Help me decide: Fly or Concierge????

[Blondy876]

Our family takes long car trips quite often. In fact I've only flown once and that was on my honeymoon trip to WDW. If we drive we plan to take two days to drive down to FL. We would be leaving on a Friday afternoon and driving until around 10 then stopping for the night and finishing up the next day. We would arrive around 5. My parents drive to FL each year and I have driven to FL before and it really does only take about 16 hours from where we live. We are so far in South Jersey we are almost in Delaware. I'm not being optimistic, it really does take only about 16 hours.

We already have everything else budgeted in for this trip from spending money to food. I also purchased about 10 vouchers from Connections so that's covered. We have been blessed with this money, it wasn't needed for the trip but we are lucky to have it, everything was already taken care of, that's why saving money for food or anything else isn't an issue.


The reason I like to idea of concierge is that when we were on our honeymoon we had several problems arise that ruined the trip. I know that being a concierge guest doesn't guarantee that there will be no problems but it helps. I love the idea of not having to deal with check in or with getting any hard to get PS. I love the idea of having someone there whose job it is to make me happy. OK so now I sound spoiled but this is our fist vacation since our honeymoon 6 years ago and I just want it to be good.

Thank you all so much for giving me so much to think about!

Jenn with still 110 days to go

 

[wdwfan]

Jenn, if you want to do concierge then go for it!! You sound like you already know from experience what driving to Florida will be like. You should make this trip extra special! Have a wonderful time at WDW!

 

[sherry8253]

I would drive and spend the money you would save on concierge or whatever else you decide to do with it. We have been driving from the Harrisburg PA area every year for several years and it takes us about 16 hours with pit stops. My DH and I take turns driving and talk most of the way. The first time I suggested we do it to say money, DH told me that I would regret it. But, we found that we actually enjoy the drive.

 

[katrina1122]

I live in trenton, so i've been pricing, philly, newark and baltimore. If you catch it right you can get round trip for around 190-220. For 3 people that could come out to less than the additional 700 you'd be spending on the conceirge level....granted not by much, but still. As someone who drove to wdw once and had a car breakdown in both directions, got stuck in a 4 hr back up from an accident, etc etc, its just no fun. Plus you'll be pregnant hopefully, I'd go nuts sitting in the car that long, it'd be uncomfortable. If you want to feel pampered, fly, sure it won't be first class, but you'll get there so much faster, you won't be as tired and you'll be able to enjoy your week more. You will return happier too. Then there's the question of what to do with the extra money? Splurge for an extra dinner somewhere, upgrade to the concierge for your last day or two if you get a great deal on air fare. Rent a car for the week so you don't have to wait for the bus all week long and you'll get back to your hotel faster for your well deserved naps.

 

[CaipiraBob]

Here's the one concern I'd have. If you go with the Savannah view rooms and upgrade to concierge, there is no guarantee that you will get a Savannah view room with concierge.

While I think this is a ridiculous policy, it's what you have to deal with. No promises if you go concierge.

This has caused us to downgrade from concierge and book a Savannah view to ensure that's what we get. I would not hesistate if I knew what I was getting, but I'm not paying the bucks without a promise.

You should confirm this yourself before you decide. If you want the Savannah view, it may not be worth to book concierge in advance. Just ask to upgrade when you get there - no promises.

 

[Donnainnj]

We are in Jersey too and have driven and flown, if I were you I would watch closely the rates of Spirit (non-stop) out of AC. We have done that twice and we are about an 1 1/2 hour drive to the airport. It is great because the airport is so small, parking is close, no worries about trams or extra time to get to long term parking. We have driven to WDW and to Hilton Head before. Last November we tok our second trip to HH and on the way back we hit some intense thunderstorms. There was no where to stop and they lasted about an hour, there were reports of many tornados in the area. That shyed me away from driving for a while. I'm sure there will be trips we will do it again, but I will only do it to make sure I get a trip in, not to upgrade. I think I would save the money for my next trip before I would spend $100 per night for concierge, but that is just me. (I would consider the $45 upgrade I have seen people offered at WL) Enjoy either way!

