I love New York (& Disney), DVC owners group!

[jppeek]

Anyone have any up coming trips? My next one is Labor Day weekend, so my countdown begins again

 

[mgarbowski]

Heading down in (not quite) 3 weeks.

 

[Hopfather28]

Anyone have any up coming trips? My next one is Labor Day weekend, so my countdown begins again

I in 4 weeks. Counting the days! We're actually brining friends to stay at the Poly with us. Had them figure out what it would cost them to stay at a value resort, then said how about you rent some extra points from us and stay at the Poly. It's going to be a blast so long as I don't end up having to drive from MCO to BUF because my flight home is canceled again. Jet Blue this time since Southwest has been all headaches the last couple of times.

 

[jppeek]

I in 4 weeks. Counting the days! We're actually brining friends to stay at the Poly with us. Had them figure out what it would cost them to stay at a value resort, then said how about you rent some extra points from us and stay at the Poly. It's going to be a blast so long as I don't end up having to drive from MCO to BUF because my flight home is canceled again. Jet Blue this time since Southwest has been all headaches the last couple of times.

That’s an awesome idea on the friends thing! I am gonna totally start doing that myself. Fingers crossed for the flight! Hopefully you have an amazing trip!

 

[DeeBee3]

I've been checking prices out of Westchester every day for a trip in December. They are fluctuating a bit, but I'm trying to decide if I should just bite the bullet and buy (begrudgingly) or is there a possibility the price will go down a bit. Right now showing me $314/person for Blue fare. It was $269 for the same thing about a month ago and I'm kicking myself.

 

[jppeek]

I've been checking prices out of Westchester every day for a trip in December. They are fluctuating a bit, but I'm trying to decide if I should just bite the bullet and buy (begrudgingly) or is there a possibility the price will go down a bit. Right now showing me $314/person for Blue fare. It was $269 for the same thing about a month ago and I'm kicking myself.

I do that same thing and it’s crazy how they go up and down. Sometimes I win and sometimes I very much lose!

On the flip side i was talking to my wife about this exact thing and he other day, I will stalk my airfare to save $50 a person like a hawk, but then in Disney I will buy $20 popcorn buckets and $25 drinks like they are going out of style

 

[KSL]

We leave one month from today! We're driving so yay for no flight worries but booooo for a 20+hour drive!

 

[LSchrow]

139 days (late Oct) to go....UGH
We were just there for 2 weeks last month, but it seems like a lifetime ago.

 

[jppeek]

We leave one month from today! We're driving so yay for no flight worries but booooo for a 20+hour drive!

I think about driving every trip, would love to hear how the drive goes when you get back! Have an amazing trip

 

[jppeek]

139 days (late Oct) to go....UGH
We were just there for 2 weeks last month, but it seems like a lifetime ago.

I got back Monday and I was thinking the same thing on lifetime ago!

 

[BrianLa]

Heading down in 5 weeks for our "voyage" on the Galactic Starcruiser followed by 6 nights at BCV and 6 at RIV.

 

[WanderlustinFP]

We're driving down this summer, but we're flying at the beginning of December to board the Wish. It was $257 RT, leaving from JFK and flying back into LGA. It was $230 almost two months ago. This is JetBlue.

I recently flew down to MCO in May on Jetblue. It was $188 for Blue!

 

[KSL]

I think about driving every trip, would love to hear how the drive goes when you get back! Have an amazing trip

We've made the drive several times, so we know what we're in for (the good, the bad, and the ugly, lol). Sometimes we've driven as far as WDC and taken the AutoTrain, but the value isn't there for us anymore, so we'll drive the whole way. Heading down is always fun with anticipation and reviewing plans, etc. I'm actually kind of looking forward to it as a "detox period" before the real vacation starts, because we've had a LOT going on around here the past few months especially. We will stop overnight in Florence, SC, and from there it's about 7 hours to WDW. We try to arrive between 4-5 so that hopefully our villa is ready to move into without waiting long. It's really the drive back that stinks, and several times we've done it without stopping by switching drivers.
Driving works for us because my DDs are basically adults and can entertain themselves (and we do have a DVD player in the van). We can bring more-or-less anything/as much as we want, which with 4 women is nice. We also go for longer trips (usually 12 nights), so that makes the 2 days of driving in each direction worth it. We also really love having a vehicle down there. We use Disney transportation often, but we prefer to drive ourselves to waterparks (took the bus once and it was a very uncomfortable ride back to resort being wet & freezing in the A/C) & Animal Kingdom, and of course if we need anything off-site. We also usually split-stay, so moving resorts is easy with our own vehicle.
TYSM for the good wishes for our trip!

 

[mgarbowski]

My family drove for either 4 or 5 trips consecutive a few years ago. We enjoyed it, and the big issue was the extra time. We made it work, but if you are employed with limited PTO days (even if a somewhat generous amount) the time cost is unavoidable. Driving from NY to WDW will for most people add 2-4 days to your trip. You can schedule around weekends and maybe a holiday, but time is the least flexible asset anyone has. But we enjoyed it, and saved a bit of money paying for 1 hotel night each way (plus gas, etc and even accounting for auto wear and tear) instead of 4 round trip airfares. YMMV.
I-95 is not the most scenic route, but it has its charms along the way here and there.

