Hey Minnesota DVCer's

[MN_DizNut]

I'm looking primarily for feedback from others from Minnesota here. I'm wondering how often you find yourselves going to WDW and how you usually get there.

Because of the distance, when we drive we usually take at least 2 days, and often plan on 3. Do most of you drive or fly?

Thnaks in advance for your insghts!

Jon

WDW '85 offsite
DL '85
DL '87
WDW '89 offsite
WL '97
WL '97 (again!)
WH '99
WL '99
AStSp '99 (YUCKY!!!)
DCL/Poly Jun/July '02

 

[drusba]

I don't qualify but my daughter and her family who live in the Minneapolis area go with us once a year. They fly.

 

[one_cat]

We average once a year though we are going twice this year. We always fly.

OC

Children are like phonecalls - they always come in pairs.

 

[Minnietta]

We just joined in Sept. I'm not in love with flying but it's a difference of 6 traveling days back and forth! I'd rather spend it in Disney! Our days of loading 4 kids,Gramma and luggage in the station wagon are over! We always had a snow storm on the day we left also! We went to Disney during the Holidays and it was so great to be there in 3 hrs.

 

[CarolMN]

We have been going twice per year. We always fly. Driving just takes too long.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We usually go 1-3 times a year. Before DVC, we would occationally drive (when we were also going to dog shows in the area). Since we joined DVC
in 1997, we have only flown.

We usually go to WDW in January, September, or December. We are going to try October soon too. Our worst trip was when NWA pilots were on strike and we had a Frequent flyer tickets booked. NWA had to rerout us on American and United, but we had to drive to Cedar Rapids ,IA to do that! The drive wasn't too bad, and the parking in Cedar Rapids was only $4 a day!!!

Disneydiane

 

[buckylarue]

We fly also, usually at least once a year. We got a good deal on airfare this year on Delta; it's not a non-stop, but it's about $200 each cheaper than anything our good friends at NW came up with!

'We're all here because we're not all there!'
Bucky LaRue

Disneyland 1956,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,70,75,77,78,84,86,89,99
WDW 79,81,83,91,92,94,95,96(3x),97,98,99,00
Next trips: 12/01 BWV; 3/02 Grand Californian

 

[Patabel]

We usually make a trip once a year and we fly. We did the road-trip a couple of times when we lived in Chicago (and our DD was little), but that extra mileage from MN is more than we care to spend driving. As previous posters indicated, rather use the time at WDW!

We generally fly NWA. You certainly can get better airfares with the competition, but a hot button for my family is changing planes...just HATE IT!, and we've also lost luggage when doing so, so it's worth the extra money for us to fly direct.

The bottom line, though, for us is that we would CRAWL to get there if we had to!

 

[dianeschlicht]

If our NWA tickets had been $200 cheaper, we would have been flying for $29 each!! YOu need to research the tickets better. We usually wait until sale fares come out for each season. We have had our cheapest fares in September and December. I don't believe we have ever paid more than $250 per round trip ticket. We usually take NWA, but took ATA once, and won't do that again!!

Disneydiane

 

[one_cat]

You are right that you need to watch the air-fares carefully. We try to fly Northwest or Sun Country since they are non-stop but can't always get good fares. In May we are taking NW for 250.00. In December we are taking Continental for 183.00. For 5 of us it's an incredible savings over NWA which is charging 311.00 right now I think.

Children are like phonecalls - they always come in pairs.

 

[3princesses]

We fly, but only go once a year usually. Our NWA fare (booked in November for February trip) was $229. After adding up gas, hotels, extra vacation time from work, extra meals, wear/tear on the car etc---just seemed to be easier all around to fly. Gotta love NWA---on time there and back,DEFINITELY more leg room than Omni/Ryan/MLT airlines and Davanni's sandwiches of all things!

 

[MN_DizNut]

My thanks to all of my fellow Minnesnowtans. (More coming tomorrow! Rain, too!! Oh joy!!!)

Typically we have driven more than flown, often do an 8-10 day stay at WDW, so we make it a 3-4 week trip. We would probably do a trip every 2-3 years, so I was wondering what others did.

Driving does take longer, but with 6 weeks vacation a year, time has been more plentiful than dollars some years!

Thanks again, and get out your shovels!

Jon

WDW '85 offsite
DL '85
DL '87
WDW '89 offsite
WL '97
WL '97 (again!)
WH '99
WL '99
AStSp '99 (YUCKY!!!)
DCL/Poly Jun/July '02

 

[Patabel]

Puleeze, Jon, watch your mouth. At this point in time "snow " and "shovels" are VERY dirty words in my house!!

Thanks for the interesting questions!

 

[Rhonda]

We drive down every winter for 2 weeks. It takes 24 hours - we've driven straight through but we usually spend one night in Tennessee!

- Rhonda
Camping Board Co-Moderator
rhonda@wdwinfo.com

 

[dianeschlicht]

I do not believe you can make it in 24 hours! we have driven straight through three times with 2 and 3 drivers, and have never made it in less than 31 hours! It's nearly 1900 miles.

Disneydiane

 

[caverill]

We usually go once a year (in February).

We always fly. It takes too long to drive and in February you can't get some unpleasant weather as well.

We usually fly NWA, since we live in Duluth. This last February we flew American. The planes were very nice, but we had to through Chicago, which we will NOT do again. Even having to pay more money would be worth missing Chicago.

Clark Averill

DxL 95
DL 97
Off-Site 98-Courtyard/DD
DxL 00
Joined DVC - Sept 00
BWV - Feb 01

 

[MN_DizNut]

I see you're the camping board moderator. By chance do you use your DVC points to vacation at FW? If so, what are your opinions of such. (OK, I know you're all reading this, so others, have you used your points for FW campground, FWV or FWH???)

Jon

WDW '85 offsite
DL '85
DL '87
WDW '89 offsite
WL '97
WL '97 (again!)
WH '99
WL '99
AStSp '99 (YUCKY!!!)
DCL/Poly Jun/July '02

 

[Meagansmom]

We go every year or at least every other. We fly. I have been checking the internet and they are going down. In one day, NWA was $350.00 and now today it is $209.50. Also another airline is Champion. It was owned by the Pollad's (spelling?), the previous owners of the Minn Twins. They charter the planes out. I think you will have to contact a travel agent for them. We also have used Air Tran one other time. They are flying daily now to Orlando.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The Polads still own the TWINS! At least they did this morning! We are season ticket holders so always catch jokes about the ownership or demise of the TWINS!

Disneydiane

 

[Rhonda]

MN Diznut: We're not DVC members yet.....we're seriously thinking of buying WL. We'll be making up our minds in the next month or so!

And, yes, every time we drive we make it in 24 hours total! Now, we don't stop for meals - the only stops are gas/restroom. We usually pack sandwiches in a cooler in the car and eat while driving. Or, we'll grab something quick at the gas station. It's definitely a 24-hour drive from the Twin Cities when you push it like that!

- Rhonda
Camping Board Co-Moderator
rhonda@wdwinfo.com