Flying vs Driving

[PlutoLover93]

It's 16 hours for me and we drive! To me it's the experience you get. Listen to Disney music on the way down and get hyped up!!! Four of us splitting gas is only about $125 per person all together where no flight is that cheap. Plus we bring more than just a carry-on so you have to factor in extra prices for the weight of the luggage depending. When I went in 2010 my friends family flew and it was an extra $200 for the weight of their luggage.

 

[HopperFan]

I live north of ATL. I drive and it's 7 hours door to door (if we don't take long lunch break). 5-7 trips per year.
I don't mind flying but I always do the math -

1.5 hours for you to drive to the airport, arrive hour early or more depending on shuttle schedule, two hour flight from load to unload, hour and half from airport to hotel room (may be shorter but need buffer) = at least 6 hours each way. Plane fare plus shuttle is $800.

Driving door to door, no luggage limits, ability to bring drinks, water and food items = 7 hours each way. Gas costs is $200.

It would not be worth it to me to fly. I wouldn't pay $600 to save an hour each way. I could do alot with that money at Disney.

 

[Networth]

Flying > Driving. Anything over 5 hours I really hate driving. Luckily Flordian so I don't have that issue with WDW. Unluckily I have that issue with pretty much anywhere else in the US.

 

[loves to dive]

I live in Athens, which is supposed to be about a 45 min. drive to Atlanta airport but I don't think we've ever made it in less than 1 1/2. I always drive down to Disney and usually get there between 7 and 8 hours, according to how many times I stop and for how long. I considered flying once since the cost of flying was minimal but after factoring in DH driving me to and from airport (not a Disney fan so never goes) waiting on disney bus and dealing with packing for a flight, driving won out. I can throw what I think I'm going to need in the car and leave it there, if I need it, run out to the car and get it. I tend to do split stays when I go solo, so having a car to get from resort A to resort B and not having to rely on Disney to transfer my luggage and waiting for it is priceless.

 

[vikster1]

I have a 16 hour drive from NJ. We've never even discussed flying. We leave 6pm when DH gets home from work and drive through the night. I drive the first shift. He takes the late night shift and on the last fill up I drive again. We get to WDW 11am. I love the convenience of packing. I can buy whatever and not worry about anything breaking. 7 hours is a breeze. Plus you can bring case of water/soda/beer and some groceries for the room.

 

[rcraw45425]

We make that drive two to three times a year, and every time we start we always go back and forth on flying vs driving. The worst part of the trip is the four lane highway we have to take for 2 hours before we get onto I 75. After that it's a breeze. I hate having to watch for State Patrol, School buses, etc. Speed traps (limit drops from 65 to 40 in a mile). But when I factor in saving the $500 (well $400 after I take out gas cost) I'm still happy. I guess it's just 7 hours in the car with two whining teens!

 

[texasroni75]

I would drive. We have driven, and it's 17 hours of actual driving each way, so 7 hours sounds wonderful! For us, it is cheaper to drive and stay at a hotel at the halfway point each way because of our family size (6 airline tickets is a lot of $$). Plus, like others mentioned, it is so nice to be able to pack as much as we want.

 

[eliza61]

I decide based on the length of my vacation, if I'm staying for more than 7 days I drive. i live in philly lol about 17 hours drive time.

1). Flying nowadays is a hassle, just the fact that I have to get to the airport 3 hours early each way is a pain
2). I like having my own car. we eat at resorts more than the parks, getting from a resort to another resort by bus is a pain.
3). I can pack how and what I like. no worries about luggage fees, checked bags or buying a souvenir that I now have to get shipped.
4). We can go off site.

 

[SnackCredit]

We also drive from NJ, and also prefer it to flying. You can also stop at other places along the way to shop/ eat/ explore.

We always stop overnight, usually in NC. Last year, we left Orlando at 3:30 pm, stayed overnight halfway, and got home at 9:30 the next evening.

 

[rcraw45425]

Pretty certain that we'll just drive. We have HDDR booked this time and IDK how long it'll take to get there from the Poly with Disney transpo. Plus, the Eye of Orlando and Madame Tussauds will be ope ten, plus, maybe I can squeeze in a departure day Sanaa lunch!

 

[Sue M]

We make that drive two to three times a year, and every time we start we always go back and forth on flying vs driving. The worst part of the trip is the four lane highway we have to take for 2 hours before we get onto I 75. After that it's a breeze. I hate having to watch for State Patrol, School buses, etc. Speed traps (limit drops from 65 to 40 in a mile). But when I factor in saving the $500 (well $400 after I take out gas cost) I'm still happy. I guess it's just 7 hours in the car with two whining teens!

Have them download a couple of movies to occupy themselves!! Lol

 

[Jing]

I did a lot of long distance driving as a passenger growing up and hated it more with every trip. My tolerance for road trip time drops about an hour every five years to the point where 5 hours is my limit, and that's pushing it. I love flying through ATL, and will choose a longer layover just so I can visit One Flew South in terminal E for a sit down meal. So I say this as a die-hard when it come to flying: drive.

It's not even about the money - you are not going to save any real time by flying since you have to drive through Atlanta anyway. If you time it right, you can miss the worst of rush hour, everyone can get in a nap, and you will arrive with a ready room, refreshed for some park time and a good meal.

 

[rcraw45425]

Have them download a couple of movies to occupy themselves!! Lol

They're almost 18 & almost 20 so they'll be on Netflix the entire time!

 

[buzznina]

We are also 7 hours away and we do not even consider flying. No dealing with security and all our electronics or flight delays. Driving allows you to pack more, like snacks, breakfast items, a case of water etc. You have a vehicle when you are at Disney which makes it a lot easier to go to another resort for dinner. Do not even get me started on leg room, comfort and not knowing who I may sit next too

 

[clambert1273]

this last trip we just returned from - we debated heavily on flying or driving. We had it all set that we were driving (about 12 hours so an easy split between us) and then one day I just happened to check flights one more time... I ended up with a GREAT deal from Southwest (5 people for $850 round trip) so I snagged it. We are going again late Aug/early Sep and have pretty much decided to drive this time. I love road trips!

 

[teentoddlermom]

Oh my gosh, if I were that close, I would drive!
You would save so much money, and it is so much more pleasant to just go on your own terms. You don't have to be on the airline's timetable, pay for parking, waste time waiting around, etc. Plus when you get to WDW, you will be able to have your vehicle and bring your own water and snacks to your room. I don't use my car much once I'm there if I have it, but it is great to have the choice. Plus, you don't have to waste 3 hours on your return day with Magical Express.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

If I were that close, I would be broke from all of my weekend trips to WDW!

Yeah, I'd drive, too. Have fun!

 

[amber_cntrygrl]

Doesn't sound like you'd save a ton of time by flying, so I'd just drive.
We drive 10 hours from Alabama, but I've never found an airline deal good enough to make me want to fly.

 

[rcraw45425]

Well, as of this morning Southwest had raised the flight down by $30 per person so that would add another $120, so flying is out. My hubby is also a big guy, over 6 ft and I don't know how happy he'd be if he had to squeeze into a tiny seat. Plus, as someone just mentioned, we carry a ton of electronics that would have to be stored I'm sure (we'll be checking in on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend). Driving it is!

 

[IndyRnRfan]

We would drive if we were that close to WDW.

For us, it is about 16-18 hour drive from Indiana and will never do that. We can fly for roughly $600( 3 people) and from our front door to the resort is roughly 6-7 hours using DME. 12-14 hours of total travel time flying vs. 32-36 hours of driving, flying wins everytime.