 

[KSL]

Yup, totally agree that it takes valuable TIME to get from NY to FL by driving. We're lucky in that DH teaches (summers off) and I'm self-employed, so we can do it. Trade-off is we are bound by the school calendar, so can only go when it's crowded (breaks/holidays) or stupid-hot (summer).

 

[jppeek]

Heading down in 5 weeks for our "voyage" on the Galactic Starcruiser followed by 6 nights at BCV and 6 at RIV.

Wow that’s some trip! Let us know how the starcruiser is and have an amazing time

 

[jppeek]

We've made the drive several times, so we know what we're in for (the good, the bad, and the ugly, lol). Sometimes we've driven as far as WDC and taken the AutoTrain, but the value isn't there for us anymore, so we'll drive the whole way. Heading down is always fun with anticipation and reviewing plans, etc. I'm actually kind of looking forward to it as a "detox period" before the real vacation starts, because we've had a LOT going on around here the past few months especially. We will stop overnight in Florence, SC, and from there it's about 7 hours to WDW. We try to arrive between 4-5 so that hopefully our villa is ready to move into without waiting long. It's really the drive back that stinks, and several times we've done it without stopping by switching drivers.
Driving works for us because my DDs are basically adults and can entertain themselves (and we do have a DVD player in the van). We can bring more-or-less anything/as much as we want, which with 4 women is nice. We also go for longer trips (usually 12 nights), so that makes the 2 days of driving in each direction worth it. We also really love having a vehicle down there. We use Disney transportation often, but we prefer to drive ourselves to waterparks (took the bus once and it was a very uncomfortable ride back to resort being wet & freezing in the A/C) & Animal Kingdom, and of course if we need anything off-site. We also usually split-stay, so moving resorts is easy with our own vehicle.
TYSM for the good wishes for our trip!

I drove down once and it was when I was 12. My dad didn’t stop he drove straight through and to this day I have nightmares still

I’m wondering if now that I’m an adult if it would better, but then with a 2 year old how’s that gonna go.

It would be great to have options with my car and not have to worry about the airfare craziness. If I do drive I will remember Florence, cause 7 hours away sounds like a good spot to stop!

Thanks for the info and wanna hear all about your trip when you get back!

 

[mgarbowski]

I will second the recommendation of Florence as a good stop for the overnight on a NY to WDW trip. If you want to be a bit more ambitious on the first day there is a town almost exactly one hour further down called Santee that has numerous hotels just off 95, under multiple brands/groups including Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham, Best Western, Choice, and Red Roof. It is a bit of a stretch on the first day, but then it's a bit less than 6 hours to WDW on Day 2 which is nice. We've done both.

 

[DeeCee735]

LI here. Love NY, love where we live - so much to offer in this great state!

Joined DVC in 2000. Been going every year (or more) ever since. We have an upcoming early October trip. Not looking forward to the heat, otherwise, just can't wait to get back. We're flying down with long time friends, also DVC owners, since 07 or 09 I think. Split stay between GF and Riviera! We have stayed at GF in the past, but this time in the new resort studio's. I'll probably like it more than my DH. He prefers to have more of a kitchenette area. I'm good as long as there's a coffeemaker! Then 1 bedroom preferred view in Riviera! We're both excited about this since we haven't yet stayed there!

Trip after that is BWV (one of our two home resorts) with the kids and grandkids in Feb! Flights are insanely priced so far, but we're keeping our eyes open. Gas is insane too, so either way it will cost a heck of alot more to get there and back then ever before - but we're going for sure! For the Feb trip we have tickets already. For the October trip, no parks. We are only there 5 days and just want to enjoy the resorts/ bars, pools and Disney Springs. More relaxing for us this time around. We'll run when the grandkids are with us

Enjoy your NY summer and upcoming Dis trips!

Dee

 

[DeeCee735]

I drove down once and it was when I was 12. My dad didn’t stop he drove straight through and to this day I have nightmares still

I’m wondering if now that I’m an adult if it would better, but then with a 2 year old how’s that gonna go.

It would be great to have options with my car and not have to worry about the airfare craziness. If I do drive I will remember Florence, cause 7 hours away sounds like a good spot to stop!

Thanks for the info and wanna hear all about your trip when you get back!

With a two year old - that's brave! Lots of stopping. When our kids were young we always drove, we would stop every few hours, but quick stops - gas, restroom, a snack. That helped alot with the kids. Sometimes we would go straight through, sometimes we would stop overnight. We have made it to Jacksonville once in 15 hours and stayed at a Marriott off the highway overnight and then 3 hours to Disney. That was probably our best time.

One year it took 24 hours and was snow until Virginia and then rain until Florida! That was a horror. Coming home wasn't so bad that year.

We have driven to Hilton Head and stayed at the DVC resort there a couple of times - on the way down. Then visited friends in VA on the way back. It's definitely doable, one just has to gear up for it. Having the car is awesome because of packing anything you think you'll need, including groceries once almost there. We are toying with the idea of driving in February because flights are so high (right now) for winter break, but we would still prefer flying. We'll see.

Enjoy your trips!
Dee