For 2,000+ mile round-trip drivers only!

[DisneyDadof3]

The first drive, only 5 years ago, had gas monies of $120. This trip will probably be over $500, but still cheaper and less stressful than flying the 6 of us down.

No kidding. I had a Geo metro in 1992 when I went to Florida the first time as an adult. It got 58 mpg on the interstate. I filled up once on the way down, once there, once when we left and once on the way back. My total gas bill was under $50 round trip. When we went in 2003, our gas and food bill was under $200 on the way down. Now it's just under $500 just for gas

 

[ireland_nicole]

We are driving down next month from just north of NYC for the third time since Christmas. I tell DH that those AP's really SAVED us alot of money. I love the drive, it really does give you time to regroup, unwind, talk and spend time getting ready for the excitement of the trip. (Don't get me wrong, there are still DVD players, ipods and numerous game systems in the car as well!) DH loves driving through the night because it is so peaceful. We laugh because it seems that the only cars on the road at that time are from NY or NJ.

The first drive, only 5 years ago, had gas monies of $120. This trip will probably be over $500, but still cheaper and less stressful than flying the 6 of us down.

I feel the same way as your DH; We just drove 2400 miles round trip to Chicago for the 4th of July and I took the 12p-6a shift; it was so peaceful and relaxing, I couldn't believe how much less stressed I felt by the next morning. I'm actually starting to really like road trips! And only 54 days till our next one to WDW!

 

[BC1836]

Yes!! We were on our way for a cross country trip from NJ and on the 2nd night we were in Council Bluffs, Iowa and our car was broken into. Nothing really was taken but it was Father's Day and the back window was broken out. We were supposed to be driving to Colorado that day and since it was Sun and no place was open we decided to come home. We drove the 2 days with plastic and duct tape on the window. We arrived home and fixed the glass and decided to take a drive ti WDW!! It was an unplanned trip and we had a nice time but stayed in the Comfort Inn on 192. Just our example of what you asked!!

A great example!
Thanks for sharing the story.

 

[BC1836]

August drives underway, any of you 2,000+ mile drivers? Gas prices have dipped a bit.

 

[BC1836]

And now we're into September!
Any marathon round trippers with news to report?

 

[YouJustBideYourTime!]

We did on my first family trip in about 1996 I think it was...

I also had to drive down when I moved there in 2006 and back up this February... yeah driving 1500 miles without being able to see out the back window was the highlight of both those trips. When I moved down I was all alone in my car too... at least me n x-bf had walkie talkies to communicate and my gerbils were in the passenger seat, confused.

Would love to drive down for next trip this November with fiance since he's English and has never been anywhere in US outside Florida and a week in NY with me but gas. And the fact that if I do that trip in that car one more time, we may not have a car anymore.

 

[disneyfan55]

A great example!
Thanks for sharing the story.

You're welcome. We will be doing the NJ/FL run in a few weeks.

 

[isyt]

Just got back on labor day. We left on AUg 15 from north Jersey at 2p. WE hit alot of traffic in DE. MY 15 MIN RIDE THROUGH de was more than an hour !! We did stop at the bottom of VA for the night. We had some bad news from home so we were upset , of course couldn't sleep so we left VA by 4a and arrived at DIsney by 5p.

We left last sunday aug 31 after doing thr Castle Suite tour!! WE left at 4p and drove through the night and got back to north Jersey by 12p. Not bad , my kids actually love the drive. Go figure !!

I am hoping to go back soon before my aps expire but its a long shot!!

 

[BC1836]

Just got back on labor day. We left on AUg 15 from north Jersey at 2p. WE hit alot of traffic in DE. MY 15 MIN RIDE THROUGH de was more than an hour

The short jaunt through Delaware is offset by the horrible toll. But that hour-long tie-up in Delaware must have been a real pain! Usually, it's the southern MD-DC-northern VA area that usually has the tie-ups.

 

[kileybeth]

awww, sorry about your Delaware nightmare travels. We live here and just know the backroads and ways around tolls. But if I could figure out a way to avoid DC traffic (who ever heard of a "rush hour" that goes from 2pm-9pm anyway!) I'd be a happy girl.

Trying to avoid the hol dup in Dc this next trip by leaving home between 6-7 pm. Hopefully we will drive straight thru and arrive in Disney by noon or so next day. We shall see.

