How Far Do You Drive?

[racechick8293]

90 minutes.

 

[appletini]

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.

Ok, I'm only using this post as an example, NOT getting personal what-so-ever. Guess that's my disclaimer They're saying they're from Upstate which can mean alot of things, different people see Upstate NY as different areas. To me Upstate means Albany west to Syracuse. So...I just priced out all of this for this persons drive. 6 ppl 20hrs staying the night projected savings - $2000
I have the following:
65mph = 1300 miles (20hrs)
25 miles per gallon
52 gallons x $3.21 average gallon of gas = about $170
$100 per night for hotel room, 2 rooms = $200
$50 per meal for all 6 (which is really some kind of fast food)
5 meals minimum = $250 (1st day lunch, dinner, 2nd day, B,L,D)
ONE WAY = $620 x 2 ways, plus wear n tear on vehicle (2600 miles)
GRAND TOTAL = around $1300 to DRIVE

for the week of 1/22 (Saturday) to 1/31 (Monday)
JetBlue 6 people out of Syracuse $1500 ($250 per person)
$1300, 4 days, 40 hrs driving, 6 ppl in a car
$1500 2 days, 8 - 10 hrs
- sorry flying vs driving to WDW - flying wins hands down no problem
Now go and enjoy your trip, however YOU CHOOSE to get there!

 

[art010606]

roughly 70 miles. about alittle over an hour drive.

 

[justakrazymom]

I am about 10 from the NY Mass border so i will jump on this:

Ok, I'm only using this post as an example, NOT getting personal what-so-ever. Guess that's my disclaimer They're saying they're from Upstate which can mean alot of things, different people see Upstate NY as different areas. To me Upstate means Albany west to Syracuse. So...I just priced out all of this for this persons drive. 6 ppl 20hrs staying the night projected savings - $2000
I have the following:
65mph = 1300 miles (20hrs) correct... this is how long it will take.. we drive thru the night and the kids sleep most of the time
25 miles per gallon~ We get about 22-24 average on trips because of the cargo carrier
52 gallons x $3.21 average gallon of gas = $320 round trip for gas add another $50ish for tolls
$100 per night for hotel room, 2 rooms = $200 NOPE..we drive straight thru..
$50 per meal for all 6 (which is really some kind of fast food) again nope.. we pack food in a cooler.. cost about $20 in drinks and sandwich food for 7, add another $10 for energy drinks mid way down
5 meals minimum = $250 (1st day lunch, dinner, 2nd day, B,L,D) again..nope.. we don't stop for meals.. the kids eat as we drive
ONE WAY = $620 x 2 ways, plus wear n tear on vehicle (2600 miles)
GRAND TOTAL = around $1300 to DRIVE Nope not for us.. grand total about $450-500

for the week of 1/22 (Saturday) to 1/31 (Monday)
JetBlue 6 people out of Syracuse $1500 ($250 per person)
$1300, 4 days, 40 hrs driving, 6 ppl in a car
$1500 2 days, 8 - 10 hrs
- sorry flying vs driving to WDW - flying wins hands down no problem
For us that's 7 people flying, plus luggage fee's.. even if we were lucky enough to get $250 per that's $1750 to fly..MIN..most likely closer to $350 to fly per ,PLUS $125 for long term parking of our van, and if we have an early morning flight $75( if we lie and get one room!) for a hotel room near the airport.. so that's a min of $1950 for 7 people to fly ( probably closer to $2650 so savings is $2100 give or take. For us that is the only reason we CAN go.. if I had to pay airfare forget it. As for wear an tear..well we never have a car without a warranty, and my DH is a trained mechanic.. the only "cost" we have is more wear on our tires, which we just replaced anyway and we will have a new car before we need tires again.

 

[Planogirl]

We do stop to eat but it's just quick fast food whatever or maybe Cracker Barrel. We spend very little on food while we drive. Our hotel stops are free on points. We only get on one toll road and pay way less than $50 for tolls. Plus I can't ever find flights costing less than over $300 a person from our area.

I want a car anyway so driving just makes sense for us. I could do without the time spent sitting in the car but that's the only downside.

 

[disneyfan55]

We do stop to eat but it's just quick fast food whatever or maybe Cracker Barrel. We spend very little on food while we drive. Our hotel stops are free on points. We only get on one toll road and pay way less than $50 for tolls. Plus I can't ever find flights costing less than over $300 a person from our area.

I want a car anyway so driving just makes sense for us. I could do without the time spent sitting in the car but that's the only downside.

Make the drive part of the adventure, you can find some places to stop even if it's just to stretch. When we go, we have stopped at places along 95 just to see them, much like we did when we went cross country! In Kansas we found the Fick Museum for a quick stop along the way (just a little example!) Have a fun drive, too!

 

[Planogirl]

Make the drive part of the adventure, you can find some places to stop even if it's just to stretch. When we go, we have stopped at places along 95 just to see them, much like we did when we went cross country! In Kansas we found the Fick Museum for a quick stop along the way (just a little example!) Have a fun drive, too!

