To drive or fly? Whats the farthest you'd drive?

[chevblazer02]

Well I am looking into a trip to WDW for early 2011. So, my question is whats the farthest you'd drive to get there? We normally fly to not waste a couple days of driving but I now have use of a company vehicle that I can take anywhere, with all fuel and maintenance paid for by the company. I figured it would be cheaper to drive the 1100 miles than to fly. We would also get to see more of the east coast that we miss while in the air. So do you think I should even consider this or just fly and enjoy a couple more days @ WDW....

 

[shortbun]

Heck, I'm thinking of taking a transatlantic cruise ship instead of flying to Europe.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

We drive from central Maine...

 

[merekc]

We drove from Kansas City last year. 19 hours each way. 1250 miles each way. I grew up taking driving trips so it was no big deal. Due to the people we were traveling with we took it somewhat leisurely and stopped and did a couple things along the way. We are considering going again next year and driving it more straight through.

I think it depends on your attitude with car trips as to whether it is something you want to do. Our kids are actually great car riders. They basically tune in to their DS or movie and we don't hear a peep out of them for a long time.

 

[Pigeon]

I hate long car trips. About 5 hours is all I can stand.

 

[DLB]

We drove from northern CT, not too bad on the way there. The way home was terrible. I hated every mile of that drive again, but I would do it again if it was the only thing standing between me and the "world".

 

[4HppyCamprs]

It would be relative to the amount of vacation time that i have. For instance we were going to drive to Yellowstone (24 hours of Drive time each way) but we had 3 weeks of vacation. Now with only 1 week of vacation time I would be hard pressed to drive 18 hours when I can fly and be to WDW in 2 hours. In this case the time on location is more valuable to me.

 

[MystikaFaith]

We drove last December from Ontario and frankly I had a lovely time and thoroughly enjoyed getting to see all the different places in between point A and point B. It took us around 27 hours driving time which included several stops to pee and eat (during long drives I preferred to have nice hot table service meals) and some not so nice weather in the maryland/pensylvania area. We also stopped twice at a hotel on the way there and once on the way back to sleep.

My kids were absolutely excellent during that time though. We only have a tiny little two door car but they all fit in there nicely without complaint. Portable DVD players are just lovely as are DS's! Before we left we purchased them a few surprise DVD's and gameboy games and that kept them entertained for the entire trip! I also made them run around the vehicle a few times and do jumping jacks at every stop we made to get rid of any pent up energy they had.

Cost wise it saved the family alot of $$$. We paid around $800 for gas, hotel and meals during there and back whereas it would have cost us just over $2000 for the cheapest airfare for that time frame.

Next time we go we'll definitly drive again.

 

[Aliceacc]

"Early" 2011 means winter driving; you could be in for a long ride if the weather doesn't cooperate. (then again, that same weather could leave you sitting in an airport terminal for a while.)

Do you have any small kids who would drive you insane once they got tired of driving?

If it were just my husband and me, I would do it. But with 3 kids, I'm not sure it would be a good idea.

 

[RachaelA]

We've driven the 1100 miles to WDW twice. We don't mind the drive if we have the extra days. Our issue is I'm so excited to get there that I make DH drive the 14ish hours in one day and then by the end I'm so ready to get home that I make him drive back in one day as well. It takes a toll by the end of the trip.

 

[Juliee8]

We drive the 19 hours down from Central Illinois. Next week will actually be our 5th time driving down with the kids, and we have perfected the trip along the way. It works well for us, our kids are very good car travelers and it allows us to stop along the way and do and see things that we otherwise wouldn't get to.

 

[DisneyShannon]

I have terrible fear of flying. I drive, but I am only 7 hours away.

 

[staubinst]

My sister and I drove from Minnesota with 3 kids under the age of 7. We drove straight through. We were visiting my dad near Tallahassee, so not as far as Orlando. It wasn't too bad, the state of Alabama was not very enjoyable. Avoid the city of Dothan for anyone driving through it.
Next summer the dads are going and we are driving again, but with two cars and stopping to spend the night.

 

[crazelion]

10 hours and with one driver that was me. I am thinking about driving to Tampa t Busch Gardens this summer which I think 12 to 13 hours. I have new job so I don't how much vacation time I am get.

 

[PaulaSue]

OP, IMO, that is taking advantage of your company car. In this day and age I would think that easily would be grounds for firing. Why risk it? Companies are cutting the fat and why should they pay for that?

 

[Yoshi]

"Early" 2011 means winter driving; you could be in for a long ride if the weather doesn't cooperate. (then again, that same weather could leave you sitting in an airport terminal for a while.)

That happened to my family around 10 years ago. We were driving home to PA from WDW and in VA, it was a freezing rain that came out of nowhere. The roads were slick and thankfully we were near an exit right at King's Dominion amusement park which has an on site Best Western. We got the last room and there were a lot of people behind us in line who were out of luck. I guess they had to go to another hotel if they had any rooms left.

 

[DawnM]

Depends.

We drove up to Montreal a couple of years ago. We got to see quite a bit on the way and the way back so it was worth it.

We drive 8.5 hours to Disney.

Dawn

 

[Poohbear5]

We've driven from NH a few times in 2 days, driving about 12 hours per day.
I do not like flying so am willing to take the extra few days on either end.

We did do the Autotrain last year, driving from NH to VA on Sat.(about 9 hours). Went to church Sunday morning, had a relaxing lunch then check into the Autotrain about 2pm, train left about 4pm. Nice change from driving the whole way.

 

[mrsklamc]

OP, IMO, that is taking advantage of your company car. In this day and age I would think that easily would be grounds for firing. Why risk it? Companies are cutting the fat and why should they pay for that?

I read OP's post as it's allowed....just because a perk is rare, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I've been HUGE on flying but there's no way I'm flying with kids under the current system. There was a point in my life where I would have rolled my eyes at the people railing against the TSA...that was before I had cancer that was most likely caused by something the FDA considered 'safe.' Kids' DNA is more highly susceptible to radiation and it's too hard to explain to young kids why an 'enhanced pat down' is ok from the TSA but no one else.

 

[sk!mom]

If I can get there in a day- not over 12 hours -then I'm open to driving. Any farther and I won't even consider it. We fly.

Flying takes so long these days that I'll do a day's drive but no loger.