Has anyone ever tried this? Am I nuts?

[mamax2]

We live in Milton, and are going to FLA next year with friends and our two kids (2 1/2 yrs and 8 months approx.) I was thinking of flying down with my friend, and the kids, and my husband was going to drive down with her husband. All the complaints I've seen for flying with kids was luggage, lines, strollers, etc. Would this be a good compromise? All I would need is a carryon, and we could hold the kids in our laps ( plus on almost all airlines, they're free!) Then the guys pick us up in Orlando, with extra luggage, stollers, and other necessities, and off we go! In theory, to me anyway, it sounds good, but I've never travelled with kids. Any advice?

 

[OntFamily]

Nuts, no. Weird, yes. It would be a more expensive option (most people either fly or drive, not both).


Is your intention to stay on Disney property? If so, you're the ideal person to use Disney's Magical Express (express luggage and bus service from teh Orlando airport to your Disney resort). Once you check your baggage at your home airport, you won't touch them again until they are in your room.


Howver, it's not that big of deal to fly. There will be 4 adults to manage two kids and luggage. This is very doable (and easy).

You'll still want your stroller for the airport (don't try to do an airport with an 8 month old without a stroller).


To be honest, I'm not sure why you'd want to subject your spouse to 21 hours of driving, to save the bother of dealing with luggage at the airport.

It should be either everyone drives (I've done it with a 12 month old), or everyone flys.

 

[princess aurora]

Travelling with kids is not a nightmare if you're prepared and let's face it if you ever want to travel again it's gotta include the kids, right?! Disney is the perfect excuse to start!
We have flown lots of times with our kids and lots of times with our kids and other families/people. You just have to be prepared have, a plan and you're fine. Yes it's sometimes a little hectic but it's so worth it!

Do you need the vehicle once you're down there? If not, I'd suggest taking the whole crew and flying out of Buffalo. We're in Georgetown and it only takes 1.5 hrs to get to the airport from here. Plus much cheaper flights!!!!

You have to limit luggage regardless how you're travelling. People go crazy on vacation sometimes and pack way too much. Even with kids you can not bring all the comforts of home with you...and they'll still live

 

[disney funseeker]

Tell me if I've got this right? There will be a total of 4 adults and 2 kids?

If those #'s are right, I'd say everyone fly down. The 2 1/2yr. old will have to pay for a seat.

One year dh and I took 2 strollers, 2 car seats. The only hassle was unloading at the airport to check in, after that it was easy.
With 2 extra adults helping, you wouldn't even have that hassle.

 

[CharlesTD]

We live in Milton, and are going to FLA next year with friends and our two kids (2 1/2 yrs and 8 months approx.) I was thinking of flying down with my friend, and the kids, and my husband was going to drive down with her husband. All the complaints I've seen for flying with kids was luggage, lines, strollers, etc. Would this be a good compromise? All I would need is a carryon, and we could hold the kids in our laps ( plus on almost all airlines, they're free!) Then the guys pick us up in Orlando, with extra luggage, stollers, and other necessities, and off we go! In theory, to me anyway, it sounds good, but I've never travelled with kids. Any advice?

We did this in 99 my dad and I drove down and my DW and mom and sister and brother and our oldest daughter flew down. We then had to rent a van as our car wasn't big enough to fit everyone so it ended up costing us way more than I would ever spend again to travel to Disney. In theory it was a great idea but in reality it was a waste of money and no better than having just had us all drive down in 2 cars and it would have been cheaper that way also.

 

[mamax2]

Nuts, no. Weird, yes. It would be a more expensive option (most people either fly or drive, not both).


Is your intention to stay on Disney property? If so, you're the ideal person to use Disney's Magical Express (express luggage and bus service from teh Orlando airport to your Disney resort). Once you check your baggage at your home airport, you won't touch them again until they are in your room.


Howver, it's not that big of deal to fly. There will be 4 adults to manage two kids and luggage. This is very doable (and easy).

You'll still want your stroller for the airport (don't try to do an airport with an 8 month old without a stroller).


To be honest, I'm not sure why you'd want to subject your spouse to 21 hours of driving, to save the bother of dealing with luggage at the airport.

It should be either everyone drives (I've done it with a 12 month old), or everyone flys.

