To fly or drive ... How do you decide?

[blanq]

My vacation time is too valuable to me, so transportation cost is never a factor for me. I will ALWAYS fly because it takes me less time and then I have more time to play. There is no way I am going to spend days driving to my vacation an then days diring to get back home. Totally yuck.

 

[sharadoc]

We used to fly for years, then we drove down around 15 years ago because we went with friends who were on a really tight budget. We now LOVE driving and won't consider flying again.

The main reasons we have decided to drive are freedom and cost, although we started out deciding based on the following time scenario.

Assuming a flight time of 12:00 noon from Philadelphia to Orlando

Drive to airport - 1 hour plus cost of long-term parking or shuttle/van
Security arrival/check - 2 hours
Boarding - 1/2 hour
Flight 2 hours
Tram and bags in Orlando - 1/2 hour
ME - 1 hour to 1.5 hours

So, first day actual travel/committed time 8 hours
Driving our first day adds about 2-3 hours to that time. My DH and I each drive, so we do 3 hour shifts. 2 shifts each is 12 hours and gets us to the SC/Georgia border.

Comparing flying vs. driving, we're really only giving up one half a day at Disney World on the 2nd day. We're usually there, checked in by 4:00.

Cost: Flying is approx. $1,000 plus rental car at least $200 so at least $1,200
Driving cost approx. $400 for gas and hotels on the way, so we get 3 trips driving vs. 1 trip flying

Freedom: We can stop and get out of the car, buy whatever we want to eat, shop on the way if we want, even go to Cracker Barrel for an hour

We love being in control of our own life and time. We talk, play games, listen to music. The kids whine a little, but they do fine. They know it's driving to Disney or no trip at all.

Driving is part of the trip to us - not just something in the way of our vacation.

 

[sharadoc]

Thank you for this list!! It was both helpful and quite funny!

I saw that thread but didn't go to it since we aren't anywhere close to 2000 miles...now I need to find a thread on driving to WDW from the DC area...

That thread is for 2000+ miles ROUNDTRIP. You're close to that from DC - you totally qualify!!!

That thread is the greatest thread on the DIS. I love it.

 

[Heidijs]

As much as we love to drive on trips, 1500 miles one way is pushing it for us. We usually have that unlucky cloud that follows us for things like, oh guess what, the alternator is going out...go to start the van, oh guess what, starter went out! Locked my keys in the car with the spare! Oh yey! Wheel bearing went out! There's so many things that can go WRONG with a vehicle on a trip and it always happens to me no matter how nice of a vehicle I have and my hubby and fix just about anything! Not worth the stress. Had our battery light come on 600 miles from home one trip and we're like DH checked the voltage on the battery and said it was fine and the alternator was charging so it HAD to be a glitch! We started it again and it never came back on but I tell ya what, we stared at the dash for about the first hour on our way home! We were totally freaking out! This was the same trip my ONLY visa card I had with me got lost and someone called it in so we had NO credit cards if the van did break down! Then to top it off, I started dozing off and DH started messing with the gas pedal and I sat up and he was staring at the dash and started to coast and pull over and I almost wet my pants and then he busted out laughing at me! So we're flying!

 

[clkelley]

Comparing flying vs. driving, we're really only giving up one half a day at Disney World on the 2nd day. We're usually there, checked in by 4:00.

We're in the same situation. Especially since the airline industry has decided that folks don't want to fly late in the evening any more. (At least from our local airports).

Since I can no longer leave work at 5pm and get on a plane and get to Disney that evening, I can get there by driving in less time!!

I can leave work and start driving and get 5-6 hours down the road, then stop for the night, back on the road by 7am and at Disney by 1pm.

If I were to fly, I would 1) have to leave work at 2pm to get on a flight that evening, OR take a flight the next morning that doesn't leave until 9am and get me to the World about 3pm.

It's all about how I use my time!!!

 

[Marshay]

So, first day actual travel/committed time 8 hours

Driving is part of the trip to us - not just something in the way of our vacation.

I like your comparisons on time. You are right ... although the flight is only 2 hours, they want you there 2 hours ahead of time, parking at the airport, driving there, etc. I can easily see 6-7 hours depending on the lines for check-in, delays, ME, etc. So it really isn't that much longer on the first day.

Also, I need to look at the driving as a part of the vacation as you said. My family drove to WDW when we were kids (from Reading, PA) ... I remember having some great family moments (license plate game, South of the Border signs) and also being bored to death!

That thread is for 2000+ miles ROUNDTRIP. You're close to that from DC - you totally qualify!!!

That thread is the greatest thread on the DIS. I love it.

