Need advice on upcoming trip....

[TigrLvsPooh]

We have been planning to drive to WDW next week. It's going to be our first time driving down because we usually fly. We thought it would save money, and also be kinda fun for the kids... stop and see grandma, take our time, bring games and stuff, etc, etc. We always drove for vacation when I was a kid, so to me it seemed fine. Especially now that the kids are older.

However, with the gas prices the way they are these days we're thinking maybe we should fly. We used the fuel estimator on the AAA site and it says approx. $275 for gas, not including hotel for two nights (one night going down and one night back), and any extra food costs, etc, for leaving earlier.

So now it doesn't seem like such a great deal to drive. We can get 4 round trip tickets on ATA for about $168/each.... not a bad deal at all.

So what do you think????

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

A couple of things I forgot to mention. If we fly we'll have to pay for transportation to and from the airport, probably a town car service. Also we were planning to do US/IOA one day, so we would probably not do that if we fly.

Thanks for the help!!

 

[Tiger Fan]

It will still cost you a little more to fly, but if you can swing the extra $$ I'd say fly. Have fun whatever you decide.
Lisa

 

[Beast fan]

Sorry, I am currently the only "other" vote. I'll explain......

It depends upon several things, in my opinion.
1) Do you need to watch your pennies? Or is spending an extra few hundred $ not a problem.
2) Condition of the car you would be driving. Does it have, for example, over 100,000 miles on it?
3) The Grandma concern........... Do you see her often? How important is it to see her?
4) Can everyone tolerate each other for the round-trip drive?
5) Is anyone in your family afraid/uncomfortable with flying?

The answers to the above questions (and others) should lead you to the correct answer.

Personally, I LOVE flying.... I enjoying the experience as a whole... and would choose that option every time.

Dave

 

[Tinks]

We are going through this exact same decision at our house---fly or drive??

We have three boys--ages 8, 6, and 2. It's the two year old that worries me. We figured that driving (from central Illinois) will take us ~ 20 hours (with stops). We would plan one night in a hotel. We figure that would add up to ~ $500. Sounds about the same as you.

Our only problem is that we would have to rent a car while we are there because we are going to the beach for a week after our 3 days at Disney. The rental cost is killing us. We can get airfare for around the same price as you, maybe a little more. It would cost about $1000 for the 5 of us to fly.

To fly alone Vs. drive is about a $500 difference.
To fly and rent a car Vs. drive is about $1000 difference.

If I were you and could afford the $500 difference, I would do it in a heartbeat. I look at it this way....you get on a plane and you are at your resort by lunch / or you drive and drive and drive and you are there ???? (not by lunch!!!) and you are dead tired from the drive. Then, you get to drive home when it's over!

Can you tell I'm dreading the drive?

 

[floridafam]

It might indeed be cheaper to fly.

USair had tickets from Chicago and other MidWestern cities to Orlando for $118 the other day when I checked.

We drive from Michigan and will do so again next month. Gas is going to be awful! I have budgeted at least $350-$400 for gas. We have to take DH's bike and he doesn't have a plane case yet so we have to drive.

Hotel on the way down and back I budget $100 a night but we usually don't pay that much.

Food, drinks, etc. It adds up.

Do you have a laptop or portable DVD player for movies on the way down?

Let us know what you decide to do.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I voted drive for exactly the reasons you originally wanted to do that. If your kids are not toddlers, it is great fun.

 

[TigrLvsPooh]

Beast fan's questions:

1) Doesn't everyone need to watch their money?? (ha ha)

2) Our car is a 2003 Tahoe... a gas guzzler!!!!

3) Grandma is looking forward to seeing the kids, she hasn't seen them since Christmas. However, we are definitely seeing her in June, so that's just around the corner.

4) The main concern is keeping the kids entertained... dh and I don't really worry about the drive because we've done it before.

5) We all love flying! We flew down to Orlando twice already this year.


Florida Fam:

We have a dvd player in the car, and plenty of dvd's to keep the kids occupied. We recently bought some new ones too just so they'll be fresh and exciting. I also bought some travel games for them.

Still not sure what to do......

 

[floridafam]

We have a 2004 Tahoe. Yes, definately a gas guzzler! I know the gas budget is just going to be awful!

I don't think you will regret driving. It is nice to have a vehicle on site should you need it.

Keep us posted.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

I would personally drive.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm a flying fan myself. Get there and maximize the time you spend at WDW. If you want to go to US/IOA for a day while you're there, take a cab or rent a car from National/Alamo on WDW property for the day. There's a rental center near the MK and one in the Swan/Dolphin.

 

[shortbun]

The best thing about driving was having the time to talk
to DH in a relaxed and no rush environment with DS watching
DVDs in a headset. We had fun in the hotels on the way and
I think a little visit with Grandma is worth loads. I vote drive.
Did I mention how stressful airports have become? Taking off
shoes, waiting in long lines for metal detectors, crowded flights
because there are fewer flights, waiting for luggage and wondering if you are going to get it - I was a travel agent for
many years; flying has gotten horrible and I welcome the chance
to see some of the USA now any time I can.

 

[WDWLVR]

Road trips can be fun. We usually fly, but we are driving down in May. I think the added bonus of getting to see family and having a car makes it worth it to stay with the original plan.

 

[Dan Murphy]

In any case, make sure you come for pizza.