I just can't justify flying :(

[dameodie]

Even with a $69 one-way fare

Allegiant flies out of one of our "local" airports - Rockford, IL - which is about an hour and a half away from where we live. It's also the only airport I've ever heard of that offers FREE PARKING! Granted, they fly to Sanford and not MCO, but since we're staying off property (for free, so that's why we're not staying on property) that doesn't really matter anyway.

For four of us, it would be $625 R/T, including taxes and whatnot.

We're about 1350 miles from Kissimmee (where we will be staying). That's 2700 miles round trip. Our mini-van gets about 22 MPG at the moment, we've been clocking it. We're going to make sure it has a fresh oil change, a tune-up, and a new air filter before we go, but for the sake of this arguement, lets go with 22 MPG.

2700 miles / 22 MPG = 122.72 gallons of gas. So lets say 125 for simplicity's sake.

125 * $3.25 a gallon = $406.25
125 * $3.50 a gallon = $437.50
125 * $4 a gallon = $500

Also, if you look at it this way... for us to spend $625 on driving, gas would have to be $5 a gallon. $625 / 125 gallons = $5 a gallon

Yes, we'll have food and snacks we'll have to cover too. But we can buy these things at home, even ahead of time, with "regular" grocery money, not necessarily the trip money.

Driving rather than flying also gives the girls a chance to see more of the country, and get an idea of how BIG it really is! It also gives us the chance to take a day trip to Mammoth Cave in KY on the way home, something else they've never seen the likes of. Also, we know we won't have the energy to do an overnight car trip on the way home, so breaking it up like that just makes sense

Also all of my calculations only take into account travel expenses... having the van there with us rather than renting a car will save us around $350 as well. So more realistically, flying would be $975, which would translate to gas having to be $7.80 a gallon...... my god, it hurts even to type that!

So I just need to suck it up, and realize that even DING! won't save me (which, by the way, would work for us too with free parking, because my folks live in the Chicago area and would let us park at their place, as well as drive us to MDW)

Has anyone else done the math and come to a similar conclusion?

 

[DVC Grammy]

IMO, the decision isn't always about one cost vs another cost. Sometimes it's about what kind of experiences you're looking for.

When our kids were young, we also would take many road trips, even if the cost was equal, or somewhat higher. It did give them a perspective about this country's size, plus innumerable experiences that now, even as adults, they still talk about with pleasure. Many of our family get-togethers are filled with tales that start off..........."remember when we went to...............".

Yes, we would fly too (especially going to Europe ), but those family driving trips became precious memories for all of us!

Have a wonderful, and safe, trip.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I don't do the math anymore. Dh has driven a few times with friends before we dated (even in a motorhome where there was lots to do to entertain themselves) and I've driven/ridden twice when I was younger. It's not the drive down that bothers us, it's the drive home. Feels like it never ends.
While dh and I were 1st dating, I bought him a trip to WDW for his bday and this was the 1st time he ever flew. He was completely shocked at how quick and easy it was compared to driving. By 10am we were in MK! Now he wants to fly for even somewhat close trips. (Boston, Niagara Falls, Myrtle Beach)
He would fly to Williamsburg next month if a flight was going there!
If flying were double the cost of driving, we'd still be flying.
We're not wealthy but our time & sanity is more valuable than the $ we'd save by driving.
I know we may be weird b/c plenty of people drive there and enjoy the ride. Only way to find out is to try it!
good luck!

 

[dannyh23]

Has anyone else done the math and come to a similar conclusion?

There is a reason why the IRS allows deductions that exceed the cost of just gasoline! There are "hidden" costs to driving that exceed the cost of just gas -- wear and tear on your vehicle (tires, brakes, etc) plus any unexpected mechanical breakdown that could occur.

You also won't be getting 22MPG when you are stuck in stop and go traffic on the Interstate near big cities during rush hours, or even road construction that seems to occur EVERYWHERE now! Add in the cost of hotels both ways, the drain of driving that long, bathroom breaks, etc. and you can see why some people would rather fly, even though it costs more than gas.

Add the chance of getting in an accident over the course of 3000 miles as well.

It sounds like you would rather drive, which is what a lot of people do -- just know it really costs much more than just the direct cost of gas! Have a great trip!

 

[ZekeKelso]

Has anyone else done the math and come to a similar conclusion?

I think you are overlooking a lot of expense by just looking at gas costs.

Being conservative, figure you are going to spend $25,000 to get 125,000 miles out of your van (in payments, maintenance, etc.) That's $0.20/mile right there. For 2700 miles, it's going to cost $540 right there. Throw that onto your gas costs and the flight starts to look a lot better.

