The decision to drive or fly... *UPDATE!*

[HunnyPots]

Last year, we drove from the dfw area with one over-night stop each way and our total drive time was about 20 hours. It wasn't too bad, considering that airfare was around $300 pp at that time. But things have changed a lot and we could fly this year for around $165 pp plus tax and fees. I figure, with 2 extra nights in hotels and extra food on the way, gas and service for our van, we'd only save about $300 by driving.

What would you do? Bite the bullet and buy those tickets while they are low or drive again and use that $300 for something else?

I'm really leaning toward flying, but just curious what you would do.

 

[bizwiz24]

Hello,

I just recently had to make the exact same decision, which I chose to drive. I am traveling from Chicago and it will also be a 20 hour drive for us. The airfare is incredibly cheap, but as a college student, I would much rather spent the extra $300 on entertainment. Besides, my family has proven that road trips can be amazing and a wonderful time spent.

On this trip I am treating my girlfriend, her mother, and her two siblings, age 10 and 3, to a Disney vacation. Any money saved is beneficial. I am going to rent an SUV from Budget, which is about $300 for 10 days. It seems I save more than $300 by driving. However, we plan on making the trip without any lengthy stops. We plan on switching as we approach Atlanta, I love to drive.

I hope this helps, enjoy your trip!

 

[Nebsky]

Id drive it....

Part of the fun of the vacation is getting there. Road trips can be a blast. We will be leaving from the same location as you and will be doing it soon....see my counter below....

300.00 is alot of money that you can save. If your like me, its going to be spent anways, why not spend that at the resorts to make the vacation extra special. If you use it for hotel its going to waste because how much time do you actually spend inside it.

We are usually out the door for EE and help turn the lights off when the parks close.

I work for AA and saw some rates...Granted not every seat on the plane are this cheap but believe it or not I saw rates of
$88.00 and $96.00 round trip....These are not just for employees...They are for the public...

Just out of curiosity, where in DFW do you live...Flower Mound here. Where did you stop when you drove. We are planning on going to Talahassee if possible, then overnight and drive the rest of the way the next morning...

 

[pumpkinboy]

Fly and save the time. That $300 differential will mean that you will have two whole days more of your vacation to spend vacationing, rather than driving. Of course if you really enjoy driving...

$165 pp rt sounds like a great deal, so I would recommend you jump on it now, and drive some time when fares aren't so good (and those days are coming, and not just for school vacation times either). Flying will get you there earlier and you can leave Orlando a bit later, and spend a bit more time in the parks, or by the hotel pool, or wherever. The important thing is you will be on vacation and not spending an interminable 20 hours driving each way.

Have a great vacation either way!

 

[pumpkinboy]

 

[Blondiex46]

I am still deciding the same thing, taking into consideration that you get there in record time when flying and will definately spend more money cause you will be there longer, one of the twins wants to fly and the other is afraid of flying. My daughter and I both want to fly, I am checking the prices and trying to figure out when and where to leave. One of the twins doesn't like to miss ANY school (the other doesn't care) see as I said still trying to figure it out

 

[donmil723]

At that price, I would fly. Any non-stop RT flight from MO to FL under $200 and we fly. Over that and we drive like my DD and I are doing in March during her college spring break!

Donna

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Fly. Use the lower air fares that are currently available to get you back and forth quickly.

 

[crz4mm2]

Fly
We have driven from west central Illinois 2 times. The only reason I would drive again is to have DH along. He will NOT fly. I do not enjoy being on the road that long. We do not drive straight through. We spend two nights on the road as DH does not like to be on the road for longer than 8 or so hours. Takes 4 days out of my vacation time. I would much rather spend the days there! I am sure it costs less to drive if you are taking the whole family, but this trip it is just DD and me so we are definately flying!
We took a driving trip this past summer. Drove 4100 miles in about 11 days. Saw a lot of things and it was nice but it was a LOT of driving! I like to drive too, but would rather fly to Disney.
Have a great trip regardless of how you get there
Cathy

 

[siobhan1997]

I agree fly, fly, fly

We drove down last year from Ontario Canada in March started off being absolutely beautiful drive through New York, and Pennsylvania until we reached the I66 cutoff connecting us to the I95. Hit a terrible snowstorm and we lost 4 hours as it took us that long to drive about 50 miles. Roads were terrible and by now it was midnight. Took us a whole 31 hours to drive from Ontario to our final destination at the Vistana Villages .

