Flying vs driving...what is your opinion?

[jenidot]

We are coming to disney for 7 days in November and trying to decide if we should fly or drive. Our drive would be 8+ hours vs a 1 1/2 hour flight. Pros of flying: more time at disney, Stress of driving eliminated. Cons: expense, relying on disney transportation (we have many ADRs, two at 8am in parks, and also plan on going to seaworld one day during trip). What would be your decision?

 

[goofy4tink]

When you are comparing driving to flying, be sure to add in the drive time to the airport, plus the 90-120 mins you need to be at the airport prior to departure. Then, the time at MCO and getting to the resort...another 90-120 mins total. So, going each way, you need to add on another 3.5-4 hrs! So, if flying, figure on probably 5.5-6 hrs total flying. Not a huge difference when compared to driving!!! I would plan on leaving home by 3-4am. Then you could be in WDW by noon.

 

[rwdavis2]

8 hours is about our cut off point for driving anywhere. Although we never drive to WDW (too far). Think about it: assume you get to the airport 2 hours early, plus 1.5 hours to fly then almost an hour+ to de-plane get luggage and get to the resort, you are up to 5 hours already.

We always rent a car at WDW and drive to each park unless the Disney transportation makes more sense such as boat from WL to MK. You can make a quick trip for groceries or off site with a car.

IMHO it's always quicker to drive to each park or between parks when hopping.

So unless you are renting a car anyway, drive.

 

[automaticsoap]

I think it also depends on how expensive it is for you to fly to Orlando. I am always able to get flights easily at around $200, and I hate long car rides -- so for me, it's an easy decision. I also don't rent a car while at WDW and rely solely on Disney transportation, which I'm happy with since I'm used to relying on public transportation daily at home.

 

[Surfinpiratee]

It's really up to you. My boyfriend and I will be driving 17 hours to WDW next Jan! Here's why:its cheaper to drive
DBF hates flying
Driving allows us to pack whatever we want!
We've been wanting to go on a road trip
We have a car while were there which is important because we.need to go to a grocery store to get out food

 

[seashoreCM]

As a rough rule it is better to wait for airfare to go on sale rather than buy at their everyday low price.

You're in the perfect position to play that game to the extreme. If airfare does not go on sale, then drive.

Another con of driving (I forgot the thread where this got expounded upon). If there are more than three adults and also some children going, some should seriously consider flying. One modest sized car isn't big enough.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

We drive most of the time and its 19 hours.

1. Cheaper
2. I pack a lot
3. DH must have a car so we would have to rent if we flew
4. We like our times/ dates a little more flexible. We have been know to stay an extra day or two.

When we can no longer drive straight through I will Berle tempted to fly.

 

[ParrotBill]

We used to fly often and use Magic Express, renting a car for a couple days to get groceries and go to the beach one day.

But we've grown to dislike flying with all the security, and even for a sale, for flights with baggage and choosing seats I find few bargains.

So we plan fewer trips but longer trips and drive. We used to go every year for a week, now we go every other year for 2 weeks. We drive our 18+ hours with a hotel stop (did it straight through once.. never again.)

$400 gas + $300 hotel + $100 food = $800 round trip... about the same as 3 bargain air fares for us, but with the bonus that we can pack what we want and have our car.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

An eight hour drive isn't bad. If I were you, I'd drive.

 

[goofy4tink]

If I lived an 8 hr drive from WDW? I probably wouldn't fly very often. It's a 24 drive for us! No way is my dh is going to be ok with that! 8 hrs? Much more likely.

 

[lweisenb]

If you have good credit you may want to look at playing the "points" game, you can easily get airfare to disney free. With points in the last 3 years I've taken our family of 4 to Disney, and Charleston, as well as the wife to Chicago, Nashville. Next year San Juan and New Orleans all on points (with about $300 in spend).

It amazes me how many people will not apply for bonus travel cards but will apply for a Target card to save $20.

 

[asudol]

I echo what others are saying... 8 hours is drive time.. By the time you add the time at the airport, security, rental cars, transportation to/from the airport, etc - the time is similar, plus you have your own car to use -- and it's typically much cheaper than flying if you have 3 or more people in the car.

We almost always drove from Toronto when I was younger (about 23 hours of driving), and the last time we went we drove with the kids...

This time, however, I have free flights and free rental car from points For a 20+ hour drive, the flight is definitely a better option.. but at 8 hours, I'd have spent my points on something else and driven

 

[Thumper_Man]

If we could drive to WDW in 8-9 hours or less, we would definitely drive. When we fly to WDW, it takes us 7-8 hours from the time we leave our house, to the time we check-in to our hotel. It's about a 26 hour drive to WDW for us, so flying is still the better way for us to travel.

We always rent a car. Since we don't go to Orlando very often, we make it an extra long trip and do US/IoA and SW as well. Having a rental car just seems to make it easier for us. Driving and having our own car would be nice to have.

 

[wishing4PA]

Pros of driving...
If you drive, you can drive right onto Daytona Beach on your way back. (Well, depending on whether you are going up I-95.)
Seriously, as we approached Daytona, DD said, "I want to drive on the beach". We had suits packed in a waterpark bag, traffic held us up too long to make it to the rehearsal we had planned on attending anyhow, and she wasn't interested in seeing El Castillo de San Marcos (I tried hard to talk her into that), so we had an hour or so at the beach.

Also, if you drive, you don't need the little baggies, lol.

Cons of driving...
You can't drive over the thunderstorm.
If your kids have a book of jokes, you will learn them all.

