I need some help!!! **UPDATED**

[shelbyjosh]

We are planning our trip for 2/25-3/5. We have never driven down, always flown. This year we are talking about taking a few side trips--Universal, ocean, etc. My mom offered us 1 week at her RCI condo. We were thinking of splitting the trip up between OKW and Sanibel or Captiva. DH thinks that if we do that we should drive. We BOTH despise the idea of driving. I have thought of flying into Tampa and getting a car rental then go to WDW and return the car and take Tiffany to Orlando airport. We do not know of much to do on the Gulf. I love the idea of just relaxing on the beach and DH and DS want to do some fishing. Can y'all give me some pros and cons to driving vs flying??? We can get some great fares (4 tix under $800). I have a new truck so that is not the issue. I think we both dread the thought of 2 days down and 2 days back with a 9 and 5 y.o. So much easier to fly and be there in a little over 2 hrs. But then if we get a car down there it will just mean spending more $$$. Thanks for any input you can give!!! I need ammo for tonight as we are making our pro/con list. BTW, we don't have to use my mom's place but it would be a nice getaway from WDW.

UPDATE**** There was no availability for anything on the Gulf. So...we will be flying to Orlando and staying at OKW. We have also decided that next year will be a trip to Sanibel only and we will drive. Mom will book that by the end of this week for '05.

 

[disneydiz]

We live not too far from you, and I prefer to fly. We have driven several times, but the last couple years I have insisted that we fly. We usually go at Easter, and it seems that the entire State is driving down I-75 to Florida. Also, with a little bit of work, we are always able to get a rental car for a good price (check Mousesavers for codes). One think that helped when driving was to have a vcr/dvd tv system for the kids of watch. This occupied them for hours.

 

[dianeschlicht]

We have driven a couple of times from Minnesota, and I would fly and rent a car down there. You have gotten some good airfares, and I would not think it would be worth 4 days in a car with two children versus a couple hours each way on a plane.

 

[Lisa P.]

We are planning our trip for 2/25-3/5... My mom offered us 1 week at her RCI condo. We were thinking of splitting the trip up between OKW and Sanibel or Captiva.... BTW, we don't have to use my mom's place but it would be a nice getaway from WDW.

Are you planning to stay in your Mom's home resort and week... or trade someplace nice via RCI?

Trading into a nice resort in Florida in late February, just 2 months away, would be pretty iffy. It would require a late cancellation by a snowbird or early spring breaker. Sanibel or Captiva would be near-impossible as that is their absolute primetime and RCI rarely gets those deposits anyhow (owners can easily rent out those weeks for $1,500+). So this may enter into your decision-making, if you had planned on an RCI trade. See what's actually available to you first!