How Far Do You Drive?

[Nik's Mom]

We usually fly. We drove on our last trip. It was 1250 miles each way from Kansas City. We left at 4:30am one day and arrived late the next afternoon because we stopped and spent the night in Atlanta.

We actually had a fun time on our road trip and would consider doing it again.

 

[mycatspot]

We are driving to WDW right now! It's only about 2 hours max but it's raining!

 

[kaybird]

1500 miles, last week straight through from KS to Ocala 24.5 hours. On the way home now. Not straight through. The car is very excited to get to WDW. Not so excited to get home.

 

[appletini]

Ok, I'd like to know who has driven vs flying. We use to drive to Florida for vacations when we were going to the beach. GREAT drives, always fun to see America, worth every minute. BUT...to take that into effect with a Disney trip seems absolutely crazy. Disney is about time. These boards all are about that. Cutting time in line, transportation from resort to park, TS vs CS, etc..How do you NOT take airfare into your budget when planning a trip? These trips are planned up to a year in advance. Budget airfare is very attainable. And we fly out of Syracuse which one of the WORST locations in the country to get good airfare. Anyone who lives up here always looks at Rochester, Buffalo, or Albany when planning to fly. So, I'm jw how people even look at driving vs flying when you can't reach WDW in a day? Who has done both and what's your thoughts. What am I missing?

 

[beautyqueen]

I'm not sure of miles, it takes us a little over 14hours from South West PA, this year we are driving from Ocean City MD after a week at the beach and it is still going to take us a little over 14 hours!

 

[beautyqueen]

..How do you NOT take airfare into your budget when planning a trip? These trips are planned up to a year in advance. Budget airfare is very attainable. And we fly out of Syracuse which one of the WORST locations in the country to get good airfare. Anyone who lives up here always looks at Rochester, Buffalo, or Albany when planning to fly. So, I'm jw how people even look at driving vs flying when you can't reach WDW in a day? Who has done both and what's your thoughts. What am I missing?

We have 2 adults, 4 kids and 1 babysitter going with us, airfair is no where near as affordable as driving for us, we like to drive, we like to have the roadtrip experiance, stopping at places along the way...we hate to drag 4 kids (7,5,4,2) thru security at Pittsburgh international, if we were flying out of a small airport security is not as bad but at PITT it's no walk in the park. The cost of our flights would easily equal what we pay for the 4 nights in the resort, not worth it to us.

 

[disneyfan55]

In my opinion, driving (as opposed to flying) to WDW is a big part of the experience. How far do some of you drive to get there? Anyone from way out west make the drive?

Yes, we drive every time from central NJ, about 2200 RT. Just so you know there is a nice thread on the Transportation board for 2000 plus drivers. You ask if anyone from out west has driven to WDW, well, we have driven 2 times to DL as part of some of our 6 cross country trips! Similar (maybe longer) drive !

Yes, the drive is part of the trip. The first time my kids flew with their school band/chior was a little disappointing for my daughter esp. That was the first thing out of her mouth-how something was missing! I guess driving for her and my son has always been there right from when I was pregnant with them! We did just drive 2 weeks ago with my little grandon who is 2 1/2-his 3rd drive (actually 4th if you count my daughter being pregnant and going !)

 

[pjennings]

Ok, I'd like to know who has driven vs flying. We use to drive to Florida for vacations when we were going to the beach. GREAT drives, always fun to see America, worth every minute. BUT...to take that into effect with a Disney trip seems absolutely crazy. Disney is about time. These boards all are about that. Cutting time in line, transportation from resort to park, TS vs CS, etc..How do you NOT take airfare into your budget when planning a trip? These trips are planned up to a year in advance. Budget airfare is very attainable. And we fly out of Syracuse which one of the WORST locations in the country to get good airfare. Anyone who lives up here always looks at Rochester, Buffalo, or Albany when planning to fly. So, I'm jw how people even look at driving vs flying when you can't reach WDW in a day? Who has done both and what's your thoughts. What am I missing?