Actually, my husband doesn't want to fly, he wants to drive, but he wants to drive straight, with only bathroom breaks and drive-thru for food. It was his idea, not mine. I just thought 3 hours was easier that 24 - 26 hours in a car with two kids, one whom I already know hates her car seat.

 

[mamax2]

We did this in 99 my dad and I drove down and my DW and mom and sister and brother and our oldest daughter flew down. We then had to rent a van as our car wasn't big enough to fit everyone so it ended up costing us way more than I would ever spend again to travel to Disney. In theory it was a great idea but in reality it was a waste of money and no better than having just had us all drive down in 2 cars and it would have been cheaper that way also.

That actually makes a lot of sense. I'll see if I can convince him to fly. We're not going to Disney right away, we're going to the Keys first, then a week in Ft. Lauderdale, then Disney right at the very end, so we're going to need a minivan anyway.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[OK GRUMPY]

Hey I'm from Navarre Fl.. I've heard that the flights out of this area can take longer then the drive layover in Atlanta. When we would travel down with the young ones we would leave about 3 in the morning so that they would be sleeping the majority of the time.Good Luck!

 

[CharlesTD]

That actually makes a lot of sense. I'll see if I can convince him to fly. We're not going to Disney right away, we're going to the Keys first, then a week in Ft. Lauderdale, then Disney right at the very end, so we're going to need a minivan anyway.

Thanks for all the advice!

No problem on teh advice our family just drives every trip now it is way way cheaper than flying a family of 5 to Florida.

 

[Joann]

We live in Milton, and are going to FLA next year with friends and our two kids (2 1/2 yrs and 8 months approx.) I was thinking of flying down with my friend, and the kids, and my husband was going to drive down with her husband. All the complaints I've seen for flying with kids was luggage, lines, strollers, etc. Would this be a good compromise? All I would need is a carryon, and we could hold the kids in our laps ( plus on almost all airlines, they're free!) Then the guys pick us up in Orlando, with extra luggage, stollers, and other necessities, and off we go! In theory, to me anyway, it sounds good, but I've never travelled with kids. Any advice?

Hey I live in Milton to! Well boarder of Milton I am like two minutes south from Derry road on Applebyline! cool!!

 

[sunny_stace]

the kids I have gone with have been much better when we've travelled by plane. Even if they misbehave or have difiiculty dealing with the confinment and all...at least it's only for a few hours instead of a day or two! Also, I just booked out of flightcentre.ca here in London, ON and got my return flight for $200!! In late Sept mind you but still worth looking into. It really depends. My mom told me recently that they took me on preparation and test trips to see how I'd behave before actually making the decision...you could try that!

 

[soupy11]

This year my girlfriend and I are going down with my sister, her husband and their three kids. My sister, girlfriend and the baby are flying out of Buffalo, while my brother-in-law, the two older kids and I drive down. We are dropping the girls in Buffalo and meeting them the next day at the Airport in Orlando. The driving duties are going to be split between my BIL and myself. I have the day off that we are leaving and plan on sleeping all day in preperation. Big savings in car rental fees and flights is the primary reason for it. I also have done this drive at least 6 times in the past ten years and don't mind it. A bit nervous splitting up what with airlines causing delays, and such, but we are hopelessly optimistic when it comes to Florida and don't foresee any huge issues. Leaving next Friday April 22!

 

[mamax2]

Hey I live in Milton to! Well boarder of Milton I am like two minutes south from Derry road on Applebyline! cool!!

Cool! We're Trafalagar and Steels. Technically, we're in Hornby, but its so small, I just say Milton. (Hornby - Population us, our landlords, and the dog across the street ) But all in all, nice if you like living in country, with the convience of a Walmart just down the road

 

[alohamom]

Mamax2 and Joann, I too am in the area between Milton and Rockwood in Nassagaweya(say that ten times fast, it took me two years living here to find out how to say it correctly!) Looks like we have our own little Dis Community! As far as the fly/drive thing goes, I have a friend who does that every year. She and her friend take the boys (each have two). The kids are old enough now to entertain themselves but it is really such a short flight that it is not that bad. The guys drive down like a bullet and it works really well for them. Enjoy your trip either way!