Those of you that go twice or more each year, and are from Northeast.....

[goofy4tink]

Thanks for all the great replies. Looks like if you have 4 or more traveling, driving may be cheaper. Only 3 of us, so flying is probably a better idea. I guess if you are planning on doing other 'stuff' on the way to or from WDW driving makes sense. I'll have to give this some more thought!!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by CaliforniaDreaming
We always fly. I can't even imagine being in a car for 20 hours. 2.5 hours later, we're in Orlando! How much better can that be?

I agree with the above post by CD...................we always get FF miles with non-stop flights via Continental or US AIR.

 

[tom in ct.]

My DW and 2 DD and myself go 3 times a year we usually fly twice and drive once when we fly it's always southwest, price, flexibility, scheduale, friendlieness they just can't be beat, Why anyone would fly any other airline baffles me! 2- L&M rental car find you lowest price and they'll mach it and there in terminal NO shuttle! Back to SW, one year I changed my families tickets 6 times for one trip 4 times because of plans/ work changed and 2 times because the price went down all without penalty or cost! And all done on the internet .Try doing that w/ delta,us air , Nw! I know with them you get an assigned seat BIG deal I travel with 2 DD and DW and have never had a problem! And the other plus is no RUDE FA's! Driving is fun, sometimes cheaper than flying[believe it or not sometimes we get r/t airfare n/s from PVD to MCO for less than $400 for all 4 of us, crazy! My gas guzzling expedition cost more than that to go r/t! But driving there are pluses 1- Quality time with your DW and kids in a packed car for anywhere from 16 to 24 hours depending where in the NE your from! 2- on a more serious note you get to sample a little bit of small town America on gas or pee stops, We always like to drive 5-10 miles off 95 everytime we stop to try to get a real feel for the town where in! One of our favorite states to do this is SC it's a whole different world down there than the NE! And our favorite exit is Yemmasee where about 4 miles off the exit is the ruins of old sheldon church soooo peaceful and relaxing just to walk around after a long drive and it's free! and the general store down the road takes you back to a simpler time! 3- no rental car but sometimes that's fun getting to drive and beat on a car you would probably never buy! just kidding! Anyway enough rambling! Yee Hah 45 more days till OKW Flying, December OKW driving, February VWL flying!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

We do the I-95 thing, as my wife is afraid to fly.
This is a tad unusual because I make my living as a pilot!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Fly!!!! Last trip out of Bradley was 111.50 each, rt/ns. This trip for Jan. (so far) is 126. each, rt/ns out of Long Island. I have no need to be cooped up in a car for 24 hours, and one poster is right, 75 mph. is no longer a thrill, I need to go at least 85mph. for the same thrill.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Maistre Gracey
We do the I-95 thing, as my wife is afraid to fly.
This is a tad unusual because I make my living as a pilot!

That is a bit of bitter irony. Flying is the only way to go!!!!

 

[rriley25]

this last trip. We drove just to see what it would be like. We loved it. I'm in the process of creating a mileage/time chart from our trip. Maybe others would be interested in using this???? Anyway, the total time from D.C. to WDW was about 13.5 hours.

 

[Steve BW99]

We have flown every time to date, usually twice a year. Flying Southwest out of Providence or Manchester is great. Our next trip in January 2005 we plan on driving.

I figured it would cost us about $800 to fly (tickets and car rental) compared to $200 to drive (fuel and tolls). $600 difference.

Time is another factor. My best guess is 8 hours for flying to 22 hours driving. The 8 hours can be broken-down into Travel to airport (1.5) early arrival for security (1.5) flight (3) baggage retrieval and car rental counter (1.25) and drive to hotel (.75). Times vary every trip but I think these are good averages. The last time we drove (after Sept. 11 we were stuck at the Boardwalk) it took 19 hours for the total trip. We left the Boardwalk at 6 am and arrived home at 1 am. Gas, food and restroom stops done at once.

This trip we want to spend a few days at Hilton Head just to get away from the hustle and bustle of home and WDW. We have done Vero and want to try HH. Also, this is our first trip with our son and the ease of loading the suv with a stroller, carseat, diapers, etc is also a consideration. With this in mind we think driving is the right choice for this trip.

 

[Terry S]

We go twice a year and we fly. There are 4 of us. 2 Adults and 2 kids. I really don't want to spend 22 hours of time in the car with my kids. I love them dearly, but the 2 1/2 hour plane ride and the 100 times asking are we there yet is enough for me. Besides that would be 40 hours less mouse time if we drove.

My mom on the other hand is afraid to fly so her and my step-dad leave a few days before us and meet us there. But they only go once a year.

 

[KNWVIKING]

.... "been drivin' all nite, my hands wet on the wheel......" ???

That's me.We back out of the driveway at 6:30 pm on friday nites, pull into WDW 9:00 am Saturday morning. Get gas at the Pilot in NC,exit 77, then again in GA at the Cisco Plaza at exit 1, then straight into WDW.

We check in and hit the parks. Eat an early dinner, then actually move into our room, hit the hot tub for half an hour or so, then head to bed around 9:00 pm.

