For those who have driven from Buffalo, NY to WDW

[patsal]

I've been doing the pre-planning for the big 2 week summer vacation and I'm 98% sure that driving will save us so much money that it will be worth it. Normally I would have to pay for 4 plane tickets and pay for a rental car for the entire time there--about $1300-$1400 for all of that. I figure it should only cost about $400 to drive total. Leaving enough money for a few car payments rather than one small flight and rental.
So, for those of you who have driven it--how have your experiences been? When I mapped it out it came to less than 20 hours--DH and I could trade off and drive straight through then break it up coming back with a night at a Holiday Inn express. I would like comments, advice, etc. form anyone who has done this.
Oh, DS is 12 and DD is 8 and we'd be driving a mini-van. As long as I keep them supplied in AA batteries I doubt they'd be any trouble. Am I or will this work?

 

[crzy4dsny]

We drove for the first time back in July from Long Island. Check out this thread for my trip report.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=417463

 

[tci1212]

We have driven from NJ around four trips. The last one was with myself, my sister and my two children ages 12 and 14 and her son 13. We drove straight thru it took us around 18 hrs. We left in the middle of the night around 2 am. Since we didn't arrive until 7 or 8 pm we stayed at an inexpensive hotel in downtown Disney. The boys slept most of the night and they each had their own walkman. So for the most part they were okay. We packed snacks for them and only stopped for gas and quick bites to eat. They do not like the drive, but when you have that many flying it is much cheaper. If it is their first time driving they probably will like it.

 

[sweetheart2576]

We drove to WDW from Niagara Falls, NY this past August with a 9 y ear old and a 6 year old because we were going with a family who would not fly for one reason or another. Since your going for 2 weeks and would need to rent a car for the whole 2 weeks it will probably be worth it. The 2 or 3 years before this we were able to find airline tickets for about $450 -500total out of buffalo for 4 of us, on US air and Southwest friends fly free special. Twice we used a town car service and once we rented a car. We were able to get a great deal on a rental(i believe it was $160 including taxes for an intermediate through Dollar rental) which we only used for one week and went without one for the following week. Needless to say, after previously flying I have come to the conclusion that I could never drive again( this was our 2nd time and was all i rembered it to be). It was a long drive for the kids and us as well. My 6 year old had to go to the bathroom at what seemed like every rest stop we came across. We did not plan our break on the way to Disney at the end of the day well because we started out later than what we expected, but i was too anxious and decided to leave anyways. The hotel we stayed in was a best inn which was expensive for a place to rest our heads for 5 -6 hours tops, more than what we were paying for Disney, but everything else around the area was booked and we were all tired, it was late . Traffic wasnt bad. I just think 3-4 hours compared to the 18-20 hours of driving is well worth the extra money. This is my opinion. It seemed like we only saved a couple hundred $ by driving(for a 10 day vacation) If you count gas and lodging(if you are stopping overnight). I would say it cost about 400-500 all together. Hotels were almost 100 a night, right off the thruway. OOPs i just realized you are driving straight through on the way down so you can take some off. I would keep an eye out for airline specials and rental car deals just to compare to driving IMHO. But it seems like you are doing a lot of planning and if you get the timing right it may not be so bad and if you trade off the driving. The first day i drove all the way and it was horrible. Too long for me.

 

[patsal]

crzy4dsny- thanks that sounds encouraging. We were goign to leave and figure the kids would sleep at least half way. I'm not sure about driving that high a speed--I thought I was a lead foot at 70-75!

tci1212-Thanks that too is encouraging--I jsut can't help but think about the price of airline tickets multiplied by 4 as well as the rental car (we will be changing resorts 3 times so I can't really be sans car for the trip)

sweetheart2576- Hi neighbor. A great perspective. I have to admit I dread the idea of driving when I have so much experience flying! I have been playing around on the websites looking for a "deal" on airfare--if Southwest would just have the fares they had at Halloween! I can also break up the cost of the rental by renting for the weekend, dropping off at car care center, renting for the weekend dropping at car care center and renting to return to the airport--but it yielded only about 100 in savings as compared to keeping it for the full two weeks! Seemed hardly worth the hassle of return and pick-up.

If anyone else has ideas/experiences withthis I am open for them!

 

[sweetheart2576]

Patsal. ..When we visited for 2 weeks and only had a car for one week we picked up at the airport and had the car the first week and did the things that we wanted to do offsite the first week. We then dropped it off at the Courtyard by Marriot and they drove us back to our hotel(WL)in the van, we then just made reservations with Tiffany town car service to pick us up and take us to the airport. We saved about 100 doing it this way and no hassles trying to drop off the car at the airport. Courtyard was quick and easy, and also extremely nice. No problems whatsoever.
we also switched resorts (CBR to the WL) the day we returned the car, so we transported our luggage to the new hotel and then returned the car.We just made it an off day, and made birthday reservations for Chef Mickey's.

 

[sweetheart2576]

When were you going to Disney? As plans are now we will be there from August 9-16(maybe 23) We may go to Daytona and Key West the following week or just stay at disney. We love staying on the ocean. There is a group of us going(about15)(If all goes well)

 

[patsal]

Right now I am booked for July 18-23 at BCV and July 25-30 at OKW. The weekends will be filled in at POP Century or a moderate with an AP rate if they become available. Plus since I don't know if I will get an irresistable flight rate I don't know if I'll need to add days at the begining or end yet, so i don't want to book too early and deal with the changes.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Hi there Patsal! I'm from North Buffalo.

I've found airfare out of Buffalo for $220 and a midsize with Budget for $226/base. The total comes to $1116 before taxes on the car. I think the air rate includes all taxes and fees.

I definitely have to say that it's just too long. My family drove out of Buffalo to Milwaukee Wisconsin, and that is a drive that I NEVER, EVER want to make again. I couldn't imagine trekking all the way down to Florida. I was 14 at the time.

Not to mention, even switching off, I think a 20 hour drive is WAY too much to try and pull off going straight through. If you decide to drive, I would definitely include at least a one night break on the way there, for physical and mental health.

But, at the same time, I can see how tempting a savings of over $700 is.

Good luck to you in your decision!

 

[disney funseeker]

Patsal,

you should also post your question on the Canadian boards. A lot of people who live in
Ontario, and especially south central Ontario drive to Orlando via Buffalo.

My sister and her family drive to Disney every Christmas from Toronto. It takes them 24hrs. She has 3 boys between the ages of 5 and 9 and she says they are good all the way. they go non-stop.

I think the kids are just getting used to the drive but also a big factor is the TV/video they have in the van. This year they had a portable DVD too. They also have game-boys. Basically, lots of things to occupy them.

Another option. One yr. my sister did a short haul flight to Altanta while the boys and her in-laws drove. They picked her up in Atlanta.
I don't know if there's much diffence in flight prices from Buffalo to Atlanta to be worth your while because then you'd still have to rent to get to Orlando. For my sister it was a great birthday present, because not only was it time alone but the time spent driving in the van was significantly reduced.
You might want to investigate costs doing it this way.

 

[patsal]

Excellent points everyone. I will be well prepared with things to keep the kiddies occupied. We have the DVD Now thing, Gameboy, DH's laptop with the car adapter for full lenght/full color DVD's. The kids will sleep from 2 am-at least 7 or 8. After reading others reports, I guess I'll start at 2am rather than 7pm and between DH and I drive through. Of course if SWA comes out with an irresistable fare then maybe I can "change plans"! I keep checking airfare and car rental rates.