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

I just did mapquest, out of curiosity, it's 1180 miles to Celebration FL from where I live.

I wouldn't want to put that kind of mileage on my vehicle, and it would take days away from the actual vacation.

I grew up flying, but we drove to destinations that were more of a challenge to get to- like Hilton Head- but overall anything further than 8-10 hrs of driving is too much for me.

But my relatives drive from OH to Cape Cod MA every year in their van, they had 4 children (2 are now married) and now some fly and some drive and I always admired that they did that- it's a vacation experience of a different kind and can be great!

Happy Vacationing!

 

[BillSears]

in addition to the depreciation on your car add in the extra vacation time you have to take from work. For me it's worth a lot to save a few days of vacation time.

 

[Lisamcd]

Hello, If you really want to drive to see the country I would suggest renting a car. If your car breaks down it will be very expensive and take time from your vacation. I learned this the hard way years ago. For my family flying is the way to go because this drive is to hard for us and we live in VA. Whatever you decide have a great vacation!!

 

[paladin]

We live in the Chicago area and always drive down. We much prefer that to flying. Flying is just not fun these days (I'm not sure that it ever was, but even less so now).

We generally take our time and stop mid way in both directions, though we have also driven straight through. We have been pretty lucky with timing it so that we haven't gotten stuck in too much traffic and we don't really mind the miles it puts on our vehicle (we are certainly not the norm with this, but since I work out of the house and DH takes public transportation, we don't put many miles on it otherwise).

It is however a good idea to look at it as more than just the price of gas.

 

[zurgswife]

For me I look at driving as a loss of time....17 hrs in a car minimum each way from philly...is too much time lost for me..

 

[missmun52]

I live in NY and have never even considered the cost of driving. If we cant afford the flight it probably means no Disney. The two just dont go without each other for me right now. I can hardly make the supposed to be 8 hour trip, but really takes ten hours, because of diaper changes and bathroom breaks, to VA

You may have a lot of fun doing it however. I know my DH would not want to make that drive in his car because the more miles the less value the car has overall.

 

[belle&beast]

We are in a similar situation and have decided to fly. We took our kids on what should have been a 6.5 hour road trip and it was absolutely miserable! It took us almost 8 hours and they were so unhappy the whole time. The way home was better because they fell asleep, but still not fun. Our DS is still in a 5 point harness carseat and he could not relax to fall asleep on the way there and he kept asking to stop the whole time. For us, we will go with Allegiant and be in Orlando in 2.5 hours. FWIW, we have flown Allegiant and were very happy with them.

 

[poohandwendy]

As others have mentioned, many other considerations that go into our decision, especially:

~the cost of a motel room on the way down and back (we live 1000 miles from WDW, no way is it worth it to be in the car that long without a break)
~Less time enjoying the actual vacation
~More energy, extended road travel wears you down. You spend the whole first day sort of beat, even with the motel stop.
~As others have said, possibility of car trouble, snacks, drinks, meals, etc.
~Possibility of a car accident especially due to weary travelers ~us and others on the road (much higher risk than air travel)
~Cranky teenagers-'nuff said~ Yeah, car travel is family fun in the beginning of the trip...about 8-10 hours in it is grueling and EVERYONE would like to get there already and couldn't care less about the scenery.

The list is overwhelming. The only way we travel by car is if we simply cannot afford to fly (no decent deals on flights) and nowadays it's really more cost effective to fly. Even my DH, who HATES to fly, wouldn't drive right now due to all of the abovce reasons. To be honest, I am glad because I would much rather fly.

 

[simzac]

I can only afford to take one weeks vacation each year. 2 hours in a plane vs. 16 hours in a car/van. My math says 2 beats 16 anyday. Please direct me to the airport.

 

[duffy]

I can't justify taking 2 days to drive there, and 2 days to drive back. We don't get vacation days, if we don't work, we don't get paid. So we'd lose a week's worth of income, just to drive, between the 2 of us.

Not to mention a husband who can't relax if he isn't driving, and gets carsick on long trips. And an 11-year old who also gets carsick. And the 2 older daughters, who probably won't be coming who also get carsick.

Five of us, and I'm the only one who can enjoy myself reading in the car, sleeping, whatever. For the rest of them, well, this is how they avoid feeling sick: one has to sit a certain way, one can watch dvds but not read, one just wants to be left alone, one has to drive...windows have to be open for this daughter, another wants no air blowing on her at all.

Anything, anything that gets us there quickly is a blessing.

