How far do you drive to get to Disneyland Resort?

[fayt19]

My family's currently sitting in an airport; our flight was canceled because of some plane malfunction. So, we're waiting to hear back. It's already been twenty minutes since we got off the plane and we've heard nothing.

We're planning on going to Disneyland in October, and by then we'll live in the Southern Washington/Portland area. We've estimated the drive to Disney to be around sixteen hours or so. Which sounds like a really long drive, but we don't want to fly if we don't have to. So, how far do you guys drive, if you drive? Would it be worth it to you to drive for sixteen hours? We love the idea of going when we want, getting to take our own car, and saving money. Just looking for opinions... and, I'm bored sitting here.

Thanks for any opinions!

 

[8gr8mouseketeers]

We have driven two of our trips and we are at the very top of WA state. And yes, it is a long drive. Especially with 6 kids.

Sorry about the malfunction. Hope you are not left waiting too long.

 

[fayt19]

We have driven two of our trips and we are at the very top of WA state. And yes, it is a long drive. Especially with 6 kids.

Sorry about the malfunction. Hope you are not left waiting too long.

Wow! Major power to you for managing that long of a drive. We're three adults, so hopefully we'd be mature and able to handle it, but don't quote me on that. ;D

Well, I don't know what all the other people on our flight are doing, but we're switching to the red-eye tonight. Fuuun.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We live in Medford, Oregon which is near the California Border. It takes us 14 hrs to drive to Anaheim, with meal & stretch breaks. Portland is another 4-6 hrs north of us. It makes for a very long drive, but so worth it when you pull into Anaheim & see the Matterhorn sticking out from behind the fence!!!!!

Good luck with the flight!!

 

[victorandbellasmom]

We live in the seattle area and have done the roadtrip a few times now. We're driving down again next month. It's taken anywhere from 18-22 hours depending on how much traffic we encounter.

 

[Eeee-va]

I'm sorry about your flight!

I don't think I could personally travel by car for 16 hours straight, even in a group of just 3 adults--I don't sleep well in the car. I'd need to split it up into two days for sure, which adds on two more hotel nights total.

If you do 16 hours straight I'm not so sure your party would be much good the next day (I know i wouldn't be)--so realistically there's a VERY full day driving in, a day in Anaheim that you might be kind of out of it, and then a VERY full day driving back (and hopefully no one has to go to work the day after).

With just 3 travelers, I'd sit down and do the math for sure. Gas is pretty pricey, though not as much as plane tickets. My dad, at least, always figures in the wear and tear on the car as well. The government lets you deduct over 50 cents/mile for business travel, and he reasons that there's no way the government would let you deduct MORE than it costs to drive. Even if you use 20 cents a mile (which is pretty close to some other mileage deductions--I forget which ones) that's going to be something like $400 for the trip, isn't it? I personally consider expenses like insurance to be something you pay for regardless so I don't consider my driving "costing" much of anything, but putting a couple thousand miles on your car does mean wear and tear on the tires and its insides...I just can't quantify it.

I'm wondering if your interest in the topic is based on the inconvenience that accompanies plane troubles. I don't care for planes much myself, but cars CAN break down too--it's nice to be under your own control, but not nearly as nice if your car breaks down on the highway. (Happened on a trip I was on once! Luckily it was not my car, but it was still a pain and one adult party member had to remain behind with the car, I think, while the other adult got a rental.)

If it's worth it to you to drive, then go for it! With 3 people in my party, I think I'd keep checking airfares and use the driving idea as a backup. If I had 2 people in my party I would likely want to fly, as the cost difference would be smaller. But with 5 or 6 it would probably make more sense financially to drive. So 3's in the middle of that.

(I'd suggest taking the train, which can be a really fun way to travel, but they can be delayed even worse than the airlines!)

 

[LuLusApple]

Wow I don't have to drive nearly that long. Cheers to you all for taking on that long drive
I Drive 7-8 hours ( I thought that was long and I should fly) from northern ca and while the drive there is exciting
(woohoo can't wait to get there!)
The drive home is downright painful! Literally my feet hurt LOL
And just laundry to look forward too.

 

[disneydreamer74]

I agree with Eeee-va, I could not manage 16 hours in a car. NO way!! Despite having a child in the car, it is too much sitting for me!! we drive from Southern Arizona and it is a 9 hour drive with a stop for lunch. By the time I see the windmills in Palm Springs I am on my last leg, but then fully restored because I know the MOuse House is an hour and a half away! We are moving to New Mexico next month, so the next trip may be on a plane. Hope you are in the air soon!

 

[reynmagsmom]

Well i'm in Sw WA, kelso which is about 40 miles North of Portland, We drive every trip takes about 17 hours we usually stop for the night around Santa Nella but will drive straight through this August. It isn't a bad drive just boring esp. thru Central Ca. there will be 2 adults, 3 teens(16,17,18) and a 7 yr old in my comfy mini van!! so there are 4 of us to break up the drive and I'm sure I'll do most of it since I love to drive and most of our drive will be done thru the night so will have our departure day to sleep!! Can u tell I'm getting very excited so in my opinion it isnt a bad drive at all but I'm sure breaking it up is better than straight thru!!
O and welcome(soon) to the Pacific Northwest!!! It is beautiful here but be forwarned the jokes about 9 months of rain are pretty spot on!!!