 

[Alicnwondrln]

HI
we drove down this past may 2003 from boston and it took us around 20 hrs we made great time and did 18hrs in one day we had our 4 year old with us we left at 1am and arrived at 7pm that night in daytona and decided to stop. We packed food, snacks, toys, movies and stopped here and there but we were fine and will drive again next year this enables us to stay longer 2 weeks instead of one I would drive if I were you and get the uprade with the $$

 

[JVL1018]

Originally posted by Blondy876
Our family takes long car trips quite often. In fact I've only flown once and that was on my honeymoon trip to WDW. If we drive we plan to take two days to drive down to FL. We would be leaving on a Friday afternoon and driving until around 10 then stopping for the night and finishing up the next day. We would arrive around 5. My parents drive to FL each year and I have driven to FL before and it really does only take about 16 hours from where we live. We are so far in South Jersey we are almost in Delaware. I'm not being optimistic, it really does take only about 16 hours.

I agree.
I live in Northern NJ(right outside of NYC) and it takes us 18 hours to get to WDW..2 of those hours are all NJ, so 16 hours sounds right on the money.
I have to say we haven't encountered any traffic to speak of on our 2 driving trips to WDW and 2 driving trips to HH-DVC...and the only bypass we use is the Capital Beltway, we drive right through Richmond.
For WDW, we leave here at 6 am, stop about 20 minutes into VA for breakfast around 10, stop at a rest stop in NC for lunch then stop for the night in South Caroline.
We have driven straight through on the way back which sort of stinks, but we're antsy to get home.
Oh, we also drove while I was 6 months pregnant and had our 19 month old daughter in the car, and it was FINE(and that was the first long car trip I have ever taken, we normally fly)
I am looking forward to flying on this trip, but if we had to drive, no big deal.

You do what YOU want pamper yourself while pregnant and if you think concierge is better pampering then flying, then that's what you should do!

 

[ceecee]

I would fly.....you have 32 extra Disney hours! We hated the drive, did it once from OH and swore never again. We got stuck in Atlanta for 2 hrs.

 

[hookedup]

Wow - that is really a tough decision to make I think. There are so many factors to weigh out. Here is how I would go about making a decision like this...

Do you like to fly? (I hate to fly so I avoid it like the plague) I wish we lived close enough to WDW to drive!
Do you have a comfortable, reliable car? (sounds like you like to take family car trips so I am assuming that answer is yes)
How are you feeling - I think I would have prefered driving while pg than flying - but I know some women cannot sit in cars for a long time comfortably.
How does your dh feel about the long drive? Is flying something he was looking forward to and not having to make the trek via car?

What are you expecting from your concierge experience?
There are definately two schools of thought that people have about spending the extra dough for a concierge room. My dh thinks concierge is a complete waste of money - he does not think it is worth an extra $100 per night to have food and a lounge and to be "pampered" For him the tangibles of the extra money (meaning spending the money we would have spent on concierge) are more important to have to spend on meals, entertainment, etc. He just doesn't feel he gets his moneys worth on concierge.
Now me on the other hand - I love having concierge service. I have no issue spending the extra money that it costs and feel that the experience and the convenience and the whole idea are very enjoyable.
One thing I have learned in this is that it is important to make sure you and your dh are on the "same page" for this as it will lead to a more enjoyable vacation for your whole family.

Jeez - sorry I was so long-winded! Hope I offered something helpful in my long ramblings!!!

Whatever you decide - have a safe and fun trip!

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm planning on driving to WDW at some point. But, I don't think I'd drive to WDW exclusively. What I mean is....when we go, I'm planning on taking 3-4 days each way and stop and do stuff along the way. Like D.C., Williamsburg, etc. I don't think I'd mind the drive right down to WDW but I sure wouldn't like the drive home. At least this way, I have something else to look forward to. In your case, I would opt for flying. I, personally, can't justify the expense of concierge. I make my own PSs and I don't need bathrobes. Now, the bottled water would be nice, but not for $100 extra a night. Maybe if my dh and I take a trip by ourselves we would try concierge.

 

[packy]

I think one poster hit it on the nose. Do you want to waste four days of vacation driving or 5 hours flying. Also, if you stop on the way you will have to pay for a hotel. Why not spend two extra nights at WDW or somewhere else in Orlando as opposed to a roadside hotel on I-95. Concierge would be nice but for the extra money you could go to a character breakfast or dinner everyday and still have money left over. You can also make your own PS reservations well in advance of your trip. I would fly.

 

[>>^..^<<]

As much as I love concierge ~ I can't stand the thought of driving to Florida it is such a huge waste of time.

It's not so much the drive down... it's trying to enjoy yourself at Disney while thinking about having to drive back

I would fly with the extra cash.... maybe you could fly and still swing a few days in concierge so you can do the parks on your non - concierge days, then relax at the hotel on the concierge days and do the sunrise safari.

