Help me decide!

[mousetravel]

Hoping ya'll can help me out here. I'm planning our Disney World/Sea World trip for Spring Break. I am undecided on flying vs. driving. I need some advice.
I have driven to WDW a couple of times, but with me being the only driver, it is very tiresome. We are approximately 550 miles from WDW, or about 10 hour drive. They have some great deals with Allegiant Air. So comparing the two, it would cost about $200 more to fly than to drive. And that's including the rental car. (Factoring in cost of wear & tear, gas, etc. on my car)



What are some pros and cons to both?

I'm not an experienced flyer, so I know you all can maybe give me some advice!

 

[cheap traveler]

I have recently (last year ) started to fly instead of driving. I WISH I lived so close to Disney! I always drove 1200 miles from NY.

I have only switched to flying because it is only me and my 2 little girls. I don't feel comfortable not having someone else in the passenger seat to take care of their needs.

 

[mousetravel]

I don't have any little ones, but it would be me & my teen. She don't really care either way. She'd be texting the whole way down anyway.
So she can pretty much take care of herself. I always have this fear of my car breaking down somewhere, and no one to rescue us. I have a 95 Honda that has over 150,000 miles.

We're staying in a hotel with a fridge and microwave, so I could take food & drinks, which would cut down on food costs, if I drive.

 

[runwad]

Honestly if it were just me and my daughter driving all that way in a '95, 150k mile car, I'd fly. I'd be afraid of something happening too to two lone women. But I'm a scaredy cat that way.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I have a 500 mile drive from Alabama and I don't think twice about making the drive. It is nice to not have to rent a car in Orlando. The Magic Express is always an option but the time you have to board to return to the airport is not always the most convenient. (And my 20 year old ALWAYS feels the need to go to the outlet mall - so we just drive) .

 

[PrincessDadx2]

I would look at renting a car and driving. Then you don't have to worry about your car. You can probably rent for the week in SC off airport cheaper than you can on airport in Orlando. Just make sure you have unlimited mileage and can take it out of state.

If I lived that close it would be a no brainer vs. getting to the airport early, dealing with sercurity, weather, cancellations, etc. Leave at 6am and you will be there by checkin

 

[Shmily1]

Are you staying onsite? If you are, you could take ME from the airport and not have to rent a car. Then again, you would need to if you did Sea World but only for a short time.

That said, we drive but it's only 4 hours for us. I've been in high mileage cars and don't really think anything of it because I have them serviced often. I did go to Clearwater, FL one time when DS was an infant to show him to my DGM and my car that was 7 months old died on the interstate... I had $40 in cash on me and called my dad from a pay phone. I got a room for $35, bought some .29 hamburgers and a drink and waited for him to come get me with a tow dolly. After that, I don't think it has anything to do with the miles on the car!!

 

[ohanaMAMA]

We live about 8 hrs from wdw and have always driven. This trip I considered flying.. but then took into account the drive to the airport (45 min) the two flights and the layover (4 hours) waiting for luggage (1 hr) waiting for and riding ME (2 hours) that takes the total time to fly to 7 hrs 45 min.

umm ALL that hastle to save 15 minutes? no thanks.

plus we get to come and go as we please, and we can take as much luggage as can fit into the van. not to mention food and drinks. Its exhausting.. but its worth it to us.

we just plan to leave home around 230 am.. that way we arrive in Orlando around lunchtime ready to rock and roll!

 

[SandrA9810]

Can your daughter get her learner's permit yet?? It would be a great time for a little bit of highway driving once you get out of the city. For me I learned to drive on I-95 in Miami... not exactly the best road for highway driving. That way you can share the driving.

For 550 miles, I would not fly. Just take the car to the mechanic a couple days before your road trip to get a check over, and an oil change if you need one. And make sure you have some sort of roadside service like AAA.

 

[andrews_dad]

I'd drive it. Pack up the car with all of the luggage a teen girl will want to bring and not worry about those luggage charges. Bring your own food and drink in coolers, all of your favorites and feel like home. I would be leaving at about 4 AM or so so I could be in Downtown Diz marketplace that same night .. but that is just me. When you factor in being at the airport a coupl eof hours early plus waiting on luggage on the other end plus waiting at the rental car counter .... you are not saving as much time as you think when you fly such a short distance. With 2 kids under 2 years old, we now fly anywhere if it is over an 8 hour drive. Once the kids are teens, though, we'll be driving just like we used to. For me it is a 16 hour drive to Diz. We used to do it all in one LONG day, I'd drive the whole way.

 

[apnep]

I don't have any little ones, but it would be me & my teen.

Wow. If the difference is only $200, for me it would be a no brainer. I would fly! Why tire yourself out? Get there and enjoy your trip!

We are driving from Texas and it's going to take 20 hours. If I could fly I would...

Good luck,Ang