 

[digskat]

40 days until Ontario to WDW (2640 miles roundtrip) trip #5. Hotels booked, movies purchased.......ready to go.

 

[King Tritan]

Was going to do this as well this year. 3000 miles round trip. 15mpg = 200gals x $3.5= $700 plus food, possibly hotel, and feel like crap the 1st day there. OR I could spend a little more and get a flight. (when I booked flight I could wait the good prices always said I could drive just in case I couldnt find the right price. And low and behold the right price happend and we fly. I think I found flights for the 6 of us around $1000. Now I have to make sure we don't have too many bags

 

[pilferk]

Was going to do this as well this year. 3000 miles round trip. 15mpg = 200gals x $3.5= $700 plus food, possibly hotel, and feel like crap the 1st day there. OR I could spend a little more and get a flight. (when I booked flight I could wait the good prices always said I could drive just in case I couldnt find the right price. And low and behold the right price happend and we fly. I think I found flights for the 6 of us around $1000. Now I have to make sure we don't have too many bags

YOWZA!

I wish I could fly the 5 of us for $1000. For our 5, every price I've seen from our local airports has been around $1500 or MORE.

We're holding out hope that maybe a "ding" fare will pop up as we get closer to the dates (early December) and we MIGHT just fly instead of drive.

We'll see!!

 

[BC1836]

YOWZA!

I wish I could fly the 5 of us for $1000. For our 5, every price I've seen from our local airports has been around $1500 or MORE.

We're holding out hope that maybe a "ding" fare will pop up as we get closer to the dates (early December) and we MIGHT just fly instead of drive.

We'll see!!

But consider the three-tanks-of-gas alternative (two tankfuls for us, one way). You've done it before "pilferk!" Plus one overnight stay at a motel (under $100) on the way. No limits on baggage; no liquids hassles, no airport check-in, a Cracker Barrel meal vs. a small bag of pretzels at 30,000 feet, etc.

We flew to Disneyland in June and missed the multiple conveniences of driving to a Disney property. Sure, it takes a long time to drive but that's why we're all members of the 2,000+ mile drivers group!

In any event, no matter what method of travel you eventually utilize, your WDW destination will be a great one!

 

[pilferk]

But consider the three-tanks-of-gas alternative (two tankfuls for us, one way). You've done it before "pilferk!" Plus one overnight stay at a motel (under $100) on the way. No limits on baggage; no liquids hassles, no airport check-in, a Cracker Barrel meal vs. a small bag of pretzels at 30,000 feet, etc.

We flew to Disneyland in June and missed the multiple conveniences of driving to a Disney property. Sure, it takes a long time to drive but that's why we're all members of the 2,000+ mile drivers group!

In any event, no matter what method of travel you eventually utilize, your WDW destination will be a great one!

We primarily drive because it's a cost savings. At under $1000....it starts to be VERY roughly equivalent to the drive.

The upside to driving is we get our own car, can carry as much as we want, and have the conveniences our car provides us (and comparibly plenty of room). And, truth be told, I sorta LIKE the drive.

But there ARE downsides...like 20+ hours in a car, each way, with young kids (2, 4, and 6). It's not torture, but 2 hours on a plane is quite a bit easier....and the potty breaks don't mean I have to stop moving toward our destination.

That "under $1000" mark would, I think, be VERY tempting. It would only be about $150 more than we've budgeted for the drive. Of course, we'd also go without our a car (unless we rented).

See how I waffle???!!!

I'm pretty sure we'll be driving this year...I just don't see us all getting sub $200 round trip airfare for early December out of BDL to MCO.

 

[King Tritan]

YOWZA!

I wish I could fly the 5 of us for $1000. For our 5, every price I've seen from our local airports has been around $1500 or MORE.

We're holding out hope that maybe a "ding" fare will pop up as we get closer to the dates (early December) and we MIGHT just fly instead of drive.

We'll see!!

Yeah I was watching the airfare like a hawk. I ended up buying 4 tickets one morning and hoping I could find 2 more later. It was pretty hairy there a couple of days. Thought I was going to have to get 2 tickets for another flight too. Or even drive to another town 2 hours away etc. It was a gamble that paid off in the end.
They are not direct flights have an hour and a half lay-over in Atlanta and we leave pre-7am.