>>^..^<<

 

[Disneygurl588]

I would definitely drive!!! Think of it when u fly u will be there in like 3 hours, but if u drove u would have to wait 17 hours!who cares about concierge (LOL) it's juat a room!

 

[N.Bailey]

I would drive IF by doing so, you're not cutting your vacation short. If you have the time though, what are you losing?

I live in central Pennsylvania, which means that it's a 3 1/2 or so drive just to get to the nearest airport (Dulles for us) that has the jumbo jets (otherwise a commute plane would be necessary for me). Add to the fact that you'd need to be at the airport at least an hour prior to flight time. With the drive, we're normally there with 2 hours to spare (extra time in case something were to happen). Add another couple of hours for the actual flight (longer if you've not gotten a nonstop flight). Then transfers from the airport to your room, or rental car (however you decide to go here) and you have another what? hour or so (maybe slightly less). So for me, from the time I'd actually leave my house, until I'd actually be in my hotel room, I'd have roughly 8 1/2 hours invested each way. Now, if I could drive an additional 7 1/2 hours to stay concierge, flying wouldn't even weigh into that thought process for me.

Weigh this process out for your area and see what you come up with. I know in Jersey you're a lot closer to the airport that I am, but you'd still have more than just flight time involved.

Another plus to driving would be that you could bring lots of extras from home.

Have a great vacation and congratulations on the pregnancy!

 

[nasmith]

Jenn- I don't know when your dates in Nov. are- but I called yesterday for AKL concierge mid-November, and they are full- no room at the Inn so to speak. She said she didn't have anything available concierge for a full week after our dates. Now, Since I called for dates during "Jersey Week" , and you are driving from NJ, then maybe you were planning on going during the same time? I was trying to surprise my Hubbie with a Long weekend for our 10th Anniversay (I got Grammy to come babysit!), and that is the only time he can go. (It's the weekend before our Anniversary). Now I'm trying to think of something else, but haven't come up with any good plans. I'm just thinking that you should call and check before you invest too much emotionally in staying concierge (Like me!! - I had the darn thing all planned out in my mind!) Good Luck-Jill

 

[Kimberle]

I've driven from NYC to FL, and I can safely tell you, I'd **never** do it again! It's lllooonnnggggggg!! By the time you get there, you're tense from the drive. You get nice & relaxed, then you get all "tense" again on your drive back.

No contest for me, I'd fly!! BTW, tickets aren't that bad. We purched 3 from LGA for only $530.

 

[Pryncess'mom]

I guess you can tell why opinions are so cheap!!

You will have to really decide for yourself, though!! We live in South Jersey and have done both. Usually a trip to FL encompasses visits to family as well as Mickey, so the drive is ok. A week with Mickey, and a week for driving and visiting. We usually leave at night, and drive all night and all day before stopping at a hotel. But the excitement of crossing each new state's border is really fun. We break up the drive home by stopping more frequently to see things, and usually stopping in Williamsburg to do Busch Gardens and some shopping.

No one way (drive or fly) is the wrong answer! Everybody has their reasons!!

good luck with your decision, and have fun!!

Deb

 

[WilmaBud]

I'm from S. Jersey, and I would definitely drive. It sounds as if you don't mind driving (as we don't). It's definitely cheaper, and it gives you more control over your arrival and departure times. I've gone to WDW both ways, and I think driving is more relaxing. Also, I love concierge, so I think it's worth it for all the extra pampering, etc. From your posts, it sounds as if you'd really like to try concierge. I say "Go for it!"

 

[bmr12]

I'll post a different opinion and say spend the money on neither. Assuming you have a reliable car, driving provides many advantages, including not having to deal with flight delays, rental cars, and airport parking lots. Also, if you have the time, your four year old will enjoy the halfway stop at the hotel pool quite a bit after several hours in the car. So I would definitely drive (but I've never been pregnant, and if that changes, you will all see it on the nightly news).

And I just don't see the value in the concierge level for a family of three (same size as mine). I think there may be more value when you start having older kids and more of them in a concierge room, plus some nightly cocktails for Mom & Dad. Being pregnant, you aren't likely to drink much other than juice and water. Your little one isn't either. So you are having some very pricey breakfasts and snacks. Drive by the grocery store on the way in and buy some fancy snacks of your own and avoid the discussions about pushy people and smelly feet.

So I would take the additional money and save it for the new baby, save it for another vacation to Disney in the future, or something else.