Rhode Island Folks

[RLRDA]

Johnston, RI!

Members since 2006! WE love IT! Leaving in 6 days for BLT! We own at SSR, which we love also, but traveling this time with our new DD, 16 months and thought being closer to MK would be a little easier!

You will love the location - we spent the last 3 nights of our August trip at BLT and really enjoyed everything about the resort! Have a great time

 

[XQIXX]

I was thinking the same thing too, that is why I booked the April vacation. I found some link on this board to show when Floridians have vacation, and there were only 2 counties with the same week.

I didn't look recently, however I remember looking once and the train was about the same amount of money as flying, and it still took close to the same amount of time as driving so we never persued it further. I should look now and see if there is a difference.

che

I checked the pricing and with AAA discount it is $756 and it takes 30+ hours... not really any better than driving, maybe worse!

 

[chepic]

I checked the pricing and with AAA discount it is $756 and it takes 30+ hours... not really any better than driving, maybe worse!

We will stick with driving. We actually had a long conversation about this yesterday with somefriends who are DVCer's and and going in April. They are going to fly, but I think she was thinking again because of the cost. I have to say that if you plan it right, the drive really isn't the worst thing in the world; it just takes a day off the front and the back of the vacation.

Che

 

[twinklebug]

Ah...a true RIer!

We drove down once, and I will never do it again in the same way. That is, we didn't stay in a hotel either way.

This was over April vacation 2 1/2 years ago. Our oldest was away at college, our middle DD was a Jr in HS and going to Spain with her class, and our DS was in 8th grade and going to the UK with his soccer team. We debated (but not for long) about whether to paint the house that week, or go to WDW...a no brainer!

We ended up driving because we couldn't get good airfare. The days were so specific that we could travel because of when the kids were leaving and returning (normally, we travel in the middle of the week for better fares on SWA). So we decided to drive.

I told DH to get some good CDs to listen to. Found out shortly after departure that he had gotten a 30 hour Physics class on CD! Actually, I found myself paying attention and it was rather interesting, altho I personally would have chosen something with some MUSIC.

Left northern RI at about 9:30 AM on a Saturday, stopped 3 times along the way to eat and take potty breaks, and arrived at OKW at 7:00 Sunday morning. We took turns, but DH did the majority of the driving. Our room was ready (yay!) so we checked in, showered, and were outside the gates of EPCOT at 8:45 AM. We marveled all day how much energy we had, but we were back in our room at 4:55 PM and in bed and asleep by 5 PM! And we slept through to the next morning. (Originally we thought we'd sleep a few hours and then go back to EPCOT for Illuminations. )

We left at about noon on Friday to come home, and arrived home at about 10 AM Saturday I think. (Not really sure, but I remember eating at Earl of Sandwich Friday.) I did more driving this time...one stretch of 8 hours. We stopped 3 times on the way back, same as on the way down. (Sometimes I can't get through a soccer game without needing a bathroom; how I managed so few breaks on that trip...) Then I slept and slept and slept!

Having said all that...I'd never do it again. At least not without more drivers. I worried too much about fatigue. And besides, I wouldn't mind staying in a lovely hotel along the way.

I'm so glad I hopped into this thread, your post is exactly what I need for refrence every time I consider driving to Disney (I live in SE MA, 15 min from the RI border). As the only driver, I think I'd have to take at LEAST one stop around the DC area to make it & even then exhaustion would catch up with me at each end of the trip. I can see myself heading off for a nap only to wake at 9am the next morning and finding out that the kids (16 & 12) had charged up $100 in food because I was out of it

I'll need to rethink the strategy -- perhaps the train option isn't so bad. I wonder if there's a car rental near there.

 

[JasonDVC]

Southwest fares released today and ll I can say is ...ugghh!

The best price, $99, is one flight with a stop and doesn't arrive in Orlando til almost 11pm for our depature date. I'm disappointed. I'll be waiting for the fares to drop

Have you checked prices for your dates yet? What do you guys think?

 

[Cheryl726]

I just checked it out, though we have no plans to go that April week. I'm surprised there's still flights available, don't they usually book up?

 

[XQIXX]

I checked out the Southwest prices today for 4/16 -4/24 and they were crazy! Most of them are gone so I don't see any hope of them opening up and if they do it won't be cheap! The lowest was $225 down and $320 back. Over $2200 is nuts. I don't know why this is not regulated? Train is just under $1000. Not sure what we will do now???? May have to cancel or drive

 

[JasonDVC]

I checked out the Southwest prices today for 4/16 -4/24 and they were crazy! Most of them are gone so I don't see any hope of them opening up and if they do it won't be cheap! The lowest was $225 down and $320 back. Over $2200 is nuts. I don't know why this is not regulated? Train is just under $1000. Not sure what we will do now???? May have to cancel or drive

Wow! That's worse than mine. I'm going to talk to DW tonight about taking AirTran out of Boston. They have $89 fares each way with decent departure times on our dates.

