Fly versus drive

[autismgoesdisney]

UGH! We've now done both. Last year we drove down since the kids didn't have school anyway and although the drive wasn't awesome, it was totally doable. We did like having our car in Disney and we also liked being able to pack whatever we wanted

Now our next trip, we will be taking the kids out of school. However, the week we think we are choosing, they get two days off of school. We only want to be gone ONE weekend though because my son plays football and can only miss one game (isn't even supposed to do that but oh well!) So if we drive, we really will be eating into vacation time and school time just to be on the road. Not sure I am fond of that.

Cost wise....from NJ, we figure the cost to be about $700 more to fly and parking our car for the week.

What would you do????

 

[summersalt]

We are debated the same issue for our January trip. We have two kids in high school so skipping school is out of the question. We decided to drive. However, we live in NC so it's a little closer than NJ. I think if I had to drive any further I would fly. Time is very valuable (especially at Disney!).

 

[cg1200]

Unless cost is a key factor I would fly. If you are going to Disney at an offpeak time, flights should be $200-$300 per person which is reasonable, maybe less. Driving is just endless. I did it as a kid many times and hated it. If you can afford it, fly. And this is coming from someone that hates flying! You just can't beat the efficiency.

 

[disneymarie]

= Time is very valuable (especially at Disney!).

I agree, we spent 4 days on the road and train that were days we could have been in Disney. Not only that the exhaustion factor, all the endless miles. driving is doable but really a last resort to me.

 

[novakonline]

Well it depends how far will you drive, it looks like 8h driving is to much for the kids!

 

[cg1200]

Well it depends how far will you drive, it looks like 8h driving is to much for the kids!

I would agree. 8 hours is my max. Longer than that I would look to fly. We live in CT so driving is just out of the question. It would take us 2-3 days to get down there. I just can't see how it would be worth it.

 

[maxiesmom]

How many practices are your son going to miss in addition to that one game? Most coaches are pretty strict on missing practice too, and your son may be giving up a lot of playing time if he misses multiple practices in addition to a game.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

How many practices are your son going to miss in addition to that one game? Most coaches are pretty strict on missing practice too, and your son may be giving up a lot of playing time if he misses multiple practices in addition to a game.

My son is only 5 and playing tiny mites. It is our PW rules, that technically he's not supposed to miss playing time at this age. However, as we all know, they will just give him the minimum playing time. But in September, he should only miss two practices and one game, which is MUCH better than 2011 just a few months ago, when he missed 4 practices and TWO games

We are only going in September this trip because my kids REALLY want to go to Halloween Party (and its my daughter's Communion present) so I guess we'll take the punishment we get.

 

[autismgoesdisney]

I would agree. 8 hours is my max. Longer than that I would look to fly. We live in CT so driving is just out of the question. It would take us 2-3 days to get down there. I just can't see how it would be worth it.

I agree with you I think LOL! We drove in August. It took 20 hours with stops for gas/food. We didn't stop overnight. It really wasn't that bad for us, even with the ages of our kids. BUT when I think of it as time missed in Disney, it does make me sad, BUT it did save us money so we could even do the trip to Disney!

 

[donnaf516]

We drove from NJ in August and will do it again next year. It's really not that bad if you go straight thru. But we have decided to fly in February since we have less time to work with.

 

[OKW Lover]

Can you "afford" to lose 2 days (or more) of your vacation driving there and back?

 

[maxiesmom]

My son is only 5 and playing tiny mites. It is our PW rules, that technically he's not supposed to miss playing time at this age. However, as we all know, they will just give him the minimum playing time. But in September, he should only miss two practices and one game, which is MUCH better than 2011 just a few months ago, when he missed 4 practices and TWO games

Oh, being 5 makes a huge difference!

I was guesing highschool sports, and around here, if you miss too many practices they can kick you totally off the team.

The Halloween parties are awesome! Go and have fun!

 

[vacationclub]

Just another thought. The IRS puts the mileage reimbursement rate at about .$56/mile. That's what they believe is the average cost to operate your vehicle between gas, wear and tear and depreciation. Based on that, if driving from the northeast, say NJ or CT, the cost is actually thousands of dollars, but people only seem to look at the actual money they put in the car for gas. This doesn't include the risk you put your car at, and the people in the car (flying is way more safer statiscally). And finally, it takes forever.....forever. Time is valuable.

I travel for work sometimes, and many times it's cheaper to pay for a flight (including extra luggage) and a rental car than to pay for my mileage if I drove, plus my time on the road. This is especially true if going more than 5-6 hours away. It's way cheaper to fly to NYC and back in one day than drive there, and I'm only 5-6 hours away.

If you are putting multiple people in the same car, the equation changes, but this is really what it comes down to...how many plane tix are you saving compared to the wear, risk and time on the car and people.

 

[cg1200]

Just another thought. The IRS puts the mileage reimbursement rate at about .$56/mile. That's what they believe is the average cost to operate your vehicle between gas, wear and tear and depreciation. Based on that, if driving from the northeast, say NJ or CT, the cost is actually thousands of dollars, but people only seem to look at the actual money they put in the car for gas. This doesn't include the risk you put your car at, and the people in the car (flying is way more safer statiscally). And finally, it takes forever.....forever. Time is valuable.

I travel for work sometimes, and many times it's cheaper to pay for a flight (including extra luggage) and a rental car than to pay for my mileage if I drove, plus my time on the road. This is especially true if going more than 5-6 hours away. It's way cheaper to fly to NYC and back in one day than drive there, and I'm only 5-6 hours away.

If you are putting multiple people in the same car, the equation changes, but this is really what it comes down to...how many plane tix are you saving compared to the wear, risk and time on the car and people.

Great points. I guess to most though, they already purchased the car so it's very much a hidden cost.