To all of you who like to drive...

[mickeywho?]

Have you ever driven down to Florida in the winter? We have our next trip planned the last week of January 09 and we are already talking about how we are going to get there. We are going with friends and may or may not travel with them - we really are only starting to talk about it at this point.

We usually fly out of Buffalo (we're in Oakville) and at this point JetBlue has reasonably priced fares (94 each way) SW still hasn't released theirs yet so I don't know if they'll be more or not. I'm most concerned about being stuck here because of weather delays. Last year's trip was almost delayed or cancelled - we made it out on the first day the airport was back on schedule after 2 days worth of flights were cancelled. If we were driving we would have left ahead of the bad weather and taken our time getting there.

Is it worth it to drive in the winter? I know it may be cheaper or cost about the same but it won't be about the money - it will be about knowing we will get there - safely.

What do you think?

 

[F4disneyfan]

We drive to Disney every Dec and have never ancounter much other than in 2003 when it rained and the bridges iced over but other than that we have had no issues.

We always drive down I75 and it is a straight drive.

 

[disneyfreak89]

We've always driven in January. One year we left during a snowstorm, but

we allow 2 days to get there, so just took our time....that year, by the time

we were out of Ohio, the weather was clear, smooth sailing from there.

We hit an ice storm in Georgia one year coming home, another year hit a

snowstorm in Ohio coming home.....but we just took our time....oh yeah, and

all wheel drive helps too!

 

[disney0210]

Needless to say, our decisions are affected by events in our lives. We used to drive commando in the winter. Toronto to Pennsylvania - 8 hours of driving - start on Saturday morning, we get there about Saturday 1pm, then leave the next day Sunday 1pm, for another 8 hour trip back. Sometimes we even go to DC on a regular Saturday-Sunday weekend! During snowstorms, my friends from work would even try to convince me to cancel the trip and we just never have. We thought it just takes "talent" and "extra-ordinary skills" to drive in the winter.

Then last year, DH, on his way home from work, lost control of the vehicle while driving right after a snowfall, not even a snowstorm. Car was declared a total loss, DH was able to walk away from the accident with some minor cuts and scrapes (even swallowed some broken glass due to impact) but police said it could have been much worse (the light pole could have fallen on top of the car upon impact, while he was still in it). Since then, we said to ourselves - what were we thinking? Driving up the mountains of Pennsylvania during winter, with only a mini-guard rail separating us from cliffs?

Not worth it, IMHO. I would rather they delay a flight or cancel it (and I'm sure OP knows the airlines cancels a flight during a snowstorm for very good reasons, I don't think they get satisfaction out of seeing everyone so upset at the airport ) than drive 24 hours to Disney in the winter. Summer time, if I was really up for that long a drive, sure. Winter, not anymore.

I'm sure whatever you choose, it would be the right one for your family.

Good luck planning!

 

[minnie56]

Yes-MANY times. IMHO FLY!

With fuel what it is...and the roads 'can be' nasty. I wouldn't risk it!!

 

[Thumper_ehhhhh]

I haven't driven in Jan. If I did I would have 2 routes planned for driving. That way if one way is getting hammered by a snow storm you have the other. Hope both ways aren't getting hit at the same time.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

When my family and I visit WDW in December we always fly because we never want to take a chance driving down during the winter months. So we will keep driving down only during the summer months.