I did some BIG number crunching last night...

[mousy_in_canada]

AND it looks like Southwest deals are cheaper then driving.. I factored meals for 5 of us, one night accommodation each way and the gas and got $700.00... and to fly is between $470-$600.. am I missing something.. why is it cheaper to fly? I assumed that the rates for SW would be 47-55 p/p each way and then the rental car at $150.. but it still seems silly to have to pay more $$ to drive... I MUST be missing something we can go 500km on a 100L tank, so I said about 4 tanks down.. at $50usd a tank=$400 r/t food I thought was about $100 and 2 nights hotel at 79 each....

I am driving from Hamilton and we have a 1994 Astro van.

 

[tmli]

When we went in my Dad's Montana the average fill was between $18-$21. Gas is usually cheaper. We also were getting 6-700 km's per tank because of all highway driving.

Also if you fly out of Buffalo will you need a hotel the night before, or will you park the vehicle at the airport.

All that being said we will be a group of 8 in Jan. and we have also decided to fly, the savings to drive isn't enough in my opinion. I have made the drive several times and I hate it!!

 

[mousy_in_canada]

Do you think it will that cheap to fill a 100 L tank?
Also I forgot about the hotel in Buffalo and also I would loose one night at Disney, so that is about $200 more at least to fly, good point, thanks!

 

[DutchsMommy]

This is only my opinion mind you, but if it is fairly close fly vs. drive I would fly in a heartbeat. Esp. if you are going with the kiddos - it's 2 hrs vs. 20 hrs of (potential) crying/whining/fighting and "togetherness " in the car- and worst case scenario you can lock yourself in the washroom on the plane if things get out of control - lol.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I am leaning towards flying too.. I just like getting the "best deal" cause I am not rich.. lol.. and this trip is costing enough... but I hear you on the togetherness time.. when we drive 10 hours up north they do ok.. but they are stir crazy by the end of it!

 

[mom_rules]

IMHO-fly if you can! Time is money (so to speak)! I'd rather have the time in WDW than on the road in who knows what weather/conditions, with kids that may or may not be good!
2 hrs 20 mins with food drinks facilities beats 24-26 hours straight through (or even the cost of a hotel for a night part way down).

 

[mousy_in_canada]

Ok I redid the numbers since I forgot the hotel in Buffalo and the 1 night that I would lose at Disney since we would get there on Sunday

Gas down round trip 400
2 Nights hotel after about 15 hours of Driving 180
Food and snacks 100

Total 680


Flight I am going to say 49 each way since that is the deals that I see... 490
Rental Car 200
1 night at Disney 150
One night in Buffalo 100

Total 940



Does that look right???? $260 in savings?

 

[maryliz]

Keep in mind that the $49 pp does not include some of the taxes, etc. We are flying SW in Jan for $175 pp return. I think those that got the $49 pp each way really ended up paying around $135 US pp return after all the taxes were added in.

We love the drive to Disney, but have decided to fly this time and we're pretty excited about it. We actually didn't end up getting extra time at Disney, but we'll be home much sooner and won't have to worry about the winter drive.

If you see a good deal on flights, get 'em booked 'cause the price will change quickly.


Mary-Liz

 

[tmli]

FYI, the tank in the Montana was a 80L tank.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

Thanks Tracey... that is VERY cheap for Gas... I thought $50 usd to fill it.. wow.. look what we are paying.. GRRRR.. lol

 

[FayeW]

I'd certainly cut that $150. night at Disney from the budget, and stay offsite somewhere for a fraction of that.

If you get a park and fly rate at the hotel in Buffalo, you shouldn't have to worry about budgeting for airport parking.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

Yes the hotel I was going to be staying at in Buffalo give airport transportation... so that helps!

 

[alohamom]

Speaking as the wife of an automotive technician(he hates when I call him a mechanic!), you MUST factor in the cost of wear and tear on your 1994 vehicle. Tire wear alone on those kind of miles will mean new tires sooner and even 4 cheap tires installed can be very pricey. Just a thought if we are getting down to the nitty gritty. We honestly love the flying experience with our kids, it is truly part of the vacation experience-whereas driving with them for hours is hellish at best. (I hate to drive or be a passenger though, even without children)

 

[hockey mom]

As a family that just made this decision let me add my 2 cents worth.
Flying- 5 tickets came to $676 US or $908 CDN.- That was flights at $59 each way. You will have to be very quick and lucky to get $49.

Rental- I am budgeting about $400 CDn to factor in the extra gas filling up at the end of the week.

Park n fly $50 US because our flight leaves at 6:45 PM($67 CDN)

The night I get there will be late so I used priceline and got the Ramada worldgate for $40 US. ($54 CDN)

One dinner probably at the airport because we should arrive around 5:30- $40 US or $54 CDN.
Flying total-$1483 CDN

Driving- $400 CDN gas roundtrip
Hotels -$0- we drive straight through
Food - 3 meals- 5 of us about $300 CDN
Total $700 CDN

Difference-$783

Getting to Disney in 2 hours- PRICELESS

 

[LisaSt]

Mousy we drove my mothers Montana to Disney last year and the year before and we would get over 500K out of half a tank of gas. Our fill from there was about 7 to 8 dollars we topped up the tank in West Lorne before leaving then again in Kentuky. After that we were into Georgia before we needed to stof for fuel again our drive there and home was about 350 Canadian with hotel stays for the drive.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

My Husband is also a "automotive technician" lol.. he fixes big machines at work (aka a millright) but also has all the skills and tools to work on our cars.. a huge $ saver!

I think the kids really want to fly, but it is all in what is best for the budget, you know what I mean?

we are planning on renting a mid size car so that will help with that expense of a full size and all the gas that it entails too..

Lisa just a quick question.. what size engine is a Montana I am wondering if we can get that same mileage.. we have a 4.3L V6.. you get amazing mileage!

That being said I guess I just have to wait until SW FINALLY releases the flight schedule and see what deals can be had before I make my final decision

 

[LisaSt]

4.3L in the Montana and the mileage was great. As I was saying it was 500 or more K out of a half tank of gas so not to bad at all on the highway.

 

[Susan--Ontario]

We have a venture van and we can get 1000km on a tank of American gas. I don't know why that is. But it was that way for our Malibu and Cavalier as well. We get 20% better mileage from American gas.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

That is impressive milage, we got 500K to a tank going up north but we were pulling the boat.. that is a 100L tank too!

 

[from Canada]

You might want to rethink the mid sized car. We are a family of 5 and could not get all of our luggage (plus kids) in the mid sized...we ended up getting a van
Karen