I'll head over there next! Thanks!

As much as we love to drive on trips, 1500 miles one way is pushing it for us. We usually have that unlucky cloud that follows us for things like, oh guess what, the alternator is going out...go to start the van, oh guess what, starter went out! Locked my keys in the car with the spare! Oh yey! Wheel bearing went out! There's so many things that can go WRONG with a vehicle on a trip and it always happens to me no matter how nice of a vehicle I have and my hubby and fix just about anything! Not worth the stress. Had our battery light come on 600 miles from home one trip and we're like DH checked the voltage on the battery and said it was fine and the alternator was charging so it HAD to be a glitch! We started it again and it never came back on but I tell ya what, we stared at the dash for about the first hour on our way home! We were totally freaking out! This was the same trip my ONLY visa card I had with me got lost and someone called it in so we had NO credit cards if the van did break down! Then to top it off, I started dozing off and DH started messing with the gas pedal and I sat up and he was staring at the dash and started to coast and pull over and I almost wet my pants and then he busted out laughing at me! So we're flying!

This is my main fear -- something going wrong with the SUV or getting into an accident...

 

[buzz5985]

I like your comparisons on time. You are right ... although the flight is only 2 hours, they want you there 2 hours ahead of time, parking at the airport, driving there, etc. I can easily see 6-7 hours depending on the lines for check-in, delays, ME, etc. So it really isn't that much longer on the first day.

Also, I need to look at the driving as a part of the vacation as you said. My family drove to WDW when we were kids (from Reading, PA) ... I remember having some great family moments (license plate game, South of the Border signs) and also being bored to death!



I'll head over there next! Thanks!
.


This is my main fear -- something going wrong with the SUV or getting into an accident...

I have always done regular maintenance on my cars and have been rewarded with long life spans. My first trip driving was in 2001 in a 1993 Pathfinder with 125,000 miles on it. Finally had to put the Pathfinder out of it's misery in 2005 with 195,000. Engine still ran - the rust killed it. Before we leave on any driving trip - I bring my car in for a trip inspection, they check the belts, etc., get an oil change. For the most part, I have found driving down a pleasant experience. I haven't encountered any major accidents or traffic once I get beyond VA!!!!

When we drive I leave Boston between 2 am and 4 am. I work nights, and I am used to being up all night. Everyone else snoozes. Last trip we left at 4 am. I was in Glen Allen VA for lunch. I don't stop until we hit NJ and we need gas. The following day we left Glen Allen at 6 am (2 cars - 4 adults (ages 49, 48, 44, 77) and 4 boys (ages 11, 11, 9 and 2)and drove to Brunswick GA and we stayed at a Marriott. The kids swam, we went to - don't laugh - KFC and ordered a bunch of chicken (all the KFC near me closed down) and there was a gazebo by the pool, and we all ate out there. We had the best time - plus there was a bowling alley next to the Marriott. WE had free breakfast the next morning - buffet, then we were off to WDW. We left around 9 am, arrived at OKW about 3 pm - we all changed into our bathing suits and swam until our villa's were ready.

We have a tradition when we travel by car to WDW. Normally when we drive, we are hosting another family. A couple of weeks before the trip - I make a huge spaghetti sauce with meatballs, chicken, etc. I have a vacuum sealer, freeze it, seal it. It stays frozen in our cooler, and keeps all our other stuff cold. Our first night - we make a salad, get a nice loaf of bread, nice bottle of wine, cook the pasta, sit down for a nice family meal.

You probably wouldn't do it this time of year - but I will pack a tablecloth for the rest areas and we have a picnic lunch with fixings we brought.

When my DS was small - around 4 - Matchbox had the state cars out. Between myself and friends, we were able to find every car for each state we drove through. He had a map from AAA, and he would give us directions from the back seat. LOL Every state line we crossed he received a little wrapped present - one of the cars. His last gift he received a small rubbermaid storage container to keep the cars in. This way he had a few toys to play with in the room too.

The drive is what you make it. If you go into it thinking it will be awful - it will be. Last time I drove with my sister we had a blast. She was alone with the 3 kids and I had me, DH, DS and our Father with us. So we rotated through the cars, The only one that didn't get to rotate was the 2 yo because of the car seat and he was mad. LOL I did the little gift thing for the 2 yo. At the time he loved the Cars movie, so Walmart had all the characters from the movie in Matchbox sized cars.

Sorry the post is so disjointed - I just kept typing as thoughts came to me.

Janis

 

[kydisneyfans]

We drive because nobody has ever tried to bomb our car.

 

[Marshay]

For the most part, I have found driving down a pleasant experience. I haven't encountered any major accidents or traffic once I get beyond VA!!!!

