Need Help: Drive Or Fly??

[Ga. Nala]

THIS IS MY FIRST POST. I WOULD FLY. WE HAVE DRIVEN
DOWN TO DISNEY EVERY YEAR FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS. WE
LIVE IN NORTH GEORGIA...IT NORMALLY TAKES US 9 HOURS
TO DRIVE DOWN. THE DRIVE DOWN IS NOT SO BAD BUT
THE DRIVE BACK SEEMS TO TAKE FOREVER. I-75 HAS ALOT
OF CONSTRUTION AT NIGHT. OUR NEXT TRIP IS THE END OF
MAY 2004 ON THE DISNEY WONDER. HOPE YOU HAVE A SAFE
TRIP.

 

[princesscrazydaughte]

Ga Nala welcome to the Dis!! Thanks so much for the posts everyone. It appears that maybe we should fly. Thank you to everyone in Tennessee for their input and Carol A thank you for your concerns they are well noted. Go Vols and Go Titans!!!

 

[FOTM_Ring_Bearer]

We are a family of 5, so one of the main reasons we drive is the cost. It's a lot cheaper to drive even if you include the cost of the hotel. We usually drive straight through, which takes around 14 hours.

It's also more flexible. If we decide to stay longer (and we've done that) it's not a problem.

I can bring extra stuff ( snacks, coolers, etc).

I don't have to worry about getting everything I've bought home. It will fit in my van.

It's nice to have a car when your traveling to other resorts for dinner reservations. Taking the bus can be time consuming, because you have to transfer.

It's also nice to have the car when we go to DTD for all those purchases.

 

[CanesFan30]

I'm going in early Feb. and I've debated quite a bit re: flying v. driving. I've chosen to drive for the following reasons:

1. No baggage concerns - no worries over carting around luggage through airports, into shuttle vans and what not, no fretting over whether stowed luggage is lost - can just pack it in the trunk and bid adieu until check-in.

2. No layovers/no scheduling concerns - I don't have to worry about keeping my son occupied if there's any delay in boarding, nor do I have to sweat traffic to airport, parking the car and all the other stresses of air travel. I can just get in the car and drive when we're ready, stop when we need to and enjoy all the scenery of a NC-FL drive.

3. Ability to drive to parks, nearby grocers, other Orlando attractions - if you drive, you won't need to pay extra money for a rental car or wait around for shuttle buses and other modes of hotel transport. Again, you can just get in the car and drive to where you need to go.

Like other posters have mentioned, I don't recommend making the long drive while sleep deprived. I'm planning on starting out in early evening the night before check-in, stopping to stay at a roadside hotel anywhere between 12 pm and 1 am and sleeping then resuming the drive around 8 or 9 am.

Yes, at first blush, it would flying is the more convenient way to go, but when you take all into consideration I think anyone could make a strong case for driving. It certainly is a less expensive option.

 

[SuBeat]

We've made the drive from Texas twice so far and will be doing it again in a couple of weeks.

I have to echo the reasons others have given for prefering the drive.

We can bring pretty much whatever we want. Toys, snacks, pillows, blankets, etc. Plus lots of movies for the TV/VCR. We can also bring HOME whatever we want with no worries of weight/size, or messing with shipping.

We have plenty of personal space, very important to DS10. We can also stop and take breaks whenever we feel like it.

It gives DH and I time to talk, something we don't get enough of at home with busy schedules and commitments.

I like the slow build up to the beginning of the vacation and the slow wind down at the end before we get home. The kids get a kick out of crossing state lines and seeing how the scenery changes as we drive east, and checking out the map to see where we are.

DH was very reluctant to drive the first time, but it really wasn't as bad as he thought it was going to be. He makes up for all the drive time by leaving the van in the parking lot from the moment we arrive until the moment we depart.

I also wanted to add that while we've considered driving straight through or during the night, the idea just makes me too nervous. I can't sleep when someone else is driving and I'm afraid DH might dose off if I did.

 

[Maude4Disney]

Ok, I have to add my .02 here. For our family, I would LOVE to fly. It is a long 2 days drive for us so it would be so nice to just hop on a plane and be there, however, we usually drive and plan on doing the drive again in April. We have 2 DS, age 10 and almost 3. Last year they did wonderful on the drive down and back, so I'm hoping for a repeat performance. If we had one more child though, we'd be flying. I don't think my nerves could handle anymore than what they dish out My husband loves the drive and DS's get to see more of our beautiful country than they would by flying, plus we have friends near Lexington, which is a good stopping place after the first day on the road and no hotel needed!
However, if we were planning to go more in the winter months....we'd be flying. I'd be too nervous of running into bad weather and getting stuck somewhere and missing Disney altogether.
It is a nice feeling to have our own vehicle at Disney with us, in case of an emergency or something. But we never use it. Plus like one other poster mentioned. You can always decide to stay that extra day too...which we did last time!
Have a great trip!

