Maryland

[Madhatter266]

We joined DVC in 2004 and we live in HDG. We usually visit once a year depending upon events and our schedules. We recently retired and are doing something very different for our next trip to WDW - driving! Can't wait, and we have never had any regrets about our DVC purchase.

 

[Reddog1134]

My wife and I became members last year. We live in Parkville.

 

[gonecrusin]

Anyone thinking about the 2012 Members Cruise (Oct 21)? We are just waiting until they announce the date they start accepting reservations. Talked to MS and they said the ship will be sold out by 4:00 PM on the day they start taking reservations and they even open an hour early.

 

[Anal Annie]

Anyone thinking about the 2012 Members Cruise (Oct 21)? We are just waiting until they announce the date they start accepting reservations. Talked to MS and they said the ship will be sold out by 4:00 PM on the day they start taking reservations and they even open an hour early.

The members cruises will never work out for us as long as they're in October (during school).

 

[moericus]

I was just wondering what modes of transportation everyone uses from Baltimore to Orlando.

When I was a kid we used to drive. I've flown twice now with AirTran and SouthWest.

 

[edk35]

I was just wondering what modes of transportation everyone uses from Baltimore to Orlando.

When I was a kid we used to drive. I've flown twice now with AirTran and SouthWest.

We have ONLY driven twice with the the last time being summer of 2010. It was not bad. However...we drove one November over Thanksgiving week a few years back and coming back to MD that Sat. and Sunday after Thanksgiving was a NIGHTMARE and we said NEVER AGAIN. We prefer to fly because we are about 10 min. from BWI.

 

[Anal Annie]

I was just wondering what modes of transportation everyone uses from Baltimore to Orlando.

When I was a kid we used to drive. I've flown twice now with AirTran and SouthWest.

When I was a kid my parents drove too. But that was back in the 70's when it was just MK plus they also had a camper so we stayed off-site in campgrounds.

So far we've only flown because we don't like to lose 2 whole days traveling down & back. We live in upper Montgomery Co. and it is about 1 hour for us to go to any of the 3 major airports here. While we prefer BWI we WILL also use Dulles and that's what we're doing in the spring (Jet Blue). If we use BWI we fly Air Tran or SW. Sometimes we fly one down & the other back. I book the cheapest way. Doesn't matter so much if it's the same airline as long it's in / out of the same airport.

We drove to HHI in 2010 (about 10 hours) and both DH & DS said that was long enough in a car. It would probably be between 14-15 hours for us to drive (plus allowing for more time to get stuck on the Beltway & I-95 to Richmond). That pushes it for a one-day non-stop drive. We can fly in 2.25 hours. Well, plus the time to get thru security etc. Much faster unless there are storm delays or something. There WAS 1 time coming home that our flight to BWI was delayed because of T-storms up here & it cost us about an extra 3 hours or so. Airfare is up over what it was a couple years ago but as long as I can get flgihts in the $200 RT pp range we'll fly.

 

[sandieb]

I was just wondering what modes of transportation everyone uses from Baltimore to Orlando.

When I was a kid we used to drive. I've flown twice now with AirTran and SouthWest.

We usually go twice a year and we always take the auto-train. We live in Northern Baltimore County and it takes about 1 1/2 hours to Lorton, Virginia. We put our extra long Expedition on the train filled with everything we want to bring. We always get sleepers. It is so relaxing. They serve a nice dinner and breakfast, play a movie, have a lounge car. The kids always bring Legos. It leaves at 4pm and arrives the next morning by 9am.

I think we have travelled on the autotrain many times and have never had an issue. We bring 3 kids - 4, 6, & 8. They like it a lot too.

We usually just take it down to Florida as we try to stay at Disney's Hilton Head Resort after our WDW trip. Believe me, the train is way more fun than driving!

Sandie

 

[Bellecruiser]

Hey There!
This is great! I didn't know there was a Maryland thread. We live in Walkersville...small town near Frederick. We joined DVC in 2008 on a cruise. We love our DVC. We have only flown there, but look forward to retirement when we can drive. I would love to stop at HHI on the way down and Vero Beach on the way back (or vice versa). . I would also love to take the train down. Going in a camper sounds like fun too.

 

[gonecrusin]

We always fly. Our time is precious and son't want to waste any driving. Maybe when we retire we will try driving but I don't think so as long as we can get cheap airfare.

 

[moericus]

We usually go twice a year and we always take the auto-train. We live in Northern Baltimore County and it takes about 1 1/2 hours to Lorton, Virginia. We put our extra long Expedition on the train filled with everything we want to bring. We always get sleepers. It is so relaxing. They serve a nice dinner and breakfast, play a movie, have a lounge car. The kids always bring Legos. It leaves at 4pm and arrives the next morning by 9am.

