To all Canadians do you like flying or driving to WDW?

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Every Summer my family & I drive to WDW & every Winter we fly to WDW. Both have pros & cons.

The pros of flying is that you will arrive at WDW in a few hours so your vacation will start right away & maybe got a great deal from your airline.

The cons of flying are the long lines at check in, clearing USA Customs & security check point & the weight of your bags has to be a certin number so you have to pack the right amout of clothes & need to limit what ever souviners you purchase if you can. Also there is always the chance your checked bags could be lost.

The pros of driving is you can take your time getting down to WDW is that you can bring as many bags as you wish, you won't have to check them because they will be in your car at all times, driving to me seems less stress full then flying & you don't have to worry what your bags will way when your trip is over if you purchase a lot of souviners.

The cons of driving are the price of gas always going up, if you have little kids they might get cranky after sitting for so many hours in a car, you will not arrive at WDW with in a few hours unless you go 18 hrs straight, without stopping at hotels for the night & the lines at border crossing could be very short or very long depending on the times you get there & what is going on in the world.

Also if your wondering my family & when driving we take Interstate 75 & it takes us about 2 & 1/2 days to arrive because we like to stop at Hampton Inn's for the 1st days of our drive.

 

[Princess4Eeyore]

Well really I enjoy driving - but sometimes I like flying too. We have always stopped on the way down to Florida to stay with family for a night or enjoy a new city. I get enough flying when I go home for a visit (South Africa is over 20 hours of flight time and when you count our stop over in Europ like 30 plus hours) So maybe thats why I prefer to drive - lol But it is nice to fly coz you can get there so much quicker - maybe when we have kids, we will fly dowm more often But I have too much luggage on the way back home, so that wont work! I do more shopping in Florida than here - lol! Both are fun, both can be a hassle, hmmmm didnt really answer your question to well

 

[karenr518]

Thanks for your post about the pros and cons of driving and flying. I've flown to Disney twice from Buffalo, and this July I'm driving there from Caledonia (Hamilton area). I really wanted to have my car there this time, and my kids are 14 and 15, so they'll be ok in the car.....but it's such a loooong drive! We're looking forward to it though, and everyone's telling me to take I 75 instead of I 95 because it's faster. My only reservation is that I'm so used to crossing the border in Buffalo, and I'm not so familiar with the Detroit/Windsor border, so I'm a little intimidated going that route. Once I'm past there though, I'll be ok.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

We're looking forward to it though, and everyone's telling me to take I 75 instead of I 95 because it's faster. My only reservation is that I'm so used to crossing the border in Buffalo, and I'm not so familiar with the Detroit/Windsor border, so I'm a little intimidated going that route. Once I'm past there though, I'll be ok.

There is a book called along Interstate 75 which lists every exit from Michigian - the Florida border with every hotel, restaurant & gas station so if you can find a copy you will feel much better about it & he writes down the process of finding Interstate 75 after clearing United States Customs. Also the author of the book (Dave Hunter) has not come out with a 2006 edition, because he has published the same book but just for all the Interstates in Florida with the same information. So if I were you I would try to purchase those books. As for trying to find an old edition of along Interstate 75 (with the new exit numbers for the state of Georgia) try to find a copy from 2003, 2004 or 2005 threw the Internet, CAA office or ask any of your friends if they have one that you can borrow.

 

[Debbie]

We've decided to fly this year. I had been looking forward to the drive with my DD's (12/15) because of the side trips (in the Along I-75 book). BUT, then I thought of the l-o-n-g drive and changed my mind. What can I say....I'm older now.

My DD15 comment: We're going to fly? What about Waffle House and Cracker Barrel??

BTW, we got the DING flights, so we are flying for $500. No gas, no hotels, no food. I think that it is pretty much a wash....until you add.....no wear and tear or mileage on the car.

We've driven with 3, 4, and 5 year olds (with the 5 year old sick on the way home...a lot of on the highway, find a restroom.....on the highway, find a restroom) and I have to say. The kids have always been terrific about the drive-and NO DVD player, either!

