Is it worth it to drive?

[mzmickey]

I see many people who are able to go to DW often and they are usually driving.

Now the cost of airfare for us last time was $230 per person round trip. Is it worth saving almost $500 dollars to drive to DW? How long would it take from Pittsburgh, PA?

Need some ammo to use on DH so I can hopefully go back this year!

thanks

 

[ZerasPride]

I posted a thread sometime ago before our most recent trip which was Thanksgiving week. To save money (there were 4 of us - me, DH, DS and DB) we decided to drive. I can honestly say, even though I love, love, love Disney, I don't think I would ever drive again! Most of the responses to my thread said to fly but I was determined to try it once (and so should you) to see if we could take it. We can't!!!! It wasn't so bad on the way down. We were all excited and we spend 4 days at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort first. But the return trip was a killer. We even broke it up into two days and it was still too long. The drive was 16 hours so I booked a 2 room suite at Embassy Suites on the way home. We were all cranky and tired and just wanted to get home. My son and I both commented that we could have been home in the 10 hours (with stops) it took us to get half way if we would have flown.

Doing the math, flying costed us (if we could have been fortunate enough to find tix for about $200 each) $800 for the tickets, $100 for the towncar service = $900. Driving cost us gas which was about $150 (I am guessing here but this is probably pretty close) plus meals on the way down and back $150 plus the lodging on the way down (we stayed DVC so that didn't actually "cost" us anything out our pocket) and $125 on the way back home so a total of $425. That is a significant savings. Would I do it again? I can honestly say I don't know. In August I'm flying with my sister and her two girls and in November for our cruise I thought about it for a minute but there's only me and DH so as long as I can get reasonable airfare, we'll be flying.

I don't know if my experience has helped you at all but I wanted to be honest. You should try it once, then you'll be able to say with confidence it is either right for you and your family or not. Until you try it, you won't know! Happy planning!

 

[ncligs]

No.

 

[tinaluis]

It is worth it for us to drive because there are 5 of us and we usually stay for 2 weeks so the cost of airfare and rental car for two weeks is at least $1200. The cost of driving (with a Priceline hotel each way to break up the trip) was $316. It was definitely a significant savings for us. You have to figure out what works for you.

 

[ncbyrne]

We've driven to FL several times, flown a few. Flying is definitely the way to go, and I doubt I'll ever drive down from NJ again! We have an AMEX Sky Miles card and charge everything (and I mean everything) on that card to get free air fare. A new roof this year was a big boost towards another free air plane ticket.
But, even if we have to pay full fare, I'd rather go less often and fly, than to endure the endlessness of Rt 95 south!

 

[KNWVIKING]

We usually drive,takes 14.5 hrs from the time I back out of my driveway till I pull up at my resort.Round trip gas & tolls is about $150.00, (1026 miles each way).

If we fly,we take a 7:00 am flight. We leave 4:30 am to get to airport, arrive MCO at 9:15 - if there are no delays,get luggage,pick up rental car, arrive at resort about noon: 7.5 hrs. Two tickets,rental car,airport parking for our vehicle: $790.00.

One of the things I really like about driving is that on the last day of the trip, I decide when I'm ready to head north. I don't have to leave early to drop off a rental,then go thru the whole airport hassle again.It feels like a vacation day rather then the end of the trip.

I also feel like my trip is starting a day earlier because I'll go to work on Friday and head south a couple hours later. That's when my vacation starts, ot 3:30 am Saturday.

 

[TIGGERSMOM]

We are on our way out the door today. Driving from Massachusetts. According to posts it should take 21 to 24 hours.

We have 3 drivers so I am hoping it will be easier, breaking it into 3 or 4 hours driving blocks.

I plan to keep a record of expenses so I can compare the costs.

 

[markey]

Well we drove 1 time in 86 from Pa too long ago to remember. Have driven 2 times from NC in recent years and that was too long. But on Friday I leave with my daughter and 3 grandkids, 9,7 and 2 and I am driving from Pa. because she refuses to fly. By now I would be on cloud 9 with only 4 days to go, but I am really dreading the drive and can't get that Disney feeling. Just can't get excited because I know how bad 95 is, drove it at least 6 times a year when she lived in NC. Have flown 7 times and have our tickes for August, if I survive this trip. Not looking forward at all to the drive. Picking her up in Maryland and will be off, maybe when I see Mickey it will be better, but all the time I am there I know I will be thinking of the drive home. In my opinion flying is the only way to go.