For us (fam of 4), If I had to save another $1200 to fly, we would have to wait another year to go. For our first trip we flew. I am happy and thankful that my DH has agreed to go again and if the only way I can get there is driving, then driving over flying it is not a deal breaker for us. I am looking at the car drive as part of the adventure. I would rather fly and I may get home from our May trip and say never again will I drive. I am just thankful my DH is willing to go again, since he stills says we just got back, even though it was over a year ago Just my 2cents

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

Ok, I'd like to know who has driven vs flying. We use to drive to Florida for vacations when we were going to the beach. GREAT drives, always fun to see America, worth every minute. BUT...to take that into effect with a Disney trip seems absolutely crazy. Disney is about time. These boards all are about that. Cutting time in line, transportation from resort to park, TS vs CS, etc..How do you NOT take airfare into your budget when planning a trip? These trips are planned up to a year in advance. Budget airfare is very attainable. And we fly out of Syracuse which one of the WORST locations in the country to get good airfare. Anyone who lives up here always looks at Rochester, Buffalo, or Albany when planning to fly. So, I'm jw how people even look at driving vs flying when you can't reach WDW in a day? Who has done both and what's your thoughts. What am I missing?

Time... 9hr ride vs. 2hrs @ the airport + 2hr flight + getting off plane and getting rental car then driving to disney (5+hrs) flying does save some time (IF there are no delays) but it cuts down of what we can bring and then end up spending more there... Travel costs are about $300 in fuel... (large SUV) vs. plane tickets and a rental car for that (probably $700 but with the new bag charges even more). We are not traveling as far as you but we enjoy driving for the flexibilty.

 

[ricktib]

We drive about 6 hours to get there - far quicker than it would take to fly, since we'd have to connect somewhere. Even with a minimal layover in Atlanta, it would be about equal after all is said and done. But I would still drive from much farther, even as an airline employee.

 

[lovealatte]

It takes us around 22-24 hours from SE Michigan.. definitely not worth it when vacation time from work is hard to come by. I love driving and road trips, but it's just not even an option.

 

[tlpcolorado]

1844 Miles from Colorado in a class A motorhome. Its the only way to go! love the drive, almost as fun as the Fort and Parks

 

[disneyfan55]

We switch between flying and driving. We drove in 08. Flew in 09. Drove in May of this year. And flew this last trip this past week.

When we drive, its about 16 hours if I'm driving and a bit faster if DH is driving. We drive it straight through on the way there and do it in 2 days on the way back. I don't know if we'll drive once we have kids though

We drove to WDW with kids since they were born and one just turned 33 last week! In fact we were there the week before with her, her husband and my 2 yr. old grand son (already his 3rd drive). We drove 2 days, back before I had a back injury always straight through. Even drove cross country 3 times with 2 kids-ages 5-12 for the trips from NJ! Get them used to it from the start and you most likely will be fine! Make the drive part of the experience!

 

[rluey29]

Just under an hour for us now, we moved closer this year. Used to take us 15 hours. Now we go every weekend!!!!!

 

[mortimor]

1705 miles give or take a few. Last Christmas it took 29+hours one way...non-stop. It was terrible weather with glare ice roads halfway through Wisconsin and 2/3 the way through Illinois. Top speed around 35mph.

We didn't learn are lesson though, because we did it again for spring break.

We are flying this January for the full marathon. We will be driving it next Christmas. The flights are too much money during the holiday season.

 

[SweetMissy]

We're from upstate NY and the 1st time we went we flew because it was just the 3 of us. But this time it'll be us 4 plus my brother and sister...so we're driving. It'll take about 20 hours (hopefully). But we're stopping for the night in GA so it'll be longer then that. We can't wait to drive....not only will it save us about $2000 but we get to see places we've never seen.

 

[mmafan]

what are you all driving.. and how much do you fighure for gas....

 

[*sarah*]

Not sure what the exact distance is, but we are driving from Texas.

 

[justakrazymom]

We are on the NY/MA border and we drive down to 2 hours north of Fl every year.. takes us about 16 hours.. WDW is about 5 hours more..so 21ish hours ( driving straight thru..only stops are for gas and bathroom).. we will spend about $450-500 for gas and tolls round trip based on current gas price ( north of the mason/dixon there are a LOT of tolls ..have change and singles..lol). Since there are 7 of us.. we are saving well more than 2K by driving...

if you want to calculate gas here's what we did when we went down to GA the first time:
http://www.fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com/

we also know we get 400ish miles to the tank and it will take 3 tanks plus a touch to get there and the same to get back..so roughly 7 tanks of gas ( 19 gallon tank) so 140 gallons at $3 ish a gallon ..

 

[SweetMissy]

what are you all driving.. and how much do you fighure for gas....

A guy my husband works with drives down and told him he spends about $160 each way on gas. I don't know what he drives. Luckily a couple months ago my husband won a $200 gas card at his work, so we're using that. We have a 2010 Dodge Caravan.