Hey Mainers, anyone drive to WDW?

[BigGreen73]

I was curious on this. With the cost of everything going up, up , up with no sign of slowing down, and the uncertainty of airlines, I was contemplating actually driving to WDW for our next trip.

So I was wondering if their were any mainers on this board that have driven to WDW and wanted to know how the trip was. How long did it take, was it pleasant, how many times have you done it etc? Would you drive over fly?

Hope someone has some tips. stories, or comments.

Thanks.

 

[karen2669]

Last year we drove to Hilton Head from Portland and did it in two days. The first day we drove to Virginia, past Richmond (I think). This was a little more than half way. We got to HH the next day around dinner. I think you can still do Orlando in two but it will be much longer.

My kids were bored but with all their stuff (ipods, dvd, games etc) there was no excuse. Our family has already decided that on a trip like this, where you actually lose two days to driving each way (four total) it isn't worth it.

FYI Jet blue sent me an email about $10 or 10% off. That might not be much but I think it depends on how much you value the time you have for vacation.

Hope this helps! Enjoy!!

 

[mkladycasey]

Nice to see a fellow Mainer!!

We're going in December and were planning to drive... just for comparison sake I checked on-line for flight's and found tix for $196 direct out of Portland... It was actually cheaper than flying out of Boston!!

We've decided to fly and I booked the tix yesterday!!
With the price of gas, and stops along the way - I think it's actually going to be cheaper and less STRESS!!!

 

[Al&Emsmom]

We drove down several years ago. The first night, we drove from near Augusta to Reading, PA. Then drove to South Carolina, the next day. (We were so tired we couldn't drive anymore.) Then on the third day, we finally made it to Florida. On the way home, we took two days. We drove for 18 hours one day and 8 hrs.the next. This year, we are going to fly. It is so nice to be in Florida in 3.5 hrs.

 

[BigGreen73]

Thanks for the posts, everyone pretty much confirmed what we thought. Driving to WDW from Maine is a little too much and very tiresome. I guess we'll stick with flying. Like it says above, it's nice getting to WDW in about 3 hours.

 

[Mainebound]

Now that we have a direct flight from Bangor on Allegiant for about $250 a ticket, I don't think I would ever do it, unless we planned to make stops to see family and friends along the way (i..e the trip down and back would count as part of the vacation).

Plus, with gas so high, and wear and tear on the car, as well as hotel stays, meals, etc., I wonder how much of a real savings it would be?

 

[3DisneyKids]

We have priced it out several different ways...and there are times when flying is actually cheaper than driving (and we are a family of 5...so even with airfare for FIVE it can be cheaper than driving). I have always gotten great DING rates for Southwest out of Manchester, NH.

However, even when we use more expensive flight prices to compare...driving would save us maybe $300 at most. And to eat up all of that vacation time, arrive at Disney already exhausted, having to listen to the bickering in the car, etc. Not worth it at all. We will always fly.

 

[BigGreen73]

We have priced it out several different ways...and there are times when flying is actually cheaper than driving (and we are a family of 5...so even with airfare for FIVE it can be cheaper than driving). I have always gotten great DING rates for Southwest out of Manchester, NH.

However, even when we use more expensive flight prices to compare...driving would save us maybe $300 at most. And to eat up all of that vacation time, arrive at Disney already exhausted, having to listen to the bickering in the car, etc. Not worth it at all. We will always fly.

Very true. It's just me DW and I and what little "savings" we may get by driving just won't make up for the lost time and aggravation. At this point, unless airfare gets way out of hand, we will keep flying. Plus we'd like to try Jetblue next May.

 

[Mainebound]

we'd like to try Jetblue next May.

I can never find good fares with Jetblue out of Portland to Orlando. I just checked for our possible mid-December (low season) dates, and we can either have an 8 hour journey with a long layover in New York for $114 each way, or direct for $184 each way (these figures are pre tax, pre baggage charges etc.). That's added to our 2.5 hour drive from Bangor and paying for car parking while we are away.

The five minute drive to BGR and 3 hour flight on Allegiant for under $300 is still our best option, although I don't love Sanford Airport.

 

[LuccaDrake]

It is a VERY long trip. We've done it before from just south of Portland to Orlando in 26 hours without taking a break (only to gas up). I don't think it's something I would ever do again.

We've had good luck with Jetblue out of Portland. We are flying down in Sept. and paid $395 total for 2 RT non-stop flights and we booked months ago. Those same flights now are close to $600 however. It may be a while before they release tickets for May 09, so I would just keep an eye on their website.

 

[BigGreen73]

It is a VERY long trip. We've done it before from just south of Portland to Orlando in 26 hours without taking a break (only to gas up). I don't think it's something I would ever do again.

We've had good luck with Jetblue out of Portland. We are flying down in Sept. and paid $395 total for 2 RT non-stop flights and we booked months ago. Those same flights now are close to $600 however. It may be a while before they release tickets for May 09, so I would just keep an eye on their website.

Yeah, I am hoping to book sometime in October. If I can get them early enough, I have seen flights from 94-104 per person from Portland.

 

[xmas16]

Also need to consider the time involved with driving which for most people time is the most precious commodity. So we fly. I'm going in late Jan with 4 people. Flying out of Portland connect in Baltimore, direct on the way back. Total $880.00, Air Tran. We haven't flown since sept. 11, 2001. That was a scary day!!!!

 

[DaisyLynn]

So I was wondering if their were any mainers on this board that have driven to WDW and wanted to know how the trip was. How long did it take, was it pleasant, how many times have you done it etc? Would you drive over fly?

Once and never again! I am quite scared of flying and will almost always drive, but that is just too far. If we are going any further than upstate NY or down towards D.C. we'll fly, thanks! Basically, if the drive takes more than one day.

Nice to see a fellow Mainer!!

It's nice to see lots of them!!

Plus we'd like to try Jetblue next May.

We flew JetBlue in April and they are definitely my airline of choice now. As I said, I'm afraid of flying....but how afraid can you really be while watching I love the 80's on VH1 the whole flight? Also, we got a really great price (booked early) and we flew direct both ways. Couldn't be beat!

 

[TheWhites]

We're about 1/2 hour north of Portland and we drove down in 2007, towing a 5th wheel behind us. We made it to Pennsylvania the first night, then Georgia the 2nd night, then another 3 1/2 hours or so to Disney the next day. We stayed at Ft. Wilderness when at Disney. Beautiful campground! Let me just say, though...WE WILL NEVER DRIVE AGAIN!!!

The cost of driving, plus hotels, plus meals for the days your driving, all added up to what it would have cost to fly. Plus flying gets you there in a few hours instead of a few days! We learned our lesson! We bought into DVC last year and now we plan to fly down this year and take the Magical Express to our DVC resort.

Plus having a 7 and 4 year old couped up in a vehicle for 3 days is never a good idea. Flying is the way to go!