 

[farmgirljen]

We just did it from Corvallis Oregon- we stayed the night on the way down and on the way back, just off I-5 in Firebaugh at the Best Western Apricot Inn- nice and quiet, relaxed hotel- great pool!

 

[Mugglemama]

we drive from boise, which takes us 2 days. technically, we could do it in probably 16 hours if we drove straight through, but we have 4 kids, so we definitely do NOT drive straight through, lol!

for 3 years we lived only half an hour from DLR, and had AP's so we visited a couple times per week (when we weren't blocked out). then we moved to northwest AZ, and the drive was more like 5 hours, which felt like FOREVER compared to the 30 minutes it used to take to get there.

and then we moved here to boise, and it takes FOREVER to get to DLR!! we typically make a pretty long trip out of it, visiting relatives and friends in northern and southern california along the way, and in AZ on the way home.

our upcoming trip, we're not stopping to visit anybody, so i don't know how long it will take. in fact, i think i will go mapquest it right now!......

 

[andee2000]

We took the train from Albuquerque last summer. It was an overnight and took about 18 hours, but we were sleeping for the most part. It would take us 2.5 or 3 days to drive and I don't think I'd do that. We are planning on the train again next summer.

 

[Pomlover2586]

DH and I live 6 hours away from DLR.....we've made the drive the past 5 visits and we both agreed NEVER AGAIN!!!! LOL It's long......tedious....and I5 is a very boring freeway......... If you're willing to drive 16 hours then by all means more power to ya! You will save money thats for sure- when we drive we filled up once on the way down and once on the way back so it's MUCH cheaper than flying.....but for us the drive is simply too boring. JMO

 

[DizNee Luver]

It definately is a long trip for us....we've done it with a 3 & 8 yr old and then a month later with a set of twins 23mths. So lots of stops for stretching!!

The first trip with the 2 older ones, we left at 5am & arrived at 7pm. It was the night you "spring" forward, so we lost an hour of sleep after making that trip....but we were up & ready to roll and made it to Disneyland gates by 7:30am. It's totally doable, but depends on all the people in your party & how gung-ho you are. We stayed a week, drove home & slept the next 3 days......lol just kidding........ (or am I????)

 

[Sally_fan]

We have driven down 2x now from B.C. Canada. We drive down through Washington, Oregon & so on. We stop for 1 night mid way. It's a long drive but we enjoy it (well most of it! lol).
We are flying down for our next trip. I personally wish that we were driving again but DH & the kids want to fly & I was able to get us a good deal so flying it is!
Hope you are able to get some answers about your flight soon!!

 

[HeatherAnn23]

We've driven down many times from Salem, Oregon and I don't think it's that bad - on the way down! We also stop in Santa Nella overnight to recharge and swim. That said, we're flying down in a few weeks because at $99 each way it's cheaper for us to fly than drive! Overall, it's the drive home that kills us, just knowing that laundry and reality are getting closer every mile.

 

[hurleysweety]

Okay...I'm a wuss. It takes us about 5.5 hours from AZ and I think its SOO boring. That said, if a good round-trip deal comes out, DH and I will so be there! Talk about a take-off...get a drink...then land type of flight. Sign me up!

We don't have kids, but I've traveled on buses full of junior highers on that trip to DLR on a coach bus - which is more like 7.5-8 hrs. That is tolerable - but I can't imagine going much further with so many kids!

FWIW, back in 2003 my family took a road trip to visit our relatives in Oregon, Washington, and Montana. That drive from LA up through Northern Cali and then through Oregon is ridiculously painful. At one point we were all hungry and my dad said we would eat at the next place...the next place was a run-down truck stop buffet type place over an hour a way. So we got back in the car and drove another half hour to some fast food joint - all starving, we couldn't wait any longer. And that portion of the trip was about 9 hours.

But I do agree that driving is just easier sometimes -especially with all the regulations and baggage fees lately. No worries about that when you load up your car. I'm the kind of person that will find a way for any last-minute item to fit, if that be the case.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We live in SE Wa and always drive. There are 6 of us and total driving time is about 17-18 hours with the biggest hassle being the grapevine to Anaheim stretch. We stay in Redding since this gives us a nice break. I do not find the drive boring since I notice different things down and back, and saves the $$$$, plus we can bring and take exactly what we want. MY DGF hates to drive so I do and she and the kids read the whole trip.

Jack

 

[bigperf]

Live 90 miles away

Have made it in as little as 75 minutes(72 mph shh) and has taken as long as 2.5 hours(TRAFFIC!)

Those making the drive from oregon, why not stop off in san francisco and enjoy the sighst. Makes the trip a little easier.

 

[pixiewings71]

We drive for 6 hours, sometimes a little more depending on traffic. The most I've done non stop as an adult is 10 hours (by non stop I mean not stopping to sleep, we do stop for gas, potty breaks and meals) from here to my Mom's in Idaho. 6 hours is about our limit, if we lived farther away we wouldn't go nearly as much....as you can see from my siggie we really do go a LOT.