 

[bruhl1j]

It is about 9 hrs for us, family of 4. So far, I have not been able to find plane tickets less than $800-$1000 (for 4). We fill up the car three times on the round trip - about $200 total. To save about 4 hrs in travel time, the extra cost is not worth it.

We drive at night - less traffic, kids sleep, and we arrive early in the morning. We check the bags, park the car, and often check into our room. After that we are free to roam. On the last day we leave late afternoon and get home around 1-2 am. Since we go from EST to CST on the trip home, we get an hour back, technically speaking.

Cons with air travel - cost, their schedule, and delays.
Pros with driving - schedule is flexible, do not have to rent a car, and carry more stuff (saving if you bring a few meals, drinks)

If it was more than 12 hrs, I would try to fly.

 

[lweisenb]

It is about 9 hrs for us, family of 4. So far, I have not been able to find plane tickets less than $800-$1000 (for 4). We fill up the car three times on the round trip - about $200 total. To save about 4 hrs in travel time, the extra cost is not worth it.

Here are my specifics, you may be able to save time and money...
Signed up for two southwest CC (1 personal, 1 business) and do the minimium spend (just normal purchases) and obtain 104000 points.

Do trick to get to 110000 points and get free companion pass (worst case, buy 20000 hotel points and convert). $190

110000 - 30240 points, (3 tickets detroit to orlando + free companion pass, $5 per leg) + $40 to use reward points

79769 points remaining
Rental car through alamo rented through southwest rewards portal, $169 bonus 2400 points

82160 points remaining, total spent $378.

Detroit to Nashville for 2 people (1 through points and free companion) 10080 + $20 and 72080 points remaining

Detroit to San Juan for 2 people (1 through points and free companion) 24744 points + $20 and 47336 remaining

Detroit to New Orleans for 2 people (1 through points and free companion) 12000 points + $20 and 35336 remaining.

35336 points is enough for a SECOND trip to disney for the family.
Next year wash rinse repeat with my wife getting new cards, we've done this twice now.

Kids get Disney vacation and the wife and I get 2 additional vacations. Don't discount the cost of wear and tear as well as gas.

 

[Lewisc]

When you are comparing driving to flying, be sure to add in the drive time to the airport, plus the 90-120 mins you need to be at the airport prior to departure. Then, the time at MCO and getting to the resort...another 90-120 mins total. So, going each way, you need to add on another 3.5-4 hrs! So, if flying, figure on probably 5.5-6 hrs total flying. Not a huge difference when compared to driving!!! I would plan on leaving home by 3-4am. Then you could be in WDW by noon.

People driving can leaven whenever they want. People flying have to leave according to flight schedules. Using your numbers, leave at 3a and be in WDW by noon. Assume the flight with the fare the OP is comfortable paying leaves at 10:30a. They would arrive at their resort around 1p. In this case flying gets them to their resort an hour later the if they drove as per your suggestion.

Coming home. DME will pick them up 3 hours before their flight, they need to be at the bus stop a few minutes before their schedule flight, 1.5 hour flight then maybe a 30 minute wait for luggage. That totals 5 hours plus the time to get home from the airport. Drive and you can leave whenever you want. Heavy rain and you want to leave an hour early. No problem. Your favorite ride stopped and you want to wait 20-30 minutes for it to restart. Not an issue if you're driving. Might not be possible if you're flying.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Here are my specifics, you may be able to save time and money...
Signed up for two southwest CC (1 personal, 1 business) and do the minimium spend (just normal purchases) and obtain 104000 points.

Do trick to get to 110000 points and get free companion pass (worst case, buy 20000 hotel points and convert). $190

110000 - 30240 points, (3 tickets detroit to orlando + free companion pass, $5 per leg) + $40 to use reward points

79769 points remaining
Rental car through alamo rented through southwest rewards portal, $169 bonus 2400 points

82160 points remaining, total spent $378.

Detroit to Nashville for 2 people (1 through points and free companion) 10080 + $20 and 72080 points remaining

Detroit to San Juan for 2 people (1 through points and free companion) 24744 points + $20 and 47336 remaining

Detroit to New Orleans for 2 people (1 through points and free companion) 12000 points + $20 and 35336 remaining.

35336 points is enough for a SECOND trip to disney for the family.
Next year wash rinse repeat with my wife getting new cards, we've done this twice now.

Kids get Disney vacation and the wife and I get 2 additional vacations. Don't discount the cost of wear and tear as well as gas.

That's more bother than what it's worth....

 

[LadyBeBop]

One thing you have to consider when driving; rest time and time to gas up. I would allow at least ten minutes for every two hours on the road. So your 8 hour trip would turn out to be an 8 1/2 hour trip. Allow even more, if you have to stop for a meal

Not a deal breaker; I'd still drive. But a lot of people forget about the time not on the road. That 13 hour drive down could turn out to be a 15-16 hour trip.

 

[Lewisc]

One thing you have to consider when driving; rest time and time to gas up. I would allow at least ten minutes for every two hours on the road. So your 8 hour trip would turn out to be an 8 1/2 hour trip. Allow even more, if you have to stop for a meal

Not a deal breaker; I'd still drive. But a lot of people forget about the time not on the road. That 13 hour drive down could turn out to be a 15-16 hour trip.

I have no idea if the 8 hour number provided by the OP includes stops. Your point is valid. Some people pack food and only stop every 4-5 hours to gas up, take a bathroom break and switch drivers. Others stop 30-60 minutes for a meal and stop every couple hours to stretch their legs.