 

[CamColt]

Due to being scheduled to fly out 2 weeks after 9/11, we opted to drive that trip...something I never in a million years thought I would do. Even my mother who was coming with us said if we decided to drive, she wouldnt come. Well, we convinced her and did it, and it wasnt bad at all! Even she said she would do it again if she had to.
We have since done it again, and are planning on driving again in August. If we had to fly for all these trips, we definitely wouldnt have taken all of them. Plus we are flying in December and I am a lot more stressed over the thought of that(flight changes, delays, cancellations, crashes, lost luggage, security searches, kids annoying other passengers, etc...) than the drive in August.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

We will be driving for the third time in June. My take:

I wouldn't do it every time, but for us there are advantages to both. There's nothing cool about being in a car for two 18 hour trips in ten days. But the way we calculate it, there is significant savings, and there's only two of us.

Our gas to get down is roughly $150, including tolls and such. Add two hotel rooms at $30 each (Priceline). I add realistic costs of travel (more meals, more sodas, more ibuprofen) of $90 and call our total "cost of trip" is about $300. Sure, it's not exact, but it's in the ball park.

Flying for us (we live in Central PA) from home is difficult, as the leg from State College to Pit or Philly is obnoxiously expensive. So we drive to BWI (about 3.5 hours each way), incurring about $25 in gas costs. We have to park our car for a week, cost about $60. Air from BWI to MCO RT runs around $350. We do not like being without a car in Disney, so add about $150 for rental. This would be a big savings for someone flying if they didn't need a rental car, but we do. So call our total cost of flying, roughly, between $550 and $600.

So we consider it a savings of around $300 (we have no children -- YET!).

The drive back absolutely stinks, no doubt about it. But we find the trip down nice, and we stop and 'see things.' We have our car, rather than a rental. Our packing is much easier and we can take more. And we're not set one someone else's schedule. And quite frankly, until it comes time to go back, the "seeing the country" thing is something we enjoy (although we're mostly seeing I95). I'd also throw in there that my wife doesn't like to fly, although that's never been a factor in us driving (she can suck it up once or twice a year), but an added bonus that it gives her piece of mind.

In the end, you have to weigh your savings against wear and tear on the car (we're talking about 2k miles round trip, plus whatever miles we pile on the Camry while we're there). And my opinion on the dollar savings comes from one who insists on a rental car if he flies. But I also come from a standpoint of only two traveling. The cost of flying would greatly increase if we had two kids. So would the hassle.

I think you'll get those who think people that drive are crazy, and those that drive who think those that don't are over-stating the hassle. It's all a matter of opinion (have you ever driven fifteen plus hours before). Personally, I'm looking forward to all that time with my wife and unborn child.

Pat

 

[NotUrsula]

Depending on what you do for a living and how much you make, driving may require two extra vacation days. For us, that would be over $1000 in lost pay, while our airfare/rental car seldom costs more than $600 combined.

Given the same amount of vacation time in Florida, I'd rather spend those 2 days at my office, and restrain my driving to that leisurely 15 min. drive to the SWA terminal.

 

[momof2sons]

We drive every year from central Ohio. It is to costly to fly with 4 kids and 2 adults. We can us that savings for other more important things. Like college funds.

 

[pathubia]

We drove down from boston two weeks ago....It took us 23 hours to drive there and 22 hours home. I wasnt too bad, we had rented a big converson van with a tv and vcr. We split it up with 4 drivers. I wouldnt hurry to drive again, but airfare was so high......
We spent about $250 on tolls and gas.