 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

The larger the size of the group traveling, the more cost-effective a car becomes. The cost for 4 people to travel in one car is (except for food) is basically the same as the cost of 1 person traveling by car. Without a doubt it's cheaper for one person to fly than drive but once you hit 4 people the price of airfare is way up there and driving becomes competitive. But driving does take close to 2 days each way. It all depends how you want to spend your time. There is no denying driving is very scenic and if you take advantage of some of the sights along the way then you've offset the time loss.

BobK/Orlando

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Even with a $69 one-way fare

Allegiant flies out of one of our "local" airports - Rockford, IL - which is about an hour and a half away from where we live. It's also the only airport I've ever heard of that offers FREE PARKING! Granted, they fly to Sanford and not MCO, but since we're staying off property (for free, so that's why we're not staying on property) that doesn't really matter anyway.

For four of us, it would be $625 R/T, including taxes and whatnot.

We're about 1350 miles from Kissimmee (where we will be staying). That's 2700 miles round trip. Our mini-van gets about 22 MPG at the moment, we've been clocking it. We're going to make sure it has a fresh oil change, a tune-up, and a new air filter before we go, but for the sake of this arguement, lets go with 22 MPG.

2700 miles / 22 MPG = 122.72 gallons of gas. So lets say 125 for simplicity's sake.

125 * $3.25 a gallon = $406.25
125 * $3.50 a gallon = $437.50
125 * $4 a gallon = $500

Also, if you look at it this way... for us to spend $625 on driving, gas would have to be $5 a gallon. $625 / 125 gallons = $5 a gallon

Yes, we'll have food and snacks we'll have to cover too. But we can buy these things at home, even ahead of time, with "regular" grocery money, not necessarily the trip money.

Driving rather than flying also gives the girls a chance to see more of the country, and get an idea of how BIG it really is! It also gives us the chance to take a day trip to Mammoth Cave in KY on the way home, something else they've never seen the likes of. Also, we know we won't have the energy to do an overnight car trip on the way home, so breaking it up like that just makes sense

Also all of my calculations only take into account travel expenses... having the van there with us rather than renting a car will save us around $350 as well. So more realistically, flying would be $975, which would translate to gas having to be $7.80 a gallon...... my god, it hurts even to type that!

So I just need to suck it up, and realize that even DING! won't save me (which, by the way, would work for us too with free parking, because my folks live in the Chicago area and would let us park at their place, as well as drive us to MDW)

Has anyone else done the math and come to a similar conclusion?

Don't forget to factor in tolls. We flew out of Baltimore and just for a 2 hr. drive it was a crazy amount of tolls. I can't recall exactly but probably at least $10 each way and it's only about 120 mile drive.
Add in the time spent cleaning the inside of the car after you get home since I'm guessing it would be pretty dirty and that's assuming ds's don't spill their drinks...
What I'd really like is to just say "Beam me down, Scotty" and be in MK. Yep, I'd pay extra for that.

 

[Esmerelda]

my reasons to never drive from Ohio to Orlando...

takes too many of my vacation days from the hospital wasted on the road when I could be having fun..

usually stop and stay half way and finish the next day...there's a hotel bill...

the food going and coming back....the 4 of us have to eat...

the wear and tear on my van....(we broke down 3 years back 2 hrs into driving...overall the entire ordeal costs us a mere $1400....long and ugly story....NEVER again...)

flat tires...stopped traffic...accidents(we have a better chance of dying in a vehicle then ever in the air)...everyone getting irritable...

being in the car that long...we get stiff joints....I hurt the next whole day...
(its that over 40 thing..ugghh)

I just want to drive to the airport (we drive 1.5 hrs to Indy or Columbus..whichever has the better deal)...have a nice leisurely breakfast or lunch...board the plane...then voila about 4-5 hrs later...its time for Disney!!!

We bought tickets for $630 for the 4 of us....we would use about $450 in gas alone...not to mention all the other expenses. Its a no brainer here for us.

have a great time!
Esmerelda

 

[Jen66]

For us the flying vs. driving debate comes down to one thing: our destination! We never drive to WDW for the reasons already listed (time being the main one), but we do drive when the traveling is part of the plan. Last summer we drove to VA (from OH) to spend a week at Wintergreen resort, then drove to Cape Hatteras for another week. The driving through the mountains with the kids was part of the trip and we had a blast!
I think the decision is up to you , but do not make it solely based on cost because I have found it is usually a wash in the end.

 

[scottny]

for me it wouldn't be the money it would the time and convenience of getting there in a few hours.
also the miles you put on the car just makes it seem like flying is better.
but I have driven across country (NY to LA) 3 times and it is really nice to see the country (but gas prices were not like today's prices)

Good luck.