On the way back same thing but hit traffic jam in the Carolinas that lasted about 4 hours.

The difference between driving and flying this year shall be our sanity. This is our vacation and this March we are starting out that way. Weather while driving can be too unpredicable.

Flying will be so much more relaxing.

 

[drogerstn]

We would fly if the extra cost is only $300. We have driven and flown. Our situation is different because our drive takes about 13 hours. When we drive, we usually stay overnight on the way down and drive straight thru on the way home.

When we fly, we rent a car; so, if the car rental rate is "decent" and the airline rates are "decent", then we fly. We don't have an exact figure on "decent", probably about $220 or less for a 10 day car rental and $700 ($175 per ticket) or less for airline tickets for our family of 4. The last time we flew, we had airline tickets for $360 total for 4.

The amount of spare time we have plays a part as well. If the additional amount to fly is over $800, we will probably drive; if the additonal amount to fly is between $500 and $800, we'd think about flying; and, if the additional amount to fly is under $500, then we'd most likely fly....Like I wrote above, we don't have an exact figure.... If our drive was 20 hours, these figures would be higher.

I figure, with 2 extra nights in hotels and extra food on the way, gas and service for our van, we'd only save about $300 by driving.

What do you consider for "extra food"? The way I look at it, we will have to eat whether we are at home, on the road, or at WDW, so I don't see an additional expense with food.

 

[mixsap]

We always drive but then I am towing a 27 ft travel trailer along ! Our upcoming trip will be #11 to Fort Wilderness. Although WDW transportation is usually pretty good, FW is not top priority. Unless we are going to the MK or Epcot, we can drive to ANY park destination faster than the bus. Especially Downtown Disney and AK which take a while. Coming back from the water parks when the AC is on the Artic setting it sure is nice to drive back right to my "front door".

I would feel lost without having my van along to drive around in. As a WDW resort guest, you are allowed to park at ANY park or resort for free. We tend to go "home" for meals and while most are waiting for the buses, we are on our way home. After doing this for a few years, it is EASY to get around WDW.

Our drive down takes 16 1/2 hrs without any big holdups and it has worked out fine. I do not stop along the way but drive straight through. After arriving and setting up, I get a nice nap and the family goes shopping.

 

[BrittnTylersMom]

IMHO... I'd fly!

 

[tinaluis]

We are driving near the end of February because, although we found a decent price for a flight for the 5 of us, the car rental for 12 days was really high. My DH and I have flexible vacation time so we don't feel like we're losing time while driving and we sometimes stop to see historic places along the way. It's not a piece of cake by any means but it's something we do. We figure that driving saves about $800 over flying and renting a car and that takes into consideration the service we have done on our van before we leave. We're more likely to plan another trip to WDW (we've been averaging 2x a year thanks to driving and Priceline for hotels) when the total cost is about $500 for two weeks as opposed to $1,300 when flying and renting a car. Every family is different and you have to decide what is best for you.

 

[Iheoma]

This was a tough decision for us as well. We decided to fly even after reserving an SUV. The cost for driving and flying were actually were very similiar, but driving had several unknowns that flying did not. For example, we would have to spend a night in a hotel on each leg of the trip-not sure of the cost or availability. Also the cost of gas would be a significant expense since gas prices are flucuating pretty regularly now. IMHO flying makes it a bit easier to pay for the trip in advance. I know that we would have driven if there had been a significant savings for us to drive. I don't know if $300.00 is a big savings to you, but I think that flying may be worth the money.

 

[HunnyPots]

I purchased our tickets last night. $165 per person (4) plus tax round trip from dfw on AA, total: $786!
Not too bad, I think.
Now to plan our itinerary and figure out which tickets to buy.

Thanks for all the opinions!

 

[pumpkinboy]

Originally posted by HunnyPots
I purchased our tickets last night. $165 per person (4) plus tax round trip from dfw on AA, total: $786!
Not too bad, I think.
Now to plan our itinerary and figure out which tickets to buy.

Thanks for all the opinions!

$165 r-t??!! Very Nice! Would that be non-stop? It just shows that it pays to plan ahead and to shop around. I hope the flight and vacation are both great!

 

[Blondiex46]

I rented the van, but am still looking at airfares. the boys don't want to fly (afraid), but still want to fly so at least I have the van.