 

[momtotwinglesx4]

We've done both with 4 kids (we now have 5!). It's about a 21 hour drive, and we do it in 2 days. I agree with the other posters in that driving is cheaper, you can take breaks when you want/need to, you have your car at WDW; flying can be a hassle w/ check-in, hauling luggage, strollers, car seats, etc.

For me the deciding factor is the amount of available vacation time. If we only have a week, then there's no way I'm going to spend 4 days of it on the road (2 down, 2 back). Much faster to fly, so I'll deal with airport headaches for that advantage. On the other hand, if we have lots of vacation time, then driving wins the contest for us.

Good luck with your decision!

Sue

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I think there is some very valuable advice that has been passed along here. We are making our 4th WDW trip soon; it will be our first time driving. It will be about a 10 hour drive, and we have never seriously considered driving before. The deciding factors for us were, of course, $$$$$. And also, the kids (6&4) did great in a recent 6 hour (each way) Thanksgiving trip. The TV/VCR combo with headphones is the greatest invention for road trips since round tires . I think the joureny down to WDW is going to be great. DW and I have some of our best conversations while kids are dozing or distracted in back seat during long trips.

Knowing that driving through the night is not the best idea, we will leave about 5am and hopefully arrive around 4pm (allowing time for a couple of stops). I am sort of dreading the trip back because I know that we won't be as excited and it will certainly seem longer. Good thing I like to drive.

One thing I am looking forward to is the added flexibility of driving. On our last day we will have the option of doing a half-day or more in the parks before we leave. That's looking like a pretty good idea right now.

Flying is great. The kids love it, but as others have mentioned it is so taxing for us to have to get the kids through the whole airport scenario -driving long trip to airport, parking, security checks, waiting at gate, etc. I wonder whether DW and I will actually be less tired after driving than we have been after flying.

 

[catherines_mama]

This will be my first trip to Disney with my DD (2 1/2), but we drive from NC to Sarasota & Tampa (11 hrs) 2 times a year to see family and friends. When I am going for a short weekend I fly if there is a bargain. But otherwise I always drive. I have a Honda and no tv/dvd but DD does great. I did the overnight drive once (its just me, and I could not recoup). The past 2 trips I have left at 5am and its worked great! Lunch time is a good halfway point and we get into town around 3:00 -4:00.

I think driving is not bad at all for the savings it gives you. And.. its been said already, but you can pack whatever you want. I am looking forward to this trip, I am going to pack my DD's bathroom stool. This way she can go potty and brush her teeth etc without my help. I could not pack her stool in the plane.

Good luck on your choice, whatever you decide, your trip will still be magical.

Deedee B.

 

[10drum]

Wow! 11.5 hours, don't forget about time for parking, baggage, shuttle, rental car, waiting for flight, or whatever.

We drive 18 hours with 1 night in a Georgia Motel, and I always figure $300 transportation (round trip) fee for four people. Let me see, that would be about $75 per person, and we don't have to rent a car or take a shuttle.

But, then again, I hate to fly!

I was in New Orleans on 9/11 and drove a rent car home to Illinois on 9/12. That was the last time I flew.

 

[momx2]

We are in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Just about 50 minutes from Nashville. It takes us about 12 hrs. We have always driven. I have 2 DDs 5 and 2. We have driven 4 times and going again in February. I like the drive. It kinda makes the vacation seem longer. We take a car vcr player and the girls do great.

We would never drive through the night. We leave on Friday after school, around 3:30 and drive to the South side of Atlanta and spend the night and finish up the next morning. We get there around 2:30 pm on Saturday. We also use 2 days to come back, with the majority being driven on Friday and the rest on Saturday and I have Sunday for laundry. We have also left on Sat. and got home on Sunday if you stay 7 nights.

We had a horrible time flying over this past thanksgiving. So bad in fact, we got $400 coupons from Southwest and my DD 5 doesn't want to fly in February, so we will drive.

Good luck with your decision, I vote to drive.

 

[mep319]

I've been thinking of driving this next time myself...we live in Philly and I believe it is about an 14 hr drive...I don't sleep the night before we leave anyway...too stressed.... but I also figure...you have to be at the airport 2 hrs before flight. I live northwest of the city and Philly traffic is horrific! (and the airport is southeast of the city)...and of course we want an early flight so we don't waste the day...so add another 2 hours to get to the airport at rush hour...it is a 2 1/2 hour flight...another hour for luggage and yet another for the shuttle so lets see...8-9 hours...so driving would really only take may 5-6 hours more....it's getting kind of appealing....