Patty

 

[treehouser]

HI < We have driven 2 times and flown once. I like the drive from Vermont to Orlando, about 24 hrs. total. The drive route we do is different each way each time.
We are going at the end of May for a week AKL. The time and agrivation of air travel has swayed us again to go by car . We leave at 4 am and get out of the more formiliar area in the dark. By 8:00am we are well into NY or PA and stop in NC the night on the road. Get up early and drive into Orlando in early afternoon. we are staying outside the part that night and get up the next day and do a early check-in in WDW. This alows us to do some shopping for drinks snacks and other items we will need in the Park. We stay at the Park up to closing the 5th night ( 5 day pass) and drive out of the park and to another hotel (1/2 the cost) for a night to rest and start back up the pike early 6:00am and drive the day away and get a hotel in NC or VA and finish up the trip the next day. You can't beat the senic sights of the highways and it has allowed us to make little sidestops like the hometown of Andy Griffith, Gettysburg , Hilton Head, WDC... a day at a time . TRY IT>

 

[dvc guy]

DW and DD & DS start to ask are we there yet about 1 hour into a drive. I would NEVER consider a 22 hour drive. We have taken 6 hour trips, a few times and that is about the max.

 

[treehouser]

Now there is the difference - to us the ride is part of the Vacation. I also hate the waiting in airports,but we all have our likes and dislikes-right.Just as long as you get where you are going. Have a good one.

 

[mmounsey]

Although our drive isn't nearly as long as others (only about 10 hours), it still doesn't bother me.

Airfare is not an option for this next trip since DH is going on a business trip and we are tagging along (he'll get reimbursed for mileage).

The trip there always goes quickly but I'll have to agree the trip back home stunk last time (but why would anyone be happy to leave Disney?)

We flew once and loved it, but since we didn't rent a car, we had to rely on Disney transporation, off-site hotel transportation, and even Mears a couple of times.

 

[MrsMud]

You really can't go by how anyone else feels, you have to figure out if it's worth it FOR YOU. It is about a 21 hour drive from where I am on Long Island, and a 2 1/2 hour flight. To me, there is no way I would drive. It would mean 2 extra days (or, 2 less days at Disney), plus I think it's way too much to ask of my kids (who are 5 and 7). Now, my friend who lives in the same town as us drove down last Fall with her 3 children aged 2, 3 1/2 and 5, and one child is autistic! She said it was no problem, and she would do it again, go figure! I still say no way!

 

[Hawk]

We, like treehouser, have also driven from northern Vermont. However when we went it was with a 27 foot camper and took 30 hours. While the drive was arduous, I wouldn't be nervous about doing it again. In fact, we will probably drive again in August, without the camper.

Most times we have flown with many layovers and problems. We just returned from a two week stay at POR. We were bumped in Ohio and had to spend 4 hours in the terminal and the remainder of the night at a hotel. This was an adventure which lasted from 11:00 am on Sunday to 2:30 pm on Monday; just about the amount of time it would have taken me to drive. This is not the first time that there have been problems. Last year when we flew, we were stuck in the airport in Burlington for three hours do to a storm in the mid-western part of the nation, that backed traffic up at the NY airports, which caused delays for New England; go figure!

Oh, did I forget to add that we usually travel with 6 people (plus, one infant) at a normal airfare of $275.00 per ticket. Plus a rental vehicle at roughly $600.00 for two weeks. Once you have a car at WDW, you will always want one. See prior posts regarding car at WDW.

Many times it is not worth it to fly, especially with the hassle at the airports, especially with small children. This past trip, one of our suitcases, which was bought at WDW, was damaged so bad that we will now throw it away.

While airflight may be worth it when it is a short stay or when travelling with two or three people, I can take or leave it, especially when we have the time during the summer months so that the kids don't miss school. In August, I will likey leave it.

Don't worry about the naysayers, it is no problem at all provided you like to drive.

Treehouser, if you read this, feel free to e-mail me and exchange driving stories.

Hawk.

 

[cpl100]

Originally posted by pathubia
We drove down from boston two weeks ago....It took us 23 hours to drive there and 22 hours home. I wasnt too bad, we had rented a big converson van with a tv and vcr. We split it up with 4 drivers. I wouldnt hurry to drive again, but airfare was so high......
We spent about $250 on tolls and gas.

Patty

What route did you take Patty? Did you go down 95 or the alternate? Was this your first drive or do you have another time to compare it/add to it?