Janis

Thanks for that good info! I really like the idea of a little gift as you cross each state. Actually, I've been storing up a bunch of happy meal toys just to use for special road trip/airplanes. I figure those are cheap toys and we can throw them out once we arrive (since my DD only plays with HMT for about 1 day.)

Yeah, my parents said the worst part is driving through DC area and we are used to that kind of traffic since we do it regularly.

We drive because nobody has ever tried to bomb our car.

Good one!!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Every year my family and I have driven to WDW during during the month of August and then we always flew down during the month of December. Obviously when flying down during that month we take into consideration the weather and etc. However for next December we decided that were going to drive down and this is why. As of right now when flying from Canada to the United States you can not bring a carryon bag and while we won't know when and if that rule might change, we don't want to make any airline reservations knowing that rule still might be in effect. Plus when we drive down we can pack as much as we want, purchase whatever we want, don't have to worry about baggage claim and all the lines when it comes to flying. So basically we are not restricted in what we can bring down with us and bring back home, because there are things we can not purchase when flying and when we drive we don't need to worry about that.

 

[Marshay]

Every year my family and I have driven to WDW during during the month of August and then we always flew down during the month of December. Obviously when flying down during that month we take into consideration the weather and etc. However for next December we decided that were going to drive down and this is why. As of right now when flying from Canada to the United States you can not bring a carryon bag and while we won't know when and if that rule might change, we don't want to make any airline reservations knowing that rule still might be in effect. Plus when we drive down we can pack as much as we want, purchase whatever we want, don't have to worry about baggage claim and all the lines when it comes to flying. So basically we are not restricted in what we can bring down with us and bring back home, because there are things we can not purchase when flying and when we drive we don't need to worry about that.

Yep, more good points. We always end up shipping a box of souvenirs back home rather than deal with them at the airport or in our luggage. Another cost savings to drive!

 

[UConnJack]

I'm in the driving camp. Coming from CT, we usually flew. But once we had to pay for 4 tickets, we started driving all the time. Cost was the major reason, but there are many other reasons I prefer to drive. I have never shied away from driving long distances, probably comes from my annual summer 12-hr drive to MI to visit relatives when I was a kid. I got my kids used to spending long periods in the car early, so they handle the drive quite well.

The way we do it, driving doesn't take much time away from the vacation, and I do enjoy it as part of the vacation experience as other have mentioned. We usually leave early-mid afternoon, getting through NYC before rush hour, and drive straight through getting there early/mid-morning the next day. I'm a night owl anyway, so I'll take the red-eye shift, with my wife taking over in the wee morning hours around 3-4 AM. It can be tiring and boring in places, but I think there's an excitement to it too.

I do like flying, but as other have mentioned, the total amount of time can approach 6-8 hours door-to-door, and is more exhausting overall IMHO between getting to the airport, parking, shuttle, luggage, security, boarding, sitting in a cramped seat for 3-5 hours, unboarding, luggage, rental car/ME, and getting to the resort.....all with young children in tow. Barring major traffic jams or car problems, I actually think it less stressful to drive: getting in the car, getting out a few times for bathroom breaks/gas/food, and then you're there.

Driving all night can leave us a bit more tired the next day, but frankly it isn't much worse than I feel after spending the better part of the day on the air travel experience. Not to mention we get to WDW in the morning, well before most air travelers are even in the air yet, and we have all our stuff with us and freedom of transportation. Also, being DVC members, getting there early we usually get a good choice in rooms and usually get a room available for early check-in. We shower, relax a little, take a little nap, and are ready to hit the parks in the late afternoon no worse the wear.

Although ME is a great service being free and all, I think there is nothing like having your own car, not being too limited in what you can bring, and having the ease and freedom of coming and going as you please.

 

[CattailGal]

Also debating driving (11 hours per mapquest) vs. flying (nonstop 1.5 hours). However, our last two trips that were to be six hours (per mapquest) were 12 hours with the stops. Two kids, 8 and 10. It IS cheaper to drive vs. airfare, rental car, parking at the airport...

I need to decide asap, as the nonstop flights will book up for our school district's spring break from my city to Orlando. If they sell out and we have to fly another airline and connect flights, I'll look more closely at driving...

It's hard to decide!

KC

 

[disneylovin24]

Our first trip driving was after september 11. We just didn't want to take a plane so soon after everything. We had so much fun driving we just kept doing it. We love having our own car when we get to disney and the trip down is always filled with memories.

This year we actually looked at flights just for kicks and we found that the costs for when we go down are just too much now So it looks like we'll keep driving for a long time.