plane, train, or automobile??

[ShellyMouse]

just curious, is anyone changing their mode of transportaion b/c of high costs?
we are flying this year...my 1st flight!....but i can't believe the prices of airfare! last year, we drove and spent about $900.00 for travel expenses round trip. we take 2 1/2 days each way, and reward dd with a pool at the hotels each night for being a good rider. looks like flying is going to be $1000 - $1500!!

are prices changing your mode of transportaion?

 

[molly2004]

Yep, we typically fly. But this year, with airfare being around $450 (used to be around $180) we're planning on driving. It used to be that we didn't have to buy seats for the kids. But now they're 2, there's no way around it. We'll definitely keep checking airfares up to the day, but driving is the way to go for now.

 

[pepe of ohio]

We used to drive, way back when when we were younger. Have flown a few times but it isn't my cup of tea so we reverted to Amtrak. In over 35 visits to WDW, the last 10 or so have been by train. We drove a few trips back, waited too long to book the train and it was full and away we drove. Miserable, tried to make it straight through like we used to but the traffic and semis are nerve racking and the endless excuse of trying to make time, I hate going fast and 65 is too fast. We did it there and back and said , no more.

Train fares have been about the same money over the last bunch of years, roughly 450.00 round trip for the both of us from northeastern Ohio to Kissimmee Florida, 27 hours. We enjoy the relaxing train ride, yes its long but so is driving. Our nerves aren't frazzled when we get there and we're still talking to one another and haven't been lost or had to ask directions. We're headed down the end of August, by train, and looking forward to the trip, let others do the driving and sit back and relax.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Flying because it's time effective and if gas continues to rise, cost effective.

We can usually get a flight for $160/pp which would equal $480 and would get us to WDW in 4 hours (to the hotel).

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

we have gone to disney at least 5 - 8 times by train. we have flown 1 time, and drove with sil, 1 time. i am the one who does not like to fly. we have gotten some pretty cheap prices through the years. one year it was buy 2 adult tickets get up to 3 kids under 15 free. and then we would take a friend for my dd , one summer we took 2 friends. yep..........every one in my family and at work thinks we are nuts to SIT that long instead of flying.. they just dont get my anxiety of it...........so it was either sit on the train and stay at disney 7 - 8 days,,,or stay home and not go...haha. we missed last summer the first time. we started to go the middle to end of aug. because of youngest school time. plus now she would be adult price, once over 15 train cost more. im trying now to maybe book for me and husband to go around halloween , cause that is his birthday. but i checked for sleeper car price is pretty high. the earlier you book, its usually much cheaper. i just have to decide before prices go up more. so that is why we SIT on the TRAIN for almost 2 DAYS.............haha.

 

[dismom9761]

We drive because it only takes 7 hours.There are six of us so it is less expensive also.

 

[Henlady]

For us its the train also - AutoTrain that is. Count us as a couple in our mid 50's(ugh), not traveling with children, who enjoy sitting back and not worrying about I-95 traffic. I am not overly fond of flying, will if I have to, but I enjoy the train and the people you meet. We are not in a hurry, so if things get backed up time-wise, we aren't affected by it, I just get to read a few more chapters of my book .

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

I voted for "flying-because we like it" but I don't like flying - I'm actually really scared of it. What I like is getting to Disney World in 2 hours as opposed to the 16 hours it takes us if we drive.

Debbie

 

[cyndibelle]

We always fly but this time i think we are going to drive...I hate it ..but it will be alot less expensive for us...Sooo i voted for driving because it is cheaper but i would rather fly any day...and we arent going till the end of november so if any great airfare comes along you bet i will jump on it...

 

[ssleblanc]

We are flying.

1) - Part of my trip is business related, and my company pays for my airfare. I just had to pay for the kids.

2) - We got round-trip tickets for $117 per person (including taxes/airport fees/etc) - the base was $49 per person each way.

3) - Time. I'm taking the kids out of school for 3 days (Friday through Wednesday) - we are flying Friday morning, it is a 1:45 flight. The drive would take a full LONG day plus into the night (I'd rather split it with a night at a hotel partway there, adding to the cost). Fly home Wednesday. If we drove, the kids would either miss more school, or we would have less time at WDW (making the trip kind of not worth it).

 

[pppiglet]

Guess I'm flying. I sure am not going to waste all my vacation time driving to Florida from Calif! (and back)

 

[MeggerasMa]

Sorry, but I couldn't respond to the poll because we will be driving down to Disney and then taking the Autotrain home. We've done the flying - DH hates and now refuses to do. We've done the driving(with 3 kids) - we both hate the looooooong drive back home. So this time we will drive down leisurely and save ourselves from that depressing drive back by trying the train. We are looking at it as a new adventure and a continuation of the vacation experience.

 

[becky_AK]

If I only had the option to drive...I live in Juneau, Alaska and flying is our only choice out of here. Tickets from Juneau to Seattle to Orlando cost my husband and I $750pp last October. Lucky for us our trip in March will be paid for using our mileage plan.

 

[Dis31]

We love flying !!!!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I am a big AutoTrain fan. I usually take the train one way, and drive the other. I base my decision on which way is cheaper, so that would be taking the train south in the Spring, and going north in the Fall. Actually, for a solo driver like myself, it is almost CHEAPER to take the train nowadays! With gas prices so high and likely to go only higher, plus a decent hotel room (I am solo so I won't stay in a dump) and food, I would be looking at around $190 dollars to drive to Florida. And I drive a tiny fuel-efficient Honda. And that amount doesn't include any wear and tear on the car! A coach seat on the Autotrain can sometimes only cost $216! So for an extra $30 bucks, I'll take the train!

For any solo driver from the Northeast, and if you are driving against the "snowbirds" (seniors who live in Florida in the winter, the NE in the summer) the Autotrain can be a no-brainer!