To Fly or to Drive.. (from Oregon).. HELP!

[MaxnElliesMama]

So, we had originally decided we would drive to save costs, as gas in our car, would end up being about $300 roundtrip (tops) and the trip is approx 16 hours or so (big chunk done overnight)..

THEN..

I got an email from SW airlines, and we can fly round trip the 4 of us, for $495 with the flight times that are ideal to us (a little cheaper for less convenient flight times)...

I am so torn.. I can't decide what to choose!

We are staying HOJO, so free parking.
If we drove we could pack more (I am admittedly a MAJOR over packer ) and bring a stroller (vs renting one) and not worry about how many souvenirs we end up with...

But, how NICE does NOT driving 16 hours twice in 8 days sound??!?!

HELP! What would you choose?!?!?!

 

[Indiana Scott]

We did that drive from the Seattle area a few years ago. We started at 1:00 AM and arrived about 6:00 PM the next day.
What we didn't realize was that the long drive took more out of us than we expected. Our energy levels weren't quite right for a day or two.
So for a couple hundred dollars difference, I would definitely drive. You save the mileage on the car and end up with more quality time in the park.

 

[sherilaine]

A 16 hour drive is nothing to sneeze at - that is a LONG time, especially with kids. Disneyland is tiring to begin with when you show up bright eyes and bushy tailed never mind exhausted.

I'd fly for that price difference!!

 

[MaxnElliesMama]

We did it in 2013 as well.. We left around 2pm, stopped for dinner around 6/7pm and then again around 8pm to change kids in to jammies and walk around a little bit (10 mins or so, not too long). We got to Denny's across from DLR around 7am-ish, with all stops and gas fills, etc..

It really wasn't awful and we went straight to the park from Denny's and didn't blink..

But I dunno why I am feeling so lazy about it this time, LOL.. The idea of being there in 4 total hours is amazing! Haha!

 

[MaxnElliesMama]

Okay, then SECOND question for those of you thinking we should fly @sherilaine and @Indiana Scott .... (even though i know what 99% of DIS'ers will say)..

We are doing parks June 23,24,25,26,27 leaving 28 after checkout....

Should we fly in later on 22nd and stay another night (another $190) or fly in first flight of the AM on 23rd and not get to parks until Noon-ish (realistically after transport from LAX, take bags to hotel, etc)..

Sorry I am such a pain, i promise i love you all and REALLY appreciate the input..

 

[sherilaine]

You know what we are going to say - of course stay another night!! Then you are all rested and ready to go early on your first park day.

This comes from someone who's kids were up and ready to go at 6AM or first park day! It was fabulous.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Looking at a calendar, I would rather fly in early on the 23rd (Thurs). As you say, you should be there by noon (probably 11:00) and since Thurs. are usually one of the better days of the week, I think you will get a pretty long day in and enjoy lighter crowds and save the extra money that arriving on the 22 would cost.

 

[MaxnElliesMama]

Thanks guys!

This is SO hard for me, LOL..

Indecisiveness is the BANE of my existence.. my BIGGEST personality flaw.... LOL..

 

[chrisaman]

Fly!!!!!!!!!! I would fly in the day of too and save the money on the hotel for something else. It seems like you are an experienced Disney goer. If it were a first trip I would say get the extra part time but I don't think it is a first trip for you. We sometimes fly from San Francisco and I always feel soooo much better when I get there than when I drive. Flying is the only way to go

 

[agamble]

Here’s my take on this. Those are cheap flight prices and you should jump on it as it’s a long drive, and if you can skip it it’s worth it. Now considering everything else. A Disneyland trip is expensive. You’re buying airfare, hotel, food, and theme park tickets. It’s all adding up. If you can afford the extra night at the hotel then I would pay for it. Enjoy your vacation and decrease your stress. Get a good nights rest before heading to the park for your first day. Ultimately now you’re looking at an extra $400 from what you were first planning (between flight and hotel), but what is that compared to what you’re spending on the trip altogether? Is it a significant price increase of 30-40%, or more like a 10-15% increase? Chances are you are already spending more than $2,000 and the increase is in the 10-15% range.

 

[my*gracie*girl]

Fly!!! I have never seen flights that cheap. We usually feel happy with $180pp round trip from PDX. You appear to be younger than me, but the long drive really impacts my first day there and my first day home. We leave on Saturday and are driving, but breaking it up with 2 stops on the way down and 1 on the way back. I need to sleep in a bed each night. I prefer to fly, but we are visiting/doing a couple things on the way down and doing a WB Studio Tour on way home so this trip needed to drive.

 

[tdhickey]

Fly, no question!
$200 to save like two travel days is a big benefit, so you can stay longer...

 

[Butterfly123]

I would fly, and if the extra night doesn't break the bank and make you have to cut other fun things out of your visit, then I would do the extra night. We've gone at the end of June several times, and I can say with a fact that you get a ton done in those early morning hours. That being said, we've done 4 1/2 days before, starting our first day late, and it's fine. It's just not like starting your trip with that anticipation, lining up at the gates first thing to start your Disneyland vacation!

Either way you"ll have a great trip!

 

[lovemyducks81]

Sign me up with the flying crowd. I've done the drive lots and lots of times, and it's just so dang exhausting. We'll be getting up at 3:30 AM to make it to the airport next Monday, and that's still far superior to driving as far as exhaustion is concerned!

 

[MaxnElliesMama]

FLIGHT IS BOOKED!

$430 for all four of us, non-stop flights, and the extra hotel night added, we will get to Anaheim right about check in time, which will be perfect, go get dinner, walk around DTD and then watch fireworks from our hotel and get a good nights sleep for our FIRST day in the parks.. SO SO excited!

 

[DisFan84]

A little late to the party but we too were debating fly/drive since we have a young child. Southwest deals are insane right now and we booked flight for 324.00 for the three of us to fly RT. We are leaving from Oregon (in October).

 

[smartlabelprint]

Fly

 

[bdub]

We did the same thing when I found rates around $80 one way. We're flying out of PDX to SNA, plus we got to extend our vacation a bit since we're not wasting the time driving.

 

[MaxnElliesMama]

I'm just happy we were able to get NONSTOP at the times we needed for like $54 each way.. You wouldn't think that for a flight as short as ours, you'd run into stops, but almost EVERY flight had a stop, so NONSTOP was DEFINITELY welcomed!

I still cant believe that for $433 we are flying.. When we originally looked it was going to $750 for us to fly, which is why we decided to drive!

 

[agamble]

I'm just happy we were able to get NONSTOP at the times we needed for like $54 each way.. You wouldn't think that for a flight as short as ours, you'd run into stops, but almost EVERY flight had a stop, so NONSTOP was DEFINITELY welcomed!

I still cant believe that for $433 we are flying.. When we originally looked it was going to $750 for us to fly, which is why we decided to drive!

My mom flies out of PDX to Sacramento to see us. She always makes sure she gets a flight with no stops. It's ridiculous. It's only a 90 minute flight. Sometimes they fly all the way to Phoenix and circle back to Sacramento.