Fly vs. drive 1000 miles w/ 2 kids?

[DJmommy]

Can't decide what to do. We live in Nj so it would take 2 days of driving vs a 2 1/2 hour flight. I've never flown with my kids and am fearful it could be very trying for them and the other passengers if they don't feel comfortable. My DS can get easily scared and told me he would rather just drive there. I'm sure he has no idea how long it would really take but the airfares booked this far in advance are pretty reasonable I'm really tempted to book the flight.

WE are staying at the CR so transportation at WDW shouldn't be an issue once we're there.

IF anyone can share their thoughts or experiences i would appreciate it.

Jacquie

 

[Aisling]

Jacquie, I haven't flown with very young children, but my youngest was 8 when we took our first flight to WDW.
I think flying would be much, much easier. get the transportation out of the way, get there sooner, and start enjoying your vacation. Two days of driving can be stressful and LONG, and 2 hours of flying will go by in a flash.

If your son is scared easily, try not to make a big thing out of the plane trip. Bring some distractions, like Playdough, and maybe give him his own camera so that he can take pictures of the clouds and the flight attendants. Tell him the nice lady (or man) will bring him a drink, and he can tell her what he'd like to have. Before you know it, you'll be at MCO!

 

[Okiemom]

I would rather fly. The flight goes by fast, and you can take snacks and things for them to do on the plane. Two days in a car to me is the real stress!
My kids did not like being in a car all day, plus you would have to unload the car each night you stayed at the hotel on the way down there. If you fly, you only unload once.

 

[localdriver]

Can't decide what to do. We live in Nj so it would take 2 days of driving vs a 2 1/2 hour flight. I've never flown with my kids and am fearful it could be very trying for them and the other passengers if they don't feel comfortable. My DS can get easily scared and told me he would rather just drive there. I'm sure he has no idea how long it would really take but the airfares booked this far in advance are pretty reasonable I'm really tempted to book the flight.

WE are staying at the CR so transportation at WDW shouldn't be an issue once we're there.

IF anyone can share their thoughts or experiences i would appreciate it.

Jacquie

My kids loved flying. Flying is the safest transportation on earth.

Driving to FL with kids for 2 days.........oh my, patiences of steel......lol.

I fly. IMHO

 

[DJmommy]

Thanks for your thoughts. I am definately leaning towards flying. Just have to convince DH that there is no need for a rental car. Men and their cars.

 

[minkydog]

Are you kidding? Two days of driving? and then Disney world? Even if the kids are young(especially if they are young) I would opt for flying if you can afford it. Driving for hours and hours is so hard on everybody; you'll be utterly exhausted when you get there and the kids will be all cranky, too.

Just fly. Give them snacks to carry on board, something to play with, and practice "airplane" at home--explain about wearing seatbelts and putting the backpack under his seat. Let him take a bear to hold. Explain how the plane "bumps through the clouds" and the cars will look like matchbox cars and how the clouds look like a puffy blanket when you get up over them. We went through this with one of my kids last summer--she was very nervous. But once on the plane, everything began to happen just as i said it would and she was fascinated.

You will be so much happier flying, I think. go ahead and try it.

Cathy--spent every summer of my childhood driving 1000 miles from Mississippi to Virginia; will never do it again

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I would definitely fly! Our two were 14 & 27 months and one of their first flights was 8 hours (total of 13 hours flying within 24 hours!) so I understand you concern.
Best advise I can give is to let them know what to expect as far as noises but do it in an exciting, hyped up sorta' way, if you know what I mean. (If you're positive about flying it will make it easier on them.) I think that can be the scariest thing for a kid. Also, I would suggest getting some child sized earplanes and put them in for the flight. There is nothing worse than a child in pain for the first several days of your vacation.
How old are your kids?

 

[Joy4Ron]

I have driven to Fla from Chicago several times. I have an 11y/o and a 4 y/o, and it's not as bad as one would think. You just have to have good distractions and a ton of patience. My wife and I would have some of the best converstions on those drives.

With the low prices on airfare, it really won't cost you a ton more to fly though. I have seen airfare for less than $200 round trip. Driving, when you take into acount gas, hotel, and meals for the trip will aproach $800 dollars depending on gas mileage.
Needless to say we're flying this year

 

[Mermaid02]

We fly. Driving just eats up too much of our vacation.

 

[mom2lilo]

I would definitley fly. The plane trip won't be scary for them unless they are feeding off of your fear? Know what I mean. Plus 2 1/2 hours of entertaining them is much better than 2 days in a car. UGH. My dd was almost 3 when we first took her and the thing that kept her occupied on the plane believe it or not was post it notes. Get a big thing of the colored ones and you are in business. Let them write whatever stick them all over the back of the seat for some reason they think it is just the coolest.

Then, if you fly everyone will be rested up and ready to have so much fun @ WDW.

 

[jl3614]

Jacquie,

Our kids are currently 6 and 4. You didn't mention the age of yours - I think 5 and under is good for driving (they sleep a lot) and over 10 (they can entertain themselves) is also good - between 5 and 10 I beleieve they are a real pain - "are we there yet" after an hour on the road.

We have done it both ways. We live just north of Indianapolis. It is 1050 miles - takes 17 1/2 to 19 hours depending on traffic and construction. We have driven straight through twice - I refuse to do that again, just too exhausting. The biggest draw back to stopping for the night is that you take a day and a half each direction. We usually drive 12hours (which puts us just north of Macon Ga.), then have a short drive the second day. This is okay if you have a lot of vacation time or can not afford the airfare.

Even with the security hassles I prefer flying - as long as we can get flights for under $250 (under $1000 for the family), that is the way we will go for the next several years. It saves so much time. As far as frightened child - try to get him/her an aisle seat, and have them close their eyes and think of Disney World during take off and landing. Have them chew gum if you think ear pressure will be a problem.

Good luck to you.