 

[cdnmickeylover]

I've driven countless times without a DVD player as well starting when DS was 2 and he was never a problem in the car (he turns 20 next month). Love Along the I-75 book by Dave Hunter. Very useful and mandatory for us now on the drive.

The last few times we've flown from Buffalo and I miss the Cracker Barrel! but the car is getting older and doesn't need the mileage and wear and tear and with cheap flights from Buffalo and ME we will be flying.

 

[briarberry]

We have done both in the last two years. Like the originial poster said there are pros and cons. This August we are flying again because I just don't like driving all that way. It is a 22 hour drive for us and it is just me and my DD9. For some reason I didn't mind the drive to Florida but the drive home was brutal. My DD is wonderful in the car but I just wanted to get home and it seemed to take forever. My ideal trip - drive down, have your car there if you need it for side trips (grocery stops) then fly home. There is just the little problem of getting your car home!
We had Along I-75 for the trip and it was great. We had fun visiting the original KFC restaurant/museum. It was a nice break along the way. We also used the coupons from the flyers you can pick up at the rest areas and saved $ on hotels. Both of these ideas came from the I-75 book. I bought it at Chapters.
But this year, it is flying for us! We got a good airfare from Detroit so we can clear customs at Windsor which makes the trip less of a hassle. I am going to rent a car for the first few days this time.

 

[SplashMom]

We have always flown because of time restrictions but this year we are going in August (free dining!!) and since it is summer, we have lots of time so we have decided to drive. I have a few concerns about the length of the drive (about 36 hours!) but we aren't going to rush too much. We are planning 3-4 days each way but it may even longer depending on how often we stop. I'm sure we will want to get there quickly but we are planning to go I-95 so hopefully there will be some sights along the way. We are from a rural area so scenery is not as important to us as the city sights! The kids are 16 & 19 so they aren't an issue at all. Hopefully, it will be a fun adventure!

 

[tribus121]

I have both driven 1800 miles and flown , it used to take me two long days to drive ( I love to drive and do it for a living ) but I hate winter and flying got me there quicker and let me say longer . we are flying this september but only because my car is old ( 14 years ) and dont want to chance it .

 

[hockey mom]

Thanks for your post about the pros and cons of driving and flying. I've flown to Disney twice from Buffalo, and this July I'm driving there from Caledonia (Hamilton area). I really wanted to have my car there this time, and my kids are 14 and 15, so they'll be ok in the car.....but it's such a loooong drive! We're looking forward to it though, and everyone's telling me to take I 75 instead of I 95 because it's faster. My only reservation is that I'm so used to crossing the border in Buffalo, and I'm not so familiar with the Detroit/Windsor border, so I'm a little intimidated going that route. Once I'm past there though, I'll be ok.

When we take 75 we cross over at fort erie then work our way over to 75. I hate the drive to Windsor and crossing over there so we never go that way.

I think though that your friends might have their info wrong. The 95 route is faster but the 75 route is safer in winter which is why many people choose it over 95. The 75 route is straight with many more gas/rest areas where as the 95 route is very curvy, lots of hills, fog at times, and not as many gas stations along the way.

 

[karenr518]

There is a book called along Interstate 75 which lists every exit from Michigian - the Florida border with every hotel, restaurant & gas station so if you can find a copy you will feel much better about it & he writes down the process of finding Interstate 75 after clearing United States Customs. Also the author of the book (Dave Hunter) has not come out with a 2006 edition, because he has published the same book but just for all the Interstates in Florida with the same information. So if I were you I would try to purchase those books. As for trying to find an old edition of along Interstate 75 (with the new exit numbers for the state of Georgia) try to find a copy from 2003, 2004 or 2005 threw the Internet, CAA office or ask any of your friends if they have one that you can borrow.

Thanks for the info! I'll be sure to check that out

 

[karenr518]

When we take 75 we cross over at fort erie then work our way over to 75. I hate the drive to Windsor and crossing over there so we never go that way.

I think though that your friends might have their info wrong. The 95 route is faster but the 75 route is safer in winter which is why many people choose it over 95. The 75 route is straight with many more gas/rest areas where as the 95 route is very curvy, lots of hills, fog at times, and not as many gas stations along the way.