 

[10drum]

I use to fly alot in my work and I've found that if you can drive some were in 8 to 10 hours, you didn't save very much time by flying. Even with a 2 hour flight, it seems like the whole day is wasted. I do live 2 hour from a major airport, which figures into the equation.
If I were driving a 70' ford pickup, I'd probably fly, but cars are so comfortable now, I don't get that tired. I'll set the cruise about 2 mph less than the speed limit and it's amazing how much smoother the trip goes, than that white knuckle, "I got to get there" type driving.

 

[princesscrazydaughte]

Thanks for all the wonderful insights. I have continued to waffle reading all the replies,been waffling, but now I think we are leaning back towards driving. Like mep319 says, it really doesn't save that much time to fly if you live as close as we do. I am thinking that maybe we will drive to about midnight and then stop and sleep and drive the remainder in the morning. I, also, don't sleep before big trips. It's too much like the night before Christmas when I was a kid.

 

[tinaluis]

Another vote for driving. We live in Chicago and can usually get decent airfare on SWA but we stay for at least two weeks so car rental REALLY adds up. Last trip we could have gotten tickets on SWA for the five of us for about $700 but the car rental for two weeks was about $500 (even through Priceline). We drove for about $350 including gas and hotels for stopovers on the way down and back. If we lived in TN that would take about a day off of our trip and we'd probably visit more often. The drive is really painless and, once you've done it, you may be more inclined to drive in the future. Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[HaleyB]

We drive. We live in central Texas and drive to CA every year. We flew one time and it was not worth it. It may take 2 1/2 days to drive it, but that is much easier and we really needed a car anyway. With two kids flying is a major pain. Plus you can not rent the smallest and cheapest cars (because they are two door and car seats are a nightmare in a two door). I think we save about $900 driving too (counting a car rental for 10 days in CA).
We are going to FL in June and will drive , only 2 days to FL. Even w/o a car rental flying will cost us upwards of $500 more than driving. Remember you still have food expenses if you fly, more if you drive, but nowhere near the cost of even one plane ticket. The hotel (1 night on the road) will equal about 1/2 of a plane ticket. So with gas, food and hotel it will cost less than 1/2 of flying AND we will have a car while we are there to eat off site and make a grocery run.
My kids are great car travellers. We do not have the TV/VCR thing because we think it would be a source of contention between our kids. each has their own thing they like to do in the car. Books on tape make time fly. We just got Harry Potter 5 on tape from ebay for $20. It will be a surprise for the kids.

 

[Jestocost]

I would rather drill one of my own teeth than drive for 11.5 hours.

But that just goes to show you how many different opinions there are without a single "right" answer. It's all about what you're used to and what you like.

Frankly, I'm just comfortable flying and so is my family. I've traveled frequently for business (70+ flights this year), and my youngest (DS 6) was on a plane at 2 mos.

When driving, on the other hand, I get sleepy (dangerous) and cranky (annoying).

YMMV.

 

[mep319]

Hey I use to feel that way too...if it was over a 6 hr drive...I flew. The last "major" drive I did was from Phila to Hilton Head...I said never again...but it is such PIA to fly anymore....Like I said it would only be about 5-6 hours more for me to drive than to fly with the airlines these days....it is becoming more appealing....This spoken from someone who like Jestocost would have rather had teeth drilled than drive that far in the past. Now I have to convince DH

 

[Jon99]

It takes us about 17 hours to make the drive and its 17 hours I completely enjoy.. We drive it straight thru, leaving on Friday when my wife gets off work at 3:00 and will be at WDW by 9:00 the next morning... To me, there is nothing more relaxing than driving down the highway at 3:00 AM with nobody around but a few people, I guess I am just wierd..

 

[momtotwinglesx4]

Originally posted by Jon99
To me, there is nothing more relaxing than driving down the highway at 3:00 AM with nobody around but a few people, I guess I am just wierd..

Yeah, I'd be relaxed alright.....zzzzzzzzzzzzz lol! I do know what you mean though--it's nice driving w/o all the traffic and with the kids asleep. I'm sure some people can drive just fine thru the night w/o getting sleepy, I'm just not one of them! But then, I find myself getting sleepy during the daytime if I drive a long time. When I drove down in May 2002, my dh didn't go, just me (6 mos. pregnant), my 4 kids, and my then-77 y/o mother (who doesn't drive on trips--it's a good thing ). On the way home, I found myself getting sleepy in Georgia, so I pulled into a McDonald's Play Place and took a nice nap in the back of my van for an hour while mom took the kids in for lunch and some running and climbing! Definitely a good thing! Always better to get there late than not at all!