I agree BUT (there's always one of those ), time off is limited so we push hard to get there. I would love to take my time and stop at some places if we only had the time.

 

[disneyfan55]

I agree BUT (there's always one of those ), time off is limited so we push hard to get there. I would love to take my time and stop at some places if we only had the time.

Yes, the time off is tough, but even if you make an interesting new place for the gas stop or lunch/dinner, it helps break up the drive! Our drive to WDW from NJ is a pretty non eventful drive, but since I injured my back and can't drive straight through we have made some stops near Savannah and a couple places in NC/sc as well. Just an idea to break it up! Have a nice trip.

 

[justakrazymom]

We do stop to eat but it's just quick fast food whatever or maybe Cracker Barrel. We spend very little on food while we drive. Our hotel stops are free on points. We only get on one toll road and pay way less than $50 for tolls. Plus I can't ever find flights costing less than over $300 a person from our area.

I want a car anyway so driving just makes sense for us. I could do without the time spent sitting in the car but that's the only downside.

$50 is for the round trip.. i think it's less but since i always say i am going to keep track and never do I forget..LOL.. most of the way down til we hit the mason dixon is tolls the way we go..

 

[appletini]

I LOVE the posts that say "under an hour's drive", can't wait ta be able to say that.
Now I'm jw if anyone actually KEEPS ALL of their receipts from driving. Just estimating what things cost and the reality of them can be quite a difference. Maybe the Travel thread is the place to find this out. This is all very interesting though to say the least. What about how you feel after you get there? I imagine after 20 or so hours on the road, regardless of your position in the vehicle, you have to be exausted. Are you park commando's, hang at resort ppl? How many days do spend at WDW? These are all things I consider when I look at a trip as a whole.
Our Aug 09 trip for 4 was: roughly $4000.00
9 nights at POP, Park Hoppers = $2200
Rental Car for 8 days = $250
Flights = $1000
everything else = $550
We were exhausted after this trip and needed a vaca from our vaca

 

[CarolinaMoonMama]

It takes us about 9-10 hours, depending on how long we stop for picnics, potty breaks, etc. We stay with family and need a car so driving makes the most sense to us.

 

[CLR4321]

We have driven once and will be driving again in a few weeks. It is 1130 miles, which is about 20 hours of driving not including stops. We are in NW Arkansas. This time we will leave at about 4pm on a Thursday, stay over in Memphis that night, then stay over somewhere around Albany GA on Friday night, and will arrive at WDW on that Saturday, hopefully around 2pm. Luckily my son is a great traveler (he is 6). We bring the iPod video player, coloring books, and handheld video games. He also tends to sleep a lot. We have a van with the middle seats that flip around and a table you can set up in the middle. This time we will also have our new Chrome OS notebook (Google's pilot notebook they were giving away) with internet, so he can play video games on Kidzui on there too (and I can too!)

 

[entropy63]

Last time we drove we made it from Broken Arrow Ok to the resort in 18.5 hours. It's not that bad of drive.

 

[snocrossmechanic]

We actually pay MORE for the experience of driving. Minnesota to WDW is 1560 miles one way. We normally take 2 days to get there sometimes arriving very late on the second day. We have 3 kids under 5 and the older two are great travelers. We will learn how the 3rd travels in a couple months.

We drive a Class A Diesel motorhome that should get somewhere between 7 and 10 MPG. Assuming 8 MPG, that is a total of 390 gallons of diesel with an average cost of $3.10 per gallon. Total fuel cost....1209.00. Fort wilderness is the same cost as on-site economy room and we do save a few bucks on food by eating at the motorhome. Air would be about $900.00 assuming 4 month old as a lap child. In the end it costs us more but....

We do enjoy the drive. The best part for my family is having our own "home" with us. Its familiar to the kids and they get to experience Fort Wilderness. They can play outside, ride their bikes, and stay busy without the hotel feel. Another benefit is that we stay much longer. Our last stay was 3 weeks in December of last year. We could never do that in a hotel.

No matter how you travel just the ability to spend time at WDW is reward enough. Merry Christmas to all and safe travels wherever they might take you.

 

[BridetobeDisney]

370 miles, which is about 5 and 1/2 hours. Not bad at all. We usually leave around 4 or 5 am so that our 3 year old can sleep a little more and traffic isn't so bad that early.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

We drive about 400 miles. Takes us between 5-6 hours with stops. It doesn't hurt that the speed limit is 70mph the whole way!

 

[Coach81]

About 10 or 11 hours....

 

[I'd rather be diving]

We are coming from the Mile High City in May. Meeting husband's son and family at DW - they are coming from same place. We are leaving a week earlier to do some touring and visiting on the way down (and also that way - no kids in our car saying...."are we there yet?")

 

[joelnkelly]

about 30 miles round trip...LOL

 

[Fabooliss]

Toronto - 2100 km (1300 miles)

You do know about flying out of Buffalo, right???

We thought about driving, but by the time we paid for gas, hotels etc, the time we'd lose and the stress of travelling that far with the kids in the car wasn't worth it. So our drive is 3 hours... to Buffalo. (We live just north of Toronto).