But I always had the car idea in the back pocket. My original budget was for $4+ gas though.

And for those that are driving and need a hotel room I always hotwire the deal. Either call someone or do it before we leave. Get a room around $50 crash there and leave early. May not be the best room in the world, but hey its cheap and gets the job done

 

[garmich]

On our last two trips to WDW, we have driven instead of flying. For us, a family of 4, it was cheaper to drive from Massachusetts than to fly out of Hartford, CT or Boston.

We went to WDW in mid-August. I kept track of our gas and motel expenses for the trip:
Vehicle: Dodge Grand Caravan
Total drive time: about 20.5 hours (with one overnight stop each way).
Total gas expenditure: $580.80 (RT between MA & FL, PLUS 2 RT from LBV to Tampa AND 1 RT from LBV to Daytona Beach)
Total miles driven in two weeks: 3,300 miles (161.268 gals, 20.5 MPG).
Gas price range: High = $3.799/gal. (MD & GA); Low = $3.399/gal. (NJ & SC).
Motel (2 nights): $121.00 (with FREE breakfasts included)
Total transportation cost: $702.00

If we flew, it would have cost us a lot more. 4 airline tickets at $1200 plus taxes & baggage fees, plus 2 weeks airport parking, plus 2 weeks car rental. When driving there's no airport check-in, no security hassles, no shoe checks, no baggage limits and fees, no delayed and/or cancelled, re-scheduled flights, etc., etc., etc.

We were able to pack the van with our beach gear, unlimited "free" baggage, plenty of "liquids" and two coolers full of food. And the use of our own spacious and comfortable vehicle for the entire trip.

We'll be drivin' again on our next trip!

 

[sharadoc]

But there ARE downsides...like 20+ hours in a car, each way, with young kids (2, 4, and 6). It's not torture, but 2 hours on a plane is quite a bit easier....and the potty breaks don't mean I have to stop moving toward our destination.

A HA - but it's not just 2 hours to fly. We factored in the drive to the airport, long term parking, 2 hour advance arrival to get through security, waiting to board, flying, plus retrieving the baggage and transportation to your hotel. We would want a rental car, not ME, so add in another hour at least to get the car.

We figured that at 8 to 10 hours of time that first/flying day. Our drive will be 14-15 hours, plus the hotel stop in between, so we feel we're only adding the second day's driving (around 4 hours), plus the freedom to have lots of bags, eating, drinking and entertainment at will.

 

[BC1836]

A HA - but it's not just 2 hours to fly. We factored in the drive to the airport, long term parking, 2 hour advance arrival to get through security, waiting to board, flying, plus retrieving the baggage and transportation to your hotel. We would want a rental car, not ME, so add in another hour at least to get the car.

We figured that at 8 to 10 hours of time that first/flying day. Our drive will be 14-15 hours, plus the hotel stop in between, so we feel we're only adding the second day's driving (around 4 hours), plus the freedom to have lots of bags, eating, drinking and entertainment at will.

So true. The flight is just one part of the journey.

As a jet starts it "initial descent into the Orlando area" anticipation certainly begins onboard the flight, but it hardly matches the feeling we get as we approach Exit #67 on I-4!

 

[proteus]

Oh, the memories, we used to drive to WDW way back when, alot of driving trips, 1200 miles one way straight through, stop only for gas and only me driving. We were alot younger than and a heck of alot less traffic, especially semi's on the road. Those days are gone, too much traffic for us, we have been using Amtrak for the past 10 some trips, don't like to fly. Time wise, trains alittle longer but cheaper than driving, no confusion, easier on the nerves. We pull into Kissimmee station in the afternoon, bright eyed and bushy tailed rarin' to go. We relax on the train, read, play games and watch movies and leave the driving to the engineer.

Train travel isn't for everyone, we've had our delays, but all in all, we prefer it over driving. We thought of taking 2 day to drive to Disney again but even at that, we did a road trip about 5 years ago, waited to long to book Amtrak and they we full, and even took the less mountainous route, 75 instead of 77 to WDw and it was still a mess, big cities are terrible and fray the nerves. Made our minds up then, book Amtrak early no more car.

Hope you trip is unevidentful and you have a save and great vacation and we'll watch out the train window for ya.

Try this year. We went this past August and there was NO traffic, I swear it was so light I couldn't believe it.