for that! I keep a best fares section on my yahoo page and watch for different cities. The money to me would be well worth the time. As far as moving up to a moderate, that too keep an eye out for, codes should come out for that time period and you maybe able to book a moderate for almost what you are paying now, if not ..........how much time do you really spend in the hotel room? Most people just use their rooms to sleep and a little time at the pools.......just my opinion.

 

[pumpkinboy]

For us, driving isn't even an option, coming from Massachusetts and with a DS who cannot survive more than 3 hrs in the car at a stretch.

But in your case, you're only 11 hours away, and you seem inclined to drive, if I am hearing the gist of your post correctly. With a 14 yr old, it's a road trip, and road trips are fun! Provided you have the time, then by all means drive it, enjoy the drive, make some stops on the way to experience America, all good stuff. Plus you'll have more money in your pocket when you get there. Upgrade to a resort with a really good pool slide like POFQ or CS (very popular with the 14 yr olds I know), plus the Mods have more room, and maybe get a room with a view. Yeah, most folks only sleep in their rooms, but we use our room as a sanctuary, to relax after the parks or the pool, and the extra space in the Mods (312 sq ft in the Mods, vs 250 in the Values) really helps. And since your choices appear to be either Value or Moderate, having will be handy to get to someplace with decent food.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[clkelley]

I'm assuming your in the Southern portion of Mississippi because there is no way it is 11 hours from North Mississippi, because it takes us 11 hours from North Alabama.

Here is what I would suggest. If you can get a direct flight from an airport less than 1 hour from your home, then by all means fly.

If you have to change planes somewhere, or if your airport is more than 1 hour from your home, then you are not saving much time.

Before we had direct flights from N. Alabama, it took close to 8 hours total time to fly.

90 minutes early - Arrive at Airport
1 hour to Atlanta
2 hour layover in Atlanta
2 hours to Orlando
30 minutes for luggage
1 hour to resort

So flying did not save us much time.

The time I took a direct flight from another city, it took me a long time.

Left house 5 hours before flight
2 hour Nashville to Orlando
30 minutes to luggage
1 hour to resort

With the direct flight it only takes us about 4 1/2 hours door to resort.

90 minutes early - Arrive at Airport
90 minutes to Orlando
30 minutes to luggage
1 hour to resort.

When we drive, here is what we do so that we don't lose much time.

We leave home about 1:30pm in the afternoon (as soon as we can spring son from school on Friday). and drive to Ocala, FL and stay at a Super 8 in Ocala.

Early the next morning, we scoot on down to Orlando (about 60 miles left) and check into our resort and are to the parks at opening.

We enjoy our week at WDW, then on Saturday morning we check out of the room and spend the entire day at the parks, usually till about 9 or 10pm. We then drive back up to Ocala and spend the night at the same Super 8, then sleep in till 9 or 10am and head on home.

I have found that if we drive straight through to WDW, we are so tired that we can't get up early. We can usually get to the Super 8 by 11pm and can get checked in and in bed by 11:30pm. We have a small bag, and its quick. It just takes a lot longer to check into a Disney resort than it does any other hotel, plus we would be unpacking everything, and it is almost 1am before we get into bed.

If you check in super early the next morning, there is rarely a line, and you have a better choice of rooms.

I have also found that if we stay over the last night at WDW when we're driving, we head home later in the day cause we have that last big breakfast, or go to DTD, or something and we get home really late.

It is much easier to hit the road home from a boring Super 8 in Ocala, and you've got an hour behind you.

I hope this helps you decide!

Carol

 

[disneyfanz04]

FLY...this coming from a super scardey cat of flying!!!!! It is so much quicker. Plus more time in WDW.

 

[jjarman]

Originally posted by clkelley
I'm assuming your in the Southern portion of Mississippi because there is no way it is 11 hours from North Mississippi, because it takes us 11 hours from North Alabama.

Here is what I would suggest. If you can get a direct flight from an airport less than 1 hour from your home, then by all means fly.

If you have to change planes somewhere, or if your airport is more than 1 hour from your home, then you are not saving much time.

Before we had direct flights from N. Alabama, it took close to 8 hours total time to fly.

90 minutes early - Arrive at Airport
1 hour to Atlanta
2 hour layover in Atlanta
2 hours to Orlando
30 minutes for luggage
1 hour to resort

So flying did not save us much time.

The time I took a direct flight from another city, it took me a long time.

Left house 5 hours before flight
2 hour Nashville to Orlando
30 minutes to luggage
1 hour to resort

With the direct flight it only takes us about 4 1/2 hours door to resort.

90 minutes early - Arrive at Airport
90 minutes to Orlando
30 minutes to luggage
1 hour to resort.

When we drive, here is what we do so that we don't lose much time.

We leave home about 1:30pm in the afternoon (as soon as we can spring son from school on Friday). and drive to Ocala, FL and stay at a Super 8 in Ocala.

Early the next morning, we scoot on down to Orlando (about 60 miles left) and check into our resort and are to the parks at opening.

We enjoy our week at WDW, then on Saturday morning we check out of the room and spend the entire day at the parks, usually till about 9 or 10pm. We then drive back up to Ocala and spend the night at the same Super 8, then sleep in till 9 or 10am and head on home.

I have found that if we drive straight through to WDW, we are so tired that we can't get up early. We can usually get to the Super 8 by 11pm and can get checked in and in bed by 11:30pm. We have a small bag, and its quick. It just takes a lot longer to check into a Disney resort than it does any other hotel, plus we would be unpacking everything, and it is almost 1am before we get into bed.

If you check in super early the next morning, there is rarely a line, and you have a better choice of rooms.

I have also found that if we stay over the last night at WDW when we're driving, we head home later in the day cause we have that last big breakfast, or go to DTD, or something and we get home really late.

It is much easier to hit the road home from a boring Super 8 in Ocala, and you've got an hour behind you.

I hope this helps you decide!

Carol

You make some great points. I live in Hattiesburg, MS and the cheapest airport to fly out of is New Orleans. That is a 2 hour drive, get to airport at least an hour early, fly say 2 hours or so, then an hour and a half to get to the resort. That is 6 1/2 hours at least versus driving 11. I think for 4 and a half hours I would keep the money and drive.

I hadn't even thought about spending the day we leave in the parks. I am thinking now of driving straight through on Saturday, spend the week at WDW. That Saturday we come home, spend most of the day at one of the parks and then drive a few hours and stay some place cheap. Then we would only have about 7-8 hours the next day to drive. Thanks so much.

Plus I would have that much more money to spend on a room or other stuff. Thanks again.

 

[clkelley]

Even with the extra money, I would still stay at Pop Century. We stayed at Port Orleans, French Quarter with our teenage sons in May. (16 & 17)

Me & hubby loved it!!

The boys were bored at the resort. There were lots more teenagers at All-Stars (and probably Pop Century), where they could get into pickup football or dodgeball games. They even went over to Wide World of Sports and watched some other kids they met play in a softball tournament.

They also said the arcades were better at Value resorts.

Carol

 

[dpic]

Flying would be safer. A lot can happen on an eleven hour drive.-especially on your way back when you are wipped out from all the realaxation you'll enjoy. Yes, you'll still be driving to the airport and maybe to WDW. But play the odds, you'll be safer flying.

BTW, smack your husband for us.