I'm with you about the drive along the 401 to Windsor.....booooring....which is NOT what you need on a long drive. I'm much more familiar with the Fort Erie border as well, and I never really thought about crossing there and hooking up with I 75 later on. It just means more travelling in the US as opposed to doing a few hours more in Canada.

 

[digskat]

We are drivers as well, for two reasons, I don't fly and I can't get my head around the extra money flying means for us. We looked into flying out of Detroit, since Toronto is alot more expensive. The breakdown was;
Fly:
Leave Home 4PM Friday, stay in Detroit ($125 hotel, $35 gas, $35 supper) fly out Saturday AM ($800 for 4 of us roundtrip and non-stop). Arrive WDW Saturday afternoon. Either rent car, or use cabs to leave WDW property (min. $50), Add $35 for gas home = $1080.
Drive:
Leave home 4AM Friday, stop Dalton, Georgia first night arrive WDW Saturday. ($125 for hotel) with packed snacks, $75 for meals. Return stop in Kentucky ($125 for hotel and $75 for meals) add $300 for gas = $700. You have your own vehicle, and no luggage constraints. It's 12 hours earlier departing, and 16 hours later return.


We enjoy the drive, it is time together, and the kids like visiting the different areas. We cross at Sarnia and join up with the I75 just south of Detroit. The ALong the I75 book is a must for the trip.

 

[FayeW]

We always fly out of Syracuse. The idea of travelling 22+ hours trapped in a car with my kids makes my head explode. Seriously though, the vehicle we would take for the drive is such a gas guzzler, and the flights out of Syracuse are so inexpensive, that it comes within a couple of hundred dollars to fly instead of drive. My sanity is certainly worth $200-$300!

 

[cslittle999]

When we take 75 we cross over at fort erie then work our way over to 75. I hate the drive to Windsor and crossing over there so we never go that way.

I think though that your friends might have their info wrong. The 95 route is faster but the 75 route is safer in winter which is why many people choose it over 95. The 75 route is straight with many more gas/rest areas where as the 95 route is very curvy, lots of hills, fog at times, and not as many gas stations along the way.

I think the I90/79/77/26/95 route gets a bad rap. I agree that it can be interesting in the winter but only for a couple of segments (at the beginning around lake Erie and then later going through the mountains). The mountains are less than 5 hours of a 20 hour trip. Once you're in North Carolina it is smooth sailing. As for the longer gap between gas/rest areas, with even a little planning it isn't an issue. I don't know that I would want to go through the mountains overnight but otherwise it is fine.

The I75 route is longer, goes through more, larger cities and has way more truck traffic.

 

[digskat]

The I75 route is longer, goes through more, larger cities and has way more truck traffic.

Really? I was recently driving down the 401 (transport alley), and commented to my wife how little transport traffic there was on the I75 especially compared to the 401. Other than Atlanta and Cincinnatti, the I75 isn't that bad.

 

[Sandy22]

My ideal trip - drive down, have your car there if you need it for side trips (grocery stops) then fly home. There is just the little problem of getting your car home!

Have you considered using the Autotrain for your return? It's just me and the kids too and next trip I'll be driving for the first time. I think the excitement of getting to WDW will make the drive down ok but I'm dreading the drive back home.

 

[F4disneyfan]

Driving for our family there is no better way to experiance the journey to WDW than to drive down.

 

[cslittle999]

Really? I was recently driving down the 401 (transport alley), and commented to my wife how little transport traffic there was on the I75 especially compared to the 401. Other than Atlanta and Cincinnatti, the I75 isn't that bad.

I guess it is subjective. I just find the traffic lighter for the entire route. Timing is everything of course. You do drive through Pittsburgh, Charlotte, and Jacksonville and only Jacksonville has been bad for us.

 

[PandaBear & Boo]

We enjoy driving and with 5 of us the flights can get a bit expensive. We prefer not to take I75 because it adds 2 hours onto our drive. We enjoy taking 90/77/95 (think that's right) My kids love going under the mountains in West Virginia. We have a DVD player and we also have a converter so the kids can bring movies and video games. We've done this drive a hundred times and because the route is familiar to us the drive doesn't seem that long.