Sounds Silly!!!!

Eleven hours is NOTHING!! By the time you wake up, drive to the airport, check in, take your flight, get off the plane, get your luggage, get your car & get to Disney it's probably close to 8 hours!!! I'd drive if I was 11 hours away!!!
 
We drove 21 hours from Texas last Fall. We have been countless times before, we've always flown. Last year with Sept 11, our flights in October were cancelled and we decided to take the refund they offered and drive instead. I have to say, it was our best trip ever. So relaxing. We took our time and stopped to see the sights along the way. The kids had movies to watch, we rented books on tape to listen to. We had car games to play. They talk more about what they did and saw along the way than the actual WDW trip. We'll do it again without hesitation.
 
Heck, I wish I lived that close to WDW. I envy all you southerners who live so close. I love to fly, but living that close would make quick trips so easy... you know, so I can get the most out of my AP;)
 
I don't think you are crazy at all.

We live 1000 miles away and will be driving with 2 kids, 2 and 8 yrs old.

I estimated gas for the van will be around $200.

Tickets (the cheapest I could find) were $600 for the 4 of us, plus the cost of a rental car, another $200.

I'm spending my extra $600 at Disney instead of on travel!

Have fun!

Teresa
 

We've been to Disney many, many times. Most times, we drive - its about 11 hours for us (and you lose an hour going there). We usually try to leave around 3:00 AM, and we usually get there around 3:00 PM. We stop for lunch (quick & cheap) and it really isn't a bad drive.

The kids have been doing it since they were a year old and we make the most out of our family time!

If we fly, its only about an hour and a half flight, but again, if you're flying five people, that's a lot of money!

We're driving down for our "Christmas trip" this year. We've been adding a "Christmas" trip the last two years, but this year, we're trying to save a little. So, we'll drive down on Wed afternoon/night, arrive early Thurs morning. We'll do the drive back on Sunday! Can't wait!!
 
11 hours -- a piece of cake. That's actually the first leg of our trip and then we stop overnight and then onto WDW the next day. I love the drive and saving the nearly $800 it would cost between the cheapest flight possible and the rental car -- even thru Priceline. We're driving for our upcoming January trip and thinking we may also sneak one in in October if we can swing it.
 
My very first Disney trip-- when i was 5 years old-- we rented a motor home & drove from NY & stayed in this HUGE motor home the whole time (even better than a hotel to a 5 year old!:D ) I havent driven there since. Me & my bf spend a good penny on airfare but we dont have very flexible days off so adding almost 4 days worth of driving time doesnt make sense for us. We've done long road trips though & never had a problem-- we get up bright & early & make lots of bathroom & coffee stops!! But we have a good time trading off driving & spending down time together! My Aunt & Uncle drive with their kids from Long Island NY to WDW everyyear & they wouldnt fly if you paid for it! The only complaint i have & have also heard from them- & I'm sure we can all relate--- The trip there is a piece of cake adreneline pumping & youre so excited to get there-- but at the end of your vacation you may not want to get back in the car-- if you were fully relaxed you probably wont be by the time the drive is over! Now I know that even flying back home that we're still exahusted because we always do anything & everything while we're there so maybe driving wont make a difference. $780 does seem like a lot for airfare though! Did you check for internet specials on airlines like southwest or jet blue? We've never flown them but I hear spirit has some good deals too. Last week I saw airfare on southwest for $44 each way & thats all the way from NY-- (I'm kicking myself for not taking it that moment!) Also on southwest- check for weekly specials city to city orlando usually has good deals to almost anywhere depending on your travel date. If not-- save that $780 & make the drive-- no matter what you'll be in WDW & theres nothing better than that!!
 
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I'm a flyer. We live 45 minutes from the Atlanta Airport, and we chose to fly down when we go in December. I choose the convenience over the money. I prefer not to have to deal with bathroom stops, getting food, "are we there yet?", etc., especially with little one. However, because of the $590 airfare for the 3 of us to fly, I chose to stay at an All Stars onsite rather than more expensive hotel, because we won't be in the room much anyway. I'd rather fly and get there in an hour and a half, also won't use up day time getting there and back.
 














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