POLL: Driving to WDW: Why do you do it?

[fairytinkerbell]

Since we're contemplating driving to WDW, I'm just curious why other people do it. I was going to because I'm nervous to fly AND it's cheaper, since we don't have to fly we'll save $700 or so plus save $550 on rental car! That's over $1200 savings!

I'm just worried that we'll get halfway into the drive and be like, this is a lonnnnnggg drive & regret it or something.

I also wanted to "look forward" to -the drive- , not just the WDW parks.
I wanted to somehow check out a few states - anyone have any ideas on
the way back (cuz we'll be 2 anxious to get there i think) to see some antique malls just off I-95 or something? Or like a great souvenir shop, or a quaint village in SC or something not too far off the I-95 area?
That way the drive was also like a vacation itself, seeing new places, not just a highway....

If you please, take my poll and let's chat!

 

[cannonballer]

It would only be a little cheaper for us to fly out of Chattanooga BUT we are going to drive because of the luggage limit on airplanes adn we are not sure how much we intend on purchasing once we are there. We are not going ot drive around orlando however because it is cheaper to get a lynx pass rather than paying 11 bucks to park everytime plus gas spent plus traffic hassles.

 

[pepe of ohio]

But I answered afraid of flying which is the case for me. We used to drive many, many years ago but with the traffic boom and gas cost and sheer stress of 20 hours we have been using Amtrak. We don't need a car in WDW, 42 trips and haven't used one yet and Amtrak is a nice way to relax, watch the scenery from the window and arrive in Florida, refreshed and rarin to go.

 

[cslittle999]

I answered that we love driving but that is only a partial answer. For short trips we fly but we drive for longer trips so we can bring more stuff. The drive down is always a rush but the trip home is an adventure. We try to find somewhere new to visit on every trip home.

 

[shafke]

When we went in Feb it would have cost us $1600-$2000 to fly + rental car.
Driving, including food, gas, tolls, hotels was between $500-$600.

 

[fairytinkerbell]

Thanks for voting!

cslittle - WoW so you stop and see other places? Tell me where - any advice??

Pepe - how's Amtrak? What's it like? They have separate rooms? Or beds?

Shafke - That's great savings! I'm with ya!

 

[cslittle999]

Thanks for voting!

cslittle - WoW so you stop and see other places? Tell me where - any advice??

Pepe - how's Amtrak? What's it like? They have separate rooms? Or beds?

Shafke - That's great savings! I'm with ya!

Unfortunately our route isn't yours. This trip we're panning for gems at the Emerald Hollow Mine in NC. In 2007 we stopped in Chattanooga. Basically we try to fit a half day break on the way home.

 

[drgnfly30]

You forgot an "Other" choice...

Not your everyday answer but when we drive it's because we have dogs... a long time ago we discovered that it was cheaper for us to rent a house near WDW that accepts my pups for a $75 pet fee then to board them all and have them hate us for leaving them in "jail". Now this time we are leaving them behind with DS19 & DS14 while we FLY down for an Adults only onsite getaway!!!

 

[snarlingcoyote]

We drive b/c we have a company car, so the gas is free AND my DH likes being able to get off Disney property occasionally. It's only a day's drive for us.

 

[Muhlenberg]

Our reason is "other."

We drive sometimes (when my hubbie goes with me) for several reasons. My DS goes to college in Boca, so we sometimes combine trips. The main reason, however, is my hubbie has a bad back, and I think we're past using a bus (jerky ride with possible sudden stops from those with less braking talent) plus he's Pooh sized and airplane seats aren't real comfy for him. So we'd be renting a car anyway.

 

[ToddyLu]

DH has expensive camera equipment. We flew last year and he was terrified of the airline misplacing it or accidently damaging it, especially having to change plans. It is hard to get a direct flight from where we live to. We have to fly through Atlanta or Memphis--he doesnt do well sitting quietly in his seat either--so last year we had him take Ativan just for the flight which worked. I think we will be driving down (9-10 hours for us) in October. We even took our Goldwing motorcycle once for a 10 day trip. Surprisingly we got everthing packed and it was great. We dold the bike a few years ago. It really wasn't safe to drive 1-75 on a motorcycle. We called the trip from Lake City to WDW "the gauntlet).

I checked into Amtrak and we would have to catch it in New Orleans, bout 1-1/2 hours away.

Have fun getting there--it is worth the hassle

 

[huskies90]

When we went in Feb it would have cost us $1600-$2000 to fly + rental car.
Driving, including food, gas, tolls, hotels was between $500-$600.

This was us in February too. After dozens of flights to FL I have always want to try driving. Airfares for 4 people were up around $2K from the tri state area during prez week. There were many many positives including saving $$, having a ton of flexibility, not having to deal with airline schedules and delays, seeing some more or the country and spending quality bonding time in the car. However, the one negative will lead me to continue booking flights...it was lonnnnnnnnnnnng...

 

[kristenrice]

I didn't vote (yet) because I am not sure where we fit in.

Since we have about a 20 hour drive, with 2 small children, we do not drive straight thru. Right now, we have two upcoming trips planned. Our first one is coming up in 38 days!! We are flying for this trip because it is much cheaper for us to fly than drive.