I don't hold out hope that Southwest fares will drop much, if at all. 2 of their flights have all ready sold out and they were the best times. ugghh

 

[XQIXX]

Wow! That's worse than mine. I'm going to talk to DW tonight about taking AirTran out of Boston. They have $89 fares each way with decent departure times on our dates.

I don't hold out hope that Southwest fares will drop much, if at all. 2 of their flights have all ready sold out and they were the best times. ugghh

Airtran and Jetblue are even higher than Southwest for my week. So now its train or car!!
It sucks when you are tied to school vacation weeks.

 

[chepic]

"East bound and down, loaded up and truckin'....a-we gonna do what they say can't be done...we got a long way to go, and a short time to get there...look out and watch ole Bandit run"

Yup we are driving!!! Half the tickets aren't even posted, and the ones that are are outrageous. Even if we do go on a Thurs. to Thurs...take the kids out of school....the prices are just too much. I don't think Southwest likes us anymore..

cheryl

 

[XQIXX]

"East bound and down, loaded up and truckin'....a-we gonna do what they say can't be done...we got a long way to go, and a short time to get there...look out and watch ole Bandit run"

Yup we are driving!!! Half the tickets aren't even posted, and the ones that are are outrageous. Even if we do go on a Thurs. to Thurs...take the kids out of school....the prices are just too much. I don't think Southwest likes us anymore..

cheryl

Southwest and the others are insane! How can they justify 4 r/t tickets to FL anywhere from $2000- $3900?? There should be some regulation as to the price gouching they do. If they can send that same plane there any other time for $79-$89 why can't they be a little more reasonable during peak times? I understand supply and demand but this is out of control.I am having a hard time convincing my wife to drive down. Not sure what we will do???

 

[twinklebug]

I don't think Southwest likes us anymore.

I've been getting the same feeling ever since they declared they'd have service running to/from Boston. Fewer flights and higher prices. Dings to/from MCO seem to have become a thing of the past too. Perhaps they're marketing to business travelers more now?

I am having a hard time convincing my wife to drive down. Not sure what we will do???

I had hoped for a trip with the kids next summer, but with these airfares I'll either be driving (single mom driving that distance? Ow), or I'll be taking the train. Sounds to me like Amtrak might be the way to go - I only wish ME serviced the train station.

 

[XQIXX]

I've been getting the same feeling ever since they declared they'd have service running to/from Boston. Fewer flights and higher prices. Dings to/from MCO seem to have become a thing of the past too. Perhaps they're marketing to business travelers more now?



I had hoped for a trip with the kids next summer, but with these airfares I'll either be driving (single mom driving that distance? Ow), or I'll be taking the train. Sounds to me like Amtrak might be the way to go - I only wish ME serviced the train station.

I still can't convince myself to do the drive or take a train for 27 hours!!

 

[chepic]

I still can't convince myself to do the drive or take a train for 27 hours!!

"Come on, take the drive".......who says that RIers. hee hee

 

[JasonDVC]

"Come on, take the drive".......who says that RIers. hee hee

You're worth it!

 

[twinklebug]

I still can't convince myself to do the drive or take a train for 27 hours!!

Well, I've never taken the train for a trip longer than the commute into Boston. I wouldn't want to be on a purple line for more than an hour max, hehe. But, some of the Amtraks coming through look nice and quiet.

That said, my mom used to take the train from Chicago to Boston a lot when she was younger. She's warned me that if you need to use the bathroom on the train, do it early in the trip. Men have the tendency to miss when the train goes from side to side

Hmmm... plane fare's not THAT bad yet

 

[XQIXX]

"Come on, take the drive".......who says that RIers. hee hee

Barry Volvo...in Newport!! See, they have to convince us to drive in the state!! And I am supposed to drive to FL???

 

[Goofy442]

People are saying that airfare is going to hit a all time high. Which means we are driving in Feb. if airfare doesn't come down in price.

 

[chepic]

Barry Volvo...in Newport!! See, they have to convince us to drive in the state!! And I am supposed to drive to FL???

very good!!! And that is because no one from this state wants to go over the bridge!!!

 

[twinklebug]

OK Rhodies, I need a little help here... I got the Disney on ice invite for Nemo on Ice at the D-n-D center. I drive right by it all the time on the way to TF Green, but have never been off the highway in that area (yea, sad huh? and here I am talkgin about driving to FL hehe) Googling the streets it's giving me a long round-about way of getting to it and navigating to the parking area.

How easy is it to get off the highway and into the parking garage there? and likewise, how easy is it to get back out and onto the highway?

(I hate the Fleet Center prices but we usually see DOI there because there's easy public transportation in & out.)

Thanks in advance!