If you had to choose flying or ddp?

[emmababy]

We are finally getting to the point where our daughter will require a ticket and ddp and our son will require a plane ticket.

We have been fortunate to enjoy 6 rather affordable trips. Once I broke it down between dining plan, her ticket and my son's plane ticket- it would add $800 to our trip. Seeing as we make 2 trips per year, we can't handle such an increase.

So something has to give. We could either drive 16 hours down and save $310 per trip but lose park time. Or we could cancel out the ddp and have groceries delivered and do cs meals. That would save around $300/trip. I don't know which I would miss more. What would you all do?

 

[jeepgirl30]

16 hrs down? So 32 roundtrip? no way, i'd be flying for sure.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

The DDP vs having groceries delivered plus buying CS is a $300 difference? Do you stay onsite with a suite or offsite to cook?

I would definitely do the flying over driving! But then again, not cooking on my vacation is worth $300 to me.

Maybe you could consider taking 1 longer trip where you could fly AND use the DDP instead of 2 trips a year????

 

[Darcy03231]

I'd fly and eat a combination of CS meals and grocery delivery.

 

[kpm76]

I would eat PB & J all week before I would drive.

 

[snubie]

I would choose flying over driving in a heartbeat. Then you can do breakfast in the room with the groceries delivered and CS for the other meals.

 

[emmababy]

Thanks! I wouldn't really be cooking. We are dvc members so we have a kitchen. It would be more sandwiches and quick type meals. Yeah, I wouldn't look forward to the drive and 2 nights in non disney hotels when I could be at the park!!

 

[snubie]

Thanks! I wouldn't really be cooking. We are dvc members so we have a kitchen. It would be more sandwiches and quick type meals. Yeah, I wouldn't look forward to the drive and 2 nights in non disney hotels when I could be at the park!!

Then most definitely fly. I would much rather eat simply and enjoy the parks (and perks) of Disney longer.

 

[CoachBagFanatic]

Then most definitely fly. I would much rather eat simply and enjoy the parks (and perks) of Disney longer.

Oh I so agree. We drove twice to FLA from NJ and we will never do it again. I would fly.

 

[pixiemagic30]

Looks like I'm the odd man out. We have never flown to Disney...we have always driven the 15 hours, which is what it took us to drive. If it's basically a wash whether you fly or drive, I personally would drive and take the dining plan, but our family LOVES the flexibility of the DDP. We usually leave by 5am and arrive by 8pm. We do stay that first night off sight and arrive at the resort by 8am the next day so we can start fresh. When doing this though, we we always purchase one less park ticket than the days we are playing b/c the day we check out we don't play...

 

[My_3_Mi_Princesses]

We could either drive 16 hours down and save $310 per trip but lose park time. Or we could cancel out the ddp and have groceries delivered and do cs meals. That would save around $300/trip. I don't know which I would miss more. What would you all do?

I was struggling with this myself for our June trip. For my trip based on 5 $150 round trip tickets from Detroit we would save about $700 by driving instead of flying, this includes taking everything into account such as air port parking, luggage fees, etc... After some good advice from many people on the board we decided to drive down. Yes I save $700 but many people who drive reguarly down there pointed out that the drive can also be a fun experience.

I am however a bit nervous because I do have a young family (2 and 3 year old + a 9 year old), so not sure how they will handle a car seat for so long. Plus my 2 year old will be in the middle of potty training (I hope) so that will mean many breaks along the way. Given all that I am still going to give driving a shot next year.

On the transportation board there is a thread called 'For 2000 miles + drivers' that has a ton of great advice if you do decide to drive down!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I would sooner not eat for a week than drive.
For me though, if it was only a $300 difference I would find a way to find the money. That's not a lot to come up with. If it was, then I would still fly.

 

[worm761]

What about flying and getting the Quick Service DDP? Then you would just need to have some breakfast food before you leave for the day. We used the dining plan the last trip and I don't think I can go back to not using it! I absolutely loved not having to look at prices or even think about the bill. We loved it so much I am thinking about getting the deluxe DDP on our next trip so that everything is paid for!

 

[MinnieGi]

FLY!!!!!

We're DVC too and our kids prefer to do groceries with some cs meals and a few ts meals. They get tired of going to lots of restaurants and the time it cuts into parks, swimming, etc... Its a win/win to do groceries!!

 

[The Disney Dad]

We are finally getting to the point where our daughter will require a ticket and ddp and our son will require a plane ticket.

We have been fortunate to enjoy 6 rather affordable trips. Once I broke it down between dining plan, her ticket and my son's plane ticket- it would add $800 to our trip. Seeing as we make 2 trips per year, we can't handle such an increase.

So something has to give. We could either drive 16 hours down and save $310 per trip but lose park time. Or we could cancel out the ddp and have groceries delivered and do cs meals. That would save around $300/trip. I don't know which I would miss more. What would you all do?

It depends on what is most important to you. We like to have a car at WDW but cannot afford to fly and rent a car. We have resolved that we will drive from now on (9-11 hour drive from our house). And for us, with a little planning, we can save more $ by paying out of pocket than using the DDP.

 

[Colleen27]

I'd cut back to one trip per year before I cooked on vacation, ate only counter service, or drove fom OH. The way I see it is this - we can go a little less often and have the kind of trip we want, or we can cut corners and still spend a ton of money on a less than ideal experience more often.

 

[golden6911]

Same as the PP, I'd cut back to one trip a year before I'd forgo flying and eating on vacation.

 

[CandleontheWater]

I'd drive as opposed to cooking on vacation. I cook all year long and really look forward to not having to prepare meals while on vacation. If you are just talking about pop tarts and cereal for breakfast, then that would be fine, but I wouldn't want to have to plan and cook dinner. I do hate long car rides, but I think I like eating out better!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

We've never done a dining plan (n/a at Shades of Green) but I'd look at your real time savings over flying. I know for us, driving to the airport/parking/getting to the terminal is at least an hour. Have to be there 1-2 hours early. flight time, plus we have to have a layover, hour minimum. Waiting on your transportation, then getting to WDW... for us it's a 8+ hour ordeal to get there flying. When you compare that to 16 hours, it doesn't look as bad. You could leave after work one day, drive til midnight? (whatever you can do) and then get up the next morning and be at the park mid afternoon.

We have done the drive, though for us it's closer to 26 hours. Not sure I'd do it again. (We were looking at $600 pp for plane tickets and family that was expecting us to be there.) Sixteen hours, I'd definately consider though.

 

[bdiddy]

I know this isn't the answer you are probably looking for but sell some stuff on Ebay over the next month!! I sell twice a year (spring and fall) and sell the kids stuff from last year, toys that don't get played with in 6 months, I clean out mine & DH's own wardrobe and things around the house. I make at least $500-$800 selling over about 6 weeks. People will buy anything!! I also got a paypal debit card which is awesome and I already used that extra cash to buy our MVMCP tickets and will be using the rest on the trip.