I booked a hotel the night before our flight, near the airport, which includes our parking for the week. This was $120. Our airfare, with fees, seats and luggage, is $650. Our total cost to fly is about $800. We use DME and so we do not have the expense of a rental or town car once we're in Orlando.

Next year, we are arriving on the night before Easter. Airfare will be substantially more so we are planning on driving. We leave in the afternoon, once the kids get out of school, and drive about 6-7 hours. We stay overnight in a decent hotel along the way ($100 or so) and then drive the next day also. We end up in either southern GA or northern FL by about 10pm on day 2 so we get another hotel ($100). On the way home, we check out early and we are usually on the road by 9am. We stay one night in a hotel on the way home ($100) and arrive back around 10pm. Since we have a Suburban, gas is about $400. We stop for fast food lunches and/or dinners along the way and try to stay at hotels that offer free breakfasts. We generally spend about $50/day on food and sodas so that adds another $150 to the cost.

For our family of 4 to drive, it costs about $850. It is almost what it would cost us to fly, but there is the convenience factor of flying that is priceless. There is no way I would spend almost 5 days on the road just to save $100.

For our trip next year, however, my parents will be coming along in the same vehicle. They have offered to split the gas cost 50/50 and to cover our hotel costs along the way. (That's their "payment" for us putting them up at the AKV on our DVC points) This will significantly lower our cost to drive. That, combined with the holiday airfare, makes driving a much better option.

So, I guess we drive because it is cheaper, but it really depends when we go. To get airfare for $650 for the 4 of us is a real deal, but it isn't always a sure thing. We generally plan to drive, simply because it is generally a "fixed" amount to budget, but when those $59 airfares come along, flying is the way to go.

 

[wall*e2008]

I voted "we love to drive" but that is not the entire reason. DH and I enjoy the drive and we have a long enough vacation to make the drive and still have 10 days in FL. We also love to have our own vehicle, not a rental. We can prepack the car a day or two before we leave with stuff we no longer need. This makes the last day easier. We can transport a large or odd shaped item home and not worry about the plane and getting it home. We feel so much rushing with the airplane.

 

[kydisneyfans]

We vote "Most of the above".

We like the convenience of driving, I like to take what I want on vacation, not what the FAA allows.

We can make the trip in 13-14 hours, total time wrapped up in an airport isn't too much lower than that. Fuel cost is minimal, we were less than $200 with gas at 3.79 last year. Food costs really don't count, you have to eat whether you are at home or on the road. I am not restricted to airport restaurants. There is no hotel cost down and back, 13 hours is no longer than a workday for me. The wife is along for back up if I get tired.

Basically, we like the together time and like to have the cash in our pocket, so it is driving for us.

 

[ntsammy5]

We drove once and I'd rather poke myself in my eye with a pencil than do it again.

It's a 2,500 mile round trip and since it's only two of us we fly each and every time. Takes too long to drive and it's just about as expensive as flying.

 

[POOHLUV69]

For my family it's a combination of being cheaper to fly, love driving and DH really doesn't like to fly. We drive straight thru so we don't have the added expense of a hotel and I usually pack snacks and drinks to bring along. We can probably drive for around $500.00 or so..that includes gas, dinner and any tolls or extras that pop up.

 

[FINFAN]

well, we are outside of Chicago, so it is not a short drive by any means, but our reasons vary,,,
one main one is if we have a car payment, we drive..shelling out 4 figures for airfare and a car is not allowed in our home unless it is an emergency

DD attends college in Sarasota, so we are usually hauling stuff, Orlando is "on the way" ( kinda )

we love NOT being trapped by airline fees if we decide to alter our days, even the time of day we choose to travel

we wanted to teach our kids how to do both, be confident travelers by air and car

like to pack for OUR conveneince, not the airlines

rental car rates are out of control...( see car payment rule)

HOWEVER..the donwside is we need at least 10 days and do not always have this..so we have flown a lot, lucky to get decent rates, and take advantage of DME.

If it come down to all things falling into place for a trip except that we had to drive...we're in! but the return trip stinks, especially if during the winter months..it hurts to leave all that color, foliage, sunshine in Fl to see the ground turn brown and barren and the sky turn grey.

 

[pepe of ohio]

Thanks for voting!

cslittle - WoW so you stop and see other places? Tell me where - any advice??

Pepe - how's Amtrak? What's it like? They have separate rooms? Or beds?

Shafke - That's great savings! I'm with ya!

We enjoy taking the train, fast, no so much its 35 hours plus for us, eastern Ohio to Kissimmee Florida but most of the travel is during the night hours. We get to sit, side by side and enjoy each others company, watch the scenery glide by out the window and have slept in the coach seats and opted for a sleeper on the second leg of our trip. Sleeper is a roomette, very small but sleeps 2, upper and lower and includes all meals incurred trip. It's a novel way to see America and we can just recline in our seats, read, nap, we take sandwiches, drinks and snacks and totally relax. Time is of no importance to us, we still have our 9-12 nights in WDW and flying is not an option and driving is not for us old fogies.

 

[ntsammy5]

Sounds like you have an enjoyable trip - maybe I'll try that sometime!