I think we have travelled on the autotrain many times and have never had an issue. We bring 3 kids - 4, 6, & 8. They like it a lot too.

We usually just take it down to Florida as we try to stay at Disney's Hilton Head Resort after our WDW trip. Believe me, the train is way more fun than driving!

Sandie

I've thought about taking the auto train. Do you all manage to sleep comfortably on it? My boy loves trains. Being on a train like that, might be as exciting as WDW for him at this point.

 

[vicki_c]

I was just wondering what modes of transportation everyone uses from Baltimore to Orlando.

When I was a kid we used to drive. I've flown twice now with AirTran and SouthWest.

For week long or longer trips, we drive. For shorter, we fly. So it's usually drive for us, although DH and I are going for a long weekend next month and flying from BWI. We don't totally mind the drive, and the trade-off of not having to rent a car is a plus to us. The only time we do Disney without a car is like our upcoming trip for Food & Wine - only 3 days, staying @ an Epcot resort, and only going to Epcot and possibly DHS.

 

[n2mm]

Not a Maryland (no longer). Though born in PG county (went to school there too), lived in Montgomery County and presently live 30 minutes or less from the Maryland line (Brunswick, Frederick, Sharpsburg, Hagerstown....depending which way you go) -- Charles Town, WV now.

We always fly (out of Dulles), but next spring we are thinking of driving down. We are going for 3 weeks and the thought of the rental car price is . I guess we'll have to wait and see. I would love it if they offered a one way rental, which the rental companies do sometimes. I would certainly fly down and drive back. We've never done it, though my SIL did it a couple of years ago and said it wasn't too bad (he drove straight through and was the only driver), along with my 15 yo grandson and 2 of his friends.

As for the train....no way Jose.....I commuted on the Marc line for the last 14 years (5 hour commute r/t a day) and retired last year. If I never hear a train whistle again I would be on

Overall we prefer to fly. One hour to Dulles and 2 hours by air. We leave in 8 days for our 2 week October trip and I can't wait. It's hard to believe we were only there 8 weeks ago....seems like forever. I guess I need to get off the boards and start packing!!

 

[mdgpop]

We live on the Eastern Shore close to Crisfield. Own at BCV since 2004 and also have some points at Vero. Anymore Eastern Shore Disers?

 

[nikkistevej]

We have done both- we live in Catonsville- about 10 minutes from the airport- we definitely prefer to fly on shorter trips- and we do more often. But we have gone down for 2-2 1/2 weeks before and driven- done this twice.

 

[nikkistevej]

We have ONLY driven twice with the the last time being summer of 2010. It was not bad. However...we drove one November over Thanksgiving week a few years back and coming back to MD that Sat. and Sunday after Thanksgiving was a NIGHTMARE and we said NEVER AGAIN. We prefer to fly because we are about 10 min. from BWI.

Are you on the Glen Burnie side of the airport?? We are in Catonsville, it is convenient to live this close.

 

[sandieb]

I've thought about taking the auto train. Do you all manage to sleep comfortably on it? My boy loves trains. Being on a train like that, might be as exciting as WDW for him at this point.

I sleep like a baby on the train - it is snug, but comfortable enough. The kids go right to sleep too. They give a wake up call in the morning for breakfast, and I have to make us get up. Even though we get sleepers, it is not luxurious. However, the staff is always courteous and helpful. The food is ok, and we love to have our Expedition and stuff.

I was a pilot and flight nurse years ago, and I love flight. But I do not like to fly commercial, especially packed in the plane like sardines. For us, the train trip is just part of the fun. It is an ultra relaxing start to our vacation.

Anyway, we bought into the Beach Club Villas in 2001 on a presale and have added more points there twice as well as a resale Hilton Head contract. In 2012 we were going to do something other than Disney, but I find myself on the Disboards almost every day, and I miss WDW like crazy. That was after a 10 day vacation there in June and 5 in HH. I'm completely hopeless!

 

[edk35]

Are you on the Glen Burnie side of the airport?? We are in Catonsville, it is convenient to live this close.

We live in Severn..not far from RT 32 and RT 100.

 

[tomandrobin]

Been awhile since I posted on this thread......

We live in Bel Air, but I travel all over the state for work.

We always fly to Orlando, never have driven. The furthest south we have been in a car is to Myrtle Beach. As long as airfare is reasonable for 2, it does not make sense for us to drive.

 

[SnowWhite2]

When I looked into taking the auto train it was close to $2K for 2A, 2C and our car. Flying was only about $700. It wasn't worth the cost to us to take the train.