After we check out of our room, we spend whatever time we need to do any last minute playing,shopping or eating, and at a time of our choosing- not a rental car company's,shuttle service or airlines- we decide to head north.

Figurewe save 5-600 bucks per trip over airline tiks and rental cars and get to use our credit cards for other rewards, such as Disney dollars.

 

[JimC]

We go three to four times per year and always fly, almost always with frequent flyer tickets.

 

[LUVMICKEY]

We've been going twice a year for the past three years and have always driven. We really enjoy the drive, but we are going in December and have decided to fly. Time is important to us at that time and we don't have any extra then so we have no choice. We'll see how it goes, I, for one , am not crazy about it, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. I'm not going to miss my trip to see the mouse.

Michele

 

[tiggerguy2000]

We go 2 or 3 times a year and have mixed it up on those trips.We are a family of five so airfare could reach the $1,000 price tag.For the last 2 years we drove down but I fly back so our vacation is maximized in days.This year we drove down in july but this december we will be flying again as a family.We have gone for the 4th of july every year since 2000.This july 4th trip in 2004 will be our 5th in a row.Im making it a family tradition.This year we stayed at the Boardwalk and next year we will be at the Hard Rock with A few nights mixed in at Disney.
tiggerguy2000

 

[married@wdw]

We're from Connecticut and we go 2-3 times per year. We almost always fly Delta -- now song airlines -- because they have the most convenient times and direct flights. Don't like SW -- the cattle call just isn't for me and on Delta by booking on-line I can choose the exit row and get lots of leg room (I'm tall).

We drove once and really didn't mind it. I'd do it again if we had the vacation time to spend two days each way driving, but usually, we're pressed for time. We have a huge family trip planned in February 2005 and my husband and I both get an extra week's vacation starting that year, so we're thinking about driving so we can pack the car with stuff we'll need for family meals and staying longer after our family leaves.

If we couldn't go to Disney, we'd just stay home and keep saving until we could go! But thank goodness for the DVC and Delta -- between the two, the trips end up costing us very little now.

 

[Born 2 Cruz]

We live on the East End of LI and I concur with everyone on SW. We their specials and N/S flights from Islip we leave our house at 5:45 am and are getting our bags at 11 am in Orlando..

You also have to weigh the cost of losing a days work and tolls and gas and food and a hotel..

3 of us are going in Feb 2004 and our r/t for 3 is $543.00


Hope this helps u decide..

 

[dcfromva]

We fly if the trip duration is less than 5 days. When the trip is longer, we fly if the airfare is priced right. We also enjoy driving and making stops along the way. There's loads to see!

-DC

 

[waltskids]

We usually fly during shorter stays and drive in the summer. We're both teachers, so driving in the summer is not a problem. This year we flew in August and will drive at Christmas. We thought that driving twice in less than 6 months would be too much.

 

[Paul in CT]

We joined in '95 and have always flown. Initially, our "kids" travelled with us and we stayed for a week or more. Now it is usually just the DW and myself so the airfare "pain" is reduced so we usually try for twice/yr for shorter periods (5 nights).

We always try for a non-stop to Orlando on Delta and can usually get a fare from $180 to $230/person if we 're lucky. The only time we were not was for the NYE 2000 when all four of us went and there were no bargains. We were just glad to be there and it was worth it!!

Someday when I retire and have more time for an extended vacation, my DW and I have talked about driving down. We'll see.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Born 2 Cruz
We live on the East End of LI and I concur with everyone on SW. We their specials and N/S flights from Islip we leave our house at 5:45 am and are getting our bags at 11 am in Orlando..

You also have to weigh the cost of losing a days work and tolls and gas and food and a hotel..

3 of us are going in Feb 2004 and our r/t for 3 is $543.00


Hope this helps u decide..

We are going in late Jan. and our fare for two is 252.00 out of LI.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by married@wdw
We're from Connecticut and we go 2-3 times per year. We almost always fly Delta -- now song airlines -- because they have the most convenient times and direct flights. Don't like SW -- the cattle call just isn't for me and on Delta by booking on-line I can choose the exit row and get lots of leg room (I'm tall).

We drove once and really didn't mind it. I'd do it again if we had the vacation time to spend two days each way driving, but usually, we're pressed for time. We have a huge family trip planned in February 2005 and my husband and I both get an extra week's vacation starting that year, so we're thinking about driving so we can pack the car with stuff we'll need for family meals and staying longer after our family leaves.

If we couldn't go to Disney, we'd just stay home and keep saving until we could go! But thank goodness for the DVC and Delta -- between the two, the trips end up costing us very little now.

With the exception of no assigned seating, the "cattle call" is no different than lining up for any flight. And...SWA does not cancel flights or change the times. I used to fly Delta exclusively until I tried SWA once. I also like the fact that you can change your flights with no charge and if the price goes down, you get the credit held for one year from the original reservation with no change charge. Considering this, I will take the cattle call.

BTW, both Dee and I are tall and have NO problem with the space between the seats, might be that SWA has the most leg and butt room on most airlines.